Innocent in the Dark

​I opened my eyes as the morning sunlight hit my face. As I stretched and tried to wake up, the voices coming from downstairs grew louder. Living in a crowded house, I was well used to this noise. I am Açelya Demir—the only granddaughter of the Demir family. Demir Logistics, the company founded by my grandfather, was currently managed by my youngest uncle, Altan. Out of all my uncles, Altan was my favorite; although I loved the other two dearly, Altan and I were more like siblings. ​Suddenly, my bedroom door burst open. ​"Didn't I tell you to wake up on time and never miss breakfast?!" Handan snapped. ​"I’m sorry, Grandma. I just feel a bit tired today," I murmured. ​"Are you making excuses now? I don't care. You know breakfast is strictly at 10:00 AM. Get ready quickly and come downstairs." With that, she slammed the door shut. ​My grandmother, Handan, was an incredibly harsh woman. Back in my school days, she wouldn't even let me speak to boys, which eventually prevented me from attending university. My dream of becoming a doctor remained nothing but a broken wish in my heart. ​After getting dressed, I went downstairs. "Good morning, everyone." ​"Good morning," the table echoed. ​"Good morning to you too, beautiful," my eldest uncle, Erdem, smiled warmly as he put some food on my plate. Erdem was very dear to me, and I had a wonderful relationship with his wife, my aunt Sevda. ​"Açelya, you look as radiant as always," Caner, my other uncle, joked. ​"I feel a bit tired today, kind of sluggish," I replied. ​"Alright then, finish your breakfast and we’ll take you to the hospital," Caner said. He was always the joker of the family, and I got along great with his wife, Deniz, who had recently given birth to their son, Can. ​"It’s nothing serious, don't worry. Besides, you all have work to do," I said. ​Altan chimed in immediately, "Our work isn't more important than you, sweetie. Caner can head to the office, and I'll accompany you." ​Suddenly, Handan’s cold voice cut through the warmth. "Why are you uncles taking her when her mother and father are sitting right here?" ​Her sharp question brought sudden tears to my eyes. I looked up at my parents, only to see them staring down at their plates. ​"I have some business to attend to. You guys go ahead," my father, Akın, said quietly. ​"Açelya is just exaggerating as usual," my mother, Nil, added, glancing at me coldly. "There's nothing seriously wrong with you. Just stay home, rest, and sleep it off." ​My father was always like this; I knew deep down he loved me, but he was terrified of showing any affection. But I couldn't say the same for my mother. She clearly favored my brother, Cem, and was busy piling food onto his plate at that very moment. ​"Mom, that's enough," Cem muttered. ​"No, eat these too. You’ve lost weight, my son. Take care of yourself," Nil insisted. ​Seeing this, my aunt Sinem rolled her eyes. She was Altan’s wife, and we were very close. Just like me, she couldn't stand my grandmother's behavior. ​"It's no problem, Mother," Altan intervened smoothly. "Like I said, Açelya comes before our business." ​I smiled at him gratefully. After finishing my breakfast, I got ready and walked out to Altan’s car. My father was standing outside next to him. ​"Go on, but don't stay out too long," Akın ordered. ​"Don't worry, Father. It's not like I ever leave this house anyway, except to go to the hospital," I retorted. Catching my father's stern, icy glare, I quickly got into the car, and my uncle joined me. We started the engine and drove off. ​"I know we don't let you go out much, my beautiful girl," Altan said softly. "But you have to consider the kind of family we are. The things we do aren't exactly clean, and we are always in danger." ​"So because of that, I can't live my youth?" my voice cracked. "I couldn't go to university. I don't have a circle of friends like other people my age. I feel so utterly lonely." ​"Don't say that, Açelya. You are the crown jewel of this family, our only girl. If you want to study or make friends, I will support you, I promise." ​"I trust you, Uncle, but Grandma..." ​"I know how she is. But remember, she just wants to protect you in her own warped way. I'll try to talk to her again." ​"Thank you, Uncle." ​Finally, we arrived at the hospital. Suddenly, his phone rang. ​"Hello? Yeah... What? How... What are you talking about?! Alright, I’m coming." Altan's face drained of color. ​"Did something happen?" I asked, alarmed. ​"Sweetie, an urgent matter just came up." ​"Don't worry, Uncle. I can handle this alone. Go ahead, it's fine." ​We hugged, and I stepped out of the car. Although the world knew the Demir family for our legitimate