CHAPTER/26

Life is what happens while you're busy making plans. Over the last few years, this truth has been etched into my mind bit by bit. I was well aware that nothing was in my control. I had to walk barefoot on a path littered with shards of broken glass, my feet bleeding with every step. Just when I thought it was over, the shards would dig deeper, filling my life with fragments of pain and despair.

"Merve! You need to see this!"

Büşra approached me, holding her phone and trying to show me something, but I couldn't take my eyes off Furkan. Unlike me, his gaze was fixed on the ground.

"Not now, Büşra!" I was waiting for Furkan to continue speaking, but Büşra was persistent.

"Merve, your grandfather! They've released him!" At her words, I spun around to face her. What did she mean by "released"? Grabbing the phone from her hand, I began watching the video.

My grandfather was standing in front of the courthouse, answering questions from the microphones thrust toward him. Upon closer inspection, I noticed he had grown visibly thinner; his face was sunken, with dark circles under his eyes. Yet, despite his appearance, he stood tall and confident.

"Sir, would you like to comment on the charges against you?" one reporter asked, a smug expression on his face.

"The fact that I've been acquitted and released is evidence enough that none of these baseless accusations are true. Throughout my life, there have always been people who wanted to bring me down—and there always will be. I'm not surprised. Those who wish to block my path will never stop. But I have full faith in justice and am confident that I will overcome all of this."

As rage coursed through my veins, fear gripped me tightly. What if he came back to finish what he started? What if someone got hurt because of me? My mind felt like it was shutting down. After a brief statement, he ignored the rest of the reporters' questions and got into a car with the help of his bodyguards.

Before I could sit down, a notification sound from my phone drew everyone's attention. I reached for my phone with trembling hands, and my tension heightened when I saw the name on the screen. Wasting no time, I opened the message.

From: Unknown Number

"Don't worry. I have no intention of leaving things unfinished."

The phone slipped from my hands in fear, but Furkan caught it before it could hit the ground. I felt the world crumble beneath my feet as a ringing in my ears drowned out all other sounds. I was terrified of him. How could he have been acquitted? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

"Is it possible for him to find us here?" Furkan's voice sounded even more anxious than mine.

"With this uncertainty, you can't stay here! You need to go somewhere he can't find you!" Büşra was right. Too many people knew I was here. Furkan helped me onto the couch, where I buried my head in my hands, running my fingers through my hair in frustration.

"This can't be happening. He wasn't supposed to get out. He was supposed to get what he deserved. What kind of justice system is this?" Unable to stay still, I got up and began pacing.

"We're leaving—right now! We can't stay here for another second! We need to go somewhere he can't find us!"

Furkan wrapped his arms tightly around me as tears streamed down my face.

"Merve, my love, do you think I'd let anything happen to you? You need to pull yourself together. Let's pack our things and leave here as soon as possible." I nodded, pulling away from him and wiping my tears, determination hardening my expression.

"I won't let him scare me. I won't let him harm you." I turned to Büşra. "Take Esma and go back to Istanbul. You can't know where we're going either!" Though hesitation lingered in her eyes, she nodded, knowing I was right.

"Furkan, take the girls to the airport. I'll pack the rest of our things and meet you there."

"No way. I'm not leaving you alone!"

I moved closer, placing my hand on his cheek. "Love, it's riskier if we leave together. He has many connections in this village. If word gets out before we're gone, we'll be caught before we can escape."

He knew I was right but couldn't hide his worry.

I called Elif and asked her to arrange two reliable cars for us. After seeing off Furkan and the others, I went to my room to pack my belongings. I had to remain calm—for the sake of my loved ones. As I grabbed my suitcase, my eyes fell on my wedding dress, stretched out on the bed. I bent down to touch its hem one last time. The silk slipped through my fingers, and in that moment, it felt as though my life was slipping away as well. A tear rolled down my cheek, and I couldn't hold it back. Then, the sound of the door opening made me turn.

"Sweetheart, the car is ready. You'll take the mountain road to the city center without anyone noticing. Let me know once you're with Furkan, and I'll guide everyone accordingly."

What she was doing for me was incredible. I walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"No amount of thanks could ever be enough. I'm so lucky to have you!"

She hugged me back just as tightly. "It's nothing. As long as you're okay, that's all I need. Now, let's not waste time!"

I nodded and picked up my suitcase. I was possibly closing the doors to this place forever. Sitting in the car gave me a moment to think. Amidst the plans and preparations, I had tried to stay strong, but the bird in my chest felt as if it were in its final throes. As the road twisted and turned, I realized for the first time, I wasn't alone. But did I deserve this sacrifice? How right was it to drag Furkan into this with me?

By the time I reached the city center and joined Furkan, he handed me the passports and held my hand firmly.

"My love! I've sent the girls ahead, and I've taken care of the tickets and everything else. Our flight is in an hour and a half, so we should head inside."

As he began to guide me, I stopped him by holding his hand. He turned to me, his eyes silently asking, "What is it?"

"Furkan, even though being together is dangerous, thank you for choosing to stay by my side. I'm so grateful for you."

As soon as I finished speaking, he wrapped his arms around me tightly. He buried his head in my neck, taking a deep breath, and I shivered from head to toe. "And I'm so grateful for you, my love."

He held my hand firmly and started walking. As I followed him, I watched him, my heart melting with every step. His presence was my peace. He didn't let go of my hand for a moment, even as we passed through security checkpoints. We headed to the gate labeled "Rize-Izmir."

"If we're going to Izmir, why do we need passports?"

He answered while walking. "We'll have a layover. There's no direct flight from Rize to Amsterdam."

"Amsterdam?" I asked, my eyes widening.

