THE DEVIL I WAS SOLD TO

The Devil I Was Sold To — Chapter 1: The Transaction Maya had learned early in life how to stay quiet in a house where her voice never mattered. But nothing in her life prepared her for today. The living room felt colder than usual, though the air conditioner wasn’t on. Maybe it wasn’t the room—it was the people in it. Her stepfather sat on the main chair like a judge waiting to deliver a sentence. Her stepmother stood beside him, arms folded, her expression sharp and impatient. Maya stood in front of them, confused but already uneasy. “You called me home early from work… why?” Maya asked slowly. Her stepfather didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for a folder on the table and placed it carefully in front of him. That action alone made Maya’s stomach tighten. “It’s time,” he said. Maya frowned. “Time for what?” Her stepmother sighed loudly, as though Maya was deliberately slow. “Marriage.” The word hit her like a slap. Maya blinked. “I don’t understand… marriage? I’m not dating anyone.” Her stepfather finally looked at her, eyes cold and emotionless. “You will be married to settle a debt.” For a moment, Maya thought she misheard him. “A debt?” she repeated. “What debt? I didn’t borrow any money.” Silence. Then her stepmother spoke again, slower this time. “Your father borrowed money before he died. A very large amount.” Maya’s heart tightened painfully. “That has nothing to do with me.” But her stepfather stood, walking calmly toward her like every step was already calculated. He stopped just a few feet away. “Unfortunately,” he said, “it does.” He placed a sealed envelope into her hands. Maya hesitated before opening it. Her fingers shook slightly as she pulled out the documents inside. Her eyes scanned the pages. Marriage Agreement. Her name was printed clearly. Beside it was another name she didn’t recognize. Only one word was written under the name in bold letters: THE DEVIL. Maya felt her breath stop. “What… is this?” she whispered. Her stepmother crossed her arms tighter. “A solution.” Maya looked up sharply. “This is not a solution! This is insane!” Her stepfather’s expression didn’t change. “It’s already signed on our side. Yours is the last signature.” Maya took a step back. “No. I won’t sign anything. I don’t even know this person!” Her stepfather’s voice dropped, colder now. “You don’t need to know him. You just need to obey.” A heavy silence filled the room. Maya’s chest rose and fell quickly. “You can’t do this to me. I’m not a property!” Her stepmother scoffed. “Then you should have thought about that before being born into this family.” That sentence cut deeper than anything else. Before Maya could respond, the front door opened. Two large men walked in. Maya turned slowly, her stomach dropping. “What is this?” she asked, voice shaking. No one answered. The men didn’t look at her—they looked at her stepfather, waiting for instructions. Maya’s mind raced. “Wait… why are they here?” Her stepfather adjusted his cufflinks calmly. “In case you refuse.” Her heart stopped. “Refuse…?” she echoed faintly. One of the men stepped forward slightly. Not aggressive—but final. Maya looked around the room, suddenly realizing there was no exit that belonged to her anymore. “This is kidnapping,” she whispered. “No,” her stepfather said. “It’s a transaction.” Maya’s eyes filled with disbelief and fear. “I’m not going anywhere.” The silence that followed was heavy. Then her stepmother spoke softly, almost tired. “You already are.” Maya shook her head, stepping back again. “No… no, this is not real.” But the men moved closer—not rushing, not shouting, just certain. Maya’s breathing became uneven. “Please… don’t do this.” For a moment, something flickered in her stepmother’s eyes. But it disappeared quickly. “This is your life now,” she said quietly. Maya’s hands trembled violently as one of the men reached for her arm. That was when panic finally broke through. “No!” Maya yelled, pulling back. “I said I won’t go!” But she was outnumbered. The room spun as her world collapsed into something she no longer recognized. Her last thought before everything went dark was simple, terrifying, and painfully clear: She wasn’t being married. She was being delivered. To a man called the Devil.