Chapter 1: Sold for Twenty Thousand Dollars

Christmas was supposed to be the happiest night of Eva Quinn's year. After dating Miles Carter for nearly two years, he had finally invited her to celebrate Christmas with his family. She had spent hours choosing the perfect red dress, curling her hair, and wrapping thoughtful gifts for his parents. On the drive there, she imagined laughter around the dinner table and perhaps even the beginning of a future together. She never imagined that the man sitting beside her had already decided to sell her.

The moment Eva stepped into Miles' car, an unusual scent filled the cabin. It was sweet but strangely heavy. Within minutes, her eyelids became impossibly heavy, and her vision blurred.

"Miles... what's happening...?" she whispered weakly.

"Just relax," he replied, refusing to meet her eyes.

Darkness swallowed her before she could ask another question.

Time lost all meaning. She couldn't move her body, yet distant voices slowly drifted into her consciousness.

"I'm telling you, I don't have the money!" Miles shouted over the phone. "Give me one more chance!"

A loud curse echoed from the other end before the call ended.

Moments later another call connected.

"Mom... I'm sorry. I won't make it home for Christmas tonight. Something came up at school."

His voice sounded calm this time, almost rehearsed.

Then came a third call.

Eva immediately noticed the difference.

Miles' tone became respectful, almost fearful.

"Mr. Snake... yes, I'm bringing her now. She's exactly your boss's type. Young... beautiful... and untouched."

Eva's heartbeat nearly stopped.

"I know I still owe twenty thousand dollars," Miles continued. "But you said your Don likes women like her. If he accepts her... my debt is gone, right?"

A long silence followed.

"Thank you, sir. I'll make sure she doesn't cause trouble."

Every word felt like another knife twisting into Eva's heart.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted to open the car door and run.

But her body refused to obey.

The drug still held her captive.

The car finally came to a stop.

Miles gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, pretending to be affectionate.

"I'm sorry, Eva," he whispered.

"You looked so beautiful tonight. Maybe... too beautiful."

"I never planned for any of this. I only wanted to win enough money to pay my tuition. But I lost everything."

His voice trembled.

"Those people threatened my mother... they threatened to kill us if I couldn't pay."

He sighed deeply before adding the words Eva would never forget.

"Don't blame me... blame yourself for being too pretty."

A single tear escaped the corner of Eva's eye.

Twenty thousand dollars.

That was apparently the price of two years together.

Miles continued speaking, trying to convince himself more than her.

"It's only one night. Mr. Snake promised me. Afterward I'll come back for you. I'll marry you. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

Inside her mind, Eva laughed bitterly.

He still believed promises could erase betrayal.

The passenger door opened.

Several rough-looking men surrounded the vehicle.

"Is she the girl?" one of them asked.

"Yes," Miles answered immediately.

"Good."

Strong hands lifted Eva out of the car as if she were nothing more than luggage.

"I have to admit," the scar-faced man chuckled. "Not many men would actually sell their own girlfriend."

"Desperate times," Miles forced a laugh.

"She's beautiful," another man commented while studying Eva's unconscious face.

"She's the prettiest girl in our university," Miles bragged proudly. "Everyone wanted her. It took me nearly a year before she agreed to date me."

"Then why give her away?"

"Because she's worth more to your Don than she is to me."

The men burst into cruel laughter.

"Don't worry," Miles added eagerly. "She's a pianist. Those fingers... they're perfect. Your Don won't be disappointed."

Eva felt sick.

The man called Snake nodded approvingly.

"If the Don likes her, your debt disappears."

"Thank you, Mr. Snake! Thank you!"

"Don't celebrate yet." Snake lit a cigarette. "Our Don doesn't usually accept gifts like this. He'll decide for himself."

The words sent another chill through Eva.

She slowly forced her fingers to move.

Hidden beneath the sleeve of her dress was an elegant silver bracelet.

To everyone else, it looked like expensive jewelry.

Only Eva knew it contained an emergency distress button.

One press.

That was all it would take.

Her older brother would receive her exact location instantly.

The problem was she still couldn't lift her hand.

Snake suddenly grabbed her chin.

"Open your eyes, sweetheart. Let's see that pretty face."

Eva resisted every instinct to react.

She kept pretending to be unconscious.

Then something caught her attention.

Bright golden lights.

A massive black building.

A familiar family crest carved above the entrance.

Crowe Casino.

Her breathing nearly stopped.

This wasn't just any casino.

It belonged to her family.

Her brother Theo Crowe ruled this place.

Miles had unknowingly brought her directly into her own family's territory.

She almost laughed at the irony.

Her brother had warned her years ago never to reveal her true identity while attending university. To protect her from enemies, she had taken their mother's surname, Quinn, instead of Crowe.

Not even Miles knew she came from one of the city's most feared mafia families.

He believed he was delivering her to a dangerous mafia Don.

He had no idea that Don was her brother.

But relief didn't come.

Instead, anxiety settled inside her chest.

Theo was famous for refusing every woman offered to him.

Not because he was cruel.

Because ten years ago he had lost the only woman he ever loved.

Since then, no one had been able to replace her.

If Snake tried presenting Eva before Theo without recognizing her first...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

She gathered every ounce of strength left in her body.

Her trembling finger slowly inched toward the hidden emergency button beneath the bracelet.

Just before she managed to press it, the heavy casino doors opened.

A convoy of black luxury SUVs rolled into the courtyard.

Every guard standing outside instantly lowered their heads.

"The Don has arrived," Snake whispered nervously.

Eva's heart pounded.

Her brother was here.