Locked in the memory

Chapter 22: Confessions and Plans

Asli POV:

I and Serkan left Sarte to go looking for wedding dresses. He opened my door for me, a gentleman. I have to tell this man the truth. I can't take advantage of his kindness. With all the gathered guts I say, "Serkan, can you please pull over?" He asks, "Are you okay?" After I nod yes, he pulls over to the side of the road. "Look I know I asked you to marry me. So there is something you need to know..." He waited patiently for me to finish. Ugh he is such a good man! I feel guilty for doing this to him. "I... I am pregnant." he said. He paused for few seconds and asked me, "With Doruk's child?" "Yes. He's the only man I've ever slept with.." I told him the truth. "Does he know?" he asked. "No. Nor do I want him to ever find out. I want him gone from my life for good. And if he knows about the baby, he won't ever leave me alone." I confessed. "okay.. Have you told anyone yet?" He asked. "Hayat knows. In fact she was the one to buy me the pregnancy tests this morning." After I said that he was thinking for a while. "Do you still want to marry me?" I asked little unsure because no sane man would want troubles in his life. "Yes. I still want to marry you. Because the moment I saw you at Hayat's house on Friday, I have had a huge crush on you! " He confessed smiling sheepishly. "And the baby?" I asked. "That's your decision. It is your body. If you want to abort, I'll be there for you. But if you decide to keep the child, be assured that the adoption papers will never be made. The baby will get my name on the birth certificate and will grow up believing I'm the biological father. He will never find out the truth." He smiled. That sentence made my heart jump with happiness. I accidentally stumbled across a gem. I am going to cherish this man for the rest of my life. 

Serkan POV:

After she confessed about her pregnancy, it would make sense if I use this situation and tell her about my past. "Asli, there is something you should know too. My name is Serkan. Serkan Bolat. And I was in a pretty serious relationship with a girl named Selin. Things took a not-so-good turn when she insisted on settling down with me and I wanted more time. I just did not feel the spark in our relationship. Therefore I was hesitant to get married. She broke up with me for that and got married to someone else. I am in no contact with her and I promise you she will not show up in our life again. " She nodded understandingly. "Let's go shopping now. Shall we?" 

Around 6:30pm Hayat's house:

Hayat POV:

The doorbell rang which lead to a pause in our conversation. It was Ipek and Kerem. Serkan and Asli arrived just few minutes later. Serkan and Asli officially announced their marriage to Murat, Kerem and Ipek. It would be held tomorrow at 11:00 am at the courthouse. Everyone was in a merry mood and no one opposed, apparently Doruk was in everyone's bad books. Asli's phone was on the counter when a message popped. "I will not let you get married." It was from Doruk. I looked at Asli. She was chatting with Ipek and Kerem. I grabbed Serkan and dragged him into my bedroom.

"We have to get the security for the wedding. And a restraining order against Doruk." I said showing him Doruk's message. "This guy is getting on my nerves now." was his response. "I know. The mother-son duo is pissing everyone off." I said irritated. "Did you guys talk?" I asked. "Yes she told me about the child. And I told her about my ex." he answered and added "I have not told her about our family." "You've not?" I asked astonished. "She has to know. You are getting married tomorrow. Before she enters your life completely, she has to know." I stated. "I know Hayat. I'm just scared." he replied. "I understand that. But we just have connections. We haven't engaged in business business in the past few years. We just use that power to get things done our way. We haven't even been that violent recently." I stated the facts. "Yes we haven't been that violent. Except for the time you intentionally trashed French businessman's Ferrari outside our mansion when he was in our house. And oh not to mention the time you almost killed the Italian's son." he said sarcastically. "I can explain. French were gender biased. They didn't think I could do any harm to them. And the Italians' well, at that time Dad's and Cihangir's life was on line. I couldn't just sit with the folded hands." I explained. "Exactly Hayat. I don't want to scare her. If this is the level of violence from the most non violent family member, how am I supposed to explain the rest?" He said agitated. "Look, I know this is a mess but you do know the drama that had ensued last time when truth was hidden between me and Murat. Do you want that type of ending?" I asked. "I don't want history repeating." he said. "Let's tell them about our family after dinner. I'll help you. But do not announce the child. There are few things we have to take into consideration." I said. 

"What about the threat?" he asked. "I know Doruk. He can stoop low enough to hire goons to just sabotage the marriage." I said "Should we not get married here then?" seeing the confusion on my face he explained, "Our mothers hail from Livorno. So why not get married there. We just need passports. We can take my jet. We will stay there at one of our mansions and have a huge reception. We will also postpone the wedding to evening just so that family finds the time to get ready. Mine and your parents are already in Florence. It won't be a problem for them. Cihangir is can fly down with Irem. I am not really sure about Kaan and the family. But they can use the jet to fly. So the only problem will be Asli's parents" he explained. "You do have a point. We won't tell anyone so Doruk can't track us down. Asli's parents are not in the picture so it won't be a problem. Fine, send a text or call them. I'll inform everyone to get passports. Call your contacts. We have Visas, they don't." saying that I left to inform everyone.

Tuval had still not come so I called her and asked her to get a passport and few fancy dresses along. We were going out for few days. Asli, Ipek and Kerem were in the backyard so I went to them and said, "Ipek and Asli do you mind putting a 1 week leave right now. State family emergency." "That won't be a problem. I resigned." Ipek said. "You what?" I asked. That was totally unexpected. "Kerem resigned when Murat was not allowed in Sarte. So we decided that I resign too. We get married here. My lease is over by the end of this month and we have not found our house yet. So we decided to go back to countryside. Settle down there." she explained. "They have been asking me to get all my pending leaves together and go for a vacation so it won't be an issue for me" Asli said. "Great. Now Asli you stay here, Kerem, Ipek and I will go to your house. I need your passports and few dresses. Asli is not marrying in Istanbul." Everyone was shell shocked but I managed to get them in the car. We took Asli's cupboard keys. I am not risking taking her out after the threat. In the car I told them about the threat and promised them not to tell Asli. Asli had already told about her pregnancy on which I said, "Please do not tell this to Tuval." They promised that because they knew the complications it would create if Doruk gets the wind of this news. While in the car I also told them that I would be designing their outfits for the wedding to which they happily agreed. We first went to Kerem's house and then at Ipek's. After gathering Ipek's and Asli's passports and few clothes, I decided to collect all of Asli's certificates and documents. 

On our way out, we saw Doruk. He stopped us and demanded, "I want to talk to Asli" "Too bad, she doesn't want anything to do with you." I retaliated. "I will find her." He spat. "Okay. Take all the efforts to find her. But once you do, you'll be greeted with restraining order. Now move out of my way" I said in my typical Hayat Tapeli tone. "Where is she? Where are you taking her bags?" he said pointing at the luggage in our hands. "Why do you think our world revolves around her? She said she's marrying Serkan. Go find him and demand answers. We don't know where she is. These bags belong to Ipek and Kerem. Thanks to your mother, they don't have their wedding dresses. We are trying to shift them to a safe place where your mother won't try to sabotage their marriage. Do you want any more explanation?" I demanded in an irritated tone. "My mother?" He questioned. I couldn't help but laugh wickedly. Seeing me laugh, not only Doruk but also Ipek and Kerem  were visibly scared. "You don't know your mother at all? Or do you pretend to not know her. She damaged their dresses beyond repair just because Kerem quit. Now clear my way or I will personally kick you out of my way." He moved. Once in car the only question asked was, "What in the world was that Hayat?" "You will get to know. After dinner." I replied. The rest of the car ride was silent.