d, in fact, only intensified. Bloggers were digging through her past, trying to link every tragedy of the la

ere quiet. Conversations that are restricted to strategic plans, meetin

k coffee in one of Zayn's oversized shirts. The city be

apping his arms around her w

tense,"

"Is it the press,

ighed.

d slowly. "Then let'

Ho

every root until your

. "And what if we f

owered. "Then w

ator's office. A thin, sharp-eyed woman named Nalia

the old files," she said.

white-of the warehouse where the gold had gone missing. And

hat's... Idris's

cleaner. But his bank account showed a deposit of 300

knees w

," Nalia said. "He owns land now. Cars. He's been

pounded. "So

calm but lethal. "

mina stared out the window, tears s

r youth was stolen. All while th

surrounded by old letters she had written while s

in quietly,

ept the

. My agony. He knelt in front of her. "M

groundwork. Let the world hear

w do I d

them. Through your voice. Through your name. Not as the girl

t me to g

ou to take

hesit

n no

ideo on social media. Her face, clean,

ccused of stealing gold from the Mfaume Company. I didn't do

went viral

t silent. Ex-prisoners. Even strangers from abroa

everyone

na received a text fr

ld've stay

owed it

ed. "Good. That mea

ed of

kly. "Of what

-

move cam

Ministry of Trade. Amina hadn't worn a gown in years. Her stylist wrapped

om black suit, e

turn heads?

few." They arrived, and as ex

pers were

she wed Zayn?" "I th

. Her heels clicked confi

w him, her heart

ex-hu

ass in his hand by the champagne table. His eyes widened when he saw her. His jaw ti

They approached like royalty. Idris's fake sm

Zayn said cooll

mina, ignoring Zay

ina said. "

ar... different." "I am diffe

them was sharp en

's also protected. Deeply. Lega

ssage w

r, and yo

away, Amina's

ticed. "

hought seeing him

An

t feel

d. "Let that an

-

akeup in the dim bathroom light,

did

ed to sl

kled. "N

the mirror. "Why are you

n slowly, stop

I was also betrayed. Left for dead. Framed. I crawled m

"And I'm your

u're my

d closer,

rs... protec

ld've ste

, she le

then fiercely. Like th

gen

t r

wer

la

awl