Selim, without thinking too long, immediately went to his lawyer's office. He wanted, as soon as possible, to hand over the signed divorce petition. On his way to the law office, he called Defne, being curious to know how she was feeling after last night.

- And what are you doing? - Turan asked. Her voice rang throughout the car, as they spoke to each other through the hands-free kit. This allowed Selim to keep his hands on the steering wheel comfortably.

- 'I've got some errands to run in the city,' he explained, clamping his right hand on the gearbox. He hated not telling a girl the truth. He felt bad about lying to her. For the first time, he didn't like it. Before, it didn't matter to him what nonsense he was pushing on random women he invited to his house for one night, and these women usually thought something more serious would come of it. However, Selim didn't promise anyone anything. At least until he met Defne. - Since I've come here, I'll do something useful. I wouldn't want to turn Ezgi's head. Too many responsibilities have fallen on her.

- All right," sighed the brunette. Selim imagined her smiling sincerely. - 'You're still thinking about work, so I won't bother you. Remember, we're all waiting for you. Mum has already been working in the kitchen since morning.

- 'Ah, how I miss homemade food,' Selim stated, suddenly pressing the brake as the light turned from green to red. - Of course I'll make it all by lunchtime. Kisses, see you later!

- Sonra görüşürüz, hayatım. (See you later, dear). - He heard in the receiver before the call was over.

He took a deep breath, watching the traffic lights through the glass. After a few moments, the green came on, so he set off with a gentle squeal of tyres. The asphalt on the road was quite hot from the sun's rays.

Forty minutes later, he found himself in the building that housed the office belonging to his lawyer. Holding a file folder in his hand, he walked down a long corridor until he reached the reception desk, where the girl sitting behind the desk informed him that there was no one inside and he could enter.

So Selim walked up to the right door, knocking on it. Hearing permission, he pressed the handle.

Inside, he saw a grey-haired but chic fifty-seven-year-old man sitting behind the desk, with a slightly protruding belly.

- Merhaba," he said, closing the door behind him. Seconds later, he shook hands with the barrister as he got up from behind the desk.

The barrister walked around the piece of furniture, inviting Selim to sit down on the couch located under the window, which offered a view of Istanbul's crowded street through the floor-to-ceiling glass. The brunet accepted the invitation, sitting down comfortably. He handed the briefcase he held in his hand to the grey-haired man, who took a seat on the other side of it.

- 'Güzel (Beautiful.),' said the older of the two, examining the documents he found in the briefcase. - 'I will send the lawsuit to the court later today.

- When can we expect a court date? - Selim asked, keeping a close eye on the lawyer.

- I think it should be later this month,' he said, putting the documents down on the glass table. - Your divorce case is not complicated. You have no children, the division of joint property is clear. The court hearing will be just a formality.

- 'That's what I thought too,' confirmed Selim with a smile on his face, keeping his left foot resting on the knee of his other leg. - 'I'm very happy about that.

- Would you like something to drink? - Asked the lawyer, scratching his grey beard.

- 'No, thank you, Metin,' he denied, correcting the sunglasses hanging on his shirt. - 'I'm just stopping by for a minute. I need to run a few more errands, as I'm already heading back to Bodrum in the evening.

- Ah, are you on holiday?

- 'No, this year I'm helping Onur manage our joint business,' Selim explained with a smile on his face. - However, I will happen to have a look at Istanbul. Also, once it is known when the hearing will take place, I will easily turn up at court.

- Indeed, it slipped my mind. - The lawyer scratched his head. - After all, we talked about it. By the way... Do you have any questions about the divorce? I'd be happy to dispel all your doubts.

Although getting a divorce was a simple matter, Selim had a few questions. As such, the meeting with the lawyer took a little longer than he had originally anticipated. After leaving Metin's office, he immediately called Aylin to give her the latest information gleaned from the lawyer.

The woman listened enthusiastically to the good news she had heard from Selim. She only had to think about how she would explain her brother's prolonged stay in Turkey, which was not her biggest concern. Since the trial would still take place in August, she preferred to wait for it while staying abroad. She didn't have to worry about work, as she could do her duties remotely. Her new boyfriend was also nothing to worry about, as he knew her situation and was patiently waiting for her to get a divorce.

