After the intense encounter, Iskender took Leyla home. The grand Pasha mansion stood tall, glowing under the city lights, an emblem of their status and power. The dining hall was lavish, adorned with golden chandeliers and a long, elegantly set table where the entire family gathered for dinner.
Seated at the head of the table was Iskender Pasha, Leyla's father—a man whose mere presence commanded respect, his sharp eyes still filled with lingering concern over what had happened earlier. Beside him sat Aylin Iskender, Leyla's mother, a former model whose beauty was as striking as ever, her delicate features now contorted in worry. Across from Leyla sat her older brother, Emir Iskender,
CEO of a major security firm and fiercely protective of his younger sister, his arms crossed as he listened to their father recount the night's events.
Iskender let out a heavy sigh and placed his utensils down, his sharp gaze settling on Leyla. "Do you have any idea what you've done tonight?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration. "Taking down armed robbers? Firing a gun in the middle of the street? You could have been seriously hurt, Leyla!"
Aylin pressed a hand against her chest, her expression filled with unease. "Leyla, my love, this fearlessness of yours… it worries me. You didn't even hesitate?"
Leyla, unfazed,replied, her voice cool, her expression unreadable.
"They had knives. I had a gun. Simple math,"
Emir scoffed, shaking his head. "That's not the point, Leyla. One day, your recklessness is going to land you in a situation even you can't fight your way out of."
Iskender nodded in agreement. "Your mother and I have spent our entire lives protecting this family. But you… You walk straight into danger like you have nothing to lose." His voice was filled with both pride and frustration, as if he admired her strength but feared the consequences of her boldness.
Leyla placed her glass down, meeting her father's gaze head-on. "I'm not reckless, Baba. I just refuse to let anyone walk over me. And I won't apologize for that."
Aylin sighed, exchanging a worried glance with her husband. "One day, Leyla, you'll realize that not every fight is worth the battle."
Emir leaned forward, his jaw tight. "And when that day comes, I just hope you're not alone in it."
For the first time that night, Leyla fell silent. Because deep down, she knew… there were certain battles that even she couldn't win alone.
Little did she know, someone was already watching. Already planning. And soon, she would find herself caught in a battle far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.
As the grand dining hall of the Iskender mansion buzzed with the clinking of silverware against fine porcelain, Leyla decided it was best to steer the conversation away from her latest reckless stunt. She lifted her glass of water to her lips, her sharp eyes flickering with mischief as she smirked at her elder brother.
"So... Emir," she began sweetly, setting her glass down, "when are you getting married?"
The sudden shift in conversation caught Emir off guard. He had been in the middle of slicing his steak, his grip tightening slightly on the knife as he lifted his gaze to his younger sister. His jaw ticked, recognizing her attempt to divert attention.
Aylin Iskender, their mother, beamed at the mention, her elegant features lighting up with delight. "Oh, finally, someone is asking the right question!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "I've been telling Emir for ages that it's time for him to settle down."
Iskender Pasha, their father, who had been quietly observing, chuckled deeply. "If only finding a bride for this stubborn boy was as easy as catching criminals," he remarked, shaking his head.
Leyla smirked, resting her chin on her palm. "Emir, don't tell me you're scared of commitment?" she teased, watching her brother's reaction with amusement.
Emir exhaled through his nose, shaking his head at his sister's antics. "I'm not scared of anything, Leyla," he said in his usual composed tone. "I just have priorities, unlike you, who runs around picking fights with armed robbers."
Leyla rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ugh, we're back to that again? I handled it just fine!"
Aylin sighed, clearly not letting her daughter off the hook so easily. "Leyla, darling, you need to be more careful. We can't have you running into danger every other night."
"But we're talking about Emir right now," Leyla reminded them, quickly turning the conversation back to her brother. "So, do you have someone in mind?"
Emir scoffed. "I think you should worry about yourself first, little sister."
"Oh, please," Leyla scoffed, leaning back in her chair. "I'm too busy enjoying life to be tied down."
She turned to look at her brother carefully. She knew the truth. Emir had feelings for someone—she had even seen a picture of the girl saved on his phone. A slow smirk spread across her lips as she leaned forward, ready to strike.
