Hello, my name is Zoya James. I'm nineteen years old, and I can't say that my life is anything close to what I imagined it would be. I grew up dreaming of fairy tale endings, but the reality of my life feels more like a dark chapter from a crime novel.
My father, once a man of charm and laughter, sank into a deep pit of alcohol. The drink transformed him, and now he's just a shadow of the person he used to be. With each bottle, he dug us deeper into debts that feel like chains around my life. I used to dream of going to college, of living a life filled with opportunities, but now my future has become a mere whisper drowned out by the harsh echo of his mistakes.
Recently, he revealed a plan that shattered my already fragile world—he intends to pay off his debts by selling me to a drug lord. The words were like ice in my veins. I couldn't believe that the man who once cradled me in his arms could now see me as a bargain. I could feel my heart racing as the reality set in: I had to get away before it was too late.
So, I ran. I ran through the streets of this city that's both my home and my prison, desperate to escape my father's madness. But in my flight, I stumbled right into the path of Jerald Smith. He's not just any man; he's New York's biggest tycoon and a feared figure in the mafia. People speak his name in hushed tones, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and respect.
Jerald is everything I'm not—powerful, intimidating, and wrapped in a world of danger. As I stood before him, trembling yet resolved, I realized that I had no choice but to confront the very nightmare my father had thrust upon me. With nowhere else to turn, I had to navigate the treacherous waters of his world, caught between hopelessness and a glimmer of defiance.
I'm Zoya James, and this is my fight for survival—a battle against the dark forces that seek to control my life. I might be innocent, but I have come to understand that sometimes, it takes strength to face the shadows that loom over us.