*

Defne, completely unaware of what issues her boyfriend was actually preoccupied with, decided to take advantage of her arrival in Istanbul to see Mert. From the moment Ceren revealed her lie to everyone, their contact deteriorated considerably. His colleague could not understand why Defne had lied to him, even though they were close friends. Especially since they had always been honest with each other since they became friends. They had never kept secrets from each other before.

Defne did not announce her visit. She went to his parents' house without warning him. She was lucky, because she found the boy inside. She asked him to go for a walk together in the neighbourhood and he, unable to refuse her because he missed her, still offended agreed.

They headed to a nearby playground. It was only there that Defne got to the point. On the way, she was once again putting together in her head the points she would make to her friend. They occupied one of the vacant benches.

- 'I'm very sorry it came out like that,' she confessed, looking Mert uncertainly in the eye. - I know, I behaved unfairly to you, but I didn't intend to hide anything from you. I wanted to tell you everything the very next day.

- Why didn't you? - he asked reproachfully. - Hm? You made me look like an idiot!

- I couldn't do it,' Defne replied, raising her tone of voice slightly. - 'You were talking about such beautiful things, I couldn't spoil it.

- Good. I understand,' he sighed, sliding his hands over his thighs. - 'And afterwards? You had a thousand other opportunities to tell me. We stayed in touch all the time.

- 'You're right, but I thought I shouldn't talk to you about it over a video call,' the brunette replied with palpable remorse in her voice. - 'I wanted to tell you this while I was next to you,' sighed Defne, gripping his forearm. - 'Just like I'm doing now. 'Believe me, I didn't mean for it to come out like that.

- I didn't expect this from you, Defne. I believed we would always be honest with each other,' Mert said, looking straight at her face. The painted sadness said that he sincerely regretted that she had lied to him about such an important matter. - We have known each other for several years and so far nothing like this has happened.

- The wrong thing happened, I am fully aware of it," she assured him, letting go of his forearm. She lowered her gaze, staring at the several-year-old children playing in the sandpit. - I let you down, but now I am sincerely sorry for everything. Will you forgive me?

- Of course I forgive you,' he said, opening his arms to embrace the brunette with them. She, without a moment's hesitation, embraced Mert, placing her head in the hollow of his neck. - I can't stay angry with you for too long. Our friendship is far more valuable to me than this minor misunderstanding.

- Thank you,' she replied, still lingering in the embrace. - I have missed you very much. Very much.

- I missed you too - he assured her, stroking her back. - I am glad that we have cleared everything up.

- Are you sure? - Defne asked, again, staring at his face. - I'm ready to tell you how it was again.

- You don't have to explain it to me again. I understood everything myself when I calmed down,' said Mert, smiling. - 'You didn't tell me the truth so that the lie wouldn't get out until all our high school friends had left. I'm not without guilt either, because I've caved in on my own plans for the future. I already know you had no bad intentions.

- It made quite a fuss because before the class meeting we wrote to each other that we could come together, and a few days later I introduced Selim to you as my boyfriend.

- It's true. I can see now that there was something wrong here from the beginning, but at the time I didn't put the facts together,' laughed Mert, leaning his back against the backrest of the bench. - 'I'm glad we've got it over with. In the end I had a lot of fun anyway. Özge kept me company.

- And I at least learnt the real circumstances under which I actually first met Selim. - An amused Defne pushed her curls back. - 'Do you remember the story Selim and I told you?

- Yes, I remember. A suitcase swap straight out of a film. It's impossible to forget.

- In all that lying, it was the only thing that really happened,' Defne replied, feeling a pleasant sensation in her lower abdomen. - 'Apart from the small details, but they don't really matter. Until that day I thought the circumstances of our first meeting were completely different.

- I understand correctly that you did not know Selim before? - Mert asked.

- Yes, we met about three weeks before the class meeting.

- For such a short period of time, pretending to be a couple worked out very well for you,' stated a surprised Mert. - You both had us all fooled.

- And through all this pretending and spending every spare moment with each other, we've started to have feelings for each other," Defne announced, taking her phone out of her dress pocket. She lit up the screen, checking to see if her boyfriend had texted her. She hadn't had any message or call from him. It saddened her, but on the other hand he had warned her that he would be busy. - 'We've been a real couple for a while now,' she said with a sincere smile on her lips.

