Semua Bab It's All or Nothing: Bab 1 - Bab 8

The funeral home was less than a three-hour drive from the village. But Chloe and I waited for a full six hours. Joel and Michael never showed up.After the funeral, Chloe was devastated. She cried every day till her eyes were constantly red and swollen.I wasn't doing much better. Night after night, I woke up from nightmares, and even sleeping pills couldn't bring me any peace.Meanwhile, Rachel was posting nonstop on Instagram. In one video, Joel and Michael were shirtless, lounging by the window, and smiling at her.Rachel sat nearby, blushing. She bit her lip as she sketched their bodies onto a large sheet of paper.The camera didn't capture anything below the waist, but judging by her drawing, there was nothing on them.The caption read, "I've seen that perfect body one too many times that I'm starting to get bored. I'm not in a rush to finish this sketch, but they're so invested in my life, they won't even waste time on phone calls."Not long after I scrolled past that, Ra

The documents were printed screenshots of Rachel's WhatsApp group chat with her roommates.Rachel: "Joel's wife and Michael's wife called them asking for help. I told them women get jealous and love to test people for no reason, and that models should stay put. "They believed me without question and didn't even bother to dig deeper. Two pregnant women—one of them even rolled down a hill during a thunderstorm. This is going to be so entertaining! Sabrina Johnson: "Rachel, this could cost lives. Don't you think you're taking it too far?"Rachel: "I didn't hurt anyone, though. I just said a few things. If anything happens, that's not on me. I only wanted to see who they cared about more—me or their wives."One of Rachel's former roommates, Sabrina, sent me the screenshot after Rachel's online scandal erupted.Michael leaned over, glanced at the chat, and then scoffed as he turned away. "You guys did a pretty bad job of photoshopping this. Do you really think Joel and I are that st

"Let go of me!" I said."I'm sorry, Anna! I was a total asshole. But Rachel… I grew up with her. Her father died saving me and Michael. "I've always seen her as a little sister. I never thought she felt that way about me, I just…" Joel looked at me with tear-streaked cheeks, and his eyes were swimming with guilt and panic.I didn't bother hiding my disgust. "So what? What's your point? "You finally saw Rachel for who she really is, you apologized, and now I'm supposed to forgive you?"He blanched. "N-No, that's not what I meant! I just—please, give me a chance to make it right. I swear I won't ever speak to Rachel again. Just give me one more chance, okay?"I leaned in close, but my voice was laced with mockery. "Make it right? You really think you're some prize, don't you? "Joel, have some self-respect. With your pathetic salary, you can't even afford one of my handbags. I used to like you. I was willing to marry you out of charity. But not anymore."I peeled his hands off

Joel's POV…I watched Anna walk away, feeling like a boulder had dropped on my chest. The moment I got home, I collapsed with a fever.People were strange. When they had something, they took it for granted. Only after they lost it did they realize how much it had meant—and then they couldn't stop looking back.Michael and I lost our parents when we were six. The Brooklyn family and the Murphy family—both known for their charity work—took us in and sponsored the two of us.I still remember the first time I saw Anna. She wore a fluffy pink princess dress with a tiny crown perched on her head. She looked like a porcelain doll—perfect and untouchable.I was too young then to know what it meant to feel inferior. All I knew was that she didn't belong in the dusty, muddy village we were standing in. And I was so dirty, so ordinary, I couldn't even lift my head to meet her eyes.After the Brooklyn family took me in, I ended up in the same school as Anna. She was beautiful, kind, and