Artemis (CanEm Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Nihat didn't really know what was going through his mind as he processed Can Divit's words. It was one thing hearing about a wealthy man and his relations with multiple women, it was another thing finding out that his own daughter was the object of such a man's desires. There was no doubt in Nihat's mind that Can was a great guy but he just wasn't sure if he was the right guy  for his little Sanem - the two came from completely different worlds.  Sanem was a simple girl who had barely ventured out into the world if it hadn't been because of Mevkebe and Leyla's scheming. In Nihat's eyes, his daughter was naive, innocent and he wasn't certain if a man like Can Divit was what she needed. 

"What makes you good enough for my girl?" Within seconds, Nihat's whole demeanour changed and Can knew this was it ... this was the moment he had to be nervous about, the moment where he needed to prove his worth. 

"With all due respect, Sir, I would die for your daughter." Slyly, Can stole a glance at Sanem who was watching him intently. There was so much pride and admiration in her eyes and that was all the encouragement that Can needed to keep going. All he needed to do was be honest because one day, if he fathered a daughter, he would - without a doubt - need the assurance that the boy in his shoes loved his daughter irrevocably. "I have traveled all ends of this Earth and have never found anyone like, Sanem. She is one of a kind: smart, funny, kind - she makes my world a better place and I love her." 

Nihat hadn't known what to expect but it definitely wasn't what came out of Can's mouth. There was so much conviction in his voice and honestly, Nihat was lost for words. And whilst Nihat tried to formulate a sentence of response in his head, Sanem's attention towards her Mother. Mevkebe's hand that had been stirring a wooden spoon had halted completely. She was dazing off into the depths of her tomato soup and Sanem's eyes widened in fear. 

"Mother-" 

"Did you know?" Mevkebe whispered slowly, her eyes leisurely moving from the soup to her daughter that looked like a deer caught in headlights. "About his feelings for you?" 

"Y-yes." Sanem didn't bat an eyelash, her eyes fluttering down to her feet. It had been her decision to tell her parents and she was going to have to take responsibility for her actions just as much as Can. 

"What?" Mevkebe turned all of her attention towards Sanem in surprise. "You knew?" 

"Mum, Dad, I love Can too." Sanem desperately wanted to go over and take a hold of Can's hand but with everybody stood and sat in awkward situations she knew it wasn't going to be as easy as she imagined. "I have for a while." 

"Mr. Can," Mevkebe who had greeted Can warmly into the house only minutes prior had adopted a colder attitude that clenched at Can's heart. She practically ignored Sanem's confession and moved onto Can. "I respect you, I do, but we aren't like you people."

"What do you mean 'you people'? I am the same man who walked in here just moments earlier." Can quickly jumped into his defense. 

"I know you are, but we are simple people, Can. We do not have a lot of money or fame. Our values aren't the same as yours-" 

"What values, Mevkebe Aunty? Money or fame doesn't matter right now. I love your daughter and she loves me. I want to make her happy-" 

"Our traditional values matter, Mr. Can." Mevkebe moved towards him, taking a seat at the dining table so that they were eye level. Surprisingly for Mevkebe, the food was long forgotten. "You can parade around with every model in town and nobody will say anything to you. As much as I wish it wasn't true, women are treated differently where we are from. If my girls are spotted with somebody like you were with Ms. Polen, we'd be disgraced among our neighborhood. They'd be shamed for being some type of girls and I will not tolerate that. If you eventually realise that Sanem isn't enough, then what? Where does that leave my daughter? Tainted and with no prospect of a husband." 

"It won't come to that-" Can didn't even want to think about Sanem with anybody else than him, even if it was hypothetically. "Polen doesn't mean anything to me and neither does anything anybody else has to say. All that matters is Sanem." Can had never really cared for the media attention that he received from being a Divit. He didn't understand why everyday people were so enthralled about what he was doing or who he was seeing but he had learned to ignore them ... it didn't seem like Sanem's parents were going to do the same thing. Their neighborhood thrived on gossip and communicating between households and he understood the importance of that now. "She respects you and your traditions and I would like to do the same-"

"So, what?" Mevkebe folded her arms across her chest quizzically. "Are you going to marry my daughter to respect her integrity, our traditions?" 

"Yes." Can didn't miss a beat and all Aydin women blinked in surprise. Sanem's mouth went dry suddenly and she gulped audibly - her and Can had obviously anticipated staying together forever but marriage wasn't something either of them had vocalised, at least not to each other. "If it comes to marriage then, we will get married." 

"Can, I honor that you came to speak with us truthfully." Finally, Nihat piped up, his hand returning to Can's back. He did respect that Can and Sanem had come to talk to the family instead of hiding their relationship. It meant the world that his children trusted him enough to be honest with him; however, it was all a lot to process at once. He had only just learnt that his baby girl loved a man who loved her back and within the space of seconds, the topic of conversation had escalated to marriage. "I think we shouldn't be talking about anything too rashly. Let us talk to Sanem, process this information before we step onto the topic of marriage, okay?" 

"Okay." Can smiled weakly before standing up. Nihat's words did make sense. They needed time and Can was willing to give them all the time they needed if that meant them blessing his union with Sanem. It would mean the world to them both. Can shook Nihat's hand like a gentleman, his mind conscious of the Sanem's penetrating gaze. "Thank you for taking the time to listen to me, Nihat Uncle." 

"You're welcome, son."  The two men exchanged  their goodbyes and Can left the house with a light smile on his face. He knew he could eventually melt the ice that had settled within Sanem's Mother and unlike his wife, Nihat had still called him his son as he left. It gave him hope and that was what Can clung to as he ventured home.