Lady Evelyn had left.
And Anna… she was too stunned to speak. Her legs gave way as she collapsed hopelessly onto the sofa, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Jace, I—" She stopped, unable to form the words. How could she explain the chaos in her heart? The man from her dreams, the life she had built with Jace—she didn't know where one ended and the other began anymore. The thought of Tristan, of his voice calling to her from the depths of her soul, haunted her.
Jace sat back, his face softening with understanding. "I know, Anna. I know things have been crazy. But you're here with me now. You're safe. You don't have to make any decisions right now."
Anna closed her eyes, feeling the tears welling up. "I don't know what to do. I don't know what's real anymore."
Jace didn't say anything. He just squeezed her hand, offering her the only thing he could at that moment: his presence, his support.
But in the back of her mind, Anna could still hear Tristan's voice, feel the pull of the man she couldn't escape. And she wondered—was she already too far gone to return to the life she had with Jace?
Anna took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of the secret she had kept for so long. She knew the moment had come, the moment where she had to tell Jace everything—the truth she had hidden away, the dreams, the encounters with Tristan, and how it had all torn her apart.
"Jace," Anna began, her voice trembling slightly. She looked into his eyes, the trust she had in him battling with the guilt she felt. "There's something I need to tell you… Something I've been keeping from you, and it's been eating me up inside."
Jace's expression softened, and he squeezed her hand. "You can tell me anything, Anna. I'm here for you. Always."
She nodded, gathering the strength to speak the words she had been avoiding. "It's about Tristan. The man from my dreams. He's real, Jace. He's not just a dream. And he's been trying to pull me into his world."
Jace's brow furrowed, confusion and concern mixing in his gaze. "What do you mean? What are you talking about, Anna?"
"I've been dreaming about him for months, Jace. He's the man I see in my dreams, the one who calls me 'sunshine,' the one who… makes me feel like I belong somewhere. I didn't understand it at first, but when I saw him in person, I realized he's real. And now… he's here. And he's not letting me go."
Jace sat there for a moment, his jaw tight, his eyes studying Anna's face, trying to process what she was saying. The silence in the room felt thick, heavy with the weight of her confession.
"And you've been keeping this from me?" Jace's voice was quiet, but there was a hint of hurt in it. "You didn't tell me about him, about how you felt? Anna, why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"I didn't know what to do," Anna said, her voice breaking. "I didn't want to hurt you. I don't know what this is, Jace. But Tristan… he makes me feel like there's something bigger than us, something we can't control. But I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose what we have."
Jace let out a long breath, running his fingers through his hair. The room was still for a few moments, only the sound of Anna's breathing filling the space. He stood up, pacing around the room as he processed the new information. He was hurt, no doubt, but his love for Anna was evident in every move, every thought. He wanted to fix things, to protect her from whatever this was.
"I need to meet him," Jace said finally, his voice firm. "If he's real, if he's messing with you like this… then I need to see him. I need to talk to him. I won't let him hurt you, Anna. You're mine, and I won't let some dream man take you away from me."
Anna's heart raced at his words. She had expected anger or rejection, but Jace was determined, almost as if this was a challenge he wasn't willing to lose. She could see the resolve in his eyes, the fierce protective instinct that had always been a part of him.
"Jace… No. You don't understand," Anna said, standing up to face him. "Tristan's not just some man. He's… I don't know how to explain it. He's been in my life for so long, and I can't just ignore him. You don't know what it feels like, Jace."
"I don't need to know what it feels like," Jace replied, his voice low but confident. "What I do know is that I won't let anyone come between us. Not him, not anyone. If he wants to fight for you, he's going to have to do it face to face."
Anna felt a pang of fear at the thought of Tristan and Jace meeting. She didn't know how Tristan would react, but part of her feared it wouldn't end well. Tristan had always been a mystery, a force she couldn't control. But seeing Jace so determined to protect her gave her a sense of comfort.
"I'm scared, Jace," Anna admitted, her voice soft. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to handle this… this feeling."
Jace stepped closer to her, lifting her chin gently so their eyes met. "You don't have to handle it alone, Anna. We'll face this together. You and me, no matter what happens. I'm not going anywhere."
For a moment, Anna felt the weight lift from her chest. She wasn't alone. She didn't have to face Tristan or the chaos in her heart by herself. She had Jace. And for now, that was enough.
(To be continued.....)