Chapter 13: The Contract

The soft chime of the doorbell echoed through Iskender's quiet home. Ali—his carefully constructed identity—opened the door, expecting an ordinary visitor. Instead, he froze in the doorway.

Kemal Bey stood before him, impeccably dressed as always, his sharp features partially concealed beneath the brim of his hat.

"Kemal Bey," Iskender said, his voice betraying his surprise. "What brings you here?"

Kemal stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his keen eyes scanning the modest living room. "You've made quite a life for yourself, Iskender. It's peaceful, almost unremarkable."

Iskender closed the door, his curiosity piqued. "I owed myself this peace after everything. Would you like some tea?"

Kemal waved his hand dismissively as he sat on the leather armchair near the fireplace. "I didn't come for tea. I came to see the man I took under my wing. Did you do it?"

"Do what?" Iskender asked, though he already knew the answer.

Kemal's sharp gaze met his. "Did you accomplish your revenge?"

A shadow passed over Iskender's face. He nodded slowly and sank into the couch opposite Kemal.

"Last night," Iskender began, his voice quiet but steady, "I told Leyla everything. I revealed who I am and what they did to me. Her world crumbled, Kemal. She begged for forgiveness, but…"

Kemal raised an eyebrow. "But you denied her."

"I had to," Iskender said firmly, though the pain lingered in his tone. "What they did to me… to my life… how could I forgive that?"

Kemal studied him for a long moment, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Good. You've taken your first step. But you haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?"

Iskender's brow furrowed. "Agreement?"

Kemal leaned back, tapping his cane against the floor. "You signed a contract with me. Surely you remember."

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The Contract (Flashback)

The prison cell was dimly lit, a single bulb flickering overhead. Iskender sat on the edge of his cot, his face bruised but his spirit unbroken. Across from him stood Kemal Bey, a man whose reputation was whispered about in both the legal and criminal circles.

Kemal placed a folder on the rickety table in the center of the cell.

"Do you want justice, or do you want revenge?" Kemal asked, his voice low and deliberate.

"I want my life back," Iskender said, his jaw tight. "I want them to pay for what they did to me."

Kemal nodded approvingly. "Good. Then this is your chance."

He opened the folder, revealing a single-page document. "This is a contract. If you sign it, I will provide you with the money, power, and connections you need to destroy those who wronged you. In return, you will help me eliminate the people who betrayed me when the time comes."

Iskender hesitated, his eyes scanning the document. "And if I refuse?"

Kemal's expression darkened. "Then you rot in here, forgotten and powerless. But if you accept my help, I'll make sure the world remembers your name—Iskender Yilmaz."

Iskender picked up the pen with trembling fingers. "Why me?"

"Because I see myself in you," Kemal said simply.

Without another word, Iskender signed the contract, sealing his fate.

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Back to the Present

Kemal watched as recognition dawned on Iskender's face. "You remember now," he said.

Iskender leaned back, the weight of the memory settling over him. "I signed it. I owe you."

"Precisely," Kemal said, his tone sharp. "I kept my end of the bargain. Now it's your turn."

"What do you want me to do?" Iskender asked cautiously.

Kemal's smile was cold, his eyes gleaming with purpose. "There are men in this city who betrayed me, men who tried to destroy everything I built. You will help me bring them down, one by one."

Iskender nodded slowly, the fire of purpose reigniting within him. "Tell me where to start."

Kemal stood, adjusting his coat. "I'll be in touch. Rest for now, Iskender. The next chapter of your life is about to begin."

As the door closed behind Kemal, Iskender sat in silence, his mind racing. He had achieved his revenge, but the battle was far from over. His debt to Kemal would pull him deeper into the shadows, and he would need to decide whether to embrace them—or find a way out.

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