Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
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"My baby... You look so pale... Are you sick?" Fehime asked her, caressing her face.
"I don't feel well lately... Maybe I have a stomach flu.." Zeynep touched her stomach, laying back.
"I will bring you some hot ayran, wait!" Her mother stood up, heading to the kitchen with fast steps.
Zeynep looked around nostalgic. How nice would it be if she was still in her own home's warmth... Feeling loved, protected... She's so lonely now...
She sighed heavily, her eyes tearing up. How would she tell her mother the truth? She couldn't know her disgrace... Fehime would disown her and she would be right about it.
"Here, drink my lamb..." Fehime gave Zeynep the glass, sitting by her side again. "You aren't eating properly, what do you expect? Nothing better than a mother's food..."
"I know, mom... I know... Do you think I like this situation? But it was my fault as well... I know I should have done something sooner. Emir-"
"SHHH! Don't say his name!" Fehime raised her palm up to stop her. "This Satan fooled you... Used you... Only to get back to your brother."
Zeynep turned her head away, shutting her eyes tightly. The truth was painful to hear and her mother was right. Emir used her. He was using her since the beginning. He's still using her now, even though she doesn't understand why... She isn't useful anymore. But it's Emir, you never know with him.
"Daughter?!"
"Huh?" Zeynep was pulled away from her thoughts.
"What's wrong with you, my baby? You aren't seeing him anymore, are you?" Fehime asked her worriedly.
"Uff, of course not mother..." Zeynep raised up suddenly. She couldn't lie to her mother, looking into her eyes. "Mhmm..." She then felt a sharp pain to her abdomen.
"Zeynep?!" Fehime went behind her, checking her out.
"My stomach... I don't-"
"Sit down, sit down... Allah, you're sick. Who's gonna take care of you there, huh?!" Her mother kept mumbling. "I'll go fix you a soup. Sit."
"There's no need, mommy. I'll go. I don't want dad to see me..."
Fehime teared up instantly, taking her into her arms. "My heart... My beautiful girl... Look what this devil did to us..."
"Don't start, please..." Zeynep pulled back, tired of hearing the same things over and over.
"Okay, okay..." Fehime ran her hands over Zeynep's face. "My baby... My moon faced..."
"Okay, mom..." Zeynep smiled slightly. "I have to go now... I'll call you so I can come again, okay?"
"Okay, as you wish... I can come to you too."
"NO!" She said a little bit louder than she should. "I mean, no need since I can come anytime..."
"Okay, daughter..."
"See you, mom."
"May God bless your path, my baby." Fehime waved at her with watery eyes.
                          
Zeynep was walking down the coast. The weather was surprisingly good, so it wasn't that cold. She had missed her neighborhood, the fresh air... Her phone started ringing. It was Kemal.
"Brother? Everything okay?"
"Where are you?!"
"I just left our home, I'm walking down the coast-"
"Wait there, I am coming!"
"But brother-" Before she managed to stutter another word, Kemal had hung up. "What if he found out?! Allah..." She placed her palm on her mouth, starting to freak out.
As she walked a few metres ahead, she sat down on a bench moving her legs nervously. If he found out, she was done... Literally done. He would never forgive her.
Kemal's car came into a sudden stop at the side of the road. He got out quickly, practically running to her. "Come quickly! Nihan had an accident, she needs blood transfusion immediately!"
"WHAT?!" Zeynep shouted, getting surprised. It was the last thing she expected to hear. Emir must be-. Zeynep shook her head at her own thoughts, walking to Kemal.
"Get in, get in! Come on!" He instructed her, going back to the car. 
"What happened, brother?" She asked, actually worrying. 
"She had an accident... It's my fault... Deniz-" He stopped, hesitating to tell her. 
"She's yours, isn't she? I knew it..." Zeynep smiled sadly, shaking her head at how things turned out. 
"You have the same blood type as Nihan, she needs blood as soon as possible..." He tried to explain calmly but he was actually freaking out. 
