"Thank you." It's all I can say as I gain my composure again. Hazar nods with compassion in his eyes, he too should win the Oscar for best acting. "Habbab has been very excited about the proposal that he brings you today," Erdem speaks for me, giving me time to regain my voice. "We have big plans, which we hope will be to your liking." "Wonderful, Mr. Erdem, wonderful," Çakir speaks in a very good mood. "Mr. Çakir," I manage to say. "We have a long time working together, and we have managed to have a good relationship and trust. I think we can go one step further in that relationship, become one big family." "There's nothing that would make me happier boy." "If you would give me your blessing, I would like to bring my aunt and her daughter, my only living family, to your home to ask for your granddaughter's hand." I see Irem's curl jump, of course, she thinks I'm talking about her, she must be jumping with excitement, but there's nothing more wrong, I'm not going to ask her, my t
HabbabThe Erdoğan threw the house out the window, for today's celebration, I can tell even without having entered the mansion. Lights are flashing from inside and the doors are open for guests, like Irem's maternal family. I'm supposed to come to ask for Irem's hand, or at least that's what they think, but they couldn't be more wrong. I'm not coming for that woman. Melek is the woman I want... No, the one we need as part of our revenge plan. She is the daughter of Hazar, the murderer of my parents. I'm going to take Melek's virtue and return her to her father with a bow on her head."We can't go in there" Enise speaks next to me, as we get out of the car, I roll my eyes at her nonsense talking. "Habbab, please don't do this to me, you're married to me."I turn to face her, and with a fake smile on my face, I grab her arm and pull her close to me so no one can hear what we are talking about."That's enough, Enise, you'd better shut up, or go back to the hotel. You know why we're doing
"Yes, Mr. Habbab, you may marry my daughter." The smile that bursts from my lips, though I don't want to admit it, is genuine. Melek looks at me through his tresses with some apprehension. "We need to perform the engagement ceremony, Senay, take our daughter, put her in a better dress, fix her up for the ceremony and we will meet in the living room.""Yes, husband, I will"My bride-to-be is led by her mother to her room where she is taken care of, while the rest of us return to the living room. This time Enise sits next to me, the rest of the room is silent."Well, our engagement wasn't that dramatic." She whispers in hatred to me."Shut up, Enise, I swear if you say anything you're going to end up worse than Melek."She gives me an angry look but remains silent. Between her and the machinations of the Erdoğan family, I feel like I can't even breathe. My greatest wish is to end this revenge plan of my grandmother's and to have a free life, to have the weight of my responsibilities sto
Chapter 6HabbabThe plan has been set in motion, just as it was supposed to happen. I look at the ring on my finger, I just get engaged to a beautiful woman, who does not deserve all the horror she will experience in the days to come. We have chosen a date for the wedding; it will take place precisely a year and a half from now. Çakir Erdoğan is known throughout the city as the king of the money, he will spare no expense and as I am the one who will be putting up all the money for the ceremony, I am sure he wants to empty my chambers to take revenge on me, for having preferred Melek over Irem.In fact, since the engagement I have seen very little of him, those who continue to give face me regarding business, are his sons. Every time I meet Hazar, I have to do my best not to strangle him with my own hands... I never imagined that I would have to smile, pretend and be condescend to the murderer of my parents. What bothers me most about watching him, is how he pretends to be the good gu
I turn away so I can't see her face, and I start to get angry. Stupid traitors, if it weren't for them this wouldn’t been happened. Enise is an envious harpy, I will never be able to see her the way she wants me to, on papers we are husband and wife, but in real life we never were, nor will we ever be anything, nor do I want to be. "Enise's whole problem is that she can't stand to see me marrying Melek, but I swear grandma, I don’t feel anything for that girl." I listen as her footsteps approach where I am, I feel her warm hand on my shoulder, though I dare not turn around, I don't want her to see something that I’m trying to deny myself. "Don't blame your cousin, nor Erdem for my visit." My grandmother has always had the power to read my thoughts, it is something that continues to amaze me despite the years. "It was necessary, I had to come. I have to deliver something important to you, something that kept me standing, gave me strength, and even protected me, all these years." Gen
Derya ArslanAfter closing the door to Habbab's office, I dry my tears indifferently. I smile, I still have him wrapped around my fingers. That damn boy brat is not going to ruin my plans, I have waited for over forty years for the Erdoğan family to finally pay for the sins of their father. Çakir Erdoğan.I walk away from my grandson’s office and take the car home. But first I pass in front of Çakir's house... As I see the mansion to my mind come hundreds of memories full of pain and bitterness, but I also have happy ones, when both of us were just kids. I can hear the laughter of both of us, and the screams I gave the last day I was by his side.I tell my driver to start while I swear to myself that I will see Çakir Erdoğan kneel and ask for my forgiveness. After an hour's drive, I finally enter my home, where I find a hysterical Enise, crying on the floor of the main courtyard."What the hell are you doing child?" I ask her, annoyed."Grandma." She stands up and runs to my skirt, I
Chapter 7 Habbab Before I close the last button of my shirt, my eyes get caught by the glow of my mother's ring hanging from my throat, resting on my chest, so close to my heart and yet so far away. I miss my mother, every day that passes, I imagine growing up by her side, being in a happy family, without tragedy and pain broke our souls. I wonder what would become of my life right now if my mother were still alive, maybe I wouldn't be about to hurt a woman who doesn't deserve it. I’m about to break her too. “I hope someday you can forgive me, Melek.” I pray to nothingness because I seriously don't want to hurt that little girl who hopes to find a hero in me. She longs for someone to love her, and save her from the family hell she lives in, very soon she will realize that it's not me and that will end up crushing her heart. The faint glow of my mother's ring reminds me that I can't feel sorry for that girl, no one did for my mother, it's time for me to take revenge and end it all.
Chapter 7 / Part TwoMelek looks beautiful, with her hair down and that smile loaded with tenderness and innocence, as she looks at some of the store windows. I would be willing to give her everything she asks for, everything and more if by any chance she asked me for the whole store I would be willing to give it to her.The moment I cross the glass doors, one of the saleswomen approaches me and asks me how she can help me, I answer her that I am looking for my fiancée and then Melek looks for me with her eyes, giving me a gesture of total happiness when our eyes meet."Habbab, you came." She runs into my arms and settles in between them, as she squeezes me with all her strength. The smell of peaches that her hair releases, wafts into my nostrils and takes me to another world, I would like to spend the rest of my life surrounded by that sweet scent."I told you I would, I couldn't miss this moment, buy you a jewel, as tradition dictates.""Of course, the good Habbab would never miss a