- Really? - Asked an astonished Mert, raising an eyebrow. - In that case, I'm happy for you once again! - The boy hugged his friend again. - I also hope that this time it's the right one. Otherwise, I'll be healing your broken heart again, and I'll give him a punch in the teeth this time. And promise you won't stop me. It's such a little dream of mine, to give some bastard a slap in the face who makes you fall in love with him so he can bluntly feel what he's just lost. Promise me I can make it come true this time. It's been sitting in me since you first broke up.

- Okay, I promise," she assured him, laughing. She really missed talking to her friend. She was glad they had cleared everything up. - 'I won't object. You will do as you see fit.

- I, however, hope that I won't have to intervene in this way - Mert giggled. - Otherwise, I should start working on my muscles. With a physique like that, I'm at a loss at the starting line with your packed knight.

- Jokes aside,' Defne said, hiding the phone. - Are you in a hurry to get home?

- No, why?

- Then come with me! - announced Turan, extending her hand towards him. - Mum is organising a family dinner. You'll eat with us. After all, you're my brother, haven't you forgotten?

Mert accepted his friend's proposal. He had warned his parents that he would be back a little later than he had told them. He didn't want them to wait for him at home, since he had plans to spend some more time in Defne's company. He wanted to enjoy her before he lost her again for a few weeks. Contact via video camera is not the same as meeting face to face. And he, although working, could not afford to travel constantly between Bodrum and Istanbul.

*

Selim got out of his car, which was parked in the Defne district a few minutes before the appointed time. In his hand he held a folder with a model contract to be drawn up with Zeynep.

The door was opened for him by the older of the sisters, inviting him inside.

- 'Defne is not here yet,' Zaynep announced, closing the door behind the man. With her hand she showed him not to take off his shoes, as he was ready to do so. - We will be eating in the garden.

- 'I spoke to her, she warned me that she had lost track of time,' Selim replied, gesturing with his hand, asking her to move on. Although he had been in the house the previous evening, he had not yet managed to remember the layout of all the rooms. - 'I brought the contract.

- Great - she replied with a smile. - The parents are in the kitchen.

- Good morning to you - he greeted his chosen one's parents as he walked past the kitchen. Hande was standing at the gas cooker stirring pots, and Emin was sitting at the table preparing a salad of vegetables prepared earlier by his wife.

- 'Let us talk to you for a while,' Zeynep said, leading the man to his room. - 'I'll be right back and I'll help you with everything.

- Go, take care of our guest - replied the mother, seasoning the dish.

Zeynep invited Selim into her room on the first floor, closing the door behind him. Korkmaz looked around the room discreetly. It was his professional reflex. The premises were of medium size, with a large bed standing in the central area. Opposite was an rtv cabinet on which stood a television. Under the window was a dressing table and a stool. Next to the door stood a capacious wardrobe for clothes. The walls were painted beige.

- Can we talk? - She asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed. - Honestly, without wrapping myself in cotton.

- As far as you're concerned about our collaboration, you can rest assured. I remember that you didn't talk to your parents about it,' he replied, taking a seat next to her. He put the folder with the documents between them.

- 'My parents already know, but that's not what I wanted to talk about,' she sighed, focusing her attention on him. - 'Tell me, what are you up to? Don't you dare deny it or I won't believe it. I saw you squeezing a journalist for money yesterday!

- Zeynep, listen...

- I listen all the time - she replied in a nervous voice. - 'I haven't been an actress since yesterday. I've had time to get to know the world of celebrities known from the front pages of newspapers. I also know what it means when someone bribes the paparazzi. I trust you will explain it to me in some sensible way.

- This journalist was interviewing me. I wanted to pay him not to publish it. Yesterday's event did not concern me. It was not related to my industry.

- Well, I have to worry you, because you didn't make it. The interview has been circulating online since this morning.

Damn! - thought Selim in his spirit.

At the same time, he felt a sudden surge of heat. All his muscles tensed up. He tried to take a few seconds to think how to get out of it.

- 'Tell me, did you pay him because you inadvertently chimed in about me wanting to work with you? You know, it wasn't necessary,' Zeynep laughed. - I told the other journalist myself that I had reported to your office. I wanted to somehow logically explain your presence around my loved ones. For both parents and Defne, last night was quite an experience. They had never been involved before. I preferred to spare them the untrue gossip in the morning press.