He nodded. "Yes, sweetheart. I thought about it—since we're leaving the country so suddenly, we couldn't go just anywhere. My father has a house there, and not even my mother knows about it. It's the safest option."

I would have gone anywhere with him, no questions asked.

When we boarded the plane, I took the window seat. When a girl sat down next to Furkan, he asked to switch seats with me. I ended up in the middle seat for the rest of the journey.

Should I have been angry about our rushed wedding? Or that we hadn't had the chance to truly get to know each other? I didn't know. But as I reflected, I realized I needed to pull myself together. Yes, so much had happened, and death was breathing down my neck, but I had made up my mind. I couldn't keep letting life defeat me. I wasn't someone who gave up so easily.

As hope began to bloom inside me, I squeezed Furkan's hand a little tighter. I had to live—not just for myself but for him, too. When he smiled warmly at me, my hopes flourished even more.

We had so much to talk about, so many things left unsaid. I hadn't forgotten what he'd told me. But I needed to remind myself to take a breath, too.

When we landed in Izmir, we were both on edge, though we tried not to show it. After collecting our luggage, we went through international departures to complete the procedures. It was my first time going to Amsterdam, and I was excited—mostly because I was going with Furkan.

We hadn't spoken much, aside from a few short sentences. Neither of us wanted to draw any attention. But as we walked calmly toward the plane, Furkan suddenly stopped, causing me to bump into his back. Before I could ask what was wrong, he quickly moved toward the wall and guided us into a small corridor.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, my concern growing as I noticed his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Instead of answering, he cautiously peeked around the corner. Then, turning back, he opened his suitcase. His silence was making me even more nervous. I watched as his hands moved quickly through his belongings, trying to figure out what he was searching for. He finally pulled out a hat and placed it on his head, lowering it to cover his eyes.

"Merve, stay here. Don't move until I get back. I'll be right back."

Before I could respond, he walked away, leaving me staring after him. I knew something was wrong, but I had no idea what. My breath quickened, and I struggled to calm myself amidst the adrenaline rush.

When Furkan returned, he was wearing a dark green short-sleeved shirt and cream-colored shorts. I hadn't even noticed when he'd changed. It wasn't his style at all. He handed me a bag and gestured toward the restroom.

"Don't worry, but we might be being followed. I need you to go in and put these on. Don't forget the hat and glasses."

I nodded and rushed into the restroom. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to focus. Inside the bag was a dark green dress. I slipped it on over my clothes, realizing the sleeveless dress was why he'd also included a cream-colored shirt. I tied the shirt at the front, put on the straw hat and sunglasses, and stepped out.

When I returned to Furkan, I noticed he was dressed similarly, with a straw hat and brown sunglasses. I couldn't help but smile at how we looked like a matching couple. Without a word, he took my hand, and we walked out. We didn't seem like a couple on the run but rather newlyweds heading to their honeymoon. For a moment, I let myself forget our situation.

We boarded the plane. As I took my seat, Furkan gestured for me to sit, bowing slightly with his arm extended. His playful gesture made me laugh, and I curtsied in return. He chuckled, then sat beside me.

"Merve, your happiness is my happiness. I promise your smile will never fade."

I removed my sunglasses to look into his eyes. There was something about him that made me feel warm all over. His presence was overwhelming yet comforting.

"I accept your promise," I said with a small laugh.

His expression darkened slightly, and I immediately wondered if I'd said something wrong. Before I could dwell on it, he gently lifted my chin to face him.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

I shook my head, feeling embarrassed. "No."

He took my hand in his and placed it on his lap, tracing circles on my palm with his thumb. "Then why did you look upset?"

He let out a deep breath through his nose. "Alright, let me tell you a story."

He leaned back in his seat and patted his shoulder, indicating I should rest my head there. Hesitantly, I did as he asked, and he softly guided me to his shoulder. His scent enveloped me, and I closed my eyes, listening intently.

"A few years ago, I was just a man going from school to work and back home. The number of people I could call friends wouldn't even fill one hand. And even then, I rarely saw them."

I realized he was opening up to me, and my heart swelled with happiness.

"I've lived in that house you saw since I was born. I finished all my schooling in Istanbul. Just as I was preparing to start my career, I lost my father."

His body tensed at the mention of his father, and it pained me to see him like that. I squeezed his hand but said nothing, letting him continue.

"I lost myself. I stumbled, I faltered. Picking myself up again was the hardest thing I've ever done—until the woman who held my hand came along."

He brought our intertwined hands to his lips, brushing a soft kiss against my knuckles. I knew he was talking about me, but hearing him say it made my heart soar.

"When I was seventeen, I lost my mother and father," I began, and he fell silent, listening intently. "I dropped out of high school and went to Rize. That man didn't want me there, and I had nowhere else to go. I found out through a phone call that he knew how my parents died. Without thinking, I got on a plane and went to his house. He played all sorts of games with me, made me think I was a murderer. As if that wasn't enough, I discovered that he was the one responsible for everything—the deaths, the lies, everything. He wasn't a savior; he was a killer, a mafia boss."

I paused and gave him a bitter smile. "Amidst all that chaos, I found you. Just when I thought everything was over, you brought me back to life. I had even considered death, Furkan…"

He wrapped his arms around me tightly and kissed the top of my head. "Shh… Don't, my love. I never want to hear that word from you again. Now rest a bit. We have a long journey ahead of us, and plenty of time to talk."

I obeyed, surrendering myself to his embrace. Soon, my heavy eyelids began to close, and I drifted off.

Just before I fell asleep, a thought came to me, jolting me awake. I sat up and turned to Furkan.

"You said you know who killed my parents," I whispered, searching his eyes.

He swallowed hard, his gaze locking onto mine. I already knew the answer was there.

"Who?"