SHATTERED DREAMS

Prologue

I stood in the living room, my heart racing as my parents exchanged glances. The air felt heavy with unspoken words, the kind that wrapped around you like a tight embrace. I could sense something significant was coming, and my gut twisted with anxiety. When they finally spoke, their voices were calm but firm, as if they were delivering news of a family celebration rather than a life-altering decision.

“Hlelolwenkosi,” my father began, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and concern, “we have an opportunity for you—one that will secure your future.”

I forced a smile, trying to mask the unease swelling inside me. “What kind of opportunity?”

My mother’s gaze softened, but her tone was resolute. “You are to marry Sbanisethu Khumalo, the CEO of Khumalo Industries. It’s a strategic business deal that will benefit our family.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My world tilted, the ground beneath me feeling less stable. Sbanisethu Khumalo? The name was familiar, a figure of power and influence, but also one I had never imagined as my husband. My mind raced, thoughts colliding in a chaotic whirlwind.

“I don’t understand,” I managed to stammer. “This isn’t what I want. I’m still in university. I have dreams of my own.”

My parents exchanged another look, this one tinged with disappointment. “This is for your future, Hlelolwenkosi. A marriage like this can open doors, provide stability, and elevate our family’s status.”

Stability. Status. The words echoed in my mind, drowning out my own desires. I had always believed in love—real love, built on trust and mutual respect. But this? This felt like a transaction, a barter of my dreams for a so-called brighter future.

As I stood there, a wave of sadness washed over me. I thought of the life I had envisioned: laughter, love, companionship. Instead, I was being handed a life where my choices would be dictated by others. My heart ached at the thought of surrendering my autonomy, of becoming a pawn in a game I never wanted to play.

But deep down, a flicker of defiance ignited. I was more than a name in a business deal. I was Hlelolwenkosi Zulu, a woman with aspirations, a woman who yearned for a life beyond the confines of tradition.

With that realization, I knew this was only the beginning of my struggle—not just against my parents' expectations, but against a reality that threatened to silence my voice. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I made a silent vow: I would fight to reclaim my story, no matter the cost.