Eriza's P.O.V.

"That is the last of the boxes." The mover said to me, as I looked around the smaller house we had shifted to, as we sold the other one in order to pay off the debt that got re-instated as soon as Mazhar had sent the divorce papers from New York about six months ago. Thankfully he waited a full year and a half, giving me time to work, gain a decent amount of money on the side, and work out a plan of where to go, and what to do, when we did sell that house that was the root of the problems.

"Thank you," I say handing him his payment, who gratefully takes it out of my hand, and leaves the home.

"I want this room!" I heard Emara say, from upstairs. Anne chuckled as she rolled Baba around in his wheelchair as he held, the newest member of our family, Kiraz. Anne found out she was pregnant about two weeks after the dreaded accident had happened. It was a shock to all of us, but a light of hope as well, ever since Kiraz came into this world, things have been going well. As Mazhar left me, the night of our wedding day, it gave me the freedom to begin working alongside Anne, and when Anne got laid off due to her. pregnancy Emara stepped in, working as much as she could. Ferit Amca was kind enough to give us decent-paying jobs at the hotel that he owned, but not wanting to become too dependent on his company, I have branched out to other small businesses such as flower shops, dog walking, just anything that brought in extra cash flow.

"This house is amazing," Anne smiled, "Alittle smaller than our old one, but-"

"Its debt free Anne." I sighed, "We no longer need to take 10 percent of our salary out to give to that family." I appreciate everything that they did for us, but at times I had caught Ferit Amca just glaring at Baba, and it truly scared me. I had always thought his intentions seemed weird, but that was not the case for the rest of the family.

"Yes we do," Emara said, "My schooling?" That's right, "He has paid the first year of my tuition, and had done the advanced placement as well." Ugh, I did not like this. Ferit Amca had offered to pay for my schooling too, but I had politely declined because I had other important matters like working on my mind.

"Right," I looked down at the check I had in my hand, "But this covers most of it," We had bought the house for 3,000,000, and due to the market boom, we were able to sell the old house for about double the amount 6,000,000 which covered the down payment for this house and the money I had saved on the side and a proper bank loan, covered the rest. With everything said and done, I had a check for 450,000 liras, so adding up all the other payments we had made including this check, I will have paid off $1,067,000 libras and have 1,933,000 liras to still pay off, which does not look as daunting as the number I had before to pay off.

"You are doing good." Anne said to me as she took the cheque out of my hands, "I never imagined in my life, that we would be paying off such a large amount in such a short time." Selling that house was the best thing I could think of and that is what I did.

"Thank you," I replied taking it back, not trusting her with it, knowing that it would end up back in our savings instead of where it needed to get. "I will be handing this to Ferit Amca this evening before I have to work." I tuck the check in my back pocket, and lean down to grab Kiraz from Baba, "Right now, I want to play with this little girl." Kiraz smiled brightly at me, we had a big age gap between us, 18 years to be exact, but there was nothing that I wouldnt do for her, same with Emara. "Have you two picked out a room?"

Baba smiled sadly, "Have you?"

"Baba," I hated when he did this, it was no fault of his that he lost his legs, but he still felt guilty that was not able to contribute to the payments in the house, "I am doing this all for you guys, I can choose my room later, you guys go." I gesture for Anne to take him, which she does gratefully. Emara comes to stand infront of me, gently tickling our little sister's stomach who giggles, "He has to stop with the guilt."

"Easier said than done Abla," she replied. "Baba doesn't even make eye contact with me at times because he is ashamed of how young we had to begin working, and now with you being of age for marriage, and already-" Emara stopped which caused me to roll my eyes, "Sorry."

"Im a divorced 20-year-old, whatever." I say grudgingly, "So is Mazhar, and-"

"Have you spoken to him?" She asked cutting me off, as I began to walk around the empty house trying to lay out where I wanted the furniture, and how I wanted to look.

"No," I did not want to speak to him, nor did he, so why would we try to contact one another, "Hey, how would the TV look there?" I ask in all seriousness as she blows out the air heavily.

"Abla, why do you change the subject every time-"

"Because he is not important." I say quickly, "So stop bringing him up Emara." She sank back slightly as Kiraz laid her head on my shoulder. She hated it when we fought with one another, I gently rubbed her back, comforting her. "Do not mention him again, I mean it." I do not understand the fascination he had with him, ever since he left me, she has mentioned him more than I have.

"Sorry," She mumbled,

"Whatever." I sigh, "Here take her," I hand her Kiraz, "I gotta go get ready for work." I quickly hand her some money, "Order food, do not let Anne begin cooking because I dont even know if the gas has started working yet. We moved in earlier, and she will freak."

"Got it," Emmy said, "Have fun at work."

