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Annalisa 39
39ADRAINThe moment we returned to the estate, I made it clear who was in charge. The duke and Annalise needed protection—protection from whatever vipers lurked within these walls. I couldn’t trust anyone, not after what I’d seen. So I gave strict instructions. No one was to enter their chambers apart from the physician and a few trusted housekeepers. Anyone else, and they’d have to answer to me.I turned to the head servant, a seasoned man with a face as lined as old leather. He’d been with the duke’s family for decades, but even that wasn’t enough to earn my trust now. “You understand what’s at stake?” I asked, my voice cold, my eyes locked on his.He nodded, but I wasn’t satisfied. “I need more than a nod,” I pressed. “I need your word. You let anyone near those rooms who shouldn’t be there, and it’s your head on the line.”The man swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down like a cork in rough water. “You have my word, sir. No one will get past me.”Good. I left him sta
Annalisa 40
40ANNALISEThe room was quiet except for the faint rustle of the curtains. My father was settled comfortably in his bed, his breathing steady after the physician had finished attending to him. I sat beside him, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on me. Adrian’s quick actions had saved us both from disaster. The gravity of his bravery was still sinking in. My heart ached with gratitude, and I knew I had to thank him properly.When Adrian walked into the room, his face showed a mix of relief and weariness. His eyes were fixed on me, and I could see the concern still etched on his features. I stood up as he approached, my hands clasped tightly in front of me, trying to steady my racing heart.“Adrian,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “Thank you for saving us. I don’t think words can truly express how grateful I am.”He stopped a few steps from me, his expression softening as he looked at me. “You don’t need to thank me, Annalise. I did what anyone would have done in my pla
Annalisa 41
41ANNALISEAdrian stood before me, his expression a mix of hope and vulnerability that tugged at my heart. I had never seen him look so earnest, and the intensity in his eyes made my own pulse quicken.I tried to steady my breath, but the weight of the moment was almost too much to bear. “Annalise,” Adrian began, his voice steady but laden with emotion. “I need to know where we stand. I’ve told you how I feel, but I need an answer. What are your feelings for me?”His question hung in the air like a heavy curtain. I had been avoiding this conversation, hoping it would somehow resolve itself. But now, faced with his pleading eyes and heartfelt confession, I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. I had to confront my own emotions, however painful that might be.“I... I don’t know how to answer that,” I started, my voice barely a whisper. “I’ve been so confused. I thought I knew what I felt, but everything’s been so chaotic.”Adrian’s gaze grew more intense, his worry evident. “You have to kn
Annalisa 42
42ANNALISEI stood in the doorway of my father’s study, unsure of how to begin. My heart felt heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. Adrian and I had broken up. The man who had stood by me, saved me, even reversed time for me, was no longer a part of my life. But the sting of his absence wasn’t what gnawed at me the most. It was Spencer—his twisted manipulations, his cruelty, and the way he continued to move through life, unscathed. I had this growing need to expose him, to bring his evil into the light. I knew I had to do something. But where could I even start?I stepped into the room, my footsteps barely making a sound on the soft rug. My father sat by the window, He looked peaceful, as if the world wasn’t closing in on me.“Father, I need to talk to you.” The words felt stiff in my throat, but I forced them out. He turned his head toward me, his eyes soft but knowing. He always seemed to know when something was weighing on me.He motioned for me to sit, and I lowe
Annalisa 43
43ANNALISETIME LOOPThe night air was cold and thick with silence, a stillness that only heightened the tension gripping my chest. I stood watch over the tower, the village below asleep and unaware of the dangers lurking beyond. The moon cast a ghostly glow over the trees, and every shadow seemed to shift and slither like a predator waiting for its moment. I couldn’t shake the unease that crawled up my spine.Spencer was supposed to meet me here tonight. I’d felt a strange urgency when we planned to meet, like something terrible was brewing. My hand tightened around the hilt of the dagger hidden beneath my cloak. Where was he?I closed my eyes for a moment, reaching out with my senses. The pulse of the forest felt off. Something dark was stirring, something ancient. The scent of damp earth and moss filled my lungs, but beneath it, I caught the faintest whiff of something else. Incense—sharp and foreign—whispering through the air. A cold dread settled over me. I’d only ever encounter
Annalisa 44
44ANNALISEI woke up gasping for breath, my heart racing as if I had been running for hours. The nightmare again. The same one that had haunted my sleep for as long as I could remember. But this time, the faces were clearer, the betrayal more vivid. A name lingered on my lips—Spencer—though I couldn’t recall why. My body trembled, drenched in sweat, as I tried to piece together the fragments of what I had just seen.But the dream slipped away like water through my fingers, leaving me with nothing but a lingering dread. I sat up and glanced around, disoriented. Where was I?The room was dimly lit, filled with strange shadows cast by objects that looked older than time itself. Shelves were lined with trinkets, dusty relics, and books bound in faded leather. The air smelled of old wood and incense, a combination that felt both calming and unsettling at the same time.An antique shop.I stood on shaky legs, my limbs heavy and weak. My head throbbed as if it had been smashed against a wal
Annalisa 45
45ANNALISEThe strange connection between Adrian and me was undeniable. It lingered in the air between us like a soft hum, always present, always pulling us closer. At first, I couldn’t explain it. I barely knew him, yet something deep inside me felt drawn to him, as if our fates were intertwined long before I’d stumbled into his antique shop.Adrian had been kind to me, patient even. He didn’t pressure me to remember my past, but I could see the questions in his eyes every time he glanced my way. I’d been in his care for days now, maybe even weeks, helping him around the shop as I regained my strength. The more time we spent together, the more comfortable I felt in his presence, yet there was always a flicker of doubt in the back of my mind. Who was I? Why had I lost my memory? And why was I so hesitant to trust him completely?I found myself waking up each morning with the same strange dreams and flashbacks, warning me of betrayal, of a loved one who would turn against me. The face
Annalisa 46
46ANNALISEThe moment those young men barged into Adrian’s shop, I felt a chill in the air. They looked dangerous—wild eyes, rough voices, and an arrogance that clung to them like smoke. Adrian stood between them and his antique shelves, his hands up in a gesture of peace. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his muscles tensed, ready for a fight.“We’re not here to talk,” one of them growled, pushing Adrian back. “We want the materials. The old stuff.”“You can’t just take whatever you want,” Adrian’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. He wasn’t going to back down easily.“Move!” Another one stepped forward, shoving Adrian harder. He stumbled, and before I could react, they started hitting him. One blow after another, fists connecting with his body until Adrian collapsed on the floor, groaning.Something inside me snapped. I didn’t even think. I stepped forward, my voice steady despite the anger building in my chest. “Stop. Drop the items and leave.”One of the men
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