Can Yaman International Presents: Aşk ve Gurur~ Love and Pride

Chapter 12, Part 1: Itiraf Zamani (Confession Time)

At the end of Chapter 11:  I wanted to hold him, kiss him goodbye, reassure him, tell him I'd get to the bottom of this. But he was holding himself very stiffly, completely detached and withdrawn. I couldn't help myself; I had to touch him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and just held on. After a few moments, he leaned into me with a sigh. I kissed his jaw, not caring who might be watching. Can let me hold him, leaning his temple against mine. After a few minutes, he kissed my shoulder, let go of me and turned his head away. "Goodbye," he said to me as I left. In my anxiety, I failed to hear the sound of irrevocability in that word. 

(Author's Note: Please read to the end of the chapter and leave a comment. Are you enjoying the storyline? Don't forget to vote too. Thank you!)

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Sanem's POV:

My best-laid plans went up in flames the second I laid eyes on my mother. I have always prided myself on being cold, unemotional, and logical. But at this moment, I was a red-faced, fist-clenched, emotional mess.

"How could you?" I said in a very loud voice as I stormed into her office, mindless with fury. She could have gone after me but instead, she chose to attack an innocent man. My man. And his pain was my pain. My anger was a living entity sweeping in front of me, filling the room with the burning need to devour everything in its path.

"Where are your manners?" She chided. Then her eyes swept over my strappy dress and sneaker combo. She grimaced and in her most critical tone said, "You seem to be lost to all propriety and decency lately. You look like a hobo."

"You will fix what you have broken or so help me God... your fight is with me not him," I was seething and almost shaking with the fury and anger I was feeling.

"I have no idea what you're ranting about, child," she replied calmly but with a slight smirk on her face.

I forced myself to loosen my clenched fists and attempted to think clearly. I was playing with a master manipulator and control person here. I had to have my wits about me but I could hardly think straight. All my pragmatism had deserted me. My mind was a seething vivid red and I wanted to breathe fire.

I practically snarled at her, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You destroyed an innocent man's reputation to get back at me for defying you."

She went back to typing on her computer, deliberately ignoring what I had just said. Before I could jump over the desk and strangle her, she looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "You must be referring to that distasteful business with the stolen photos. I tried to warn you. Bad blood will out, after all."

Gritting through my teeth, I said, "You... will... fix... this!"

"I don't see why I should. I had nothing to do with it." She gazed at me for a long moment before saying, "However, I may be willing to exert my considerable influence provided that you make some concessions."

"Such as?" I asked, but I already knew her answer.

"You will give up this absurd plan of leaving the company. You will break any and all contact with that man, and you will proceed with your engagement as planned. "

"I would rather die," I said vehemently.

She shrugged. "Then don't worry. I'm sure your friend will be fine. There's always a high demand for photographers at birthday parties and weddings."

Before I realized what I was doing, a priceless vase was lying in pieces on the other side of the room. At that moment, the door opened and Leyla ran in.

She hugged me tightly. "Oh, Sanem! What are you doing?" She whispered for my ears only. And then she said in a louder voice, "Oh no, you've hurt yourself. Why don't I bandage that for you." Then she literally dragged me out of the room.