Layla's pov
The days that followed the gala felt like a slow-motion collapse.
What was supposed to be the shining start of The Amara Initiative had turned into a battlefield strewn with accusations, headlines, and a creeping sense of betrayal. My phone buzzed non-stop—texts, emails, social media alerts. Each one felt like a dagger, landing in the softest parts of me.
The screen lit up with screaming headlines:
"Mentorship Mirage: Allegations Mount Against The Amara Initiative."
"Layla Blackwood Accused of Tokenism and Favoritism."
"From Fashion Icon to Fraud?"
I sat on the edge of our bed, knees drawn to my chest, scrolling endlessly until my eyes burned and the words blurred. My phone, once a tool of empowerment and celebration, now felt like an executioner delivering blow after b
