A green pearl arises before the sun can rise properly. The cold waves which are coming form early morning proof it's 6;00AM but for her it's beginning of her day to day survival.
Her smile is pure but hidden a pain a vulnerablity behind it. Her life once full of joy but now shattered into unsearchable pieces.
I’m Azra. There isn’t much to say about myself, really, except for the fact that I love to bake. But my story? It’s a little more complicated. I’m in my second year studying pathology, hoping to follow in my father’s footsteps in medical research. He was my hero, a brilliant mind with so much passion for his work. My mother, she was the heart of our home a gentle soul, always making everything feel safe. They were the pillars of my world.
But then…. one just one tragic accident changed everything literally everything. They were gone. In.... a blink. Now, my world is much smaller. It’s just me, my little sister Lily, and my best friend Lara. They’re all I have left.
Lily is my heart, and Lara my rock. We’ve been friends since high school, and she’s always been there for me. Even though Lara is Turkish, she’s been living in Edinburgh for the past five years, and the distance hasn’t changed a thing between us.
"Lily, get up!"
"No, ten more minutes, please," she mumbles, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"It's already 8:00 AM! Get up, Lily!"
Meet my sister Lily. She’s fifteen and the only family I have left. Our parents were taken from us suddenly, and now it's just us. Even though it's hard, I try to stay positive for Lily's sake. I really hope that someday soon, things will start looking up for us
"Pass me the newspaper, Sofie," Lily asks with a piece of toast in her mouth.
"Eat properly first, Lily."
"Bring me tea, Sofia!" Aunty Anne's voice comes from her room.
"Where's my pair of socks, Sofia?" Ava demands, snatching toast from Lily's plate.
"Sofia, did you clean my shoes?" Uncle James inquires impatiently.
Azra, addressed as "Sofia" by her relatives,
"Yes, Uncle, I cleaned them. They're in your room."
"Wait, Ava, I'm finding it."
"Yes, Aunty, I'm coming with your tea."
She answered everyone with patiences.
"Ugh, you can't even make a proper tea!" Aunty Anne shouts, spitting out her tea.
"I'm sorry, Aunty. Give me a moment; I'll make another," Azra replies, all while ironing her dress.
"Sofiee, Sofiee," Lily calls in low voice.
Azra steps out of the room to Lily. "I need £5 for books," Lily says, her eyes filled with guilt for asking.
Azra opens her wallet, finding only £10. She gives Lily five. "Thanks, Sofie. Love you," Lily says, hugging her tightly.
"Love you too," Azra responds with a beautiful and pure smile. "Now go, you're getting late. Take the bus, okay?"
After completing all her chores, Azra heads to college.
"Look who's here, my best friend!" Azra exclaims, hugging Lara tightly from behind.
Lara's eyes well up with tears, shocks Azra.
"What happened, Lara? Why are you crying?" Azra asks,
"My father has arranged my marriage to a stranger. I don't want to marry, Azra. Please help me," Lara pleads, her eyes showing
fear.
"Please, don't cry like this. Explain everything," Azra
Lara, still crying, explains that her father, a businessman in Turkey, has been facing losses. To mitigate his financial troubles, he has arranged her marriage to a ruthless CEO, scheduled for tomorrow.
"I don't want to marry him. I need your help to escape this," Lara begs, with desperation.
I'm Alihan Erdogan, though most know me by another name "heartless monsters". And I embrace it, because the heart is nothing but a weakness, the source of every agony. I have no reason to live, no purpose beyond the unrelenting hunger for power. Power so absolute, it obliterates anyone foolish enough to stand in my way.
The opulent office was a fortress of power and intimidation, much like the man who commanded it. Alihan Erdogan, known for his ruthless and arrogant demeanor, sat behind a massive desk that seemed to dwarf even the grand room. His presence was a storm, calm on the surface but with a deadly undercurrent.
"Sir, here is the file for today's meeting," a man in a blue suit said, his eyes wide with fear as he handed it to his boss.