"Yeah, thanks," I say before rushing off upstairs to steal her uniform because I had no idea where mine was. I take out the cheque and sigh in relief, "Only alittle more to go, you got this." I whisper to myself, "You got this."

I got this. . right?

. . .

Ferit's P.O.V. (Mazhar's Dad)

Asiye paced around the office as I sat back in my chair, "She sold the house," She said firmly, "She has money now, Ferit." I rolled my eyes at her, "Ferit," Asiye repeated, "Your little minions, are slipping-"

"They arnt going anywhere." I snap at her, "Adam is a fuck up, do you know how he became a fucking fuck up?" I raise an eyebrow at her, "I helped him become one."

Asiye crossed her arms, "Yeah, well it's not Adam who you need to worry about, it's his daughters."

"Please-"

"Ferit!" Asiye slammed her hands on my desk, "The house is gone, Mazhar divorced her, what do you have to keep them underneath you? What is keeping them from finding out that the gambling situation that happened fucking 16 years ago was set up by you!" I quickly stand up and rush over to the door locking it, "That money that he lost, that sent him and his future down the fucking drain."

"Asiye!" I grab her arms, "Shut up!" I did not need anyone hearing this shit, "The daughter that you were worrying about is coming here to hand me a fucking cheque, we. do not need her hearing this shit." I pull her towards me, "The gambling loss, what his fate-"

"You set it up!" She pushed me, "All for Meryem, right?"

My heart skipped a beat, "All because Meryem chose him over you in fucking high school, do you not feel shame, that even after having a wife and two fucking kids, you still want revenge for a stupid crush."

"It wasnt because of that!" I exhaled heavily, "Yes it hurt that she chose him over me, but what really pissed me off was how everything got handed to him while I had to beg for it." He always had the luck, while I got the bad omens. I. always got the bad end of everything we did, and when we fell for the same girl, he used to steal my ideas to win her over. "Him using me, is what hurt, so I decided to make use of that habit to destroy him."

She scoffed, "Right,"

"Asiye." I try to reason with her, "Look, I am sorry for using Mazhar for my revenge but that was the only way to bring him in. I knew desperation would strike him and it did, they. still have land back home, and I want that land. I do not want him, to have anything." I hated him, and I am so close to taking that land, his father's land that he cherishes, and I won't stop until I have it. "Just alittle more time," I tell her.

"How much more time?" She asked. I truly did not know, but I knew I was close, they were already regressing, and the new house that they moved in was much smaller than the one I had bought them. It was. only an amount of time, that he sells that to me too, he already sold his daughter to me. "Ferit,"

"I-"

"Sir?" I heard a soft voice say through the door, "It's Eriza." Asiye pulled away from me as I walked over to open the door. Eriza smiled softly at me, "Good Morning,"

"Izzie," I fake a smile, "How many times have I told you not to call me Sir, it's always Amca for you." I allowed her to walk in, as Asiye fixed her composure. "Right Asiye?"

She forced a fake smile as well, "Right," She pulled Eriza into a tight hug, "How is my Kizim?" Her acting was impeccable. Eriza gently pulled away as she pulled out a small piece of paper. "What's this?"

"A cheque." She said softly, "The house that I sold, I got a good amount of it, and the debt is still hanging over our heads, even though the deal was made over eight years ago and-"

"You sold the house?" I asked pretending to be surprised, "Eriza, why would you do that?"

"I found a smaller one, more fit for Baba and his wheelchair." She said quickly, "It's just more practical Amca." I struggled to control the urge to roll my eyes, "I-I mean no harm by doing so."

"Where have you bought the new one?" I ask not really caring,

"Just outside of the neighborhood, it's smaller, gated, and a good area of Kiraz to grow up in." She went on. "But the main thing was the boom was too great to miss, and this takes a good chunk of it out." She handed me the check, "I wanted to thank you for everything Amca, so this is just a gesture to ensure you that I am close to returning every penny." Of course, you are.

"I really appreciate this." I say trying to sound as genuine as possible, "Your hard work is not gone unnoticed." I give her a small side hug, "When does your shift start?"

"Just in a few minutes." She replied, "Once again thank you." Eriza breathed out, "I'll head out."

"Go on," I say to her smiling, Eriza slowly backed out and shut the door behind her. I threw the cheque on the table, "Well that was exhausting." I turn to Asiye, who rolled her eyes at me. "It's just one bulk cheque." I try to comfort her, "Dont worry."

"She is going to be the biggest pain in. your ass in the coming years Ferit," Asiye grabbed her purse, "Mark my words." She shoved past me and walked out of my office leaving me alone.

I sighed leaning against my desk. . .

No one is going to win against me, not Adam, not Eriza. . .

No one.