A few seconds later there was the awaited answer.

- Evet! - shouted Asli, putting her right hand out in front of her. Onur's hands were shaking a little, but he slipped the ring onto his chosen one's heart finger. - I love you so much.

- I love you very much too! - replied Korkmaz, rising from his knees. He kissed Asli on the lips.

At that moment Defne, Ezgi, Selim and Serkan rose from their chairs and started clapping.

- Still the rings! - ' Selim reminded them, handing them a second, larger box.

- Ah, right! - replied Onur, catching the box that Korkmaz had gently thrown towards him.

- Reflexes are normal! - laughed Selim, standing next to Turan.

The company exchanged a glance. What if the package had fallen into the sea?

- Say, would you have saved the situation by giving yours away? - She asked Defne in her ear, pulling the brunet towards her.

- Would you have minded? - He replied, looking her straight in the eye, smiling at the same time. - 'It's just a symbol of marriage. Personally, it means nothing to me, because I feel nothing for my partner, with whom I have a bond only on paper.

A moment later, a ring appeared on Asla's finger, in addition to the engagement ring. The bride slipped Onur a gold disc onto the heart finger of her right hand.

It is only on the wedding day, just before the wedding ceremony starts, that the newlyweds can put the ring on the heart finger of their left hand. During the engagement period, the wedding ring in Turkey is worn on the right hand by both men and women. This is a sign to the others that they are both engaged and getting ready to get married.

Afterwards, the new bride and groom couple kissed again. Then it was time for congratulations from the assembled friends. Everyone was in a romantic mood. Only Defne and Selim felt a little awkward about the situation.

She because she had found out about the betrayal a few days earlier and thus her heart was broken.

Selim felt uncomfortable feeling Defne's gaze on him. He had experienced a similar experience five years earlier, albeit everything was very different. No emotions accompanied him during the engagement. He was not excited about the beginning of a new phase in his life. The day after he and Aylin called dibs on the date of their wedding at the government office, Selim went to the jeweller's and chose the rings. He handed them to Çakir while walking near her rented flat. He did not ask if she would become his wife. He simply showed her the contents of the box and slipped the jewellery on her finger.

He felt bad that Defne had to take part in such moments. He could see by the look on her face and her demeanour that it was costing her a lot, but for the good of all, she was trying to hold on somehow. He didn't want to fund her that. He preferred to spare her the unpleasantness.

Onur also did not require her presence at this important moment for him. He only wanted her to help him prepare a wonderful dinner. The fact that she decided to attend it surprised him. He admired her for her courage. However, he did not have the heart, to say that he was not inviting her at all. He was happy that she wanted to accompany him to this special moment. He had become friends with her over the two months and was pleased that she had become part of his close acquaintances.

Serkan opened the champagne and poured the contents into the glasses.

- 'It's your turn now,' puzzled Asli, looking at Defne and Selim. - 'We're waiting for you to propose. - She turned to the brunet, who choked on his own saliva.

Turan, who was closest to him, moved to his aid with all her strength, slapping him on the back. She wanted to be gentle so as not to hurt him, but she couldn't help but inflict pain on him for what he had caused her.

- Better, you, my love? - She asked with irony in her voice, which he interpreted in the right way.

- 'Yes, yes,' he assured her and coughed once more. - Thank you.

- Calm down, with this proposal it is a kind of a joke, - said Asli. - I know that you have met quite recently and you don't even think about such things. Sorry, the joke was out of place. Selim, don't worry about my words.

- Indeed, we are not in the head of such ideas,' Defne replied. - 'I'm not sure we can last long enough with each other. One day it's wonderful and the next day I wonder, do I really know him that well? I wouldn't want to get involved with someone who notoriously lies.

- Why don't we go back to the table and finish eating? - suggested Ezgi, anxious to break up the dangerous conversation. - The food is getting cold.

- Good idea! - stated Serkan, sitting down in his seat.

About an hour later, Defne, went down the stairs and into the kitchen to tidy up a bit. At the same time, she could also be completely alone for a while and not pretend that everything was okay. Playing the happy relationship game with Selim that evening was going particularly hard for her.

She was found in the small kitchen by Ezgi, who was concerned about her disappearance from the deck. Seeing what she was busy with, she decided to help her. She also wanted to take advantage of the moment that they were alone and talk to her about Korkmaz's marriage.

- 'I understand that you don't want to talk about it, but Selim had no bad intentions in hiding the information from you that he is married,' Ezgi began, reaching from the dryer the wet dishes being washed by the brunette. - I know the affair inside out. I accompanied him in this affair from the very beginning. The decision to marry Aylin was sudden and unplanned.

