The Bad Boy & The New Girl

Chapter 1 Losing Everything (Ivy’s POV) In a matter of weeks, my life had turned upside down. Everything had shattered. I had lost so much. It still felt like a nightmare from which I could not awaken. It couldn’t be true. Could it? How could everything have gone so wrong? I stood at the edge of the grave, my heart heavy as I watched the workers lower my mother’s casket into the cold, unforgiving earth. Just two weeks ago, I had stood in this same spot, watching them lower my father’s casket. It felt as if I had been rooted here for the last fourteen days, time stretching infinitely in my grief. How had I lost so much so soon? Beside me, my sister Bella was crying, her shoulders shaking with each sob. Yet, in that moment of shared sorrow, I felt utterly helpless. I couldn't find the words to comfort her, nor could I allow myself to cry. My brother, Noah, had refused to attend the funeral, instead packing a bag and announcing that he was shipping out for training with the Navy. After our father’s funeral, he had chosen to distance himself from the pain, leaving just Bella and me to bear the weight of our loss. I could hardly endure hearing another person murmur their condolences. They didn’t understand our pain. They would go back to their lives, as if nothing had changed, while we were left to navigate an existence that would never feel whole again. I wanted to scream at them, to let out the fury that roiled within me, but I swallowed it down, as I had been forced to do for so long. We stood there in silence, long after the last of the mourners had departed. I felt as if my feet were glued to the ground, a leaden weight anchoring me to this spot. I tried to speak, but my body refused to move. I longed to escape, to turn away from the graves of my parents, but every attempt to leave was met with a suffocating stillness. In the distance, I heard Bella’s anguished cries. I thought she was beside me, but when I turned, confusion washed over me. She was in front of me, her mouth moving, but no words reached my ears. The last thing I saw before the world fell into darkness was Bella stretching out both her hands, as if reaching for me. When I awoke, a dull throbbing pulsed through my head. Blinking against the light, I found myself in my bedroom, a place that felt oddly foreign. I struggled to sit up, my body protesting with every movement. Glancing around, I noticed I was no longer clad in my black funeral dress, but rather in comfortable pajamas. What had happened? Pushing through the haze of confusion, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and made my way to the door, my muscles stiff and sore. I followed the distant sounds of voices, each step heavy with uncertainty. As I approached my father’s study, I could hear Bella’s voice, tinged with desperation, speaking to a man I didn’t recognize. “Mr. Keller, how is this possible?” Bella asked, her tone wavering. “Ms. Matthews, your father made several financial decisions over the past couple of years that didn’t turn out as he had hoped,” the man replied, his voice steady yet devoid of warmth. “I still don’t understand,” she insisted, frustration creeping into her words. “Your father’s financial choices, combined with your mother’s illness, drained their savings,” Mr. Keller explained, his gaze unwavering. “What about the insurance policies? Or the college funds for Ivy and Noah?” Bella pressed, anxiety seeping through her voice. “I’m sorry, Ms. Matthews. Your father withdrew those funds shortly before the accident to cover other expenses,” he said, his expression somber. “So you’re telling me we have nothing? How was my father covering everything? Ivy’s boarding school? My university?” Bella’s voice cracked, and I could hear the panic rising within her. “Everything was manageable until your father decided to pursue a new venture. He wanted to stay here after finishing his work with the Department of Defense and his retirement from the Navy. It was a significant risk,” Mr. Keller explained, his tone clinical. “What about military death benefits? My father died serving his country,” Bella shot back, her voice rising. “Unfortunately, due to the circumstances surrounding his death, you are disqualified from receiving any of those benefits. The only assets you have, according to the documents, are this house and your grandmother’s house that she left for your father. If you sell this place, you could cover the funeral expenses and pay off the remaining loans,” he concluded, a finality in his tone. “So we have nothing? Our parents left us with nothing but a house in a country neither of us remembers? And on top of that, we can’t stay here, can we?” Bella cried, collapsing onto the couch in the study, her despair palpable. “No, the reasons for your stay no longer apply. You will need to return to the States,” Mr. Keller confirmed, his voice devoid of empathy. Bella paused, the weight of reality crashing down upon her. She had lost both parents in a heartbeat, her brother had joined the Navy as soon as he heard the news of their father’s passing, and now she was suddenly responsible for her 16-year-old sister. At just 20 years old herself, the enormity of it all felt insurmountable. She had been pursuing her studies in Paris when she received the call about our father. Now, everything had changed. How would she tell me that I couldn’t return to my school? I had worked so hard to earn a partial scholarship to the prestigious Billiton International School in Switzerland. But there was no way Bella could afford even half the costs now. She wouldn’t even be able to pay her own tuition. The harsh reality loomed: we would have no choice but to return. Straightening her shoulders, Bella cleared her throat, determination flashing in her eyes. “Where is this house in the States?” she asked, her voice steadying. “From the information I have, it’s located in Chicago,” Mr. Keller replied. “Thank you. If you could send me the details, I will make a plan for us,” she said, the fire igniting within her. “Ms. Matthews, the firm will handle the sale of this house and clear the loans. My only suggestion is to focus on packing and making arrangements for the move,” he said, rising from his chair. Bella stood and shook his hand, her gratitude evident despite the turmoil. “Thank you for your help,” she replied, her voice soft yet firm. “Again, I’m truly sorry for your loss,” he said, and then turned to leave the study. I had tried to process everything I had heard, but the weight of the moment overwhelmed me. I didn’t notice when the door opened and Mr. Keller walked by, oblivious to my presence. I stepped into the room that had once felt like a haven, the place I had often raced into to share my joys and triumphs with my father. Now, it was a chamber filled with despair. I walked to the couch and sat beside Bella, my heart aching to ease her pain. “Bella?” I whispered, my voice barely breaking through the silence. She looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with sorrow. “Ivy,” she breathed, quickly wiping away her tears and taking my hands in hers. “How are you feeling, honey?” “I’m okay,” I replied, though uncertainty laced my words. “You’re sure, right?” Bella pressed, her concern palpable. “Yes,” I said, my voice trembling. For a moment, we simply looked at each other, the unspoken weight of our shared loss hanging in the air. Then, unable to hold back any longer, Bella pulled me into a tight embrace. I finally gave in to the torrent of emotions, letting the tears flow freely. Together, we sat on the couch, lost in our grief, the world outside fading away. After what felt like an eternity, Bella pulled away, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. “No matter what, we will not leave each other. I promise I will be by your side, no matter what we go through. Do you promise?” I looked at my older sister, the strength she tried to convey shining through her exhaustion. We were all that remained of our family, and the weight of our circumstances pressed heavily upon us. I didn’t want to make this any harder for her than it needed to be. “Yes, I promise. It’s the two of us,” I said, my voice steadying as I held her gaze.