|Victoria's POV|

"Your highness... please wake up" I heard this phrase repeated softly.. I slowly opened my eyes, still feeling tired.

As I looked around, I realized I was still in Mustafa's room, lying beside Murad, but Mustafa was nowhere to be seen. By my bedside stood Nisa, and it seemed she was the one who had been trying to wake me.

"What's happening?" I asked, sitting up, my mind still foggy.. and a dull ache throbbed in my head.

"Finally" she said, looking pale "You've overslept... your highness"

"Nisa" I stood up to look at her "Is something wrong? You look pale"

"Yes... the palace is in chaos" she said, lowering her head, and I could sense she was on the verge of tears "The Sultan woke up early, and while checking everything that happened during his absence with Mahmud Pasha, they discovered many things"

At that moment, my heart sank. I didn't need further explanation; Mustafa must have learned everything that had transpired over these months, including all that concerned his mother.

Before I could move, the door swung open, and Mustafa stepped in, looking furious. This was a new side of him I had never seen before.

I tried to remain calm and subtly signaled for Nisa to take Murad and leave, which she did quickly.. I watched her exit before turning back to Mustafa.

"Mustafa" I whispered softly "I was going to tell y...."

"When?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the room, making my eyes widen in shock "Next year? The year after?"

"No... no" I stepped a little closer, but he refused to look at me "I swear I was going to tell you.. You can ask Suleiman Pasha or Nisa or..."

"That's the problem!" he yelled again, his tone sharp "Everyone knows! Everyone around me has known from the beginning, but you all thought I was crazy, leaving me in the dark like a fool!"

Even though he was shouting, I could feel the pain in his voice. I understood what he was going through, and I knew this would be hard for him that's why I wished he could hear everything from me first.

"Mustafa, at first I needed some proof, so I kept quiet.. Then last night, when I came to you, I wanted you to rest first" I moved closer and took his hand "I was just trying to help you"

"Thanks for your pity and help" he said, pulling his hand away sharply "I never thought you would just feel sorry for me... Well, everyone does now.. Just a fool used by his mother while he knows nothing and now trying to play the role of a strong Sultan"

"I didn't feel pity for you!" Anger and concern surged within me as he twisted our conversation into something else.. I never thought he would think this way "I loved you and married you because of my love! I swore to stand by you in your good days and bad days"

"And we also swore to share everything and not to lie or hide such deep problems" he said, still looking furious "You should have told me from the start!"

"I didn't have any proof, and I was afraid of accusing your mother" I shouted without realizing it.

"You didn't need any proof!" he yelled back at me.

"No, it was your mother I would be accusing, so you would want strong evidence!" I retorted, realizing this was one of the few times in my life I had argued with someone.

I felt unqualified for this, especially since I realized Mustafa was in a bad place, and I had made a significant mistake by raising my voice.

"Alright, Victoria" he said quietly, turning to look out the window, rubbing the back of his neck "Leave me alone"

"I won't do that" I replied quickly, my eyes wide.

"I said, go!" he commanded sharply this time.

"And I said I won't!" I shot back, my tone also sharp. But I just wanted to make my point clear, so I added softly "Mustafa, you need to understand that right now, I'm not your enemy"

"You'll never understand" he said, turning to me, his face etched with anger "You don't know how foolish I feel"

"Mustafa, I understand more than you think" I tried again, inching closer but keeping a safe distance "I too was hurt by the man who was supposed to be my father.. If that's not enough.. on his deathbed, he ordered my brother to kill me quickly... I spent years running, not knowing what my fault was until I met you. I didn't pity you; I saw myself in you. Through you, I understood that the hatred from others is not our fault; they just see us as a threat.. In my case, they hated me, but in your case, they coveted and exploited you"

I tried to sound comforting "I saw through you... I believed in you, and I gave up everything for you"

As I reached for his hand... Mustafa's eyes flickered with something-confusion, pain, maybe even a glimmer of understanding.

"Victoria" he said softly, his voice trembling as if the anger that had fueled him was starting to fade, revealing a raw vulnerability beneath "You don't know how much this hurts.. I thought I was losing everything, including you"

I took a step closer, my heart racing "You're not losing me, Mustafa.. I'm right here.. I've always been here" I placed my hand gently on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart "You're not alone in this"

He looked down, and I could see the pain etched into his features. The tension in his shoulders slowly eased, but the hurt in his eyes only deepened "I don't know how to deal with this" he confessed, his voice cracking "My mother... She was everything to me.. I never thought she could betray me like this"

I felt a surge of compassion as I listened to him "I can't imagine how that feels, Mustafa.. It's okay to be angry, but it's also okay to feel lost"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I was scared" I admitted, my voice trembling as well "Scared of what it would do to you, to us.. But I realize now that hiding the truth only made things worse"

He finally looked into my eyes, and I could see the storm within him beginning to calm, replaced by a deep sorrow "I thought I could handle it all alone... But I can't" he said, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

Tears welled in my eyes as I nodded "I'll always be here for you, no matter what" I took a deep breath.

Mustafa reached out, finally taking my hand in his "I've hurt you, and I'm sorry... I didn't mean to push you away" His voice was filled with sincerity, and I could feel the warmth radiating from him, but underneath was a tremor of uncertainty.

"I know" I replied gently, squeezing his hand "We both have our scars, but we can heal them together.. I believe in us."

He stepped closer, his eyes searching mine, revealing a fragile side that he had kept hidden "I didn't think she would betray me.. I feel so weak" The confession hung in the air, heavy with his pain.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine "You are not weak, Mustafa.. It's okay to show your feelings.. It means you are strong enough to face the truth"

I pulled back slightly and took his hand, guiding him to sit beside me on the couch "I'm here... I will listen to everything you have to say.. I'll hold you if you want to cry, and don't ever think that it will diminish your manhood"

I looked into his eyes, wanting him to feel my sincerity "When I fell in love with you, I realized I could embrace every part of you.. So please, feel at ease next to me..Take your time.. You need to grieve, and I'm ready to support you in any decision.. Don't feel pressured at all; your relationship with your mother is yours alone"

"I'm not ready to face her" he said, burying his head in his hands "This is really my worst nightmare... I don't know how I'll face anyone"

I gently placed my hand on his back, rubbing it soothingly "I shouldn't have to remind you that you are the one with the power here" I continued to stroke his back with tenderness, hoping to bring him some comfort "Everyone else should fear facing you.. Just take your time, and remember that those who were helping you were only trying to support you.. They didn't have the standing to accuse your mother..As for those who betrayed you, think carefully about their fate"

After that, I pulled him into a warm embrace, my eyes filling with tears. Seeing Mustafa like this was so painful. He was an incredible person who loved his family deeply, and it hurt me to see him suffering. But I was determined to do anything for him. What mattered most was that he found happiness, whether it took a week, a month, or even a year. I would never let go of his hand.

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Hey guys... I just wanted to say that I was listening to "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry while writing this chapter and the song really reminds me of Victoria and Mustafa in some way 😭🤍

Also we only have 2 chapters left until the story ends because originally this was supposed to be a very long chapter but when it went over 4000 words I decided to separate this scene from the rest..💌