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CHAPTER THREE: CROSSING A LINE
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2025-12-10 20:09:46Conrad woke up at 5 a.m., unable to sleep. Something had been weighing heavily on him since last night —the name he saw in Jessica’s diary.
Stefan Gilbert.
He sat up quietly so he would wake Jess up, opened his laptop slowly, and typed the full name into the search bar.
Within seconds, images filled the screen.
A tall good good-looking man with broad shoulders.
Hazel eyes and the perfect jawline.
Conrad’s jaw tightened as he scrolled through.
CEO of a well-known luxury hotel.
Owner of a music band.
Featured in magazines. Successful and confident.
He shut the laptop and got dressed for work like he always did, knotted his tie, drank his coffee, and left the house with a plan to meet Stefan.
____
JESSICA
After Conrad left, I picked up my phone and stared at the messages from Stefan. Heart skipped.
I deleted the message and took a deep breath.
___
CONRAD
On his way to work, Conrad dialed his coworker's number.
“Hey man, I’d be coming a little late today.”
“Come on, we’ve got a ton of work. Hope there’s no problem? Jimmy responded.
“I know, I know..I just need to handle something urgent at my son’s school.” Conrad's jaw clenched.
“Alright. I got you.” Jimmy responded
Conrad ended the call and held the steering wheel tightly.
He wasn’t going to David’s school.
He drove the the hotel he had just read about—the hotel owned by Stefan Gilbert.
When he parked, he sat for a moment, breathing hard.
“What the hell am I doing?”
He stepped out of the car. The exact moment Stefan walked through the front gate—tall, broad shoulders, confident—as if the entire world belonged to him.
Conrad got nervous instantly.
He followed him inside.
“Hey! Excuse me, sir!” The receptionist called out sharply. “You are not allowed to go that way. Who are you looking for please ?”
Conrad blinked fast, forcing a polite tone.
“Oh—I’m sorry. I’m Conrad. I just wanted to see someone. I’d like to speak to Stefan Gilbert.”
She raised her brow. “One moment please.”
She picked up the phone looking at Stefan and wondering why he looked tense.
“Hello, sir? Someone is requesting to see you. His name is Conrad …
Stefan responded instantly.
“Let him in.”
Conrad walked towards Stefan’s office, holding his briefcase in one hand, the other clenched at his waist.
Stefan sat on his chair, relaxed, spinning slightly in his chair as if he’d been expecting him.
“I’m Conrad Sinclair.”
Stefan smirked.
“I know who you are. I was wondering when you’d finally get the balls to approach me.”
His smile deepened. “I guess she talked to you about me.”
Conrad’s jaw flexed.
“About what exactly? So you’re talking to Jessie now ?”
“Not really con. I ran into her. Then I sent her a text.”
“A text?” Conrad stiffened in disbelief. “What the hell?”
“Relax, it’s just a text.” Stefan leaned back, unbothered. “Definitely not a big deal.”
Conrad stepped forward.
“You don’t get to tell me what’s a big deal. Now you listen to me. Stay the hell away from my WIFE.”
He turned toward the door and then added under his breath__a low tone—
“Piece of crap.”
Stefan smiled softly, shaking his head.
Stefan knew something with Jessica wasn’t finished. Not for her. Not for him. Never will.
He pulled out his phone.
He hesitated.
Then he hit Video call.
____
JESSICA
I was in the kitchen washing David’s lunchbox when my phone started buzzing. I looked at the screen.
Stefan Gilbert —incoming video call
My heart skipped.
I’m not supposed to answer.
I knew I shouldn’t.
Everything in my body screamed Don’t do this.
But my finger accepted the call before my brain could stop it.
The camera opened.
I swallowed hard. “Why are you calling me?
He tilted his head. “You lied to me you don’t miss me.”
“Stefan, stop.” My voice cracked slightly. “I’m married.”
He leaned back in the chair. Still holding the mobile phone. “Then why did your husband come to my office this morning?”
I froze for seconds.
“He shows up furious. Asking a lot of questions. Telling me to stay away from you.” Stefan smirked. “I know what that means.”
“It doesn’t mean anything,” I snapped, Are you trying to ruin my marriage? My chest tightened painfully.
“It does.” His tone changed. “It means you’re not over me as you pretend to be. Because your husband wouldn’t have noticed anything unless you still feel something for me.”
“I don’t. What we had wasn’t real. I feel safe and happy with my husband. I’m not going to ruin my marriage because of your stupid games.”
“Are you sure?” He whispered.
Without warning, Stefan lowered the phone. To his private areas.
My eyes widened.
I shouldn’t look.
I shouldn’t.
But I froze.
——
Conrad came home late. The moment he stepped into the room. He kissed me—quick, distracted.
We tried to make love, but the flow was off, his mind clearly somewhere else. His touch was hesitant. And I complained, he pulled back sharply.
“Just forget it,” he snapped, voice cracking.
“I guess I’m not doing it the way he used to. Right?”
Face in shock. “Conrad—“
“Don’t,” he cut in, sitting on the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “Just tell me the truth. Are you still in love with him?
“Of course not! I love you, Conny.” I responded quickly standing up.
“I read every word in your diary, Jess. You were questioning your life, our marriage. What we had. Was I a rebound to you? Are you miserable?” He said with so much pain in his voice.
“I am not miserable,” I said firmly, “why are you saying this? I love you, I chose you.”
His jaw clenched. “Do you still love him?”
“No.”
“Do you want to fuck him?”
“No,” , my voice wavered.
“God, Jess.” Eyes burning. “Do you understand how I feel to think I’m your second choice ?”
I grabbed his hands. “You’re not my rebound. Sadie and Stefan are dating. It’s not even an option for me, ever!”
He blinked. “What?”