- Am I supposed to believe in an arranged relationship that has been going on for five years? - fuked Defne, scrubbing her plate with more emphasis. - 'I'm sorry, but what you're talking about doesn't sound very real. I know Selim is a long-time friend of yours, but you really don't need to explain his behaviour to me.

- I know, but I feel I have to do it because you don't want to talk to him. You don't let him get a word in edgewise.

- He deserved it,' she replied, putting another clean plate down on the dryer. - 'He had plenty of opportunities to tell me that, but somehow he didn't. Before you say that he wanted to do it after all, I would ask, why only then? Why not before? Was he afraid that I would find out from someone else, and hence the urge to confide suddenly?

- 'He was afraid he would lose you,' confessed Ezgi, looking at Defne, who had stopped washing the dishes. - 'Selim fell in love with you like he had never fallen in love with anyone before. I've known him for many years, I've known of many girls in his life, but in this state, I see him for the first time. He looks at you with such true love. The way he treats you, he didn't even treat Aylin in the presence of loved ones they had to pretend in front of. It was because of you that he filed for divorce.

The brunette sensed a note of sincerity in Ezgi's words. Maybe she really shouldn't put off this conversation any longer and finally talk to Korkmaz. It had already been a few days. The emotions had had time to subside somewhat. She decided to try and finally listen to him. Besides, she had not only heard from Ezgi that there was something else behind this marriage.

- Give him this chance to explain everything to you,' she asked Ezgi. - I am asking you to do that. He doesn't even know we are talking here now. He didn't want me to help him get you back. He said it was his fault and he will be the one to try to regain your trust.

- 'Fine, I'll talk to him. - Defne assured her, going back to washing the dishes. - I wanted to hold off on punishing him just yet, but I'm also curious to hear what he has to say to me. After all, he made an attempt that fateful evening.

Ezgi hugged Defne out of gratitude. She laughed when a wet stain appeared on her clothes, by the contact of Defne's wet hands with her clothes.

- I was about to ask if it will take you long to get down here. - Serkan appeared on the stairs.

- 'We're finishing up now,' replied Ezgi, taking a cloth in her hand.

A short time later, they set off on the return voyage. It was getting later and colder.

When they were safely moored to the harbour and the company went their separate ways, Onur stopped Defne and Selim for a moment. He wanted to have a few words with them.

- 'Since my request has been accepted, I would like to spend a few days alone with Asli,' Korkmaz began. - I am planning a short holiday. My fiancée has negotiated extra days off with her boss.

- Great! - replied Defne cheerfully. - That's a very good idea.

- I think so too, but with the planned trip, I would have to delegate my duties to you,' said Onur, looking straight at Selim. - However, I'm not sure this will work, since you two are at odds with each other. You will have to work together to make things work.

- Brother, such a problem is not a problem. You have nothing to worry about. Today we managed not to kill each other, also the two of us will manage to run the hotel and restaurant. - Selim patted his cousin on the back. - Besides, a month ago everything was on your head and you managed, so I will too, even if Defne is offended at me.

- Go on a well-deserved holiday and enjoy your time with the two of you," Defne said, fearing how it would all work without Onur.

After these words, Korkmaz allowed Turan to leave. Selim suggested that he could drive the brunette back to the habitat, but she proudly replied that there was no need for him to bother.

Onur wanted to raise another issue with his cousin regarding his sudden departure.

- I didn't want to talk about it in front of her, but you have a divorce hearing on Tuesday....

- Don't worry. - The brunet got into his words. - 'Defne and Özge will help me embrace our joint business. I'll be gone for just a few hours.

- Thank you! - Onur said goodbye to Selim with a manly hug and then ran to the car, where his somewhat frozen fiancée was waiting for him.

Selim stayed in the harbour for some time. He needed to secure his yacht properly. The thought of being Defne's sole boss for the next few days excited him. He expected a lot of friction in his dealings with her, but what one doesn't do for every moment spent in the company of the person one loves. He welcomed the challenge thrown down by Onur.

*

Selim started the new week by calling a big meeting for the hotel and restaurant staff. He had to inform everyone that he would be the head of both teams for the next few days. He wanted them to come to him with any urgent issues. He would try to remedy any problem. At the same time, he asked for forbearance when he would not be able to receive everyone on hand due to his increased responsibilities.

A short time later, the crowd of workers dispersed. Selim stopped Defne and Özge for a moment, to whom he explained that he had a flight scheduled to Istanbul tomorrow and would be gone for a few hours. He entrusted them to look after his own business, promising to be back before sunset.

