TRUST

Chapter twenty nine

As Can and Sanem readied to leave the court room, Metin walked over.

"I will meet tomorrow with Umar Bey and will get the agreement signed by Huma." he paused for a moment, seemingly unsure of what to do.

"What is it Metin?" asked Sanem

"Huma gave me a letter to give to Can, but it is addressed to the both of you. She said she knew Can would not keep anything from you, so she addressed it to the both of you."

Can became agitated "Why?" Sanem placed a hand on his arm, she was always so forgiving, he thought, she had taught him how to forgive so much but this, this he couldn't forgive.

"I will take It, maybe, one day we will both want to read what she has to say." stated Sanem, so he handed her the letter and she placed it in her bag.

"So, what happens next?" asked Can.

"The Judge will set a date and if the prosecution wants to call any witnesses he can on that date."

"Why would he do that?" questioned Sanem.

"He wants Huma to get the maximum sentence she can so if calling a couple of witnesses helps then he will do that." he paused to watch Sanem.

"Please, tell him I don't want anything to do with that." she stated. Metin nodded. Can didn't say a word. 

Can and Metin shook hands and he hugged Sanem goodbye and walked away. "Where to now, my love?"

"I am hungry Can. Can we go have a fish sandwich at our place and watch the sea." he nodded yes, took her hand and they left the court house.

A couple of hours later they walked into the agency, everyone clapped, happy to see their friends and boss with smiles on their faces and back where they belonged.

Several days later, Metin called Can to inform him that the date had been set for Huma's sentencing, as he thought the prosecutor was going to call a couple of people to testify. One who would be Can, also Yigit would be testifying through video conference call, Sanem's doctor and one other person who Metin stated he did not know, someone name Julien Babineaux. Can told Metin he didn't have any idea who the man was. 

Two Weeks Later

Can, Emre and Aziz walked into the courtroom and waited for the sentencing trial to begin. The prosecutor called a couple of people who had had a run in with Huma then he called Sanem's physician who testified to her condition the night she was admitted to the hospital, the more he learned of what Sanem went through the madder he became. Then it was Can's turn, the prosecutor walked him through how Huma had left him as a child, that she didn't have anything to do with him until he had become a famous photographer, at which time he chose not to have any contact with her. He told the court how Emre and his ex-girlfriend had used Sanem and how she had contacted Huma and told a story that caused Huma to give her shares of the company to Emre. During his testimony, Can noticed a man sitting in the back of the room, he seemed to focus on every word Can spoke. Can went on to tell how Huma had numerous times interfered with his relationship with Sanem, how she had invited and tried to get him to go out with other women. He told how she disgraced Sanem, belittled her, and caused her to feel inferior to the other women she wanted him to go out with. Then he told about the night at the mountain hut and what had happened to Yigit and how at the hospital, they were led to believe that Yigit had become paralyzed. He explained about the phone call from his Abi, Emre telling him that Sanem was in the hospital, she had a breakdown when she found out that Yigit was not paralyzed and that he had left because she had believed Huma and Yigit.

Yigit was next, through video conference he told how he had attempted to come between Can and Sanem, then the night he had been taken to the hospital, Huma had overheard the conversation between Can and Sanem and told him if he acted as if he was paralyzed Sanem would need to be by his side. He told of the numerous times, she had advised him and his sister Polen to break up the couple.

After Yigit, the judge stated they would take a fifteen minute break and then the prosecutor could call his last witness. As they walked out of the court room, Can again noticed the man watching them as they waited to go back inside. He asked Metin if he knew who the man was but he had no idea. Finally, they went back inside and the hearing began.

Umar Bey stood and spoke "Your honor, I have only one more witness to call, I will ask Julien Babineaux to come to the stand." 

Can noticed that Huma turned pale, she looked as if she might become physically ill. His father didn't seem to react at all, as if he knew who the man was.  He watched as Emre sat straighter in his seat, surprise written all over his face.

"Do you know this man, baba?"

"I know of him, I spoke with him recently." was all Aziz would say.

He spoke perfect Turkish even though his accent was a little strange to Can "My name is Julien Babineaux. My relationship with Huma, is two fold, one good and one horrible. I am Emre Divit's paternal father." He paused and looked over at the Divit men, he never once looked at Huma. Can was shocked. "Twenty six years ago, I was a business man who traveled between Paris and Istanbul. During this time I had an affair with Huma. We were both married at the time but neither one of us concerned with our martial status, I was alone in a city that at that time I was spending more than four months of the  year in. Our affair lasted several years, until I no longer had to come to Istanbul, my business was finished." He stopped and finally looked at Huma then back at Umar.

"I left Istanbul and never thought I would see or hear from her again. Around four months after I left, I receive a phone call at my office, she was in Paris and wanted to meet, so I met her for coffee at a little cafe close to my office. She told me she was pregnant, I told her I would financially support her child, which I did, I sent her money monthly." He stopped and a look of hatred in is eyes was clearly present. "When the child was around three, she called me telling me I was the love of her life, she wanted to move to Paris to be close to me but I told her I loved my wife and I would never leave her." He laughed "Yeah, she loved me, what she loved was my money. She told me I would have to pay her a lot more money if I didn't want her to call my wife and tell her about the child. So, I did, my wife was a kind, sweet woman and I didn't want to do anything to cause her harm. I paid Huma to keep her quiet until the child was eighteen. I knew though that even with all the money I had paid Huma, she would have nothing to give our son, that she would use all the money on herself." he stopped and paused "My wife became ill, she had cancer, about three years ago I finally told the whole truth about what happened in Istanbul."

He dropped his head and when he looked up he had a small smile on his face "She said she knew, that she had known even before I was back from Istanbul but she had forgiven me, that our love was stronger than to permit a mistake to break us apart, that was the type of woman she was." he looked again at the Divit men, Can was so stunned with what he just heard he was speechless.

"The sad thing is Huma never told her husband, I don't know if he even knew until I spoke with him the other day. I hated to be the one to drop that bomb on them, but I am sure he paid Huma child support also, knowing the type of man he is, he would have taken care of our son even if he knew." he stopped again "I wish I had been given the chance to know Emre but she told me as long as I stayed with my wife, then Aziz Divit would always be Emre's baba. She black mailed me in more ways than one but I kept watch on Emre. I was at every game he in played in that I could attend. I was at his high school and college graduations. I read every article about his wedding to the lovely Leyla." He looked at Emre, a look so sad on his face.

The prosecutor told him he could step down, the judge bowed his head. 

"I don't need to hear anything else nor do I need to take any time with my decision. Madam, please stand."