Chapter 1 Glimmer to gloom

My life used to be golden.

The flashing cameras, red carpets, and adoring fans; everywhere I looked, someone wanted a piece of me. I was living a dream that most people only fantasize about. However, dreams can rapidly turn into nightmares, as this incident demonstrated six months ago.

A perfect trap, and I had walked right into it.

"Izalea Benson, you're under arrest for money laundering and embezzlement of funds from the All-Star Best and Creative Agency," one of the agents declared with a severe determination.

I never imagined I'd find myself in this stance. Handcuffed. Surrounded by FBI officers, their voices were frigid and professional as they recited my rights. The cabin I believed was my sanctuary, my secret escape from the world, was now overrun with law enforcement.

Flashing lights from news vans lit the quiet, isolated location. I felt like a criminal in a story I never wanted to be part of. The press had already crowded outside, hungry for a story. They pointed their cameras at me as if I were a dangerous criminal. I knew the headlines were already writing themselves.

*Izalea Benson: Money Launderer. Embezzler. Fallen Star.*

The agents were professional but firm, I was escorted to the FBI vehicle. They shielded me as best as they could, but the barrage of questions and flashing lights were relentless.

"Ms. Benson, is it true you've been involved in money laundering?"

"Who else in the agency is implicated?"

"How do you respond to the allegations?"

I kept my head down, refusing to answer any questions. My mind was racing, trying to piece together what had just happened and what lay ahead.

I couldn't believe this had become my reality. I went from being Hollywood's sweetheart to making headlines in the latest scandal, and I had no idea how it happened.

But that's the thing about betrayal. You never see it coming, especially from the people you trust the most.

How did I get here?

The worst part was that I wasn't sure how I could explain how it all fell apart. It seems like just yesterday that I was the industry's rising star, lighting up the screen and gracing magazine covers. Now, here I was, a criminal in the eyes of the world.

As the agents pushed me into the back of the FBI vehicle, the gravity of my situation started to settle in. Stared out the window, replaying the last few months over and over in my head.

The car began to move, I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. Everything had happened so fast, and I was now facing serious charges. I thought I had been careful. I felt I had removed myself from danger. But it was evident that I had been wrong.

Now, it was too late.

I was no longer the adored actress Izalea Benson. I became a suspect. A cautionary story for those who climb too quickly or too high.

And while I sat there with my wrists still shackled in cold metal, I realized this was just the beginning.

But one thing was certain, I wouldn't go down without knowing *why.*