“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” — Chinese ProverbWhen family and friends aren’t who they claim to be and turn their back on twenty-one-year-old, Aria Middleton, her life starts to spiral out of control. In this dog eat dog world, she finds out that the streets don’t love you nor do they show you any mercy.When hit with a betrayal of a lifetime, she’s knocked down harder than ever before. Forgetting all she once knew, Aria stands up, forced to confront her demons head on.Los Angeles native, Sayyaf Adams always believed in treating his woman like a queen. But his hard work and dedication always kept him busy. That was until he met and fell in love with the smart, sassy and beautiful, Aria Middleton.Surrounded by nothing but death and the deepest betrayal of a long-time friend, Sayyaf falls back into his life of crime to protect those closest to him. But when things turn deadly, and he hits rock bottom, he's forced to make a decision that would make or break him.When their relationship is tested, and betrayal is at its highest, will what they worked so hard for be enough? When things are meant to stay in the past but soon become their reality will they fail miserably? Will the life he fell back into cause him to sink or swim? Or will their forever type of love conquer all?