logistics business, in the dark underworld, they were heavily involved in illegal weapons smuggling and trading. ​I went inside, saw the doctor, and got examined. He concluded that I had a severe vitamin deficiency and warned me to avoid stress. But avoiding stress in the Demir household was practically an impossible mission. ​As I was walking out of the hospital doors, I suddenly slammed headfirst into a massive, solid chest. ​"Watch where you're going, little girl," a deep, rough voice growled. ​Did he just call me a little girl? ​His dark, piercing eyes, furrowed brows, sharp facial features, and towering physique made my entire body tremble slightly. Because he was so much taller than me, I had to tilt my head far back just to look at him. ​"First of all, I am not a little girl," I snapped, masking my fear. "And second, you're the one who ran into me. You should watch where you're going!" ​The man glared down at me, his jaw clenching. "Look, little girl, I'm already furious. Don't make me take it out on you." With a sharp shove of his shoulder against mine, he brushed past me and walked away. ​Staring at his retreating back, I muttered every curse word I knew under my breath before heading home. ​When I arrived at the estate, I spotted Cem pacing tensely in the garden, speaking quietly on the phone. He was clearly plotting something behind everyone's backs—a dark side of him that no one else in the family seemed to notice except me. I hid behind a large tree to overhear his conversation. ​"I'm sick and tired of Altan’s arrogance," Cem hissed into the phone. "I should be the one sitting in that chairman's seat, not him." ​What? He was targeting my favorite uncle's position. Knowing Cem, if he wanted something, he would destroy anyone to get it. ​Suddenly, my foot caught on a thick root. Damn it. I lost my balance and crashed into the bushes. ​"I'll call you back," Cem barked into the phone, snapping it shut as he marched over to me. "Well, look who it is. A little mouse spying in the bushes. What are you digging for, Açelya?" ​"I should ask you the same question, brother," I said, dusting myself off as I stood up. "Who was that on the phone?" ​Cem stepped closer, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Listen to me, girl. Who do you think you are to meddle in my business?" ​"I don't know what kind of treachery you're planning, but know this: I will ruin your plans before you even start," I threatened, defying him. ​Cem let out a mocking, cruel laugh that echoed through the garden. "Who? You? You're going to stop me?" He laughed louder, looking completely unhinged. The guy seriously had psychological issues. ​Suddenly, his laughter died, replaced by a deadly chill. "My dear, innocent little sister... don't force me to become a fratricide." He shoved past me and stormed off into the house. ​Ateş's POV ​Damn it, I absolutely despise being vulnerable. My arm had been grazed by a bullet during a sudden shootout, and my men had rushed me to the hospital. Just as I was about to walk out of the building, my phone rang. ​"Get well soon, Mr. Ateş," İrem’s voice purred from the other end. "I heard you were taken to the hospital. I was so devastated, I've been sitting here crying tears of sorrow." ​"I'm not mad about getting shot, İrem. I'm mad that I gave you a reason to mock me," I growled. ​"The important thing is that you're alive. All the major bosses are gathered at the headquarters, waiting for you." ​"We shouldn't keep them waiting. It would be bad manners. I'm on my way," I said. But just as I hung up and turned to leave, a petite girl slammed right into me. ​I sharply told her to look where she was going. When I actually looked down at her, I froze for a split second. With her striking green eyes and dark hair, she was incredibly captivating, even as she glared up at me with a mixture of fear and defiance. ​But my time was short. I brushed her off, walked out, and got into my car, ordering my men to drive straight to the main office. ​I am Ateş Kılıç. I control the largest drug distribution network in Turkey. I have four brothers, two sisters, and a mother. My family is my absolute everything, and I would tear the world apart to keep them safe from harm. ​As we pulled up to the headquarters, my brother Yılmaz opened my car door. "Brother, are you sure you're okay? Can you really attend the meeting in this state?" ​"Why wouldn't I?" I responded coldly. "I'm perfectly fine. Besides, I need to look into the eyes of the man who dared to orchestrate this hit against me, don't I?" ​I walked into the grand conference room and took my seat at the head of the table. Dozens of powerful businessmen and underworld figures who operated