I had been waiting for news from Sarp for hours. He wasn't answering my calls, nor was he calling me. I was going crazy with curiosity. Luckily, my friends were with me. I don't know what I would have done without them. Driven by curiosity and excitement, I was pacing back and forth in the room. I kept checking the phone in my hand from time to time. "Ceyda, you're making us dizzy. That's enough, sit down," said Kaya. "Be patient; Sarp will call soon." Taking a troubled deep breath, I turned to Kaya. "The more time passes, the more curious I get. I can't help it, Kaya. When I think about it, I feel short of breath. I wonder if Sarp found anything? Is my mother alive? Is Sarp okay? I can't calm down." "I know it's not an easy situation, Ceyda, but Kaya is right. You're hurting yourself. Please calm down a bit," said Elif. While we were talking, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I said. The door opened; it was Kader. "Ceyda Hanım, dinner is ready. Everyone is waiting for you to eat." My excitement had killed my appetite, but I didn't want to miss the chance to leave the room. "Okay, my dear Kader," I said with a smile. Turning to my friends, I said, "Let's go."
When we entered the living room, everyone was at the table waiting for us. Seeing us, my grandmother immediately stood up and came towards me. "My beautiful granddaughter," she said, hugging me tightly. She placed kisses on my cheeks and hair. Smiling affectionately, she looked at me and my friends and said, "Come on, kids, sit down at the table." My brother and I were sitting across from each other. I occasionally caught his affectionate glances towards me. So his anger towards me had lessened. My father was eating his dinner with his usual seriousness. I still couldn't figure out his facial expression. My grandfather, like my grandmother, couldn't bear to be harsh with me; he smiled, occasionally making jokes and talking to me. That witch Zerrin was directing her mocking and disdainful looks at me as usual. Seeing her made my nerves go crazy. I occasionally caught Yasemin and my brother looking at each other and smiling. It was obvious my brother liked Yasemin. After all, hadn't he let me out of my room tonight for Yasemin's sake? My mind was on Sarp, so I had no appetite. I wanted news to come as soon as possible. Why hadn't he called by this hour? I had left my phone in my room to avoid getting caught. As soon as this dinner was over, I would go and check if Sarp had called. "Ceyda, all the procedures are ready. Tomorrow you will file for divorce." My father's words made me turn my gaze to him. "I don't want any problems. Let's understand each other now." My eyes welled up; I didn't know what to say and just stared into his eyes. He was looking back at me with a blank expression. Pulling myself together, I said, "I don't want a divorce." I looked at my brother, wanting him to understand me and support me. He averted his gaze indifferently. "I'm saying I don't want any problems, and you're saying you don't want a divorce," his voice boomed.
"That lawsuit will be filed tomorrow. This isn't about your wishes, young lady." With his last words, he was now shouting. I didn't deserve this. My tears started to flow. My throat was burning. "You can't pressure Ceyda like this." Kaya couldn't tolerate it and had jumped to my defense. "You can't force her to do something she doesn't want to do. Ceyda being your daughter doesn't give you that right." "This is a matter between me and my daughter. It's none of your business, young man." The atmosphere was getting tense; I could no longer control my nerves. "I had a peaceful life. I was very happy with my mother and father. Why did you search for me after all these years? Why did you tear me away from my family? They raised me with understanding all this time. They raised me with love." I had raised my voice in anger. "I am not divorcing my husband. And I want to leave this house as soon as possible," I said, standing up. Suddenly, my father slammed his fist on the table, making me jump. "Sit down!" his voice roared. Without making a sound, I sat back down in my seat. He was breathing heavily through his nose. His pitch-black eyes had darkened even more. "Aziz, control your anger; you're scaring my granddaughter," my grandfather said. "Don't you see how she's talking? She doesn't want a divorce? She doesn't like us, and her old life was better?" Everyone had stopped eating and was looking at me and my father tensely. What I was going through was too much. I was feeling overwhelmed now. The place became very quiet; no one was speaking anymore. A commotion broke the silence. There were sounds coming from outside. My father got even angrier.