He spent the rest of the day coordinating the work of the two places reporting to him. He didn't intend to meddle too much with the powers of Onur, who had left him with a pretty efficient team. Everyone knew their responsibilities and the extent of their assignments. At the end of his shift, Defne visited him in the restaurant, reporting on the day's activities, bringing documents with which he should be familiar. She did not attempt to broach topics unrelated to the business relationship. As she left his room, she was relieved to have survived her first day reporting to Selim.

The man was proud every time he saw her unhappy face that she had to talk to him. He liked the fact that the girl was fighting her weakness for him. Outside of work she might have avoided him, but during her shift she was forced to talk to him.

Selim waited patiently for the moment when he could finally confess everything honestly to Defne. He really wanted to account for his past, but he also remembered his friend's advice. She had hinted to him to be patient, as women need time to digest certain things. He intended to wait one more day. He was getting a divorce tomorrow and then nothing would stop him. He planned to appear before Defne with a clean slate, not refusing to explain the marriage he had concealed from her. Tomorrow he will be a free man, also according to the law. She will not be able to accuse him of leading a double life.

He spent the evening on the beach, sitting on the sand with his guitar in hand. It had been his ritual since he had quarrelled with Defne. This place reminded him of her. Since he couldn't talk to her, he recalled every moment they had together. He had already realised that he had had many opportunities to broach the subject of marriage. She was happy to share her life with him, and he never once focused on the past. He lived in the present, thinking he had nothing interesting to talk about.

He didn't always reflect, sometimes he just sat on the beach and composed new sounds. Lately, he hasn't had the time to strum his guitar, something he used to enjoy doing when he was young. His experiences motivated him to put his feelings into words. And while the lyrics, came quite easily to him, as they flowed straight from the heart, evoking fresh emotions, choosing the right melody line was problematic for him.

Defne went to the beach on Monday evening with the thought that she would meet Korkmaz there. She finally felt ready to hear his story from the past. She was aware that it had taken her a long time, but she wanted to believe that all was not yet lost. There is no denying that she was motivated to do so not only by her conversation with Ayaz, Ezgi and Zeynep's repeated requests. Also his mention of the planned trip to Istanbul prompted her to have a frank conversation with him. Especially that he had not postponed the trip due to the absence of his cousin. She guessed why. She understood that he could use some support, even if it was just a formality.

She found him in the same place when they started seeing each other as friends. She was glad he was there. She walked closer, taking the backpack straps off her shoulders.

- This is where I thought I'd find you,' she said, standing over him. - 'Shall we have a chat?

- Of course, come, sit down,' he said, surprised to see her. He put the guitar down in the case lying on the left side of his body. His heart began to beat harder, as he had not expected her to be here. - Thank you for wanting to listen to me though.

- I'm sorry I delayed so much,' sighed Defne, sitting down next to him. - I should have let you explain yourself much sooner, but my anger was stronger than me.

- 'It's okay, I understand every single thing you did,' he said, in his heart glad that they would finally talk to each other honestly. - You had a right to be angry with me.

- In that case, today you are doing the monologue,' Defne stated, curling her feet up on the sand. - I will remain silent. Before you start, let me just add that I wasn't angry with you for your past, because everyone has one. What hurt me was the fact that you were not honest with me. Until now, I believed that the very foundation of our friendship is honesty.

- It would be better if you ask questions," Selim stated, sighing. He had to think about where to start. - 'I played it wrong, but I didn't want to burden you with that, because I didn't know what direction my relationship with you would take. Besides, you made it clear to me at the beginning what you thought of people of my ilk. We had a good conversation without knowing what worlds we came from.

- You are right, my words may have discouraged you," Defne admitted, looking at him. In his eyes she saw sadness for the first time. She realised that it was hard for him too.

- 'You also said you weren't looking for love, so I preferred to focus on building our friendship rather than the thought that something might happen between us. I realised that you were different from the women in my life so far. You didn't care about a one-off adventure. Also, getting to know you, sharing my passion with you, was a new experience for me. Previously, no woman had asked what I liked to do in my spare time. - An awkward silence fell between them. Korkmaz swallowed his saliva and continued. - You know the rest. When we came back from our holiday together with Ceren and Halit, I was confused. I didn't quite understand what was happening to me. I confided in Ezgi. She named my condition. I realised that you are important to me. - Selim looked into her eyes.

It was difficult for her to control her emotions. She was still learning to accept compliments about herself. That's why she hastily waved her hands, chasing away the tears squeezing into her eyes.

- 'Go on,' she asked, trying to laugh to break up the heavy atmosphere between them.

