Chapter 9
1273 Words
Altan watched the woman before him intently. As Sinem and Irem chatted away, Altan kept his eyes on Irem, trying to decipher her true intentions. Suddenly, a waiter accidentally spilled tea onto Sinem’s white linen blouse.
"Oh no! My blouse is ruined," Sinem gasped.
"Are you burned?" Altan asked quickly.
"No, the tea was cold. I’ll go to the restroom and see if I can fix it."
"Go ahead, darling, we’ll be here," Irem said with a smile.
As soon as Sinem disappeared, Altan grabbed Irem’s arm. "What exactly are you trying to do, Irem?"
"I turned you down, Altan," she whispered coolly. "Though, truth be told, no man usually refuses my advances."
"I have no intention of getting my hands dirty with your twisted games."
"Twisted games? My dear, you're an arms dealer yourself," she retorted, resting her hand on his. "Sinem is very lucky to have a husband like you."
"Don't push your luck, Irem."
"I happen to love a challenge. Just like you do," she teased, leaning in close. Altan stood up abruptly, just as Sinem returned, still sporting a visible stain.
"This stain is stubborn; it won't come out," Sinem sighed.
"You have to be persistent, Sinem," Irem said, looking pointedly at Altan. "Even the toughest stains come out if you put enough force into it."
Altan swallowed hard, his jaw tightening. "Come on, Sinem. Your clothes are ruined, and you hate being out in this condition."
"Altan’s right," Sinem agreed. "Irem, I’m here whenever you want to talk."
"Thank you, beauty. It was a pleasure bringing you two together," Irem replied.
Altan gave a cold farewell and ushered Sinem home.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Deniz walked into Açelya’s room. "Açelya, wake up! It’s past noon."
"Ugh, Deniz, what is it now?"
"It’s Cem."
Açelya jolted upright. "What about Cem?"
"He’s home."
Açelya rushed to the living room like a lightning bolt, only to find Cem holding little Can. She immediately snatched the baby from his arms. "Let him go! Don't touch him—don't ruin him like you ruined me."
"Good to see you too, dear sister," Cem said mockingly. "I heard what happened. I can't say I feel bad; there’s always a price to pay for meddling in my business."
"You’re working with Ateş, fine," Açelya said, clutching Can tightly. "But what about Polad? Are you working with him, too?"
"Polad? What are you talking about?"
"It wasn't Ateş who kidnapped me—it was Polad."
Cem’s expression darkened. "What? I don't believe it... that lowlife. Don't worry, I’ll deal with him myself." He stormed out of the room.
"You see, Can? What an i***t," Açelya whispered to the baby, kissing his cheek. "Don't be like him. Be a smart boy, okay?"
Deniz approached them. "Açelya, I’m looking for Can. I need to get him ready; Caner and I are going to the mountain house for a few days."
"That sounds wonderful, go and get some rest."
"You’re coming too, miss. Go pack your bags."
"Deniz, you know how Grandma is. You guys go and enjoy some family time," she said, kissing her sister-in-law's cheek. Once alone, she felt suffocated. She had watched movies and done her skincare, but nothing filled the void. Finally, she picked up her phone and, with trembling fingers, dialed that number.
It was answered in less than a minute.
"Hello? It's me, Açelya."
"Unfortunately, I saved your number," Ateş’s voice came through, cold as ice. "What do you want, little girl?"
"I... I don't know."
"Why are you calling, little lamb? The wolf has work to do. Don't waste my time."
"You're not a wolf, you’re just a jackal," she said, letting out a faint, bitter laugh.
"You’re a fool. Why do you keep bothering me?"
"Why are you so angry?"
"Hang up the phone, little pig."
"Let's meet tonight?"
"Why?"
"I have trouble on my mind. I need to unload."
"Why me, little girl? Are you really that alone? Is there no one in that house you can talk to?"
"I’ll text you the address," she said and hung up.
She stole some wine from the kitchen and ran back to her room. When evening came, she was forced to join the family for dinner.
"Enjoy your meal," Açelya muttered.
"You too, beauty," Cem winked. He was putting on a show for the family, and both Akın and Açelya saw right through it.
"Deniz and the others are away on vacation," Nil said. "Why don't we go somewhere, just mother and son?"
"You should go with your son alone," Açelya interrupted. "It's not like you have any other children."
Akın’s eyes snapped to her. Açelya stared right back, unfazed.
"Where is Handan Sultan?" Erdem asked.
"Grandma was called to the village, she had to leave," someone replied.
"Thank God, we’ll finally have some peace," Açelya muttered.
Akın slammed his hand on the table.
"Don't slam your hand on the table, slam it on my face if you dare," Açelya challenged.
"Açelya, enough!" Altan warned.
"The girl is right, Altan, don't get involved," Sinem added.
"Açelya, know your place! Stop this insolence," Akın shouted.
"I’m not being insolent! You only see my actions, Father. Look up! You think I’m the only one making mistakes, but you don't see the filth others are hiding!"
Akın grabbed her arm and dragged her to her room. He threw her inside and slammed the door. "What do you want from me? What do you want!" he screamed.
"What do *you* want from me?" she screamed back. "The 'quiet' Akın Bey, who never raises his voice... you treat me like trash! You just want to silence me!"
Akın lost control and slapped her hard, shoving her onto the bed. "You aren't leaving this room. It’s over!"
"I hate you!"
Akın stopped. He looked at Açelya, his eyes welling up with tears.
"I don't mean it," Açelya sobbed. "My mouth says it, but my heart doesn't. I love you all so much, but you hate me. Look at Mom—she saves all her love for her son, but for me, she has none. Grandma only criticizes me. And you... you never once asked if I was okay, if I was hurting."
"Açelya..."
"Get out of my room, Father," she cried.
Akın’s heart shattered. He left the room, leaving the door unlocked. When night fell, Açelya used a secret passage she had found to sneak out to Ateş, taking a gun with her just in case.
"You came," Ateş said.
"I did," Açelya replied. She had brought him to an old, abandoned house. She stepped onto a small balcony and reached for the wine she had brought, but Ateş snatched the glass from her hand.
"No."
"Why?"
"You’re too young for this."
"Don't call me little! I may look small, but my mind is older than you think."
"No, it isn't. If you were as mature as you claim, you wouldn't be coming to your enemy’s place in the middle of the night to drink. You are such a lonely, desperate little girl, Açelya. I pity you."
Hearing this, Açelya crumbled. She fell to the floor, burying her face in her hands, struggling to breathe. "The only person who really loved me in this life is gone... no one cares about me anymore," she wailed, her crying turning into an uncontrollable sob.
Ateş couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair. "Shh... it’s okay, little girl."
"I want to die," she whispered, pulling away from his embrace. She handed him the gun she had brought. "Kill me," she said, closing her eyes.
- Writer
