Chapter 11
I was radiant, happier than I had ever been before.
Ayaz was the reason for my joy. I couldn't hide it from anyone.
Every time we met, my heart beat faster and my smile grew wider.
He was incredible! For my happiness to be complete, I just needed to convince my father to break off the engagement with Yusuf's family and cancel our wedding, but I still hadn't found an opening to bring it up with him.
I never thought I could feel so much joy and excitement as I had these past few days. It all started when I gave myself to Ayaz, a man who lit up my world in a way I never imagined. The nights became more thrilling and the days filled with anticipation, all thanks to him.
Since we'd finally gotten together, we'd been meeting frequently—dinners out, walks in the park, and incredible nights filled with conversation and laughter.
Each time we met only deepened the attraction we felt for each other.
Ayaz was intelligent, funny, and incredibly charming; I couldn't help falling more and more in love with him.
Today I had arranged to meet him and bring my cousin to his bar to introduce them. When we got there, she froze at the entrance and asked me to tell her more about my bartender. I started talking about him, unable to contain my excitement.
“Eda, is this where he works? Tell me more about this bartender, please,” Elif said, genuine concern written all over her face.
“Well, with everything going on in my life, I forgot to mention that I got confused because I was drunk when I met him, but he doesn't work here—he actually owns the place.” My heart leaped with joy just from talking and thinking about Ayaz.
“He's incredible, Elif. Intelligent, kind, very seductive, and a bit mysterious too. Every day I spend with him is like a dream come true.”
“Sounds like you're quite taken with him,” Elif said, not looking very excited about my description. “But did you try to find out anything about his past, his life, or his family? About who he really is?”
“I don't know much about his past, but I don't care.” I shrugged. “I just want to enjoy our time together and convince my father to break off my marriage to Yusuf so I can be happy with Ayaz. Only then will I worry about uncovering his secrets.”
“Eda, are you sure you really don't know who he is?” I could tell from her tone that she was about to reveal something important and unexpected.
“He's my boyfriend and the owner of this bar right here,” I answered as best I could. “Why? Elif, you're scaring me.”
“Eda, the owner of this bar is Ayaz the Cruel, one of the most ruthless, wealthy, and powerful men in the country. Heir to the Yavuz family!” She looked at me, eyes wide.
“After his father's death, he became the baba of the mafia organization that's your father's number one enemy.
You two shouldn't be dating—you should be enemies.”
My mouth fell open in shock. My heart sank. I was stunned.
How could I have been so blind and distracted that I didn't try to find out anything about Ayaz? How did I let something so important slip by?
He wasn't just a mysterious man, but someone of enormous importance. And worse still, an enemy.
I had no idea Ayaz was such an influential and dangerous figure. Despair and a wave of panic washed over me as I struggled to process this revelation.
How had I fallen in love with him without knowing his true identity?
I knew that when the truth came out, it could change everything between us.
“Eda, are you sure he doesn't know who you are and that this isn't a trap?” Elif watched me in my agony, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Definitely not,” I answered, stunned. “Actually, we never revealed our last names. If he knew, he would have already hurt me—there was no shortage of opportunities.” I sighed deeply as I remembered a very important detail.
“Elif, I have to tell you something. I lost my virginity to him in Bodrum, that night I didn't come back to the room and told you I fell asleep on the beach watching the stars.
Actually, I wasn't alone like I said—I was with him.”
“Allah, Allah… Eda! Can you imagine the mess it's going to be when you go through the organization's gynecological exam, the purity test, and your father and Yusuf find out?” She shook her head.
“We have to think of something later, but first you need to end this relationship.
And carefully, so he doesn't discover who you are and hurt you.”
“Do I have to tell him?” I asked, more to myself than to my cousin, discouraged. “Without telling him the whole truth about me and my family? Maybe he'll hate me for it.”
“That's right, Eda,” she nodded. “This thing between you two has to end before the worst happens,” she said, placing her hand over mine. “I'll be here for you, cousin. And I'll always support you, no matter what you have to face.”
I agreed, accepting the responsibility that came with it.
I promised my cousin that as soon as I had the chance, I would end things with Ayaz.
After all, how could true love flourish between two enemies when it required sincerity and trust?
And I wasn’t willing to keep my love for Ayaz hidden in secrets.
We talked for a while longer, still inside the car. Elif seemed satisfied with my answer. Then she left by taxi for home without even entering the bar, claiming she might be recognized there, and I went in to meet Ayaz and put an end to our relationship once and for all.
That’s when, lost in thought, a great idea came to me.
What if, instead of breaking up with him right away, I trusted him, told him my true identity, and we could decide together what to do?
I was certain Ayaz wouldn’t have it in him to hurt me, even after discovering who my father was.
Our love was real, and I had no doubt about that.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was willing to do whatever it took to stay by his side and never lose him.
For Ayaz, I would face my baba, the organization, and my family without fear, because he was simply the best thing that had ever happened in my life.