Chapter 32
I woke with a start and a knot in my stomach, still drowsy, confused, disoriented, gripped by a sense of desperation I couldn’t understand.
When I realized I’d been dreaming about her, my nervousness only grew.
In my dream, Eda slept peacefully beside me, a smile on her lips that could light up the room.
We were wrapped in each other’s arms, our bodies fitting together perfectly, and that alone shouldn’t have been a problem.
After all, sleeping beside someone you love is one of the best feelings in the world, right?
The problem was what happened next. Her father burst into our bedroom at the mansion and gunned us down in our bed.
I got up carefully and went to the window.
I opened the curtains and looked outside, hoping the sight of the pool would calm me.
But what I saw made my heart clench even tighter.
Eda was wearing a tiny red bikini that accentuated her curves, swimming, laughing, and playing with Leyla—who had already joined us at the mansion and now helped care for our son—and with our boy, who seemed to be having the time of his life.
My heart lurched as uncontrollable jealousy seized me. How could she be so at ease, so happy, half-naked in front of the security guards and house staff, while I was up here, disoriented and unsettled?
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.
I decided I couldn’t let things stand. I left the room and headed to the pool.
When I got there, my heart raced. My fists clenched with anger, but I knew I couldn’t let her see it.
After all, I’d made it very clear to her that our affair was in the past. I coughed, trying to get her attention.
She turned and looked at me in surprise.
“You’re here, Ayaz?” she said, looking confused. “Your mother told me you rarely use the pool.”
“I woke up and saw you all from my window and…” I stammered, not knowing how to explain what I was feeling.
“And what?” She frowned and crossed her arms.
“I don’t like seeing you dressed like that in front of the security guards and house staff.
” I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
“What do you think you’re doing? You can’t and shouldn’t flaunt yourself like that around other men.
Could you please change? Put on something more discreet, less eye-catching. ”
“Are you jealous, Ayaz? After everything that happened between us, you still have the nerve to feel that?” She arched an eyebrow, her expression shifting to a mix of surprise and amusement.
“Because I’m not showing off—I’m just swimming with my son in the pool.
And I don’t see any problem with wearing a bikini. ”
“I’m not jealous.” I couldn’t stop the heat rising up my neck. “I just don’t want anyone staring at you. I also think the mother of my son should set an example and wear something more discreet and modest.”
“Ayaz, you are jealous.” She looked at me with a mischievous smile. “And that’s very cute, you know?”
“I’m not trying to be cute, Eda.” I huffed, feeling even more irritated. “I’m just… asking for your cooperation.”
“Cooperation with what, Ayaz?” she asked, genuinely trying to understand.
“All right, Eda, I’m jealous.” I was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and decided to keep being honest with her.
“Was that what you wanted to hear? Well, I admit it. I spent all this time trying to convince myself I didn’t feel anything anymore, that I didn’t want to be with you…
but the truth is I miss you, and seeing you in that tiny bikini in front of everyone drove me crazy with jealousy and made me realize I can’t pretend anymore. ”
“What are you saying, Ayaz?” She looked at me, surprised and a little hopeful.
“I’m saying that maybe I made a mistake when I left you.” I knew there was no taking it back now. “Maybe we should try again, be together as a family—the two of us and Can.”
“Ayaz, you made me suffer so much when you rejected me, when you denied our son.” She stared at me, her eyes full of emotion. “I can’t just go back and pretend none of that happened.”
“I know I was wrong, Eda.” I knew she was right.
“I was an idiot and I regret everything.” I’d hurt her badly and couldn’t erase the past. “I made you suffer too much, but I still love you. I can’t stand the idea of another man looking at you with desire.
I just want a chance to fix everything and do things right. ”
“Look, Ayaz, I can’t just come back to you like that.
You hurt me a lot in the past. If you want things to go back to the way they were, you need to really apologize.
If you truly want this, then ask me for forgiveness.
” She sighed and looked at Can, who was playing in the pool.
“For all the times you hurt me and for everything you put me through—and maybe then we can start over.”
And in that moment, at the edge of the pool, under the hot sun, as I looked at Can and Eda, facing the past and the future with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, I realized there was a glimmer of hope for us—a chance to rebuild what we had lost.
But would my pride allow me to do what she was asking?