- That's when I made the decision that it was high time to end the relationship with Aylin. I didn't want to be dishonest with you. I didn't know at the time and I'm still not sure if you felt the same way I did, after all you didn't want to fall in love with me. I tried to contact her, but she had just gone on holiday. She contacted me a few days later and we agreed that we had to stop our marriage. She had also fallen in love with someone.

- I still don't understand why you didn't tell me?

- Her brother is a bit of a special person. I met Aylin in my final year at university. She was taking part in a student exchange programme. She had to convince him for a long time to let her go at all. He prefers to have loved ones around. It was difficult for her to find her way in a new environment, especially as we already had our packs. Aylin was even a good student for the first weeks. Everything changed in the second semester. As a result, she didn't pass it. She didn't know how she would explain her failure to her brother. She promised him that she would study well after all. And that's when I stepped in. I proposed marriage to her, giving her a reason to stay in Turkey for another six months. I knew Ayaz valued family, so finding love seemed like the perfect idea. Within days we became husband and wife. I did it to help her.

- You wanted to keep her safe," Defne said, gazing out to sea. It reached her how much he had sacrificed for his friend. - 'After all, your name means 'safe'.

- Yes - he nodded, bending his leg at the knee. - I didn't want her to waste her chance that she got from fate. Not everyone can afford to take part in exchange students. She did well, she just made a few silly mistakes along the way, which led to her preferring to go out more often than to focus on her studies.

- 'Everyone has the right to make mistakes,' Defne replied, hanging her gaze back on the brunette.

- 'It was difficult for us to find our way as husband and wife, and Ayaz was visiting us quite often at the time. From the beginning, we set clear rules for the arrangement. Before our families, we were a compatible couple. However, when no one was around we each lived our own lives. I focused on my office.

- 'I'm sorry I didn't listen to you earlier,' Defne said, looking at Selim with understanding. She admired him for the courage he had in deciding to enter into a marriage of convenience.

- 'I should have been the one not to delay in revealing this to you. I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you, Defne.

Defne said nothing more. She simply hugged Selim with all her strength. She felt so sorry for him. He had sacrificed part of his youth for someone who was lost in life. She already understood everything. He was happy to help others. He had also moved to help her more than once. He taught her to swim, pretended to be her boyfriend, went on holiday with her from Ceren. He did this for her. Now everything has fallen into place for her. Selim Korkmaz was a man who thought of others too. He was rich and led an indecent life, but he was different in that he saw the other person.

*

Selim arrived in Istanbul on the first flight on a recent Tuesday morning in August. The divorce hearing was set for eleven o'clock, but he preferred to be there a little earlier. He picked up his car from the airport car park and headed straight to the court.

Parking the car near the building, he bumped into Aylin. She, too, had turned up ahead of schedule. She didn't want anything to go wrong on the last straight, and knowing her luck, anything could happen. She had been attracting trouble for as long as she could remember.

Since they were in court earlier, they decided to have a quick coffee before the trial at a nearby café.

- 'The café conversation started and the café conversation will end,' Aylin said with a laugh as the waiter brought their order to the table.

- 'Destiny,' Selim commented briefly, taking a sip of coffee from a tiny cup. - It was supposed to be a simple arrangement that lasted five years. I'll repeat myself, but I don't regret making that decision.

- I'll never forget how much you've done for me over the years, the really good years,' sighed Aylin, embracing the cup with her fingers. - 'All I had was you. If you hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have made it.

- Just don't brood over me here,' he asked, laughing. - 'I'm glad my attempts to be a good husband were appreciated.

- If you and Defne get over the crisis and are together, I already envy her a partner like you.

- Tamam, tamam," nodded Selim, smiling broadly. He sat leaning against the back of a chair and listened happily to the flattery from his student friend. - 'That's enough already. I'm not perfect. I'm just trying to be a good person.

Moments later, Aylin apologised to him and went to the toilet. She did not return from it for quite some time. Eventually, however, she reappeared back at the table. Korkmaz noticed that she was very pale and generally not looking well.

- Are you all right? - He asked thoughtfully, looking at her. - You are pale as a wall.

- Yes, yes - she assured him, forcing a gentle smile. - I'm fine. I'm just a bit stressed about the trial. I'd like to get it over with. The closer it gets to eleven o'clock, the more stress I feel.

- I understand,' Selim replied, grabbing her hand to give her encouragement. - I'm nervous too, although you can't see it from me. The very fact that we have to appear in court is stressful. It will be fine.

- Shall we go now? - She asked, checking the time on her phone once again.

