Sold By Mom, Ruined By Husband

The rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the glass windows of the hospital. The sterile white walls and the scent of antiseptic made everything feel cold-too cold for Nayara Kaluna Pradipta, who stood frozen outside the ICU. Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of her coat, her chest tightening with every beep from the machines behind the glass.

"Doctor, please save my father," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the storm raging outside.

The doctor didn't respond immediately. Instead, he sighed, removing his glasses with a look of exhaustion and regret. "Miss Nayara... I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

The world around her crumbled. Her knees buckled, and if it weren't for the firm grip of her fiancé, Damar, she would have collapsed onto the cold floor.

"Naya!" Damar's voice was sharp with concern, but she barely heard him. Her father was gone. The only family she had left, the only person who had truly loved her, was gone.

The funeral was held the next day under heavy rain, as if the heavens themselves mourned his passing. People came dressed in black, offering meaningless condolences that Nayara barely registered. She felt numb.

She stood by his grave long after everyone had left, letting the rain soak through her clothes. Her father had been everything to her, and now, she had nothing.

Or so she thought.

Damar stood beside her, shielding her with his umbrella. "Naya, you're not alone. You still have me."

His words should have comforted her, but something about the way he said them sent a chill down her spine. It was only later that she realized why.

Two days after the funeral, Nayara was summoned to her father's company. Or what was left of it.

As she entered the boardroom, the faces of the shareholders and executives were grim. She straightened her spine, determined to be strong. "What's happening?"

One of the older men, Pak Surya, sighed. "Miss Nayara, we must be honest with you. Your father's company is in a dire state. There is nothing left. Debts have piled up. Creditors are demanding repayment."

Nayara's breath hitched. "That's not possible. My father-"

"Your father made some risky investments before he passed. And now, we are bankrupt."

The words felt like a slap. Her father had worked so hard, built this company from the ground up. How could it all be gone?

"The only way to save it is to merge with Dirgantara Group," another man said.

"Dirgantara Group?" Nayara frowned. "I don't understand."

Pak Surya hesitated before speaking again. "Their CEO, Ardian Mahendra Dirgantara, is interested in acquiring what's left of this company. If you agree to their terms, they will clear the debts."

"And what are their terms?" Nayara asked, her voice wary.

Silence.

She looked at each of their faces, and something in her stomach twisted. "Tell me."

"You."

Her blood turned to ice. "What do you mean?"

Pak Surya looked down, unable to meet her gaze. "Ardian Dirgantara doesn't just want the company. He wants you."

The air in the room thickened with tension. Nayara's heart pounded in her chest. "This is absurd. I'm engaged to Damar!"

At the mention of his name, the doors opened, and Damar walked in. Relief washed over her. "Damar, tell them this is ridiculous."

But he didn't. He didn't even look at her. Instead, he walked over to Pak Surya and shook his hand. "I've already agreed to the deal."

The world tilted. Nayara took a step back, shaking her head. "No... You wouldn't..."

Damar finally turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I had no choice, Naya. The company is beyond saving. Your father's debts are too great. You can either agree to this, or you'll lose everything."

Betrayal sliced through her like a knife. The man she loved, the man she trusted, had already made the decision without her. "So, you're just giving me away?" Her voice cracked.

Damar sighed, his tone patronizing. "It's not like that, Naya. Ardian Dirgantara is one of the most powerful men in the country. He can protect you."

"I don't need his protection!" she shouted.

Pak Surya cleared his throat. "Miss Nayara, we strongly advise you to consider this. If you refuse, the creditors will come for your house, your assets... everything. You'll have nothing left."

She was trapped.

A week ago, she had been Nayara Kaluna Pradipta, the daughter of a respected businessman, engaged to a man she thought loved her. Now, she was nothing more than a pawn in a transaction between powerful men.

Her hands clenched into fists. "And if I refuse?"

Pak Surya's expression turned grim. "Then you will be responsible for paying off your father's debts yourself."

She had no choice.

That night, she packed her bags and left the house she grew up in. She didn't even say goodbye to Damar. The betrayal burned too deep.

She went to the only person who might help her-her adoptive mother, Bu Siska.

Bu Siska welcomed her with open arms, her voice filled with sympathy. "Oh, Naya... I'm so sorry. I heard everything. Don't worry, you can stay here for as long as you need."

For the first time in days, Nayara allowed herself to breathe. She wasn't alone.

But she should have known-safety was an illusion.

Two nights later, she woke up to the sound of footsteps outside her door. Before she could react, a cloth was pressed over her nose and mouth.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

When she woke up, she was no longer in Bu Siska's house. The air smelled different-clean, but suffocating. She tried to move, but her wrists were bound. Panic surged through her veins.

The sound of approaching footsteps made her breath hitch.

The door opened, and a man stepped inside.

Tall, powerful, and terrifyingly handsome. His sharp features were carved from stone, his dark eyes piercing through her like a blade.

Ardian Mahendra Dirgantara.

Her captor.

Her new owner.

"Welcome to your new home, Nayara," he said, his voice cold.

A slow smirk curved his lips as he stepped closer, towering over her.

"You belong to me now."