SHATTERED DREAMS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Hlelolwenkosi stood in her apartment, her hands scrubbing the kitchen counter with more force than necessary. Cleaning had always been her way of processing emotions-something about the act of scrubbing away the dirt helped her clear her mind. But today, no matter how hard she cleaned, she couldn't seem to quiet the storm inside her. Sbanisethu's broken promises, the family's heavy-handed decisions, and the years of feeling disowned by her own blood all swirled together in a whirlpool of frustration.

She paused, leaning against the counter, breathing heavily. The apartment felt too small, too suffocating, with the weight of unresolved pain pressing down on her chest. Her mind drifted back to the family meeting, the revelation that her family had never truly withdrawn from the business deal. They had let her believe she was cut off, disowned for marrying Sbanisethu, while they kept up their end of the agreement behind closed doors.

The betrayal cut deeper than any words Sbanisethu had ever spoken.

Meanwhile, Sbanisethu sat in his own estate, staring blankly out the window, lost in thought. He had replayed the events of the past few days over and over in his mind-their lost child, the family's ultimatum, and Hlelolwenkosi's quiet strength. He knew she was hurting, perhaps even more than he was, but she had carried herself with a dignity that left him both awed and ashamed. He had spent years looking for a way out of their arranged marriage, chasing a love he thought he wanted, and in the process, he had overlooked the very person who had always been right in front of him.

But now, what did he want? His family had made their stance clear-divorce was not an option. And yet, something deeper than obligation had begun to stir in him. It was a slow, painful realization, but it was there nonetheless: Hlelolwenkosi was not the obstacle he had always believed her to be. She was strong, independent, and undeniably resilient. And if he was being honest with himself, she deserved more than the half-hearted efforts he had been offering.

As the hours passed, Sbanisethu's thoughts returned to Hlelolwenkosi again and again. He knew she was back at her apartment, probably trying to process the news about the business deal. She had always been more tied to her family's business than he was to his, and he could only imagine the betrayal she must feel now that the truth had come out. Her family had abandoned her-or so she thought-yet they had continued to benefit from her marriage in silence.

Back at her apartment, Hlelolwenkosi wiped her hands on a towel, her mind racing. She couldn't stay here anymore, cleaning and waiting for the dust to settle. She had lived in the shadows of her family's decisions for too long. The time had come to confront them.

She grabbed her phone and purse, her heart pounding with resolve. She had spent years trying to accept that her family had turned their backs on her, but now, armed with the truth, she needed answers. She needed to understand why they had left her in the dark. And most of all, she needed to face them with the strength she had always carried, the strength that had kept her going even when everything else had fallen apart.

---

The ride back to her family's home felt longer than usual, every passing kilometer weighed down by the tension in her chest. Memories flooded her-childhood summers spent running through her family's estate, her father's stern yet kind voice guiding her through life, and the moment they had all but abandoned her for choosing a path they hadn't approved of.

But this was different. Now, she had leverage. Now, she had the truth.

As she parked outside the gates of her family's estate, Hlelolwenkosi took a deep breath, steadying herself. This wasn't just about the business deal anymore. It was about reclaiming her dignity, her place in the family that had pushed her away. She walked up the path toward the front door, her steps firm and purposeful.

Her mother answered the door, surprise flashing across her face when she saw Hlelolwenkosi standing there.

"Hlelo," her mother said cautiously. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to speak to all of you," Hlelolwenkosi replied, her voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. "Now."

Her mother hesitated but nodded, stepping aside to let her in. Hlelolwenkosi walked into the grand sitting room, where her father and two brothers were already seated. They looked up, surprised to see her.

"Hlelolwenkosi," her father said, his voice calm but guarded. "What brings you here?"

She didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I know about the business deal. The one you never pulled out of. You let me believe you had cut ties with me, that I was disowned, but all the while, you were still benefiting from my marriage to Sbanisethu."

Her father's expression hardened. "It wasn't the right time to tell you. There were reasons-"

"There were no reasons good enough to let me believe I was abandoned for all these months!" she interrupted, her voice rising. "You let me carry the weight of that betrayal, thinking I had lost you, while you sat in silence and profited from my marriage. I need to know why."

Her brothers exchanged uneasy glances, but her father held her gaze. "We did what we thought was best for the family, Hlelolwenkosi. Business is business. It wasn't personal."

Hlelolwenkosi let out a bitter laugh. "Not personal? It's my life! You cut me out of your life for nothing."

Her mother finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "We never stopped caring about you, Hlelo. But there were things we couldn't tell you. Your marriage to Sbanisethu-there were too many complications. We thought it was better this way."

Hlelolwenkosi's hands clenched into fists. "Better for whom? Because it wasn't better for me. I've spent months wondering why my family turned their backs on me. I deserve more than silence and half-truths."

Her father sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You're right, Hlelolwenkosi. We handled things poorly. But now that you know, where do we go from here?"

She stood tall, her resolve unshaken. "I'm not asking for permission or forgiveness. I'm telling you that I'm done with the lies. If you want me back in this family, it's going to be on my terms from now on. And you'll treat me with the respect I deserve."

Her father's eyes softened for a moment before he nodded. "You've always been strong, Hlelolwenkosi. Perhaps stronger than we realized. We'll have to find a way forward. Together."

Hlelolwenkosi nodded, her heart still heavy but lighter than it had been in years. This was only the beginning, but it was a start. She had reclaimed her voice, and now, it was time to rebuild-not just with her family, but with herself.