Chapter 21
After Doctor Tabor treated her, Eda was placed in a medically induced coma to aid her recovery—she'd lost too much blood.
Her condition remained delicate and required close monitoring.
He would stay with her throughout the process, gradually reducing the sedation until she regained consciousness. It could take several days.
When I entered my room—where I'd insisted they be placed—she and the baby were sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the turmoil in my mind.
A suffocating tension hung in the air. My mother, a woman with tired eyes and gray hair, had been watching over them.
She rose from the armchair and came to me, her face etched with concern.
“Are you all right, Ayaz?” she asked, searching my face.
“Not really. I found them in terrible condition,” I replied, relieved to have finally freed them.
“Thank goodness you managed to save them, son!” she said, her voice soft and full of compassion, as if trying to ease the tension. “But you still seem worried. What happened?”
“He really is my son, Mother.” I nodded, my jaw tight, my face rigid. I approached the crib where the baby slept soundly. “He has the Yavuz mark. But that doesn't change anything.”
“Ayaz, regardless, you did the right thing, my dear.
You saved your son's life and brought him home.
That's what matters.” She sighed and approached me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“And what are you going to do about his mother?
Are you going to marry Eda? She's a very beautiful woman. Now I understand why you dove headfirst into a relationship with her and gave your heart more completely than you ever had before.”
I sat in the armchair my mother had just vacated and began to unburden myself.
I explained everything—from what Eda had done in the past to how I'd rescued her and our son.
I wanted to make it clear that I wasn't in love with my son's mother and that she would only stay in our home as long as the baby needed her.
“I don't forgive her for what she did, Mother,” I said, my voice firm. “I can't shake the feeling that she was a trap, carefully set for me. I can't believe in her love or her words anymore. She'll only be here as long as our son needs her. After that, she'll have to leave.”
“Are you sure that's what you want, Ayaz?” My mother looked at me with sadness and concern.
“Don't you think maybe you could forgive her one day?” She held my gaze, her eyes understanding despite the sorrow in them.
“I know you're hurt, but the situation is complicated.
You can't simply erase what you shared. You have a son together.”
“No, Mother. No chance,” I replied decisively.
“She's the enemy's daughter, the daughter of my baba's murderer, and what she did is unforgivable.” Anger surged through me, and I stepped back from her.
“Eda betrayed my trust in the past, and now she's put us all in danger.
The fact that we have a son together doesn't change what she did.” I took a deep breath, trying to control my rage.
“She doesn't deserve my forgiveness, and I don't want her in my life. All I want is to protect my son and make sure he grows up healthy with a bright future.”
Dona Ozge nodded, understanding my position. I knew she would always stand by me, even through the most difficult decisions. And I needed her now more than ever as I dealt with the aftermath of rescuing Eda and our son—whose name I still didn't even know.
“Ayaz, time will tell.” My mother sighed, and I saw a solitary tear roll down her wrinkled cheek. “Perhaps you can find a way to coexist with her for your son's sake. In my opinion, for a child to grow up healthy and have a bright future, he needs both his father and mother by his side.”
“I already told you: I'll only keep her around as long as our son needs her.” I shook my head, my determination unwavering.
“After that, she's on her own. Don't ask me to do more than that, Mother.” My expression was serious and determined.
“I want you to understand one thing: I don't want Eda back in my life. What she did is unforgivable.”
“I understand, Ayaz,” she agreed. “I'll support your decisions, even if I don't agree with all of them. Always remember my words: a child is happier with both father and mother by his side.”
And so the subject was dropped for now, as the tension between us was growing.
I knew she was trying to intercede on Eda's behalf.
Despite being the mother of a man considered cruel, merciless, and faithless in matters of love and forgiveness, she had a generous heart—but I couldn't give in.
My focus was on protecting and raising my son the best way I could. There was no room for Eda in my heart.
That conversation was far from over, but it wouldn't change my position.
I still needed to talk to my son's mother, and I knew many challenges lay ahead.
But in that moment, I had made it clear to my mother—and to myself—that my commitment was to my son.
All that remained was my determination to raise our baby the best I could.
I wasn't willing to forgive Eda, no matter what my mother said or did.