Page 20 of Shadows of Obsession

"It's okay, Anna." Connor's voice, gentle and steady, cut through the spiral. His arm stayed firm around my shoulders, his touch nothing like the memories clawing at my mind. "Just take deep breaths, okay? Focus on my voice. On the feeling of the couch behind you."

His words were a lifeline, and I clung to them, using them to pull myself back from the edge. I realized where I was: I was at Connor's. I was safe. That was Connor. And that was… Jaxon.

I became aware of Jaxon crouching down, carefully untangling the blanket from around my feet with slow, deliberate movements. His eyes flicked to my face repeatedly, searching for any sign that he was making things worse, ready to back off the second I needed space.

Chester stayed on high alert, his gaze darting between Connor and Jaxon, still poised to protect me.

As my breathing began to steady and the room came back into focus, Connor gently helped me ease into a sitting position on the couch. Jaxon handed me a glass of cool water without a word. I accepted it with trembling hands, my fingers gripping the smooth surface like it was the only solid thing left in the world.

"I'm sorry." The words came out barely above a whisper, shame burning hot in my chest. "I just—I didn't know it was you. I thought…"

I couldn't finish. I wouldn't give voice to the dark thought clawing at my throat. I couldn't admit that, for those few terrifying seconds, I'd been absolutely certain Daniel had found me again.

"It's okay," Connor said softly, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze that anchored me to the present. "You don't need to apologize, Anna. We should've said something when we came in. We just didn't want to disturb you while you were relaxing."

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the glass in my hands. The shock still pulsed through me, a stark reminder that the wounds of my past weren't gone, just buried shallow, waiting to resurface. I knew it would take time, more than a few weeks, to truly believe I was safe here. To trust that the demons couldn't reach me anymore.

I could feel their eyes on me. Connor's, full of quiet concern. Jaxon's, sharp and assessing, analyzing every flicker of emotion. The tightness in my chest grew, a suffocating awareness crawling under my skin as I imagined his suspicions about me being trouble were only confirmed.

I needed to escape their watchful gazes, to retreat to the solitude of my room, where I could finally let this carefully constructed façade crumble in private.

"I'm going upstairs," I said quietly, my voice taut as I set the glass down on the table with a soft clink.Without another glance at either man, I rose on unsteady legs and hurried out of the room, my footsteps echoing in the stillness.

As I climbed the stairs, my thoughts spiraled, a storm of emotion I couldn't name flooding through me. Connor meant well. He wanted to give me a safe haven. But he didn't understand the depths of my terror, the way Daniel's cruelty had carved itself into my soul. How could he? I hadn't told him everything. I didn't know how.

I'd been wearing a brave face these past few weeks, convincing both him and myself that I was fine—that I was healing. But now, in the aftermath of my panic, I could feel that fragile mask cracking, revealing the fractured, frightened woman beneath.

And Jaxon. God, Jaxon. His distrust lingered like smoke in the air. I could feel the weight of it. The way he watched me with those guarded, storm-blue eyes, as if he expected me to bring chaos to Connor's doorstep at any moment. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me like this, at my weakest, my most exposed. I couldn't bear the thought of confirming what he already believed: that I was nothing but a broken, damaged burden.

The sound of my bedroom door closing echoed through the quiet house, heavy and final.

I leaned against it, pressing my forehead to the cool wood, and tried to remember how to breathe normally, how to exist in this body that felt like a trap, in this mind that kept betraying me with memories I'd give anything to forget.

I commanded myself to stay strong:Pull yourself together, Anna. You can't fall apart. Not now. Not here.But God, I was so tired. Tired of being strong. Tired of pretending. Tired of living in constant fear that the next shadow would be him.

I couldn't hear their conversation downstairs, but I could imagine it. Connor explaining, Jaxon asking questions. Both of them discussing me like I was a problem to be solved, a situation to be managed.

Maybe I was.

Maybe that's all I'd ever be now. The girl who couldn't handle a shadow on a TV screen. The girl who flinched at sudden movements. The girl who'd let a man destroy her so completely that she couldn't even watch Netflix without having a panic attack.

I moved to the window, looking out at the sprawling ranch below. The horses grazed peacefully in the paddocks, the sun casting everything in warm, golden light. It was beautiful. Serene.

Everything I wasn't.

Time passed—I wasn't sure how much. Eventually, I heard voices downstairs. I knew I should probably go back down, face Connor, explain myself better. But the thought of seeing the concern in his eyes, the worry I'd put there, made my stomach twist.

Still, hiding up here wouldn't change anything. Wouldn't make this better. Taking a deep breath, I opened my door and made my way back downstairs. Connor and Jaxon were in the kitchen, their voices low but audible as I approached.

"You should talk to her—"

"Talk to me about what?" I asked as I entered, keeping my voice as steady as I could manage.

Both men turned. Jaxon's eyes met mine for just a second before he looked away, and I felt that familiar discomfort settle over me. He'd seen me at my worst now. There was no taking that back.

"We'll talk later," Jaxon said to Connor, his voice low. Then he moved toward the front door, giving me space, and I felt a confusing mix of relief and something else I couldn't quite identify.

The sound of his Jeep fading down the road left a tense silence in its wake. Connor shifted his focus to me, and I noticed how I relaxed slightly once Jaxon was gone, the tightness in my shoulders easing just a fraction.