Alihan barely glanced at the file. "Okay," he said curtly, the single word carrying a weight of authority that left no room for question.
"The next meeting starts in fifteen minutes. After that, you don't have any more appointments today," the same employee continued, his voice trembling.
Alihan didn't bother responding. His icy silence was more than enough to convey order. The employee, quickly exited the room.
Ring, ring.
Alihan answered
"Hey, Alihan, where are you? It's your..." the caller began, but Alihan cut him off.
"I'm getting married today," he stated flatly.
"What?" came the stunned reply.
"At 5 PM. After that, I'm heading back to Turkey. Manage everything while I'm away,"
Alihan informed, his voice has no emotion
"But why? Who is she? And what about the Syndicate? I don't understand-" Omer stammered, but Alihan interrupted again.
"What about the Syndicate?" Alihan's tone was calm but deadly,
"They refused to supply the diamonds and are trying to block our shipping routes," Omer explained nervously.
"Any specific reason?" Alihan's voice remained icy, a mirror to his cold heart.
"They didn't say, but I think they want a larger share," Omer speculated.
"Give it to them," Alihan state.
"But they also want a partnership in KIvanc. You know why they want it," Omer said, his voice shaking at the mention of KIvanc Textile.
(KIvanc Textile was a cornerstone of the Turkish fabric industry, renowned for its superior quality and innovative designs. It was the legacy of Alihan's mother, the only person he ever loved. Demanding a partnership in KIvanc was a line no one should cross.)
"I'll handle it," Alihan said dismissively.
"But who is she? And what about-" Omer began, but Alihan ended the call abruptly,
ALİHAN ERDOĞAN is a man who doesn’t think before doing anything because he has no one to care for, no one behind him—he is all alone in the world. He’s consumed by his own darkness and owns a dark world of business. He has ethics; he himself would never dirty his hands in the dark mafia world, but no mafia dares to touch his business world. Because in the brightness of business, he owns the darkest power.
Azra followed Lara's location and headed to Alihan's Mansion, blending in with the catering staff. The mansion exuded an ominous aura, every corner shadowed with danger and secrecy.
"Oh Lara, which room are you in?" Azra whispered urgently as she searched through multiple rooms.
"Is this a house or what? How many rooms does it have?" she muttered to herself, frustration mounting with each door she opened.
After what felt like an eternity and ten rooms later, she finally found Lara.
"Ah, Azra, you found me!" Lara exclaimed, hugging Azra tightly and bursting into tears.
"See, it's a 5:30 flight to Turkey," Azra said, handing her a ticket.
"But how am I supposed to get out of here?" Lara asked, panic evident in her eyes.
"See, ta-daa!" Azra revealed a large trolley with a sly grin.
"What? How am I going to fit in that?" Lara asked, with confusion.
"You have to," Azra spit with a smirk.
"Ah, slow down, it's hurting me!" Lara yelped as Azra maneuvered her into the trolley.
"Don't make noise, Lara. If we get caught, we'll both die here," Azra whispered, her voice tense with urgency.
In the dimly lit hall, a lavish couch sat draped in shadows, an ashtray overflowing with cigarette ends beside a bottle of fine wine, untouched yet exuding a menacing aura. Surrounding the room were guards, their eyes fixed on the man at the centre
He was in his 50s, but the darkness clung to him like a second skin. A deep scar cut across his cold, unfeeling eyes, while his long, unkempt beard only heightened the aura of danger that radiated from him. Every inch of his presence screamed power, violence, and the kind of darkness that consumes everything it touches.
"So, Alihan, finally you're here," Athol Wilson, owner of Syndicate Corporation, greeted, his voice dripping with insincere warmth.
"Mr. Wilson, what do you want?" Alihan's voice was icy, his demeanor unyielding.
"Oh, Alihan, it's been four years. Let's not jump straight to business. Tell me about your father," Athol said, smiling a facade of warmth, his manipulative intentions clear.
"I don't have time for this. I'll give you 30% to close the deal. Stay out of my way, or you'll regret it," Alihan said coldly, his threat unmistakable.