- 'Fine,' he replied, seeing the time on Aylin's phone screen. He raised his hand to call the waiter. - Can we ask for the bill?

After seven minutes, they found themselves in front of the courthouse again. Çakir came up with the idea of immortalising the moment with their last photo together as husband and wife. Selim didn't mind, especially as he assumed that after the trial each of them would be rushing off to their own real lives.

They posed in front of the building for a selfie. Selim put his arm around his almost ex-wife's waist and stretched his other arm out in front of him to take a souvenir photo. The photo didn't look entirely serious, as they were both wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes from excessive sunlight.

Selim was dressed in a thin long-sleeved cotton blouse with delicate snaps in the chest area, which he did not fasten. This was complemented by black shiny tailored trousers and moccasins. On the finger of his right hand was a man's ring. His already slightly longer hair, which he hadn't cut in two months, was held in place by an applied gel.

Aylin, on the other hand, was dressed in a red suit, consisting of trousers and a slightly longer long-sleeved jacket. Underneath she wore a black top, tucked in. Her wavy dark hair was blown by the August wind.

They waited outside the courtroom, talking as if nothing had happened. Selim thus wanted to distract Aylin's thoughts. Excessive stress is not good for anyone, and they had had quite a bit of it in recent weeks.

- Aylin Çakir- Korkmaz and Selim Korkmaz. - A girl in an elegant outfit came out into the hallway, announcing another case.

Then a late Ezgi appeared in the hallway. She had come to court to be a support for the two of them. She had accompanied them when they got married and wanted to be with them during the judgment.

- Did you think I would leave you two alone with all this? - She asked, hastily greeting Aylin and Selim with a hug.

The hearing did not last long. Lawyers for both sides, presented their positions, coming to a consensual conclusion. In addition, Metin's lawyer, submitted a document to the court, stating that Aylin and Selim have been living apart for more than two years, living in two different countries, far from each other. A declaration of separation was therefore not necessary.

- 'I want to hear your last word,' the judge announced, turning to Aylin, who had managed to stand up. - Aylin Çakir -Korkmaz, do you think your marriage is over? Do you really want a divorce?

- Evet (Yes.) - Aylin replied, looking towards Selim who was sitting opposite her. This one felt relieved, although he could not express it in words because of where he was.

His marriage, concluded exactly five years ago, was coming to an end. Yes, the date of the trial had been set for the twenty-fifth of August, identical to the date of the girl's marriage.

- Mr Selim Korkmaz... - Now it was Selim who rose from his seat, turning his gaze to the judge. - Do you want to divorce your wife?

Memories flashed before his eyes of the moment he had married, of the moment he and Aylin had learned to be a husband together so that no one in their families would realise anything was wrong. He remembered everything they had experienced together. Both the light and at times difficult days.

- Evet - he confirmed, looking towards the brunette.

- Good - sighed the judge. - Time for a decision.

At this point, everyone gathered in the room stood up. Selim couldn't wait to hear that his marriage would be dissolved, so he closed his eyes. With his eyes he wanted to see that moment.

However, he didn't have time because he heard Aylin's voice asking for a break as she had become faint. He then looked in her direction and noticed that the girl had slumped on her lawyer's shoulder, losing consciousness.

In the courtroom, chaos ensued. Selim jumped up from his seat, running to the opposite side of the room. He did not understand what had happened. Aylin's lawyer, was trying to revive her, and someone in the back started calling for an ambulance. Korkmaz took the girl in his arms and placed her in a safe position on the floor. Ezgi, sat on her feet, letting her head rest on her thighs.

- What happened? - His friend asked him, slapping the brunette on the cheek. - Is she ill with something?

- 'No, I don't know anything about it,' replied Selim, nervously unscrewing the perfume Metin had given him. - She was already looking unwell, but claimed it was due to the stress of the trial.

The man managed to open the vial and applied it to the unconscious Çakir's nose. After a few moments, the girl opened her eyes.

Confused, she was wandering her eyes to the Ezgi leaning over her and to Selim, who was crouching to her right. There were other people standing in the background, whom she could not recognise at first, as she could see their silhouettes indistinctly.

- It's okay - He reassured her, Selim, smiling gently. - You have fainted. How are you feeling?

- Fine - sighed Aylin, grabbing her stomach instinctively. - I'm fine now.

- Are you sure? - Korkmaz preferred to make sure.

- Yes, it's quite normal in my condition - Aylin assured him. - Ben hamileyim. (I am pregnant.)

_____________________________

If anyone thought that Aylin's character wouldn't stir things up then I hope they have just been surprised.

I make no secret of the fact that I look forward to your reaction to this news.