"Who is this insolent person?" he said. Just then, the sound of the front door being flung open was heard. My brother said, "Let me check," standing up. Footsteps were approaching. Due to my low morale and because my back was to the door, I didn't turn to see who was coming. As the footsteps approached, my father stood up, saying, "What the hell is going on?" I suddenly turned to see who the newcomers were. Four men entered the living room dressed in black, wearing bulletproof vests, guns in their hands. They had their guns pointed at us. My eyes widened in fear. Who were these people? Just then, another man entered. He was smiling. "What are you doing in my house?" my father shouted. The newcomer smiled and said, "Shame on you, Aziz. Is this how you treat an old friend?" He pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down. This was Sarp's father. "Sit down, sit down. I just came to talk," he said and winked at me. "How are you, my beautiful daughter-in-law?" he said. In shock, I just looked at him and managed to say, "I'm fine." Footsteps were heard again; when I turned to look at the door, I saw him. He was looking at me, smiling sweetly. He came, he came for me. With great excitement, I stood up and shouted, "Sarp!" I had practically screamed his name. My heart started pounding wildly. As I stood up, my father's loud voice filled the room. "Ceyda, sit down!" he said. I stayed where I was. I turned and looked at my father; he was breathing heavily through his nose.
"I said sit down!" he shouted again. I had no choice but to sit down. Fire was practically shooting from his eyes. "Aziz, calm down. We didn't come here to cause trouble; we just want to talk. Don't shout and upset my daughter-in-law," said Aslan Bey. "Stop calling her your daughter-in-law. They will be divorced soon. And I don't want to see your faces again. Now leave my house and go. There's nothing to talk about." "There is, Aziz, there is a lot to talk about. And this conversation will please you greatly." "Who said I would talk to you? Now take your useless son and your dogs and get out of here." "Look, Aziz, I'm not leaving here tonight until I've spoken. Don't waste your breath. After I finish speaking, you will regret accusing me all these years. I didn't come to you empty-handed. Now sit down and bear with me for a while," said Aslan Bey. My father slowly sat down. My brother, however, was stubbornly refusing to sit, his face angry. "Let's hear what your so-called evidence is. Go on, speak up," my brother said, looking at Aslan Bey. Aslan Bey continued speaking without even looking at my brother. "I have very good evidence. For example, I have photos and documents." Zerrin began to fidget restlessly in her seat. It was as if she could guess what was coming. I was also listening curiously to what Aslan Bey would say. He turned to one of his men and said, "Bring it." A man with a file approached the table and placed it in front of Aslan Bey. Aslan Bey handed the envelope to my father. My father opened the envelope and took out the contents. These were the photos and documents I had sent to Sarp. Zerrin's eyes almost popped out of her head. It was obvious she was holding her breath.
My father and brother examined the photos and documents in shock. My father said, "What kind of conspiracy is this?" frowning. "Did you arrange these photos? Also, who Zerrin sent these bills to is none of your business. Is this what you call evidence?" he said in his booming voice. My morale was broken. What was I expecting? Of course, he wouldn't accuse his wife. Aslan Bey said, "Bring them in." Just then, the men brought a man and a woman into the living room. Both were looking directly at Zerrin. Zerrin was now trembling. "The truth is very painful, Aziz," said Aslan Bey with a sigh. "This couple you see are the accomplices of the traitor you've been sheltering, the one you call your wife." "How dare you speak about my mother like that!" my brother said, grabbing Aslan Bey by the throat. He was squeezing with all his might. Just then, Sarp quickly stepped forward, grabbed my brother, and headbutted him. My brother staggered and let go of Aslan Bey. Blood was flowing from his forehead. Aslan Bey was bright red from the effects of being choked. He was taking short, sharp breaths, trying to calm himself down. Then he continued speaking. "Son, if I had wanted, you would have been dead with one move. But I won't do that. I won't do it for my daughter-in-law's sake," he said, looking at me affectionately. "Anyway, what you're about to witness will be enough to shatter you," he said and looked at me with a sigh. He again said to his men, "Bring them in." Zerrin must have thought there was no way out, because she started talking. "Aziz, you know they're trying to pin their own crimes on me. I've been your wife for years; I wouldn't betray you. You believe me, don't you?"
