The Birthday Girl

September 14th.

Tahlia Banks’ birthday.

No one ever remembered it… until the year she made sure they never forgot.

She clawed her way out of the ghetto, built an empire from nothing, and rose to billionaire status, but the view at the top turned out lonelier than the bottom. Her family only called when they needed money. Her so-called friends only showed up when there was something in it for them. And her boyfriend, the man who owed her loyalty, was loving on everything with two legs.

Her therapist told her to work on forgiveness, so she gave them one last chance.

One last chance...

September 14th.

Tahlia Banks’ birthday.

No one ever remembered it… until the year she made sure they never forgot.

She clawed her way out of the ghetto, built an empire from nothing, and rose to billionaire status, but the view at the top turned out lonelier than the bottom. Her family only called when they needed money. Her so-called friends only showed up when there was something in it for them. And her boyfriend, the man who owed her loyalty, was loving on everything with two legs.

Her therapist told her to work on forgiveness, so she gave them one last chance.

One last chance to prove she wasn’t just a pocket to pick.

One last chance to show they deserved the love she kept giving.

But nothing could prepare her for what came next. The blow didn’t just hurt. It hollowed her out, left her unrecognizable, and filled her with a fury that rewrote her DNA, making her something new.

Something terrible.

She thought she knew betrayal. She thought she knew rage. She thought she knew what it meant to suffer at the hands of family, friends, and love.

She was wrong.

Then the man she trusted most vanished without a trace, leaving her the number one suspect in his disappearance.

Now, as the police close in and whispers grow louder, Tahlia isn’t fighting to prove her innocence. She’s fighting to make sure everyone who betrayed her pays.