Ece's Secret (Fazilet Hanim ve Kizlari Fanfiction)

Chapter 16.1: The Dark Side of Life Part I

Hazim's older sister Guzide came to visit from Izmir after reading the shocking news he married an 18 year old. Guzide had yet to meet the young bride but was certain she was manipulating her younger brother who's head was still a mess after the sudden loss of his wife. 

Ece came back to the mansion after school. It was a tough day. Some people at the school recognized her from the paper, that she married a 59 year old millionaire. Ever since she got a boyfriend she focused all her energy on Yasin and let her friendships fall to the wayside. She was left with a group of two friends who she can't say she was that close to. Definitely not close enough to tell them she was pregnant or why she married Hazim bey out of nowhere. Sometimes she doubted if they even liked her or they all clung onto each other for some support to get through the school year. Her supposed friends kept avoiding her all day while other students snickered behind her back. In a few days the whole school would find out. Ece didn't know how she was going to get through these last few months of school. Ece was ready to head straight upstairs to her new room - really Hazim and Sevinc's old room, but hers for now as Hazim slept in the guest bedroom next to his study. She had one foot already on the first step when she heard Hazim calling. 

"Ece, I have someone for you to meet." Sat across from Hazim was an older woman. She was dressed as you would imagine a high class lady with an air of effortless sophistication. Ece recognized her face from Sevinc hanim's funeral. She assumed a relative of some sort. "Ece, I'd like you to meet my sister, Guzide."

"Nice to meet you." They exchanged pleasantries for a while but the purpose for her visit soon became apparent. 

"Ece, I don't want to doubt you. I'm sure you're a lovely girl with pure intentions but it's my job as Hazim's older sister to look out for his best interests. You say you married him for love, not money, and I believe you,  but you never know what the future holds. I just want my brother to be protected and you as well, in case anything happens." The woman slid her a document. "It's a postnuptial agreement." Ece quickly scanned through the agreement. Essentially it stated that if couple were to divorce she would not seek any financial compensation from him. Though there were some exceptions. It was full of legalise but the one clause that was most important was if the couple had a child she would receive 4000 TL per month if she was awarded partial custody or 8000 TL per month if she was awarded full custody of the child until the child was 18. That was enough for Ece to agree. She would wear rags if she had to, as long as she could afford to give her child the best life possible. Ece signed without hesitation.

"I hope this brings you some peace of mind." Ece gave the woman a fake smile when handing the contract back over. Ece made up some lie  about a school assignment to excuse herself from the interrogation. 

She snuck out of the garden to the bench across the street from the house to catch some fresh air and stare out at the Bosphorus. Ece was annoyed that everyone saw her as a gold digger. But in a way, weren't they right? Sure Hazim offered parental and emotional support for her unborn child but he also offered financial support and if that wasn't there she doubted she would have married him. Her child would be able to wear nice clothes, go to private schools, afford any hobby it wanted, afford to travel and see the world. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt the weight of the bench shift as someone sat on the other end. 

"I thought I would find you here." It was Hazan. 

"What are you doing here?"

"Look, I want to clear the air. Ece, were sisters. We're supposed to tell each other everything. We're supposed to be there for each other, support one another. I can't sit back while I watch you enter what will certainly be an unhappy marriage."

"Tell each other everything, huh? Like how you told me you were modelling?"

"I knew you would be upset that's why I was afraid to tell you."