under my command were present. But one of them had turned into a rat. ​"Gentlemen," İrem addressed the room smoothly. "Mr. Ateş Kılıç was delayed due to a minor altercation where he sustained a light injury." ​"Get well soon, boss," the room murmured in unison. ​"Thank you," I said, my voice cutting through the air like a knife. "The recent events... it seems someone desperately wants to dethrone me. But I am going to make sure that person's grand dream becomes their final nightmare." ​"Do you know who did this to you, Mr. Ateş?" one of the bosses asked nervously. ​"Oh, it's one of us," I smiled darkly, scanning their faces. "A jackal who dares to bite the hand that feeds him." ​İrem glanced at me, her brow furrowing slightly. "Ateş, what are you saying? Are you certain?" ​"I have undeniable proof," I stated, standing up slowly. "But before I reveal it, I want to see if the person responsible has the balls to stand up like a man and admit they tried to cross Ateş Kılıç. If you're truly a man, stand up right now." ​Silence choked the room. No one moved. ​"I'm asking for a second time. Whoever did this, stand up." ​Still, absolute stillness. ​"Fine. I'll handle it my way." ​I walked slowly around the massive table, my footsteps echoing ominously, until I stopped right behind one specific chair. Engin Bozkurt’s chair. ​"Engin Bozkurt," I whispered, placing my hands on his shoulders. "You look incredibly tense." ​Engin tried to keep his composure, looking up at me. "Come now, Mr. Ateş. Do you seriously think I am the traitor?" ​"A man who betrays his own blood wouldn't hesitate to betray me," I hissed. "Drop the act. I have all the records." ​Engin’s face contorted into a smirk as he realized he was caught. "So what if it was me? What are you going to do about it?" ​Without a word, I grabbed a heavy glass water bottle from the table and smashed it violently over his head. Before he could even scream, I pulled my knife from my pocket and delivered the final, ruthless retribution he deserved. ​Straightening my suit and wiping a stray drop of blood from my hand, I walked back to the head of the table. "From this moment on, anyone who even thinks about betraying me will face a fate a hundred times worse than this." With that, I walked out and got back into my car. ​Açelya's POV ​Back at the estate, I was helping my aunt Sinem in the kitchen, but Cem's treacherous words were still echoing loudly in my mind. ​"Açelya? Are you even listening to me?" my mother Nil’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "I said go upstairs, your grandmother is calling for you." ​"I'm sorry, Mom. I was just lost in thought," I sighed, heading up to Handan’s room. ​"Tell me, what did the doctor say?" Handan demanded, sitting rigidly in her chair. ​"He said I have a vitamin deficiency. He also told me to fix my sleep schedule and strictly stay away from stress." ​"Then do exactly what he says, and don't bring any more trouble to our heads," Handan ordered coldly. ​"Well, that's practically impossible in this house," I muttered. ​Handan’s eyes flashed with anger. "What did you just say, girl?" ​"How am I supposed to stay away from stress in this house? How am I supposed to sleep peacefully? My family is a mafia clan. Any one of you could get killed or arrested at any given moment!" ​"Oh, so now you care about this family?" she sneered. ​"Unlike you, yes, I actually do!" ​The moment the words left my mouth, her hand flew across my face. The sharp slap echoed through the room, leaving my cheek burning. ​"Get out of my sight! Go to your room!" Handan screamed. "Sinem! Nil! Neither of you will give this girl a single scrap of food tonight!" ​"As you wish, Mother," Nil answered instantly. ​But Sinem stepped forward, her voice laced with disapproval. "What do you mean 'as you wish,' Nil? Handan Hanım, I understand you're angry, but why on earth are you starving the girl?" ​Handan turned on her like a viper. "Who do you think you are to question my orders?! Listen to me, both of you—don't get so arrogant just because you rely on your husbands and your father. Cross me again, and you will be the ones paying the price!" ​I couldn't take it anymore. Heartbroken and exhausted, I ran up to my room, locked the door, and collapsed to the floor, sobbing into my hands. ​I just wanted to be a normal young woman. I wanted to study, to work, to have a life. But my family was a cage that crushed my existence. One day, I whispered to myself through the tears, no matter what it takes, I will fulfill my dreams. And I won't ask for anyone's permission. ​Climbing into my bed, I closed my eyes tightly, praying to the darkness. I just hope that one day, I will finally be happy.