Shattered Trust

Can a single act of defiance shatter a life beyond repair? Josie Banks, an eighteen-year-old criminology freshman at Mount University, arrives on campus seeking a fresh start, a sanctuary from the trauma that has defined her young life. Orphaned by loss and burdened by her mother's battle with psychosis, Josie carries wounds both visible and unseen, hoping to find solace and a sense of belonging within the ivy-covered walls of academia. Her fragile hope for normalcy is shattered before the sun even rises on her first day. Jenna, the dorm senior, a paragon of rigid order, unleashes a torrent of early morning tyranny, enforcing draconian routines with an iron fist. But the true violation comes when Jenna, in a cruel display of power, exposes Josie’s deepest vulnerabilities to the entire dorm, laying bare her family history and psychological struggles for all to see. Fueled by righteous fury, Josie confronts Jenna, grabbing her clipboard in a desperate attempt to regain control. A shove, a misstep, a sickening thud—Jenna collapses, her head striking the unforgiving wall. Darkness descends, and Josie awakens to the cold reality of police sirens and accusatory stares. Arrested and branded, her university career begins not with promise but with the chilling clang of handcuffs. This gripping romance explores the intricate tapestry of trauma, resilience, and the unexpected twists of fate. As Josie navigates the treacherous waters of legal proceedings and campus gossip, she unearths long-buried secrets that threaten to redefine everything she thought she knew. Could this one moment of impulsive action condemn her to a future she never imagined, or will she find strength in the face of adversity and discover an unlikely love amidst the wreckage? What if the girl who’s world was previously fractured is capable of building something even stronger?