Tristan carried the unconscious Anna in his arms, guiding her through the quiet corridors of the hotel — like a dream returning to its origin
The room was bathed in soft, ambient light, with lavish decorations and large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city. He laid her gently on the bed, brushing her hair from her face as he studied her.
"You're stronger than you know, Anna," he murmured, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I'll make you remember us. I'll make you understand why we're destined to be together."
Minutes passed as he sat beside her, his hand lightly resting on her wrist. He watched as her breathing steadied, hoping she would wake soon and understand the truth he had been trying to show her.
As time went on, though, a sense of doubt crept into his mind. "What if she doesn't remember?" he wondered. "What if I've waited too long?"
Meanwhile, Anna's mind was in turmoil. She was somewhere between the real world and the dream world, floating in and out of consciousness. Her dreams were still filled with images of Tristan—his words, his touch, his promises—and yet, somewhere in the back of her mind, she could feel the presence of Jace, pulling at her heart. "No..." she thought to herself, her voice barely audible. "I don't want to be here. I want to be with Jace."
But the more she fought against the pull of her feelings, the more she realized that her connection with Tristan was deeper than she could ever explain.
Anna's heart raced as her eyes flickered open, the strange, unfamiliar surroundings coming into focus. The soft, golden light from the chandelier above cast shadows across the lavish room. The scent of fresh flowers and expensive perfume lingered in the air. She blinked several times, her mind struggling to make sense of everything. She was in a luxurious room, on a soft bed, with Tristan sitting beside her, his gaze intense but filled with something more... something that made her skin prickle.
"Tristan?" Anna whispered, her voice shaky, fear creeping in. The name felt both familiar and foreign, like a memory she couldn't quite grasp.
Tristan smiled, his expression softening as he leaned closer, his deep blue eyes never leaving hers. "You finally woke up, my sunshine," he said, his voice warm but filled with an undeniable intensity.
Anna sat up abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. "What happened? Where am I? Why am I here?" Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and disbelief. She couldn't remember how she had gotten here, or why she was so far from her own apartment.
"You fainted," Tristan said, his tone calm but firm. "You were overwhelmed. Don't worry, you're safe now." He reached out, his hand gently brushing her hair away from her face. "I brought you here to take care of you."
Anna's mind was racing, memories of her previous life—her time with Jace, her apartment, her attempts to push away the confusion about her dreams—flooded back to her. The images of Tristan, the ocean-eyed man from her dreams, all returned, but they were far too real now. She felt a pang of guilt, mixed with something else she couldn't quite identify.
"Tristan, why... why did you bring me here? Why am I here with you?" she asked, her voice trembling. She could feel the pull of him, the magnetic connection that had always been there, but she fought against it. She couldn't just give in, could she?
His gaze darkened slightly, and for a moment, the air between them felt thick with something unspoken. "Because I've waited for you, Anna. We were meant to be together. You can't escape us, not anymore."
Anna took a step back, her heart torn. "No, I—" She tried to find her words, but they were lost in the chaos of her emotions. The overwhelming pull of her dreams, the connection to Tristan, and the reality of Jace—it was all too much.
"Shh," Tristan whispered, placing a finger gently on her lips. "You don't need to say anything. I understand. But you need to understand something too, Anna." He reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands. "You are mine. We are destined to be together. No one can change that, not even you."
Anna's voice trembled with fury as she snapped, "I don't believe a word you say. I can't trust you—and I don't trust those dreams either."
A silence fell between them, heavy and aching.
Tristan stepped forward, his voice low but intense.
"Then tell me, Anna… what are we?"
"Why do I keep seeing you—night after night—in dreams that feel more real than memory?"
"Why do I remember you… when I've never met you in this life?"
Anna closed her eyes, her mind spinning. She could feel her heart rate increasing, but it wasn't just fear. There was something else. Something she couldn't ignore. Was it love? Was it fate? Or was it just the power of the dream world that had come to life in front of her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing on the side table. It was a text from Jace.
"Anna, where are you? I'm worried. Please, answer me."
Anna's heart dropped. She had been so caught up in everything with Tristan that she hadn't even realized how much time had passed. She quickly grabbed her phone, her fingers shaking as she typed a quick reply.
"I'm fine. I just needed some time alone."
But as she hit send, she felt a pang of guilt. Jace had been nothing but caring, nothing but supportive. And here she was, with Tristan—the man who had haunted her dreams, the man who claimed they were destined to be together.
Tristan watched her closely, his lips curling into a small smile as he saw the text message. "Don't worry about him, Anna," he murmured, his voice low and possessive. "You don't need him. You belong with me."
Anna hesitated, torn between her past with Jace and the pull she felt toward Tristan. The reality of her situation was sinking in, and she felt trapped, unsure of where to go from here.
"What do I do, Tristan?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered back, "You trust me, Anna. And you let go of everything else. You're mine now, and I'll never let you go."
Tristan's face tightened, his jaw clenched as he pulled Anna closer, his breath hot against her skin. He gently cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. His voice, deep and laden with emotion, came out like a growl, "You don't understand, Anna. He might have been there when I was just a dream, but I have always been real. I've always been a part of you. You felt it even when you didn't want to admit it."
Anna took a step back, trying to break free from his grip, but his hold on her waist was firm. She looked at him with a mixture of confusion and fear. "No, Tristan. You don't get it. Jace is real. His love is real. He's not just a chapter... he's been my whole story." Her voice wavered, the weight of her emotions threatening to break through.
Tristan's eyes darkened, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Anna, my love, I am your whole story. The past, the present, and the future. No one will love you like I do. No one can take my place. Jace might be a part of your life, but he was never meant to be your forever."
Anna's heart ached. She could feel his intense pull, but at the same time, her thoughts kept drifting back to Jace—the quiet, caring boy who had been her steady anchor. He had been there for her when no one else had, and her feelings for him were real, undeniable. But Tristan… Tristan was a storm, a force that felt like destiny, like fate intertwining their lives in a way she couldn't understand.
Her chest tightened as her mind swirled. "I'm sorry, Tristan, but I can't just forget Jace. He's been my support, my rock. He's been there for me when no one else was, and I can't just toss that away. You may be part of my dreams, but Jace… Jace is real."
Tristan's grip on her waist tightened, but there was a sadness in his eyes that Anna hadn't seen before. For a moment, he seemed to soften, his gaze flickering with something that almost resembled pain. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.
"You think Jace loves you more than I do, but you don't know what love is, Anna. You don't know what it's like to love someone so deeply that you would die for them. He can't understand you the way I do. He can't give you everything I can. You are mine, Anna. And I'll do whatever it takes to make you see that."
Anna shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of his words, the heat of his emotions pressing down on her. But she couldn't give up on Jace. "I'm sorry, Tristan," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't leave him. I can't hurt him. Not for you, not for anyone."
Tristan's face darkened, and for a moment, he looked like a man who was about to lose everything. His eyes were intense, and Anna could feel the shift in the air, the tension building between them.
"You'll regret this, Anna," he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "But I'll wait. I always do."
Anna took a step back, finally breaking free from his grip. She could feel her heart racing, the conflict tearing her apart. She loved Jace. She cared for him deeply. But Tristan… Tristan was the man from her dreams, the man who seemed like fate itself.
As she turned to leave, Tristan's voice echoed behind her, soft but chilling. "Remember, Anna. I'm always here. And when you realize what you've lost, I'll be waiting."
(To be continued….)