- That too, but still, it wasn't the main reason... - Selim sighed, combing his hand through his hair. - 'Thinking about Defne, I wished that no pictures of us together had been published anywhere. This world can be a horrible place and, as you mentioned, she's only just getting to know it first-hand.

- 'I knew from the beginning that we would like each other,' Zeynep replied, patting Selim on the shoulder. - 'You take the relationship with my sister very seriously.

- I do what I can to make Defne feel safe with me,' Korkmaz admitted, taking in air loudly into his lungs. - 'Since I met her, I've started to look at things differently.

- Mesela? (For example?) - Zeynep was interested, putting her leg over her leg.

- 'I'm only telling you because I don't want to spoil our relationship,' said Selim, in a hushed voice. He wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing, but he decided to take the risk. He cared about having Zeynep on his side. He knew that she had influence over her sister. - However, you have to promise me that this will stay between us for a while.

- What do you mean? - Intrigued by Selim's words, Zeynep followed him with her eyes as he got up on his feet and walked over to the window. He looked out through it.

- The point is... - he began, turning to face his interlocutor. With the fingers of his right hand he turned his signet ring. - I am married.

Zeynep's laughter rang out in the room. The girl could not contain herself. In a fit of nervous laughter she looked at Korkmaz. His concerned expression meant that he was not joking at all. Zeynep noticed for the first time that his face was devoid of a joyful expression.

- Can you hear yourself? - she asked uncertainly, pulling strands of hair away from her face. - This is ridiculous!

- Unfortunately, I am telling the truth,' groaned Selim, croaking. Everything he was talking about sounded, even to him, like a bad joke. - I have a wife, but we are getting a divorce. The papers are already signed. I'm waiting for the court date.

- İnanamıyorum! (I don't believe it!) - Zeynep got up on her feet, entangling the fingers of both hands in her hair. - 'I don't understand! I really thought Defne had finally met a pretty decent man.

- Promise me you'll keep it to yourself,' he asked, folding his arms. - Lütfen. (Please.)

- Olamaz! (No way!) - Zeynep denied it immediately, leaning against the wardrobe, at the same time looking from under the bull's-eye at Korkmaz. She could not believe that such a decent man dared to take advantage of her younger sister. - You disgraced my family! One of the people closest to me!

- Please, trust me,' he continued to plead, trying to get closer, but Zeynep clearly set the distance, stretching her hand out in front of her. - Listen to me. When you know the story, you will understand that it is not as you just think.

- The question is whether I want to listen to it,' Zeynep growled, rolling her eyes. - 'It's disgusting!

- You have to trust me,' Selim said, looking at her.

- 'What if you're lying? - Zeynep asked, giving him a furious look.

- 'Not in this case,' announced the brunet, placing his hands on his hips. - I care about Defne like no one else. She's the reason I started the case. I want to be happy with her. I really love her.

- I'm not sure she'll ever be happy with you when she finds out about your secret," Zeynep sighed, walking over to the window. She opened it wide. She needed to get some fresh air.

- 'If she finds out everything from me, there's a chance she'll forgive me,' Selim stated, taking the folder he had brought in his hand.

- 'Why are you involving me in this? - She asked, looking out of the window with her arms folded across her chest.

- 'I want you to be my ally,' Selim announced bluntly. - 'I'm not a bad character in this story. Believe me this situation is not easy for me either. Not a day goes by that I don't imagine Defne's reaction to my past.

- I will give you a chance, just because I liked you ok? - She closed the window, turning her front around. - Now, let's go!

Zeynep led Selim into the kitchen. There they fussed around for a short while, getting into a discussion with Mr and Mrs Turan. On the pretext of going to the shop to fetch a missing item for dinner, they left the house. Zeynep did not want her parents to accidentally overhear a snippet of the conversation, especially as they considered Selim, like her, to be quite a decent man.

Outside, they were able to continue their conversation in peace. Selim told Zeynep what his marriage to Aylin was really like. He revealed in passing that she was the one a journalist had asked him about during an interview that had unfortunately appeared in the press.

*

Learning Selim's story, Zeynep was still furious, but to a lesser extent. She could not understand why her sister, completely unconsciously, was attracted to men who would sooner or later break her heart. She had listened to Selim only because she had seen how happy Defne was with him. Before her eyes she had those moments where her sister told her about her boyfriend.

Learning about the circumstances under which Selim supposedly got married, she found him to be a very brave man. She herself was not sure if, if she were in his shoes, she would have made that decision.

