**Chapter 3: Jane's Hurt**

Jane sat in her dressing room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes seemed dull, and her skin looked pale. She had been feeling down for weeks, ever since she had run into Jackson at the K-pop event. The memories of their past relationship came flooding back, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt. It had been two years since they broke up, but the wounds still felt fresh. Jane had been devastated by the rumors that had spread about Jackson cheating on her. She had tried to brush it off, to tell herself that it was just gossip, but the doubt had lingered in her mind. Jackson's silence had been the final blow. He had never explained anything, never denied the rumors or told her that he loved her. He had just remained silent, claiming he was busy with promotional schedules. The lack of communication had been a huge mistake, and Jane had felt like she was losing him all over again. As she thought about Jackson, Jane's heart ached. She still loved him, but she was scared to let him back into her life. What if he hurt her again? What if he cheated on her? The thoughts swirled in her mind, making her feel anxious and uncertain. Just then, her assistant knocked on the door. "Jane, Jackson is here to see you," she said. Jane's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected to see him so soon. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Send him in," she said. When Jackson walked into the room, Jane felt a flutter in her chest. He looked handsome, as always, but there was something different about him. He seemed more mature, more confident. "Hey," he said, smiling at her. "How are you?" Jane shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I'm fine," she said. Jackson walked closer to her, his eyes locked on hers. "You look a little down," he said. "Is everything okay?" Jane sighed, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I'm just stressed, that's all," she said. Jackson nodded, his expression sympathetic. "I'm here for you, Jane," he said. "If you need to talk, I'm listening." Jane felt a pang of emotion. She had missed him, missed the way he used to comfort her. But she was scared to let her guard down, scared to trust him again. As they talked, Jane couldn't help but notice the way Jackson looked at her. His eyes seemed to hold a deep affection, a love that she hadn't seen in a long time. It made her feel fluttery inside, made her wonder if maybe, just maybe, she was ready to give him another chance. But for now, she just smiled at him, a small, tentative smile. "Thanks, Jackson," she said. "Just being here for me means a lot." Jackson smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Jane," he said. "I'll always be here for you." As they sat there, talking and laughing, Jane felt a sense of comfort that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, she was ready to let Jackson back into her life. But she was still hurt, still wary. She needed time to think, to process her emotions. As Jackson stood up to leave, Jane felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't want him to go, not yet. "Hey, Jackson?" she said. He turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "Yeah?" "Thanks for coming," Jane said, her voice soft. "It means a lot to me." Jackson smiled, his eyes locked on hers. "Anytime, Jane," he said. "I'll always be here for you." With that, he turned and left, leaving Jane to wonder if she was ready to take a chance on him again.