Chapter Text
Standing in the room crowded with Kocaris and Fortunas, the world narrowed to a single trembling thing: the marriage certificate in my hand. The paper felt heavier than it should have, as though it carried not just ink and signatures, but generations of blood and hatred. I didn’t dare look around - except at my brother.
Adil’s eyes burned into me, sharp with disappointment, heavier than any accusation spoken aloud. I knew that look. It was the same one he had worn the day our world collapsed, the day he decided grief would never make him weak again. Now that same grief was aimed at me. At my betrayal. At my choice to marry the son of the family that had destroyed ours.
My breath lodged painfully in my throat, tears blurring the edges of the room. The only thing keeping me anchored was Iso’s hand clasped tightly around mine. Warm. Steady. As if he could feel the storm tearing through me, his grip tightened each time I inhaled and loosened when I exhaled, silently reminding me to breathe.
The silence stretched unbearably, thick and suffocating.
Then Adil shook his head.
“How dare you?” he roared, his gaze snapping from me to Iso. “How could you confuse my little sister and trap her in this farce you call a marriage?”
The slap came before I could react.
The sound cracked through the room, violent and final. Zarife gasped sharply. Oruc rushed forward, shouting for Adil to calm down, but it was too late. Iso stumbled, his grip loosening, and suddenly my hand was empty - cold air replacing the warmth that had steadied me moments ago.
The shock froze me.
“No! Brother, don’t touch him!” I screamed, throwing myself between them.
Before I could reach Iso, Gazep seized my arm, dragging me back with brutal force. Adil barely spared me a glance before stepping toward Iso again, jabbing a finger into his chest.
“This will never happen,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “Do you understand me? Never.”
He turned abruptly, grabbed my wrist, and hauled me toward the door. I struggled, twisting desperately, my eyes searching for Iso. The Fortunas followed, their faces tense, but all I could see was Iso - standing there, stunned, his face shattered in a way that twisted something deep inside my chest.
Gazep shoved me into the car. Adil turned back one last time, shouting that this marriage would not stand, that the peace it promised was a lie. Then he fired his gun twice into the air.
The sound echoed like a declaration of war.
As the car pulled away, my body finally gave in. I collapsed against Eleni’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
“What were you thinking, Fadime?” Adil shouted from the driver’s seat, slamming his palm against the steering wheel. “How could you do this?”
I couldn’t answer. The image of Iso’s stunned eyes replayed in my mind over and over, each time breaking me further.
“They’re following us,” Eleni whispered.
I looked back and saw the Fortuna cars closing the distance.
Adil swore under his breath and ordered Gazep to close the bridge to the village. He stopped abruptly, stepping out of the car and telling Gazep to watch me. My heart sank as I saw Iso exit his own car and walk toward my brother.
They faced each other in the middle of the bridge - two storms colliding.
Iso stood tall, unwavering, determination carved into his expression. Adil radiated fury, barely contained.
“You can’t do this, Adil,” Iso said firmly. “You can’t take Fadime away from me like this.”
Adil laughed bitterly, stepping closer. “Fadime was never yours and never will be. This idea is as ridiculous as your sea marrying our mountains. You will get divorced, and all of this will be forgotten.”
“There will be no divorce,” Iso replied without hesitation. “I love your sister. And I won’t give her up, no matter what you do to me.”
The words hit me like a crashing wave.
This was supposed to be an act. A necessary lie. But the way he said it, the certainty in his voice made my heart stutter painfully. For a fleeting second, I wondered if even he believed it.
Then everything exploded.
Adil grabbed Iso by the collar and shoved him toward the edge of the bridge, half-lifting him over the railing. His gun was in his hand in an instant.
I screamed, fighting Gazep’s grip, kicking and clawing, terror flooding my veins.
“You’re lying!” Adil shouted, pressing Iso further down. “Why are you doing this? There is no love between you and my sister!”
“You can shoot me,” Iso said hoarsely. “But I will only say this - I love Fadime.”
Adil hesitated.
Only then did he notice Zarife screaming behind him. Only then did he remember me - watching, breaking, helpless.
With a harsh shove, he dragged Iso back onto the bridge and forced him to his knees, the gun pressed against his forehead.
“Be smart,” Adil muttered, his voice shaking. “I will end this right now if you don’t walk away.”
“Do it,” Iso said quietly. “I’d rather die.”
Something inside Gazep faltered. I felt his grip loosen, and I ran.
“Don’t do it, brother!” I cried, throwing myself between them once more. My knees hit the ground as tears poured freely. “Please. Don’t hurt him.”
Adil stared down at me, his eyes searching my face.
“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill him,” he said.
“I love him,” I whispered.
The words felt like a blade cutting through my chest, but once spoken, they could not be taken back.
“If you kill him, you kill me too,” I sobbed. “If anyone should understand me, it’s you. Please, brother.”
For a long moment, the world stood still.
Then Adil lowered the gun.
With a broken scream, he shoved it back into his belt and turned away. “Get in the car,” he ordered.
I rose slowly and reached for Iso. Our eyes met. Fear, relief, something unnamed passing between us as I helped him to his feet.