What Hurts the Most

Chapter 17

"You have been a willing partner in all of her crimes."

Reyhan's words cause Emir's hand to pause on the door just as he's about to step back into the room. This conversation between Reyhan and his mother seems like one that doesn't need to be interrupted.

Anger does not even begin to describe how Emir is feeling right now. But he's also confused at how his mother can be like this. She hasn't always been this way ... has she? He could not have been raised by a woman like this and not known ... could he? He doesn't know what to think anymore. Or believe.

"Nothing that anyone can prove," he hears his mother say. "I don't know why you haven't learned by now. You can't beat me, my dear soon to be ex daughter in law. No matter what you say to Emir about what happened today, it will always be your word against mine and Cemre's. Emir will never fully believe you."

Emir hates to admit that she's right. Without the nanny cam Kemal set up, nothing could have ever made him believe his mother would outright lie and scheme like this. And it's not so much him not believing Reyhan. It's more him not believing that anyone, especially his own mother, could be capable of the evil she's done to Reyhan. Even going so far as to lie in order to get Reyhan arrested. That fortunately had been cleared up easy enough, thanks again to the nanny cam footage. Once the commissioner saw the recording of the incident, he realized Cavidan had played him and assured Emir that Reyhan was safe. The matter was dropped after many apologies.

But that leaves Emir to handle his mother.

"You know that's not what happened! You know I didn't try to kill you."

Reyhan is crying now and Emir can no longer just stand by listening to his mother's lies.

"And you know that you will never be able to prove it," he hears Cavidan say just as he steps into the room. Time to stop this once and for all.

"Prove what, Anne?"

Cavidan notices Emir standing in the doorway and curses to herself over her carelessness. She quickly schools her features before turning around. The smug grin is replaced by the worried gaze of a matriarch just trying to do what's best for her family.

"Emir, Son." Cavidan walks over to him and places a hand on his chest. "I know this hurts, but I trust you're about to do the right thing for this family. Reyhan simply cannot stay in the mansion. She's proven to be too dangerous."

Cavidan looks around and is surprised to see the commissioner and his officers missing. She starts to worry. Did Emir convince them to not arrest Reyhan? She may have to leak the story to the press to push the issue.

"What were you saying about proof?" he asks again. He steps away from Cavidan, not even wanting her to touch him. He moves next to Reyhan instead, taking her hand as a lifeline.

Cavidan can't hide her sneer at the sight of Emir touching her. That girl has tainted her son for far too long.

"Proof of ...." Cavidan starts, but can't think of a lie fast enough. Proof of what? She tries to quickly think of a way to cover what she just said to Reyhan without incriminating herself. "Um, proof that..."

Emir holds up a hand to stop her.

"No more, Anne," Emir says with an exhausted sigh. "This probably isn't what you meant, but how about we take a look at my proof. Let's just end this right here, right now."

Emir pulls his phone out of his pocket and plays the video he already has queued. Cavidan's heart stops when she recognizes the scenario playing out on the screen.