What Hurts the Most

Chapter 13

When Reyhan woke up that morning, she had no idea her day would be ending this way. Ever since they remarried, it's like she's been living in a constant state of bliss. Any day she wakes up in Emir's arms is a dream come true. It's been four days since they eloped and each day has been more and more perfect. But she knew the real world would intrude eventually. She knew a day like today would eventually come.

"The rest of the household will wonder where we are," Reyhan had told Emir when they had heard Melike come to take away their dinner tray from the night before. "We haven't seen anyone in days."

"Are you complaining?" he had teased. "I must not be doing something right. Let me see if I can do a better job."

He had kissed her then. And she had melted. She was very nearly convinced to spend yet another day in bed with him. But then Cemre had shown up.

Emir went out to meet her, to talk to her. She was disturbing them as well as the entire household. But his words, truthful as they were, had pushed her over the edge.

"What if I don't want her to know the truth? What if I don't ever want her to remember?" he had asked her. "Then we could go back to the life we used to have and go back to being together and happy. Cemre, Reyhan and I were so happy. So in love. Maybe this is happening so we have the chance to fix what somehow got broken between us."

That clearly wasn't what Cemre had wanted to hear, but it couldn't be helped. She was visibly upset and the message she sent Reyhan hadn't been a surprise to either of them. Especially since Cavidan - surprisingly - had warned Emir earlier of how close to the edge Cemre was.

"Emir, Son ... watch out for Cemre. She's not happy to see you and Reyhan back together. Even if it is just for the sake of Reyhan's amnesia. I wouldn't put it past her to go behind your back and tell Reyhan about your divorce."

They had had plenty of warning, so Cemre's message had not been a surprise. But they were both surprised to see the video attachment of Emir supposedly shooting one of the kidnappers. It was the first time Emir had seen what scared Reyhan so much and what pushed her to divorce him. And seeing the video, he could understand how she was fooled. If he hadn't been there and knew he didn't shoot that man, he would believe this video too.

They immediately sent the video to a detective Kemal knew, and fortunately the experts were able to quickly determine it to be a fake. But having the original video source would make for a stronger case against Cemre. So Reyhan had agreed to Cemre's invitation. And by some miracle, was actually able to get the original CD from her.

So no, this is not how she saw this day going. But it is the ending they all worked so hard for. But still, watching Cemre being taken by the police leaves her with mixed emotions. She's relieved, that's for sure. Relieved that the other woman's games and tricks are finally over. But an overwhelming feeling of sadness is also there. Despite what Cemre has done, Reyhan is sad for her at the moment. Cemre's only mission in life has been to make Emir love her. Reyhan knows what it feels like when his love is absent. She can relate to the woman on that level.

"You feel guilty," Emir says, guessing her current emotional state. "After all she's done, you feel bad for her."

"All she wanted was for you to love her," Reyhan says with a shrug. "I know what that's like. During our divorce, that's all I wanted too. You not loving me made my soul ache, Emir. So if she's feeling anything like what I was feeling, then yes. I feel bad for her. And I feel bad for you that you've lost a friend. A person you've known all your life."

"She stopped being my friend a long time ago," he sighs. "What she did to you, and to us, is unforgivable."

"I pray she can get the help she needs," Reyhan adds sadly.