My Husband sold me to the ICE KINGS

Evaria≈

Never in my life had I imagined that I would be sold by my own husband. On the night we were supposed to be celebrating our anniversary...

***

(Ten minutes Earlier…)

6:58 p.m.

I stood in the middle of our small living room, waiting for the key to turn.

People said I celebrated too much. One year and six months. Who does that?

I did, and they didn’t understand why.

Not when they hadn’t grown up scrubbing floors for people who treated them like a burden.

They hadn’t been discarded by their own blood.

I had.

And Logan had taken a terrified nine-year-old stray and given her a place to belong. He was my first love and the only man I had ever trusted.

The key turned.

“Logan!” I threw my arms around his neck the second he stepped inside, pressing frantic kisses across his face—cheek, jaw, forehead—until my lips brushed his mouth and I froze.

He was stiff.

His hands rested on my waist, but they carried weight instead of warmth.

I pulled back, frowning.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, his eyes darting away from mine to stare at the coat rack. “Just... a long day at work, Evie.”

“Well, let’s see if we can jump-start your memory,” I teased, removing a tiny stray piece of white lint from his dark hair. “Do you know what today is?”

Logan blinked, a shadow crossing his features.

“Today?”

“Think, Logan. Think,” I said, smiling sheepishly.

He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.

“I’m sorry, Evaria. I really don't… I don’t remember.”

A sharp feeling of disappointment pierced my chest, but I quickly forced a smile and brushed it away.

He had been so stressed lately, working late hours and coming home exhausted. He never forgot our milestones; we usually celebrated them every month. So… he was just tired. I convinced myself.

“It’s fine,” I said, grabbing his hands. “Close your eyes.”

“Evaria, what is—”

“Just trust me! Close them, handsome.”

He complied, even though his eyelids trembled slightly. I carefully guided him forward, navigating him around the sofa and into the dining room. I pulled out his chair and gently pressed on his shoulders until he sat down.

“Okay, now open them!” I cheered.

Logan opened his eyes, taking in the candlelit dinner, the wine, and the cake.

A smile tugged at his lips, but it was hollow. Not the usual kind of smile. This one didn’t reach his eyes.

“Happy one-year, six-month anniversary,” I said softly, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Thank you for always being here for me. For being our rock. I love you. So much.”

“I’m sorry, Evaria,” he whispered.

“Oh, stop apologizing,” I laughed, walking over to dish out the food. “It’s just a silly anniversary. It’s no big deal that you forgot. Besides, how’s Big Mummy?” I asked.

Instantly, his face fell.

I knew it.

Big Mummy was my mother-in-law, and she had spent the last few years battling an illness whose cure we still didn’t know. Logan had been conducting research tirelessly, but all his efforts always seemed futile.

“It’s okay,” I said, smiling faintly. “Mama loves our anniversary cake, you know, and I already packed some for her. We’ll stop by in the morning for her eighteenth-month blessing, okay?”

I set a loaded plate in front of him and picked up my own fork. But Logan didn’t move.

He just stared at the food, his hands gripping his knees so tightly.

“Come on, eat,” I encouraged. “I made your favorite.”

“I’m so sorry, Evaria,” Logan said again.

But this time, the weight of his voice made me drop my fork.

I looked across the table, really looking at him this time.

There was this… this familiar look of guilt radiating off him.

“Logan, you’re scaring me,” I said, my heart starting to thud against my ribs. “What’s wrong? Did something happen at work? What did you do?”

He looked up, his eyes now glassy with unshed tears.

“I’m sorry. Please, just forgive—”

CRASH!

The front door didn’t just open; it flew off its hinges with a deafening, splintering boom.

I screamed, instinctively jumping out of my seat.

Then I saw them.

Four massively built men in identical tailored suits stepped into our tiny apartment.

“What…?” I gasped, taking steps back until my back hit the wall. “Who are you? Logan, what’s happening?!”

Logan didn't stand up.

He didn't jump in front of me to protect me.

He didn't even move.

He just kept his eyes glued to the table.

One of the men marched straight past me to my husband. He slid a white paper folder and a silver ballpoint pen across the table, landing right next to Logan’s untouched plate.

“Sign,” the man commanded in a deep baritone voice.

Wait…

Are these debt collectors?

Did Logan owe money?

Is he being arrested?

My brain was moving mad.

“Logan, don’t sign that!” I yelled in panic. “Who are these people? Is this a joke? A prank? Logan, what the fuck is happening? Look at me!”

But it was like I was invisible to him.

He didn't look at me. Not even a quick glance.

Logan picked up the pen.

His hand was shaking violently, but he didn't hesitate. He pressed the ink to the paper and scribbled his signature at the bottom of the page.

Before the ink could even dry, the other two men closed the distance between us.

Like a dream, tight, iron-like grips clamped down under my armpits, violently pulling me away from the wall.

“Let go of me!” I shrieked, thrashing against their hold. “Get your hands off me! Who the fuck are you?! Logan, help me!”

Logan finally looked up.

He watched them drag me across the floor, his face pale, tears finally spilling down his cheeks.

But he didn't move a muscle to stop them.

Suddenly, a sick, horrifying realization slammed into my chest.

Wait.

I had heard stories like this.

Where fathers used their daughters to settle debts.

Is this it?

Is Logan using me to—

“You coward!” I screamed as a sudden rush of adrenaline exploded through my veins. “Let me go!”

I threw my weight backward, putting every ounce of my strength into a vicious kick.

My heel connected squarely with the groin of the man holding my right arm.

“Ahhhh, fuck! Bitch!” He groaned, his grip loosening just enough for me to wrench my arm free.

But before I could even take a step toward the shattered doorway, a shadow loomed over me.

Slap!

A thunderous slap collided with my cheek.

The force violently whipped my head to the side.

The world turned white.

A high-pitched ringing exploded in my ears as a thousand brilliant stars danced across my vision.

My knees buckled.

I fell, crumpled at his feet.

“Don’t you even think of it!” the commanding voice of the man roared.

The man looked back down at Logan with cold indifference.

“Check your phone. The transaction has been confirmed.”

Bzzzzz… Bzzzz…

Logan’s phone immediately vibrated on the table.

I watched his eyes shift to the phone as he swallowed hard and reached for it with a trembling hand.

My eyes clouded with tears, but I still couldn't bring myself to believe it.

Not completely. Not yet.

Then the man glanced back at me as if I were nothing more than an item that had been purchased.

“Our business here is finished. She belongs to Master Kane now.”

“Logan…” I whispered, low, almost inaudible.

But for the first time since I was nine years old…

Logan chose to stare at the wall.

“Move.”