---- That love was so pure. It was just a simple, powerful truth-I really, really liked Anna. I wanted to be with her forever. But in our senior year, her family found out about us. They weren't happy. I was devastated, but I never thought about ending things. I just doubled down on my studies. I wanted to get into a good college and find a good job to close the gap between us. Around that time, Rachel entered her final year of middle school, and her family moved into town. 1 started seeing her more often. She told me everyone said Anna was a rich, pretty heiress who was way out of my league. She said the only reason I got to grow up and go to school was because of the Brooklyn family. And to them, I was just a pet. They'd never let someone like me marry their daughter. At first, I brushed it off. But when I got to college, people who knew my story would say the same thing. ---- And slowly... something inside me started to shift. I stopped accepting the Brooklyn family's support and took part-time jobs to pay my own tuition. Whenever it was Anna's birthday or a holiday, I'd work extra shifts, scrimp and save just to buy her something nice. A gift worth a couple of hundred dollars might not sound like much, but to me, it was everything. Anna always smiled and always seemed genuinely happy. But every time my gift sat next to the ones other people gave her, it looked so cheap. Rachel once said, "Joel, I'm not trying to stir the pot or anything, but I saw Anna throw away your gift when no one was looking. Maybe she doesn't care for the stuff you give her after all." I told her Anna wasn't that kind of person. But deep down, my inferiority complex grew. Eventually, the Brooklyn family agreed to our marriage. ---- Determined to earn their respect, I turned down their job offer and found work on my own. The day before our wedding, I even signed a prenup. If we ever divorced, I'd leave with nothing. After the wedding, Rachel started coming around more-seeing me, seeing Michael. Her father had died saving us, so I kept the debt deep down in my heart and treated her like my own sister. Whenever she was short on money, got hurt, sick, or just sad, I was always there to help. But Rachel started crying to me more and more, saying Anna had completely misunderstood our relationship. She accused her of saying awful stuff that really got to her. "Joel, it's okay if I have to put up with a little," she'd say. "Just... please don't get mad at Ms. Brooklyn because of me. "T've heard people talk, you know... They say Anna and her family never really saw you as an equal. In the latest episode of ReelTalk, titled "Queen Bee Meets Queen Bee," the infamous Daniela Couso reunites with Sarah Moliski for a buzzworthy discussion. Dive into the world of these legendary villains as they unveil the realities behind their captivating personas. Exploring themes of power, rivalry, and intrigue, this ongoing romance series delves deep into the complexities of characters like Daniela and Sarah. Witness the clash of two formidable personalities as they navigate love, ambition, and deception in a world where nothing is as it seems. What sets this narrative apart is its intricate character dynamics and the magnetic pull between its leading ladies. Experience the allure of forbidden desires and hidden agendas in a story that promises twists at every turn. Ready to uncover the secrets that bind these queens together? Available to read at CrushReel for those eager to unravel the mysteries within.