“Yes, they’re together. We’ll all go out. You, me, Sadie, Stefan. Dinner. Tomorrow night.”
You’ve lost your damn mind, I was at Stefan’s office today and I specifically told him to stay away from you. Now a double date? With him?”
“Yes,” I said, steady. “You’d see for sure I’m not lying to you”.
Conrad exhaled. “Okay fine,” he muttered. “Dinner. All four of us.”
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TANGLED HEARTS 041 — OLD FEELINGS
The sound of running water filled the bathroom as steam touched the transparent glass walls. Conrad stood under the shower, letting the warm water roll down his back, trying to wash away the weight of the morning. His shoulders were tense, his thoughts loud, even as the bathroom stayed quiet.“Daddy?”David’s small voice came from behind the glass.Conrad turned slightly. “What’s up, bud?” he answered, calm but tired.“Mary needs you downstairs.”“Alright, I’m coming.”He reached for his towel, wiped his face, and stepped out of the shower. Water dripped onto the tiled floor as he wrapped the towel around his waist. David was still standing there, watching him. Conrad noticed immediately.“You alright?” he asked gently.David hesitated, then spoke. “How long is Mary going to be staying with us? It used to be on and off.”Conrad sighed quietly as he dried the rest of his body. “For a while,” he s
TANGLED HEARTS Nice to meet you?
Nice to meet you, Jessie,” he said.“Nice to meet you…” Jessica paused. She didn’t know his name.“Jeremy,” he said.“Jeremy?” she asked again.“Yeah…”“Okay… I’m just out here having a drink with my friend. Ain’t really interested in—or…” Jessica got cut off.“Available? You ain’t available. Gosh, you’re too hot to be single.” He stared at her like he saw the most beautiful woman in the world, smiling sheepishly.“Hmmm,” Jessica responded, wanting to just leave and meet up with Sadie.“Or you’re in a relationship?”Jessica stiffened. Memories of how everything ended with Conrad rushed back—back to the present reality she was trying not to think about.“Screw it… You don’t wanna go out with me. I am a messy mess right now. I just blew up my life… kind of unintentionally. I have a kid, I’m in the middle of a divorce crisis, and even with the divorce, I drove the love of my life away because I was angry—which practic
TANGLED HEARTS 039 — LIFE AFTER HIM
Three Months LaterRain tapped softly against the window of Jessica’s new apartment. She sat by the sill, staring at the gray streets of New York, thinking about all the choices that had brought her here. Boxes were stacked neatly in corners, some still unopened, and the apartment felt both new and empty. She took a deep breath, letting herself sink into the quiet… until a knock on the door jolted her.Knock knock!Jessica jumped and ran to open it.“Hey, hey!” Sadie’s bright voice filled the doorway. She was grinning, holding a bottle of champagne like a trophy.“You’re back!” Jessica said, laughing, pulling her friend into a hug.“Of course!” Sadie hugged her tight. “And I’m exhausted… but I brought reinforcements.” She waved the bottle. “So… you got a couch?”“I finally unpacked all the boxes. Which means… this is really happening,” Jessica said, laughing nervously as she looked around. “This… is my life now.”
TANGLED HEARTS 038 — FUCK YOU!
Sadie stood quietly beside the hospital bed, watching Jessica breathe.That alone felt like a miracle.“You scared me,” Sadie said softly, forcing a small smile as she stepped closer. “You scared all of us.”Jessica turned her head slightly. She looked tired—pale, weak—but her eyes were clear. When she saw Sadie properly, her lips curved faintly.“You look worse than me,” Jessica whispered.Sadie huffed out a breath that sounded half like a laugh, half like a sob. “Don’t even start. You got shot. I’m allowed to look terrible.”Jessica reached out weakly, her fingers brushing Sadie’s hand. “Thank you… for staying.”“I wasn’t going anywhere,” Sadie said immediately. “Not this time.”For a moment, neither of them spoke. The machines filled the silence, steady and reassuring. Sadie swallowed, her chest tightening.“I’m just happy you’re okay again,” she said quietly. “I don’t care about anything else right now.”Jes
TANGLED HEARTS 037 — PEACE OVER LOVE
“She’s okay,” The doctor said calmly. “The surgery went well. She’s stable now. You can see her, but only for a few minutes.”Sadie felt her knees weaken with relief. Conrad let out a long breath, one hand running through his hair. Stefan closed his eyes briefly, like he’d been holding his breath for hours without realizing it.Jessica was alive.They followed the nurse down the quiet hallway toward recovery. Sadie walked beside Conrad, but her thoughts were already drifting away. She was grateful Jessica was alive—but she knew this wasn’t over. Not emotionally. Not for any of them.At the door, Conrad hesitated.“I’ll stay back,” Stefan said quietly. “You go in.”Conrad frowned. “You sure?”Stefan nodded. “I’ll be right here.”Conrad looked between them, uneasy. He didn’t like leaving them alone—not now, not with everything hanging in the air. But before he could say anything else, a nurse approached
TANGLED HEARTS 036 — THE WAITING
“I don’t want this anymore, and I need you to understand,” Sadie said into her phone. Her voice was tired but firm. “I need to go see my best friend at the hospital. I just arrived here, please.”Scott started talking on the other end.Sadie didn’t listen.She ended the call and dropped the phone into her bag as she stepped down from the bus.Her hair was messy, tied up in a careless way. Her eyes were swollen, dark bags sitting under them from crying and not sleeping. She looked like someone who hadn’t rested in days. In her hand was her Stanley cup, filled with coffee she had barely touched.Jessica.That was the only thing on her mind as she walked into the hospital.She moved fast through the hallway, her eyes searching, her heart beating hard. She didn’t care about anything else around her. She just needed to see familiar faces.Then she saw them.Stefan.Conrad.They were standing close to each othe
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