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But the room was empty.
I stepped outside and was glad that her car was still parked in front of the house. I walked further into the ranch, knowing that Anna loved to see the horses in the stable. She wasn’t there.
On my way out, I saw Pete.
“Have you seen Anna?” I asked.
He shook his head.
I turned back towards the house and saw Joe coming from that direction.
“Joe, did you see Anna?”
“Yeah, Max. She went into your study a while ago,” he said, pointing to the house.
Relief washed over me. She hadn’t gotten herself involved in another accident. I leisurely walked on.
But then it struck me. Anna was in my study, the place where all my secrets were tucked away in documents and notes. Had I removed everything that could link me with Richard? The thought sent a jolt of panic through me. If Anna saw those documents, it would shatter the trust we were rebuilding.
I broke into a run, my boots thudding against the ground.
I couldn’t let Anna find out this way. I needed to tell her myself, in my own words.
Getting to the door of the study, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I might find inside. I turned the knob and the door creaked open.
There she was standing by my desk, her back to me, her posture rigid.
My heart sank. Had she found the documents?
“Anna?”
My voice was a whisper filled with apprehension. The silence between us afterward was heavy. She turned slowly, her expression stoic.
But I didn’t need her to tell me she’d found it. The paper in her hand said it all.
It was one of the documents Richard had sent. I’d signed it, then carelessly tossed it aside days later.
“Anna,” I repeated in a pleading tone.
The look in her eyes stopped me. It was a mix of hurt, betrayal, and other emotions I never wanted to see directed at me, especially not from Anna.
Tears threatened to spill. Her hands trembled as she turned the document for me to see.
My gaze shifted to the desk. There were several documents arranged carefully on it. They were other paperwork Richard had sent me to sign. I’d never read them and hadn’t been willing to append my signature until I knew what Richard was attempting to rope me into.
But that wouldn’t matter anymore.
Not to Anna.
“Max, what is all this?” she asked.
Her voice was calm, too calm.
There was only one thing left to do.
I would tell the truth, and maybe it wouldn’t be too late. Hopefully, the love I felt for Anna was strong enough to withstand the storm that was about to break.
I took a step closer, my mind racing for the right words.