Of course, Korkmaz did not tell the elder Turan the whole story of the past, but only part of it. He did not want to take Zeynep at her mercy. He reckoned that at some point he would pay for his decisions, but as yet he did not know the ultimate price. He was immensely grateful to the girl for being willing to listen to him.

- 'I'm giving you a week to tell Defne everything,' Zeynep announced, not knowing if she had made the right decision. She didn't want to hide anything from her sister, and at the same time her intuition was telling her to let Selim act. - By then you will definitely know the date of the divorce hearing. If you don't tell her, after seven days, I will. Believe me I will not hesitate a day longer.

- I promise I will not let you down. - Selim raised his eyes towards the sky. He was very happy with the chance he got from Zeynep. He resolved to make good use of it.

- Every day we will talk to each other," she added, moving closer to him. Their faces were separated by a small distance. - You'll keep me updated on everything, okay?

- It'll be whatever you want it to be.

- I'm doing this for Defne. I need to know when I should be there for her,' Zeynep replied, bringing her forefinger and ring finger close to her eyes before turning them towards Korkmaz. - 'Remember, I'm watching you.

Turan didn't know if she had taken the right tactic, but she decided to take a chance. Maybe the small threats on her part, would make Selim get the courage to finally confess his sins to Defne. They were not as grave as she thought at first. But that didn't mean he shouldn't tell her, especially since Korkmaz was totally serious about getting involved with her for the long term.

Zeynep knew that this confession would put their relationship to its first serious test, but like Selim, she hoped that once Defne heard his story, she would change her mind and forgive him.

- 'Thank you for everything,' Selim said, putting his right hand out in front of him.

- I have done my part,' Zeynep replied, squeezing his hand. - It's all up to you now.

Under these circumstances, they were spotted in front of the house by Defne, who had brought Mert to lunch.

- 'What depends on you, darling? - Defne asked, although she was a few steps away from her beloved.

- 'I'm going to rent a house and Selim's architectural office will help me set up,' Zeynep explained briefly, controlling his reaction.

- 'It's actually all in Selim's hands,' laughed Defne, landing in the man's arms. The brunet pulled her close and hugged her tightly, putting his nose in her hair. He inhaled her scent, longing for his beloved. At the same time, he thanked Allah that he could still hug her.

Zeynep noticed how Defne's presence affected Selim.

- Hello, Mert. - Zeynep hugged her sister's friend. She didn't want him to feel left out.

- Selam, Zeynep! - The boy embraced the older sister with a smile. - I congratulate you so much on your success.

- There is still time to celebrate. Let the film hit the platform first,' she sighed, glancing at the couple in love. - Let's go inside, let our parents not wait for us any longer.

The family dinner, at which Mert was also present, went off without a hitch. It was a time full of joy and laughter around the table. Everyone reminisced about yesterday's premiere at the cinema. Zeynep apologised to her boyfriend for not being able to invite him. He replied that he understood after all and would wait patiently for the official premiere. The actress promised him that she would try to organise one joint viewing then for friends living in the neighbourhood.

During the conversation, the topic of interviews given by both Selim and Zeynep came up. Emin joked that he would now find out about everything going on in his daughter's life from the internet. Turan explained that she did this with the wellbeing of every member of the family in mind, while promising that the next time anything happens the parents will find out directly from her.

This was also the time where Zeynep finally made a preliminary deal with Selim. The girl wasn't sure if it was the right move, given the information she had learned, but after all, she could always back out. She didn't have a house of her own yet, she was just beginning her search.

Selim slipped the completed document under Zeyno's nose. The woman familiarised herself with the agreement. Meanwhile, Defne, accompanied by Mert, brought brewed coffee and cake from the kitchen. Hande followed them, holding a sugar bowl in her hand.

- 'Everything seems to be in order,' Emin stated, casting an eye over the sheets of paper.

- 'I think so too,' replied Zeynep, reaching out for the pen that Korkmaz held in his hand. With a deft flick of her hand, she affixed her signature in a specific place.

A moment later, Korkmaz did the same. The agreement between them was concluded.

A short time later, Defne and Selim said goodbye to everyone. They had to go to the airport to catch their flight.

The man's car was left in the airport car park. Selim paid for a parking space so that he would have the car at hand when he came to Istanbul again. This time for a divorce hearing.

______________________