"Actually, brother," she drawled, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "You do have someone, don't you? I mean, I remember seeing a certain—"
"Enough," Emir cut in sharply, shooting her a warning glance.
Leyla burst into laughter, enjoying the rare sight of her brother being flustered. "Oh, come on! At least tell us her name!"
Aylin gasped, immediately intrigued. "Emir, is this true? Do you already have someone in mind?"
Iskender Pasha, who had been watching in amusement, raised an eyebrow at his son. "Well? Now I'm curious too."
Emir sighed, rubbing his temple. "Leyla, stay out of my business."
"But it's so much fun to meddle," Leyla grinned. "Besides, you should know by now, big brother, that I always find out everything."
Emir sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as his entire family stared at him with expectant eyes. There was no way out of this now. Leyla had cornered him, and their parents were clearly intrigued.
"Fine," he muttered, setting his fork down. "There is someone."
Aylin gasped, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Oh my God, really?!"
Iskender smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Now this is getting interesting."
Leyla, victorious, propped her chin on her hands, grinning. "I knew it! So, who is she, big brother? Do we know her?"
Emir shot her a warning glance before exhaling. "Her name is Selin," he admitted, his voice steady but his expression slightly softer than usual.
Leyla's grin widened. "Ohhh, Selin," she repeated, acting as if she had just remembered something. "Isn't she the one—"
"Leyla," Emir cut in, but it was too late.
Aylin was already asking, "Who is she? What does she do? Is she from a good family? When can we meet her?"
Iskender chuckled, shaking his head at his wife's enthusiasm. "Aylin, let the boy breathe."
"Baba, it's fine," Emir said, already knowing this was inevitable. "She comes from a well-respected family. She's intelligent, independent, and…" He hesitated before adding, "I like her."
That was all Aylin needed to hear. She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing in her seat. "Then it's settled! We should meet her family right away. There's no need to waste time."
Leyla smirked. "See, big brother? Now that you've confessed, there's no turning back."
Emir groaned, rubbing his temple. "I swear, you planned this."
"Me?" Leyla feigned innocence. "I would never."
Iskender, who had been mostly observing, finally spoke. "If Emir has made up his mind, then we should respect his choice. But I do want to meet this girl first."
"Of course!" Aylin agreed. "We'll invite her over for dinner."
"And after that?" Leyla teased. "Engagement? Wedding shopping? A grand ceremony?"
Emir shot her a look. "Leyla—"
"What?" she shrugged. "You know how things work in our family. Mama will want the biggest wedding Istanbul has ever seen."
Aylin nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! My son deserves the best."
Emir sighed in defeat, knowing there was no escaping this now. Leyla, meanwhile, sat back in her chair, smirking to herself. For once, someone else was in the spotlight instead of her, and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
One by one, everyone left the dining hall, their conversations lingering in the air even as the grand mansion fell into silence. The clinking of dishes being cleared by the staff was the only remaining sound.
Leyla, now alone, sighed and leaned back in her chair. The evening had been eventful, with all the teasing about Emir's love life, but now that the distraction was gone, an odd emptiness settled in her chest.
After a few minutes, she finally stood up, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor as she made her way upstairs. Pushing open the heavy double doors of her bedroom, she stepped inside, closing them behind her.
She didn't bother turning on the lights. The soft glow of the city outside seeped through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a dim, bluish hue across the luxurious room. She kicked off her heels, letting them fall carelessly to the side, and climbed onto her bed.
Lying on her back, she stared up at the ceiling, her mind surprisingly blank.
For the first time in days, she hadn't thought about Ozan.
Not his sharp, cold gaze. Not his smirk that always carried a hint of danger. Not the way he had kissed her knuckles that night in her own home, as if claiming something that didn't belong to him.
She had forgotten him.
But now that realization hit, she felt a strange restlessness crawl under her skin. A bitter scoff left her lips. "Tch. Why am I even thinking about him?" she muttered to herself.
Yet, no matter how much she tried to shake it off, Ozan's image crept back into her mind like a shadow lurking in the dark.
And for some reason, it unsettled her.