My father was listening to Zerrin, but he seemed a bit confused. Suddenly, everyone stood up as if shocked, their eyes wide. Seeing their reactions, I was afraid to turn around and look. What was so shocking? I slowly turned around. When I saw the person, I was shocked; I couldn't believe it. My suspicions were correct. She was alive. She was standing before me, alive and well. I slowly stood up. My feet were rooted to the spot. I couldn't go to her. She, as if recognizing me, was looking only at me amidst everyone. Her eyes, lips, light brown hair, facial features—they all resembled me. I pitied her tired-looking eyes, which seemed on the verge of tears. I pitied the twenty years we spent apart. Mother... I pitied every moment I was deprived of you. Time stopped; I was adrift in a void. While my tears flowed violently, I moved involuntarily. I took a few steps and stood in front of her. She couldn't take her eyes off me. She recognized me. Tears also streamed from her eyes. She was as stunned as I was. I started sobbing. I couldn't stand it any longer. I quickly threw my arms around her neck. "Mom," I said between sobs. "Mom, it's you. You're alive." At first, she hesitated, but then she hugged me too. We held each other tightly, and I breathed in her scent. It was as if I were in a dream, and someone was going to wake me up and say, "Come on, get up, you were dreaming." I don't know how much time passed. My father hugged both of us; he was crying too. After a while, I let them go and stepped back. The man who always seemed unbreakable with his stern demeanor was now sobbing like a child. I couldn't believe what I was experiencing. Although I had experienced many unbelievable things lately. As I wiped my tears with the back of my hands, I saw Zerrin at that moment. She was slowly, stealthily moving towards the living room door, checking on everyone. She was obviously going to escape. If she thought I would allow that, she was mistaken. I ran through the standing men, moved towards Zerrin, and stopped in front of her. Her blue eyes opened wide in panic, and she looked at me fearfully. In my eyes, she was no different from a snake now. "Where do you think you're running to?" I said, grabbing her hair with all my strength. "You will pay for what you've done." I was shouting on one hand and pulling her hair out by the roots on the other. The witch Zerrin was screaming. Suddenly, my brother grabbed me and tried to free his mother from my grip. Then Kaya came to help too.
"Let me go! I'm going to tear this snake apart! Let me go!" I was screaming madly. They managed with difficulty to pull Zerrin from my grasp. "Enough! Get a hold of yourself!" my brother was shouting. "What do you think you're doing? Apologize to my mother, Ceyda." I first looked at the hair I had torn out in my hand, then at my brother. "How can you defend this woman who has ruined our lives for so many years?" I shouted. "How do you know? How well do you know these men that you believe everything they say?" My brother's voice was as loud as mine. "I found those photos and documents in your mother's secret drawer." "If she's not guilty as you say, why was she trying to sneak out of the living room?" "I don't know how they got into my room," said Zerrin. My father had left my mother and turned towards Zerrin. My grandmother and grandfather had taken my mother, hugging her, and sat her on the couch. The living room was very crowded. "Zerrin, explain. I'm listening to you," said my father. His eyes were red from crying, and he was looking at her sternly. "Aziz, I have done nothing wrong. These events are a plot against us," said Zerrin. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked miserable. My father ignored her and turned to the couple they had found and brought from the address I gave. "Tell me everything that happened. Otherwise, you won't leave here alive," he said. Elif and Yasemin were watching what was happening with fearful eyes. The man began to speak.
