---
Fırat's cold gaze pierced straight through my soul. The air in the room grew heavier with his anger, suffocating me. I wanted to run, to escape, but his rigid stance held me in place.
"I hate you and your family, do you understand?" he shouted. His voice echoed as if it were crashing through every wall and collapsing over me. I took a step back, but his eyes never left me.
"I didn't do anything wrong! Why are you treating me like this because of what Kemal did?" I shot back. My voice trembled with the fear and anger building inside me.
Fırat stepped closer, a mocking smile on his face. "You did nothing wrong, huh? Then why are you here? Because you're an angel? Don't pretend—you're probably even happy to be marrying into a rich family."
His words turned everything inside me upside down.
"You have no right to keep me here!" I said, gathering all my courage. But before I could finish, he grabbed my arm harshly.
"No right? And you're the one saying that to me?" he said, dragging me toward the hallway.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" I cried, but he didn't listen. His strong grip left a throbbing pain in my arm. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop him.
As we approached a room, my heart began to pound. He opened the door and shoved me inside. I stumbled, barely managing to keep myself from falling by leaning against the wall. He slammed the door behind him, determination written all over his face.
"Sit," he ordered.
I didn't move.
"I said sit!" he repeated, his voice sharper this time.
Suppressing the rebellion rising inside me, I obeyed. He stood in the middle of the room, his eyes fixed on me without blinking.
"Why are you doing this? What do you gain by punishing me?" I asked.
Fırat leaned closer, his face inches from mine. "Your brother took my sister from me. So I'll take you. Then you'll understand what I gain."
My breath caught.
He was merciless.
"You won't settle your issues with my brother through me!" I said, forcing strength into my voice despite the fear shaking my body.
"You still don't understand the situation, Zerda," Fırat said coldly. "This has nothing to do with what you think or what you want. This is under my control now."
I tried to stand, but my body felt unbearably heavy.
"What will you gain from this? Your sister won't come back. They love each other. There's nothing you can do…" I said, trying to reach whatever humanity he might have left.
But my words only seemed to fuel his anger.
He suddenly grabbed a heavy pen holder from the table and slammed it down with force.
"No, my sister won't come back," he said, his voice filled with rage. "But Kemal will suffer every single day knowing you're in this house. He'll imagine what I'm doing to you… maybe even see it… and that will be enough for me."
"You… you're a monster," I whispered.
For a brief moment, his face froze—but then his expression hardened even more. He strode toward me, grabbed my arm, and pinned me against the wall. He forced my hands above my head, holding them together with one hand.
I tried to struggle, but there was nowhere to go.
He grabbed my chin again, forcing me to look at him.
"A monster? Do you want me to show you what a monster is, Zerda?" he said in a low, threatening tone.
My heart pounded wildly.
What was he going to do to me?
"You're scaring me," I admitted without meaning to.
A mocking smile curved his lips. "Good," he said. "You should be scared. Because you can't even imagine what I'm going to do to you."
He dragged me to the edge of the bed.
"You'll stay here. This is your prison now," he said.
"Why are you doing this? Just let me go!" I cried, unable to hold back my tears.
But he didn't care.
"I won't let you go. You'll stay here until you pay for everything Kemal did to me. And when I find him… I already know what I'll do."
I leaned back against the bed, crossing my arms. No matter what, I wouldn't surrender.
But his cold, hate-filled gaze made one thing clear—this would not be an easy fight.
When he finally left the room, I tried to steady my breathing. My heart was still racing, my hands still trembling. But slowly, fear began to give way to anger.
Every word he spoke, every move he made—it all hurt. But I had to endure it. I had to grow stronger.
The door suddenly slammed open again, making me flinch. His presence filled the room once more.
"Do you think lowering your head means you've surrendered?" he asked coldly. "You'll resist, I know. But no matter how much you resist… I'll be the one who wins."
I lifted my head and met his gaze.
"You won't achieve anything by keeping me here. If Kemal finds out, he'll destroy you."
He walked toward me slowly.
"You think Kemal can destroy me?" he asked quietly. "When I'm done with him, he'll be the one destroyed. But first… you."
Before finishing his sentence, he grabbed my shoulder and dragged me to the window, pressing me against the glass. His hand gripped my chin again, forcing my face upward.
"Look at me properly, Zerda. In this house, you will follow my rules. If I'm bold enough to keep you here… can you imagine what else I'm capable of?"
My breath caught.
"Your threats don't scare me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not responsible for what Kemal did."
"You don't know me yet," he said. "But you will."
He pushed me onto the bed.
"Stay where you are," he ordered. "Being Kemal's sister won't give you any privilege here."
I stood up with difficulty, my arm aching.
"Let me go!" I shouted again, even though my voice trembled.
"You'll pay for everything your brother did," he said. "Whether you want it or not… you will become my wife."
"I did nothing wrong!" I cried. "Whatever happened, Kemal did it!"
But to him, it didn't matter.
"I can't get married at this age," I said desperately. "I have dreams… I want to study! I can't marry you!"
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—but it vanished just as quickly.
"You're not going anywhere, Zerda," he said, pressing me against the wall again. "You're here because of your brother. And you will pay the price."
"Please… don't do this," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Then be quiet," he said coldly.
"This is only the beginning."
His words hung in the air like a threat.
Then, finally—
"Sleep here," he said. "Tomorrow night, our religious marriage will take place."
I froze.
Before I could react, he stepped back and slammed the door shut.
Silence filled the room.
I slowly sat down, trying to process everything. Fear, anger, despair—they all tangled inside me.
Then I broke down.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. No matter how much I cried, nothing would change.
At some point, exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed.
And I fell asleep… with tears still on my cheeks.
---
I didn't even realize how exhausted I was until I woke up hours later. My whole body felt heavy.
I got up and walked toward the bathroom.
The warm water of the shower brought me a small sense of relief. But my thoughts were still tangled with everything Fırat had said.
When I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw the tears running down my face.
I brushed my teeth, then stared at my reflection.
How was I supposed to survive this life?
After getting dressed, I stepped out—
Just as the door suddenly opened.
Süreyya came in, holding baby Cihan.
"Here, take him," she said, handing me the bottle. "Guests have arrived. I need to take care of them."
"I… don't have any clothes," I said hesitantly.
"I'll bring you some," she said and left quickly.
I sat on the bed, feeding Cihan.
His green eyes were just like his mother's.
Holding him… I felt something strange.
A sense of warmth.
A sense of calm.
For a brief moment, all my fears faded.
When Süreyya returned with clothes, I felt a flicker of relief.
"Get dressed quickly," she said. "We're going to the bridal bath."
I froze.
The bridal bath?
Everything was happening so fast.
I was going to be married.
To a man I didn't know.
A married man… with a child.
I looked at the clothes… then out the window.
Fear and anger rose inside me again.
This was not the life I wanted.
And yet…
I was being forced into it.
Who would have thought…
That I would become a prisoner of these traditions…