Now
Feraye lets her head rest on the wall behind her, closing her eyes for five seconds at most, when the intercom blares to life. It startles her, and she jerks up, realizing it's time to board the plane. She hurriedly gathers her things. Then, she kneels down beside the chairs and puts her hand on her daughter's cheek. "Yağmur," she says softly, "it's time to go, baby."
Four Years Ago
The door to the room that has become their prison opens, and to her utter horror, it's not Bora or any of his goons that walks in, but Ateş.
The look in his eyes is hard to decipher, because this man is nothing if not an enigma, and it scares her. Yaman sits up, pushing her off him, "Ateş-"
He lifts up a hand, silencing him immediately. "Both of you are going to get up, and you're going to come with me."
She swallows, "Ateş-"
"And neither of you," he interrupts her, teeth gritted and fists clenched, "are going to say a word, do you understand me? I don't want to hear a word."
"Ateş-"
"I said not a word, Feraye," he snaps, then seems to center himself, voice lowered, "I'm done. We're done."
...............................................................
The ride back home is quiet. She keeps sneaking glances at Ateş, and can't bear to look at the man sitting beside her. It kills her to keep silent, kills her to see him like this, but she doesn't have the courage to say anything, afraid of what his reaction will be.
When they get to the mansion, Ateş is the first one out. She hurries after him, and Yaman isn't far behind. When she gets to the stairs, she hesitates, and Ateş looks up at her, then at his brother, who's standing at her back. "Both of you, come with me."
Yaman rolls his eyes. "Drop the act, will you, Ateş? It's not like there was ever anything between-"
"You either come with me, and do as I say, or I will tell everyone about you two."
Her breath catches in her chest, terrified, and she shakes her head. "You wouldn't do that."
He smirks, but it's dark and humourless. "Remember when before all this happened you said you didn't really know me?" He asks her, putting his hands in his pockets, "well, Feraye, you were right- you don't really know me. You have ten seconds to follow me, or it's time to air your dirty laundry. Your choice," he calls out over his shoulder as he turns and walks away.
Yaman touches her back. "He won't do a thing," he mutters, "let's just go hear him out, okay?"
She steps away from his touch, and down the stairs.
................................................................
When they enter the room, Ateş is sitting on the couch. Beside him, there are two folders. He presents the first one to her.
She takes it hesitantly. "What is this?"
"Divorce papers."
She's stunned, and her grip goes slack on the folder. It falls to the floor, and Ateş just looks at it, then at her, waiting for her to pick it up. When she does, he continues to speak. "Sign them now."
She closes her eyes, and a tear manages to escape her tightly closed lids. When she opens them, and looks at him, there's a flicker of pain in his eyes, but it's gone in an instant. She wonders if she imagined it, if it was just wishful thinking on her part. She takes the pen he gives her and signs the papers with shaking hands.
