A life time

Chapter 32

Emir stood in front of Leyla's door. He took a deep breath willing himself to be calm and be prepared for the conversation about to come. He knocked at the door several times and Eyhan opened. Eyhan was a little surprised. He signed deeply then spoke.

"It's about time. We were expecting your visit somehow but it happened earlier than we thought. I'm Eyhan Kandarly" Eyhan said extending his hand for Emir to shake.

Emir looked between the man's face and his hand. Surprisingly he shook his hand but didn't say a word.

"Eyhan, who's there" Leyla came from the inside of the house and stopped in her tracks when she saw Emir.
Emir looked at her with unreadable expression.

"We need to talk" Emir said a bit angrier than he intended and Leyla nodded.

Emir sat in the living room, Leyla and Eyhan sat in front of him.

"I know who you are" Emir started, directing his statment to Leyla.

"We gathered that much" Eyhan replied.

"What I need to know is why now? Why after all these years? Why approaching her like that? Why leaving her in the first place?" Emir said the last part quite harshly.

"You don't know anything" Leyla answered calmly.

"Then tell me. Explain" Emir retorted.

"This is a story I'll only tell to my daughter" Leyla said defensively.

"You don't have the right to call her daughter after you left her"

"Watch yourself boy" Eyhan said as a warning.

"You don't know what you're talking about" Leyla said, shaking her head.

"That's why I'm here. Tell me why did you leave her then come back now? "

"I DIDN'T LEAVE HER. THEY TOOK HER FROM ME" Leyla screamed getting up on her feet.

Eyhan got up too to get her to calm.

"What do you mean they took her from you? Zeynep thinks that she's an adopted child. She thinks her parents didn't want her.. " Emir retorted angerly.

"And is this all my fault?? She has a father but he's not brave enough to claim his role. Do you think I would intentionally leave her to Veldan's mercy? I didn't have a choice back then. Didn't have the power but now I have. And I'll take my daughter out of this pool of lies she lives in" Leyla said angerly.

"Lies? And what are doing? You are lying to her too" Emir accused.

"No. I won't be lying for long. Soon I'll tell my daughter everything. She'll know the truth from me. What about you? Aren't you lying to her for years now? Don't be a hypocrite. We're all in the same boat "

Emir didn't reply. He just closed his eyes tightly and moved to sit back on the coach.

Leyla went to sit too. All were silent for a couple of minutes. The air was intense. Everyone needed to calm down.

"I lied to protect her. I wanted to protect her from heartache. From the pain of knowing that all her life is nothing but a big lie. It will destroy her" Emir said thickly. His head between his hands.

"I know" Leyla said, tears streaming down her face.

"I know that you are the only one who cares about my daughter. I thought you were like your father. But what you did for her, protecting her from Aksoy proved me otherwise " Emir raised his head and looked at her.

"And I won't stop protecting her. Even from you"

"I mean no harm to my daughter. I just want her to know that she has a mother who loves her very much. I just want to take her in my arms and inhale her smell. I've lived all these years dreaming of this moment. And Zeynep has the right to know"

"Yes she does. And don't plan to keep the truth away from her for long. I'm just waiting for the right time"

"The right will never come Emir, truths have a way of coming out. It's better if she heard it from you" Eyhan reasoned.

Emir nodded agreeing to his logic. Then he looked at Leyla with pleading eyes.

"Would you please give me some time. I'll tell her myself. She must hear it from me"Leyla nodded.

"Alright.. I'll give you this chance. But please don't tell me to stay away from her "

"No, I can't do that, but you own me an explanation. I want to know my father's part in all of this"

"I promise. I'll tell you everything you need to know after I tell my daughter.. Now tell me. When are you planning to tell her?" Leyla asked impatient to know. In her opinion the sooner the better.

"There's something important I need to take care of first. I'll tell her as soon as I'm done with it?"

"Is it Aksoy? I heard that scumbag went to visit you at the company a couple of times" Eyhan asked and Emir looked at him with confusion.

"You know Aksoy?" Emir asked.

"I knew him from my time in prison. When I heard about Onder's dept and the deal he made. I was able to make him give up on it as a request from an old friend but I never trusted him to stay away"

"Well, I suppose you know about him blackmailing me to cover for his dirty business? Or maybe that was your plan in first time. Is he working for you or something? "

"Watch yourself boy. I'd never do something like that. I thought we already agreed that we're not the bad guys here"

"I didn't agree on that. Zeynep will know the truth yes, but if I sensed that you may be a danger to her I won't let you near her"

"We don't have such intentions. And I'll help you with Aksoy's problem if you want"

"No. I'll take care of it myself"

With that both agreed to keep things as they agreed.

Emir left with a heaviness in his chest. Like he was carrying a huge responsibility now. How the hell is he going to tell Zeynep the truth without destroying her or loosing her?