"I worked for Zerrin Hanım's father, Erhan Bey. Twenty years ago, Zerrin made me a very attractive offer. A house and a large amount of money deposited into my account every month. In return, she wanted me to kidnap your wife and lock her up in the house." Zerrin's wailing interrupted the man's speech. "Everything I did, I did because of you, Aziz, because of you!" she was shouting. "You left me for this woman." "So you admit your guilt, Zerrin?" "I didn't leave you for anyone; you know that very well. You were always so selfish. What have you done? I would never have even imagined you could do something like this," he said, turning back to the man. "Continue," he said. "After we kidnapped your wife, we settled her in the house Zerrin bought for us in Tekirdağ." As the man spoke, his face was red, and sweat was pouring from his forehead. He was clearly afraid of what would happen to him. "We drugged her brain. Over time, she developed forgetfulness; her memory weakened. About a year had passed when Zerrin asked me to kill Melek." Again, Zerrin's screams interrupted. "Ingrate! After all the money I fed you all this time, you scoundrel!" The men were having a hard time holding Zerrin in place. My brother had collapsed in a corner as if in shock, watching everything with tear-filled eyes. The blood on his forehead was starting to dry. My eyes searched for Sarp. He was watching me from a little further away.
"I was going to kill her, but my wife stopped me. She said, 'Melek is like my daughter; I don't want any harm to come to her.'" His wife was standing with her head bowed, looking tearful. So, it was thanks to her that my mother had survived. "We lived together until now. People who saw us from the neighborhood thought she was our daughter. Because she lived constantly on drugs, her brain was always numb, so she couldn't ask anyone for help." "I witnessed Melek's death. How did you manage that?" said my father. His voice sounded angry but exhausted. The man was silent at first; his fear was evident. When the man didn't speak, one of Aslan Bey's men pressed his gun to the back of his head. And he continued speaking. "Zerrin made a deal with a doctor. Using drugs, they temporarily stopped her pulse and made her appear dead. The coffin you buried belonged to someone else." My father's patience had run out; he looked like a bomb about to explode. "And what about my daughter? What happened to her?" "After your daughter was born, one of the men working under your orders, despite Zerrin's insistence on killing her, gave her up for adoption to someone. I don't know where your daughter is or what condition she's in." After the man finished speaking, my father turned to Zerrin. "So it was you who poisoned Melek," he said, taking a step towards Zerrin. Zerrin opened her eyes wide in fear. "I'm not angry at you; I'm angry at myself for not seeing that you were a snake all these years. I will make you pay for everything you made us go through. I will make you account for the twenty years you took me away from the woman I love and my daughter," he said, taking another step. "Take them to the basement," he said, calling to his men. As the men dragged Zerrin and the couple away, Zerrin was screaming. "Don't, Aziz! I'm so sorry! Don't...."
Our family doctor, Koray Bey, was called. My grandmother and the maid Hatice took my mother upstairs. They were going to examine her and check her condition. My mother wasn't speaking; she was looking around blankly. Only when she looked at me did her eyes fill with tears, and she cried silently. My father sat down opposite Aslan Bey. "You don't need to thank me, Aziz. I did all this for my daughter-in-law," said Aslan Bey. I turned and looked at Sarp; he was smiling sweetly at me. "Aslan, I won't apologize to you. We've fought many battles over years of misunderstandings between us. Just as I didn't believe you, you didn't believe me years ago. I would explain things to you now, but I'm very tired today," he said, turning to me. "Leave tonight. Come tomorrow to ask for my daughter's hand," he said. I couldn't help but start laughing. When I looked at Sarp, he was laughing too. "Well, future in-law, we should get going then," said Aslan Bey, standing up. When he and my father stood up, everyone else became active too. I was so happy I didn't know what to do. Smiling, I ran and threw my arms around Sarp's neck. I was hugging him so tightly that I never wanted to let go. He was laughing out loud. I was so excited I could barely contain myself. As I pulled away, my arm brushed against the wound on his shoulder. When he grimaced, I almost lost my mind. I didn't know when he had taken off the bulletproof vest he was wearing. "I'm sorry, Sarp. I didn't mean to," I said, looking into his eyes. "Seriously, I got too excited for a moment. I didn't mean to hurt you," I said. He laughed again. "Maybe I'll forgive you if you kiss me," he said. I gently approached and placed a kiss on his cheek. Smiling, I looked into his beautiful eyes. I was in love with this man.