Romans & histoires Ross Library Lock Haven

Some lines were never meant to be crossed... but the heart doesn't always follow the rules. "Crossed Lines: 40 Forbidden Stories" is a captivating collection of forty unforgettable tales where love appears in the most unexpected places and every choice comes with a price. From impossible attractions and long-buried feelings to family secrets, second chances, and relationships that challenge society's expectations, each story explores the delicate balance between desire, loyalty, and the consequences of following one's heart. Every chapter introduces new characters, new conflicts, and a new journey filled with emotion, heartbreak, hope, and unforgettable twists. Some will fight for love. Some will walk away. Others will discover that the greatest battles are the ones within themselves. Forty stories, forty impossible choice and one unforgettable collection. Will they obey the rules... or cross the line?

My father's adopted daughter was only locked in the cramped storage closet for around fifteen minutes, yet he punished me by tying me up and throwing me inside. He even sealed off the ventilation with towels. "As Wendy's older sister, if you can't take care of her, then you should also experience how scared she was," he declared coldly. He knew I was claustrophobic, but my desperate pleas for mercy, my terror, were met with nothing but heartless reprimands. "Let this be a lesson on how to be a good sister." As the last sliver of light disappeared, swallowed by the oppressive darkness, I struggled helplessly. A week passed before my father finally remembered my existence and decided it was time to end my punishment. "Let's hope this week served as a good lesson for you, Jennifer. If this happens again, you will no longer be allowed in this house." He would never know that I had already taken my last breath in that suffocating room. My body had begun to rot in the darkness.

A year ago, I lost my best friend, and I lost my way. I was at the top of my game and in a split second, Leah was dead and the two men that I loved more than life itself had betrayed me. I was alone. I was broken. Then, the mob called. And, I answered. It was a bad idea to get involved with the mob, but the longer I worked with Alessio, the harder it was to stay away from him. He was the missing piece that I had been longing for. Too bad he was a murderer, and his family was trying to kill me.

On the day I attend the centennial celebration of my alma mater, I encounter my first love, Victor Whitmore. After he delivers a speech as an alumni representative, he publicly presents me with a diamond ring. "Back then, you said you wanted to use your 'Wild Roses' design to make me a wedding ring. Now it's my turn to propose. Claire Webb, will you marry me?" The auditorium erupts in excitement. Everyone waits for me to nod tearfully in agreement. After all, I once pursued Victor with such passion that it shocked the entire school. However, everyone has forgotten something. Back then, I was accused of plagiarizing Emma Palmer's work for my graduation project. Victor knew the truth, yet he slandered me as the plagiarizer. At the press conference, as the brand representative, he announced that they would cease collaboration with me and called for me to be blacklisted across the industry. On the very day my reputation was ruined, I moved abroad. Now that I'm back, his close friend keeps advising me. "He's been waiting for you all these years. Even though you embarrassed him back then, you're still the one in his heart. "He even made a scene at the principal's office just to get your graduation certificate. Claire, he truly loves you."

Daisy: My life was cool and perfect until I met him—my best friend’s husband’s brother. He is an asshole, and I wouldn't mind plunging a knife into his perfect skin. Deep down, though, all I really want is to savor that skin all day. He brought nothing but trouble into my life, digging up my past and forcing me to relive it. But why do I crave his attention? Adriano: I have a dark side that no one knows about, not even my brother, who grew up beside me. I thought I had it all tamed—until she came into my life. She embodies everything I despise in a woman: sassiness, a smart mouth, and a knack for getting on my nerves. She brought out a part of me I never knew I had, and I hate it. She's running from someone, and I intend to find out who's after her. No one gets to be her nightmare except me.

Nadia Jenson returns to her past, her home growing up, Havenwood. Full of revenge, anger and a need to make things right. She storms into town revealing shocking truths but is soon taken aback when she finds more than what she bargains for. By righting a wrong, she has uncovered many hidden truths, hidden secrets that have been buried far too long. This book takes readers through Nadia’s unforgiving revenge, unexpected love and testing of loyalties.

My wife, Lilian Barton, loves me more than life itself. She has spent the past eight years working hard with me just so she can get pregnant with my child. Our son, Wesley Carson, needs immediate medical attention because of an asthma attack. On my way to the hospital, I accidentally crash into the wedding procession of a mafia leader. Wesley, who's barely a month old, is hurled to the ground, causing him to bleed everywhere. But that's when I see Lilian, who has an arm wrapped around the groom in the car. She tells a subordinate, "What bad luck! Not only is my wedding being interrupted, but there's also blood being spilled on my wedding day! Just kill that little bastard already!" Lilian outright ignores Wesley's cries of pain. Before she leaves, I hear her murmur, "Cover his mouth. That baby's cries are so annoying."

Elspeth Amorelle Keene, a college business major live in a world where everything is predicted. All people in their world are born with two clock birthmarks on their palms which indicate the date of love and the date of death. During her last day, she unexpectedly had an encounter with the physics genius who's popularly known in Aestwood University. Without her knowing, meeting him means the start of her complicated life. Will she try to change something or just accept the fact that she's ill-fated?

“Name your price,” he said, that arrogant smirk still intact. “Do you want your job back?” I didn’t hesitate. “Make me a director. Only then will I pretend to be your loving girlfriend.” I thought he’d laugh. I didn’t expect him to say yes. “Deal,” he replied, his gaze locking on mine. “Just remember, Amaris Kennerly once you sign that contract, you belong to me.” ***** I’ve always wondered if I was cursed from birth because the kind of bad luck that haunts me feels almost supernatural. People call me a computer genius, but my real talent is something no one sees. They say I’m beautiful, yet I bury that behind oversized clothes and a mountain of insecurities. After dumping my cheating boyfriend, the only steady thing left in my life was my soul-sucking job until I lost that too. And the man responsible? Theron Lockhart.——My high school bully didn’t just return, he returned as the new CEO of my company. And his first executive move? Firing me and my entire department, like history repeating itself in the cruelest way. He didn’t recognize me, which should’ve felt like relief. But fate clearly wasn’t done toying with me. One moment, he was rescuing me from a run-in with my ex. The next, a rumor had spread: I was his girlfriend. And then the tables turned because Theron needed to avoid a scandal, and I was his best option.

The moment my best friend, Patrick York, rushed ahead of me into the convenience store and asked for a lottery ticket with that specific string of numbers, I knew he was in the same boat as me. We were reborn. In the past life, Patrick and I were shortlisted for an interview at a Fortune 500 company, but there was only one opening. The day before the interview, I had a sudden urge to buy a lottery ticket. However, because of that, I missed the interview and Patrick got hired. Surprisingly, I got the winning ticket and won 50 million dollars. After my graduation, I enjoyed an easy life by living off interest from the bank. Meanwhile, despite getting hired, Patrick was paid a low wage and suffered daily abuse from his colleagues. In the end, he took out his frustrations on me by pushing me off the rooftop, killing me on the spot. After my death, my girlfriend, Emily Hayward, committed perjury for his sake. She claimed that after a prolonged period of staying home with nothing to do, I was in a bad mental state and leaped off on my own. The two of them profited off my death and became trending influencers, making it big. When I opened my eyes once more, I realized I was back to the day I purchased the lottery ticket.