THEY BETRAYED HER

🌸 PROLOGUE — Before the Storm The morning Amani first saw Brian Black, the world felt brighter than it had any right to be. Sunlight spilled through the dusty curtains hanging in her small bedroom, turning the faded cloth into a soft haze of gold. A breeze slipped through the open window, carrying the scent of ripe mangoes from the tree outside. For once, the quiet inside her home didn’t feel cold — it felt like promise. Amani stood in front of her cracked mirror, gently smoothing the front of her school uniform. The cotton was a little thin; the skirt was a little short after years of use. But she didn’t mind. Today wasn’t about being perfect. Today was about starting over. “First day of high school…” she whispered to her reflection. She stepped into the crisp morning air and made her way to school. Her heart raced the closer she came. New teachers. New friends. Maybe even someone who would look at her and actually see her. Crowds gathered at the gate. Students whispered. “That’s him.” “The new rich boy.” “Brian Black.” A sleek black car rolled up, stopping smoothly at the entrance. The door opened — and a boy stepped out. Tall. Handsome. Unbothered by the stares. His confidence wasn’t loud; it was effortless. His uniform was perfectly pressed, and his quiet smile made people pause. Amani wasn’t prepared for what happened next. His eyes lifted… And landed on her. Just for a second. Just long enough to set her heart on fire. He smiled — small, warm, intentional — and Amani forgot how to breathe. In class, he sat directly in front of her. When he turned around and whispered, “Hey… I’ve seen you around before,” her heart fluttered like it had wings. At break, he found her alone in the quiet garden. “You’re different,” he told her gently. “Not loud. Not trying to impress anyone.” “I like that.” Sitting beside him under the acacia tree, their shoulders almost touching, Amani felt something she had never felt before — chosen. When the bell rang, Brian Black stood and offered his hand. “Come on,” he said. “We’ll be late.” And she took it. Warm. Steady. Safe. She didn’t know yet that this perfect beginning would shatter into something unthinkable. For now, it was everything she dreamed of: A soft sunrise before the darkest storm.