"Okay, calm down... We'll figure things out." She touched his arm comfortingly. 
                          
Arriving at the hospital, they ran to the blood donations unit. Kemal found a nurse who was in charge. 
"I brought my sister... About Nihan Kozcuoğlu..." His voice was trembling. 
"Yes, yes... Sit, madam. We have to check if you are actually able to donate. We'll take a little sample." 
"Be quick, please." Kemal begged her. 
"We are just doing what we need to. Please, wait outside." The nurse smiled, accompanying him to the door. 
"I'll take a little sample, okay? Give me your hand." She told Zeynep who was sitting on an examination bed. 
Zeynep gave her hand, taking a deep breathe. She was about to do a good thing, she shouldn't think more into it. It would save a life. 
"Okay... It will take us a few minutes to check your medical condition. If everything is okay, we'll proceed with the transfusion." 
"Uhuh..." Zeynep trailed, waiting patiently. 
After about 15 minutes the nurse came out with a perplexed expression on her face. She eyed at Zeynep kind of sympathetically. 
"Everything okay? Can we do it?" Zeynep asked her, standing up. 
"We can't since you cannot donate blood in your condition..." 
"What condition?" Zeynep seemed totally clueless. 
"You are pregnant... Didn't you know?" The nurse announced. 
"What?!" Zeynep widened her eyes. It was literally the last thing she expected to hear. 
"Yes and quite far along actually... You are almost 9 weeks along." 
"AH!" Zeynep placed her palm on her belly instantly, bursting into tears. "Allah... I can't believe it... What am I-" She then thought of Kemal. What is she going to tell him? 
"I have to go..." She began. "Please, If my brother comes here... Don't tell him about it, please! Tell him, I got scared and changed my mind... Please, please!" She begged the nurse, her eyes teary. 
"Don't worry, I will keep your secret." The nurse assured her, feeling sorry about her situation. 
"Thank you... Thank you." Zeynep nodded her head and turned around to leave the place. She didn't want anyone else to see her here and raise attention. 
As she walked outside Kemal was still waiting in the main hall. 
"Zeynep!" He called out. "Is it done already?" 
"Eh..." 
"What are you two doing here?!" Emir's voice echoed, interrupting their talk. 
Zeynep looked away quickly, she wasn't even able to look into his eyes right now. 
"Get the hell out of here." Kemal ignored him, turning to Zeynep. "Did you donate blood, Zeynep?" 
"Blood for who?" Emir interrupted them again. 
"You shut up." Kemal pointed a finger on his face but his eyes were still on Zeynep. 
"It's really important for Nihan, Zeynep. Did you?" He asked her again. 
Emir narrowed his eyes, waiting for Zeynep's answer too. 
"I didn't... I can't..." Her eyes were glued on the floor. 
"What does it mean you can't?" Her brother shook her arm a bit. 
Emir was eyeing them without saying anything. 
"I can't donate blood, I have to go brother." Zeynep tried to move passed him. 
"Are you crazy?! Get back inside!" Kemal tried to drag her back. 
Emir opened his mouth, like he was about to say something, but he didn't. He followed them as Kemal was taking Zeynep back inside. 
"What happened, sir?" The nurse who took care of the issue asked. 
"What's going on? Why won't she donate?" Kemal asked.
"She can't sir... In her condition-"
"What condition?!" Emir talked over her at once. 
Zeynep blinked her eyes slowly, looking at the nurse. 
"She's anemic. She can't give blood. You need to find someone who is healthy." 
Zeynep took a breathe of relief, thanking her with her eyes. 
"Zeynep was never anemic." Kemal tried to argue. 
"But the tests showed that she is, she can't do it. I'm sorry, but you need to find someone else." She smiled sympathetically at them and turned back to her job. 
Kemal left Zeynep's arm, that he was holding for a few minutes now. 