"How dare you!" Angus Wilson shouted, fury in his voice.
"Son, stay out of this. I'll handle it," Athol said, eyes locked on Alihan.
"I want a partnership in Klvanc for transportation. It will expand my business. I'll give you 40%. For the current deal, I'll take 20%. Think, Alihan," Athol said, his tone deceptively calm.
"Kivanc is not for your illegal operations," Alihan responded, his voice like ice.
"It's your mother's company, but think of the profit," Athol pressed.
"Just for your dead mother, you're not giving us a partnership? Seriously?" Angus sneered.
A gunshot rang out.
Angus screamed, clutching his bleeding leg.
"30% or should I demonstrate further?" Alihan said, his voice dark and menacing.
Athol ran to his son, but Alihan's men aimed their guns at Angus.
"Say yes," Alihan ordered.
"No! It's not fair..." Athol shouted.
"Shoot him," Alihan commanded.
As the trigger was about to be pulled, Athol yelled, "Yes! 30%! Please, leave my son!"
"Good," Alihan replied coldly.
Azra and Lara, tense and frightened, hurried through the hallways. The mansion's darkness aura is scary.
Suddenly, a heavy voice comes,
"Bring the bride to the main hall in ten minutes."
Azra turned to see a man, not just any man, but a miracle—a blend of darkness with something else hidden deep inside. Azra's eyes saw a magical, gorgeous beauty. His eyes, too blue, too blue, but his aura made it feel like a dark blue ocean, ready to consume everything.
His 6'1" height, his perfect figure, his jaw, and most beautiful of all, the elegant curve of his neck.
his neck—a little bent as his eyes fix on his phone screen. Azra couldn’t control it; her gaze fixed on his eyes.
Azra, caught in his gaze, felt her breath hitch. She couldn't respond, paralyzed by the zeal of his eyes.
"Are you deaf?" Alihan's voice was sharp, laced with irritation as he met her green, innocent eyes.
"No... no, sir," Azra stammered, the fear evident in her voice. "Ye-yes, I'll bring the bride."
His rudeness and dark aura left her shaken, she quickly turned.
Azra and Lara finally reached the back of the mansion, their breaths ragged from the tension and urgency.
"How are we going to get out of this place?" Lara asked, panic edging her voice.
"The wall," Azra replied, pointing towards a towering barrier.
"How?" Lara asked, her voice filled with doubt.
Azra patted her shoulder and gestured for her to climb on. "You have to cross the wall."
"But then how will you get out?" Lara asked, her face taut with worry.
"I have an employee card. I'll leave through the front gate," Azra explained.
Lara refused to go without her, but after many attempts, she reluctantly agreed. Tears streamed down her face as she prepared to run, leaving Azra behind.
Lara had escaped over the wall. Meanwhile, Azra, blending in with the catering staff, approached the mansion's main gate, her heart racing.
"Stop! Stop right there!" a guard shouted, rushing over to close the electric gate.
Azra froze, trapped inside, panic surging as she desperately sought another way out.
___________________
"Bride is not in the room, sir," a servant informed.
"Here is the room's camera record," Omer said, handing Alihan his laptop.
In the recording, a girl dressed in catering staff attire entered the room, helped Lara hide in a trolley, and then left.
The staff stood rigid in line, trembling under Alihan's piercing gaze. Each step he took reverberated like a drumbeat of impending doom through the empty hall. His demeanor was an ominous blend of chilling calm and lethal danger.
As his footsteps came to a halt, a palpable silence filled the air. Azra, attempting to blend into the shadows, could not escape his gaze.
Alihan's eyes, darkest ocean eyes, locked onto her green eyes. His voice, a low, dangerous growl, "Where is the bride?"
Azra's voice stammers, "Sorry, si...sir, bu...."
Alihan's eyes narrowed, "Drag her to the basement."
______________________
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♡
Give me review now.
Does the chapter seem like too many repeated words or emotions???
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