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

Chapter 12, Part 2: Itiraf Zamani (Confession Time)

At the end of Chapter 12, Part 1:  Aylin turned to me in dismayed surprise. "The prodigal daughter returns," she said with a mocking glance at my tailored suit and sensible heels. "Did that sexy lion finally get tired of the missionary position? Prim and proper virgins are such a chore. Maybe I should give him a call." She smiled suggestively. "Spare me," I said rolling my eyes. "You're coming with us." "I don't think so." She said with a sneer. "You can either speak to us or to the police. Your choice." "I choose none of the above." I shrugged as if her words held no importance. "You won't look good in prison orange. Oh, by the way, your friend Hilmi sends his regards." I turned and walked away and kept walking even when Aylin fell into step beside me.

(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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Can's POV:

"I have to go," Sanem said in an agitated voice. I understood. She embraced me one last time and I let myself lean in and breathe her in one last time. "Goodbye," I said. The fatalistic part of me whispered softly in my ear, "You will never see her again."

When I got back to my house, I lawyered up then packed my bags and took off. I didn't want to be anywhere near anyone who might be affected by the scandal that was exploding around me. Most of all, I didn't want Sanem to be affected by it. I wanted to leave the country, run as fast and as far as I could, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Just the thought of going away from her made me physically ill. But my sanity was already hanging by a thread and I just couldn't think about that right now.

I spent the first few days in the woods, camping on my own. It had always been my therapy, a way to reconnect and think clearly. But this time, no amount of fresh air and solitude could clear the deep-seated rage in me. I wanted to strike out and incinerate everything in my path. The most frustrating part was that I had no one to direct my anger at. I was a man of action and sitting around with my hands virtually tied was hell on earth.

These kinds of thoughts swirled around in my head for days on end. But I was careful to keep my waking thoughts from straying to Sanem, keeping that locked down tightly. It couldn't be allowed out or I'd be running back to throw myself at her feet. Even if she would have me with a tattered reputation and an uncertain future, I wasn't selfish enough to do that to her. She was trying to get a company off the ground and didn't need the bad press, and she sure as hell didn't need to share my disgrace. She deserved better. She deserved so much more. I had little to offer from the start and now I had even less.

Eventually, feeling restless, I left the woods and went to the cabin. This turned out to be a huge mistake. I swore the sheets still smelled of her. Sleeping in them made me feel like I was being rendered in half. My dreams every night were invaded by her scent, her lips, her eyes, visions of the body that had been imprinted on mine. I had strange semi-awake dreams in which I swore I felt the softness of her body beneath mine.

"Don't hate me," I whispered against her lips. "Yesterday, today and forever you're the one on my mind. It will always be you no matter how far I go. It has always been you." She shoved her hands into my hair and brought her mouth to mine. She kissed me deeply and I pressed her down onto the bed, afraid to crush her but unable to keep my hips from rolling slowly into hers. I ran my lips over her face, my hands sweeping over her curves. "I'll never let go of you, Sanem. Never."

I woke up with her name on my lips and my ears tingling with the sounds she made in passion. I sat up in bed thinking of the long lonely years ahead, of the real possibility that she'd end up marrying someone else, touching someone else. The thought sent me shooting to my feet. What the hell am I doing here? A sense of urgency invaded me and I suddenly had enough of feeling sorry for myself.

I pulled my head out of my ass and drove back to the city that same day, my dread growing with every mile. As soon as I turned my phone back on, I got a call from a baffled Metin. "Where have you been? Avoiding your lawyer is always a bad idea. I have incredible news." He went on to name the individual who had admitted to stealing and uploading the photos. I had no idea who this person was.

"The website has been taken down. The young man is in custody and has already confessed. The really strange thing is that he has somehow retained the services of one of the best law firms in the country. But as far as I can tell, he has no money."

After I hung up and before I could get my head wrapped around this revelation, I saw there were several unread messages today from Ayhan. I didn't even stop to wonder how she got my number. I pulled over to read them and all the blood drained from my head.

Ayhan's text message read:

Hey, thought you might wanna know something is going down today. I've been summoned by She Who Must Not Be Named. I think treachery is afoot.

Yogurt is here *eye roll* this can't be good.

I can't get a hold of either of my sisters. I don't think Sanem has any idea she's about to be ambushed.

The last message sent me hurling into traffic, heedless of other motorists. I could barely see past the fury engulfing me.

The rest of her message was:

Hellooooo! You might want to get your ass over to my house, Romeo. It definitely looks like a trap. Idk what's going on but I wouldn't put it past them to kidnap her.

I made it there in record time. I marched past the protesting doorman, pushed aside the indignant butler and followed the sounds of voices into a large room. My eyes unerringly picked her out of the crowd. She turned her head sharply in my direction and our eyes met. At that same moment, Yiğit walked up to her side and her mother started to speak to the gathered crowd "We are so ecstatic to announce the union..."

"Like hell" came up in my brain. It was the last semi-coherent thought I had. My eyes landed on Yiğit taking Sanem's limp hand in his and my brain ceased to function. The primal untamed part of me that always hovered close to the surface came to the fore and I turned it loose.

"Mine", it said. "You're mine."

I shouldered my way through the crowd, my eyes locked on hers until I was standing in front of her shocked face. I plucked her hand away from the slimy little toad, picked him up and bodily removed him from her vicinity. I resisted the urge to hurl him across the room.

"Touch her again and I'll break you in half," I said to him, my voice deepening to an almost unintelligible growl.

"How dare you! I'm calling the police." The little jerk sputtered.

"Leave here with this man and you'll never see your sisters again!" Her mother declared furiously.

I looked at Sanem, her shining eyes never straying from my face. I cupped her cheeks and kissed her hard.

"Mine." The word coursed through my veins with every beat of my heart.

With threats raining down on our heads and Ayhan's wolf whistle ringing in my ears, I picked up the love of my life, slung her over my shoulder and stomped through a sea of stunned faces.

"Mine... finally!"

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This is a work of Fiction inspired by the characters of "Erkenci Kus". All photos, videos and characters belong to their rightful owners.

Written for Can Yaman International by a Mystery Writer; @pajarito1978 on Wattpad.

Edited by Mary Bloyd, Resident Editor for Can Yaman International.