Emir was standing there, looking all uncomfortable. He was thinking about something... Actually getting suspicious. But he wouldn't talk now. All that mattered to him was Nihan. She needed to wake up. 
                          
In the evening and when the good news about Nihan reached everyone, Zeynep was sitting in the living room thinking about everything. She was pregnant. With Emir's child. 
In other circumstances she would be on cloud nine, but now? Now, everything was so complicated, more than it was before. It was a dark period, so dark for her that she couldn't even think clearly about what would this baby mean. How could she even tell Emir? He tried to kill her first baby just with the thought that it was his... 
"No..." She mouthed, her hand hugging her belly protectively. She wouldn't let him come near this baby. Not at all. 
At the moment Emir entered the house with his keys. 
"Did you deny to donate blood on purpose?" His first question was. 
Zeynep sighed, rolling her eyes. 
"Yes. I denied on purpose. I thought God, I wish Nihan dies so that Emir can come to me." She mocked him. 
"I'm anemic, didn't you hear?" She pointed at her ear emphatically. 
"I don't buy it. I know you... It would benefit you if Nihan died." He came closer to her, examining her face. 
"I pity you, really... Your hate has gotten you so blind that you even see me as an enemy." She shook her head, pushing him away from her as she stood up. 
"You should pity yourself, little one. Emir will never be yours, anyway. His heart and soul belong to Nihan and only. I wish you could understand." He spat at her with his knowing attitude. A way to hurt her feelings. 
"And I wish you could understand how pathetic you sound right now." 
"Watch it!" He instantly grabbed her arm. His eyes were already burning. 
"Is it a lie? This girl doesn't love you. Her heart and soul belong to my brother!" 
"SHUP UP!" 
"Deniz isn't even yours!" 
Emir was taken aback from her words. "What did you say?" His look darkened.
"This child isn't even yours. You are pathetic Emir, pathetic." She repeated on purpose. 
Emir's grip found her neck at once, his face getting close to hers.
"I don't even know how can you think of all this nonsense and find the courage to talk back to me. Watch it, Zeynep... I'm not a philanthropist, you'll have to give back if you want to keep living here." He warned her, raising his eyebrows. 
Zeynep pushed his hands down aggressively. 
"Is this all you want?! Huh?! Is this all you want?! Here, take it..." She started taking her blouse off and then her tank top. 
"Stop..." Emir spoke in a low voice, realizing what he had actually proposed her. 
"Here, take it! Take it all! I don't have anything left!" She cried as she took off her leggings. "Come on... Let's get over with it... Do it! Aren't I cheap anyway? What does it matter? I gave myself to someone I had just met, right?" 
"Stop it, Zeynep. Put your clothes on." Emir turned his gaze away, actually feeling uncomfortable now. He didn't know how to handle such things. 
"Finish what you started. Isn't it why am I here anyway? Take it all!" Her eyes were red. She was tired, tired of everything. 
Emir flickered his eyes, taking a look at her. "Go take a shower, this isn't you." 
Zeynep started laughing uncontrollably. For a whole good minute. 
Emir was just looking at her with mixed feelings. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. 
"There isn't any me left... You even took my own self away from me..." She went close to him, taking his coat in her grip. 
Emir lowered his eyes on her face. 
"That's love, my little one." 
"Yes... It is love... A one sided love... A black love..." She whispered against his lips. "Are you happy? Are you happy that you destroyed me?" 
"No one would complain in your position..." He pointed out, puckering his lips. 
"Right... I shouldn't." She smiled sadly. "I have everything..." She turned around, sitting on the couch. "Go. Go to your wife, Emir." She told him, her face blank. "God forbid anything happens to her."
"Sarcasm does not suit you. But I was planning on it, anyway." He nodded his head, leaving the house without a second thought.
He didn't like her attitude tonight. Where does she get this courage from? She means nothing. Nothing. And it won't affect him. 
                          
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Let's all give a good beating to Emir, shall we? 🙄