Everything was ready.
Cengiz Saygın had done his part. The traps were in place, the guests carefully selected, the security arranged in layers that only a handful of people understood. Emrah stood in front of the mirror in his room, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit. The fabric sat clean against his frame, but the man in the reflection still looked worn — the kind of wear that no amount of tailoring could hide.
The door opened.
Emir Aybeyli stepped inside and closed it quietly behind him. For a moment he simply looked at his son.
"You know," he said, "you look just like me when I was getting married to your mother. But you look more humble… and more worn out."
Emrah met his father's eyes in the mirror.
"Is that a compliment?"
Emir gave a small, tired smile.
"It is. I'm proud of you, son. I'm proud of your decision-making and your ways. You might just be the one to set everything straight and achieve the peace that all our families longed for. That's the main reason I'm proud of you. You're doing what I couldn't."
Before Emrah could answer, the door opened again. Aslan leaned in, already dressed and restless.
"Come on, what are you waiting for? The brides are all ready. Are you waiting for an invitation?"
Emrah glanced at him.
"You go. I'll come in a minute."
Aslan rolled his eyes but left with their father. The moment the door clicked shut, Emrah took out his phone and dialed.
Cengiz answered on the second ring.
"I've set every trap," the older man said without greeting. "Everyone is in position. Just hurry up."
"Understood."
Emrah ended the call and left the room.
---
The brides' waiting room was quieter than expected.
Efsane stood near the window in a sharp white dress, already looking impatient. Efsun sat more composed, adjusting one of her sleeves with calm precision.
Efsane turned the moment he entered.
"Where the hell were you? I was seriously considering busting the door of your room and taking you by force."
Efsun's voice was cooler.
"Well, that's to be expected of a barbarian like you."
Emrah raised a hand.
"Hold on. Don't go all viking mode on me. I was just making sure everything was right before coming to get you."
He looked at both of them.
"And as we had previously agreed… I'm only officially marrying Efsane. Because as you know, I legally can't officially marry both of you."
Efsane smirked. Efsun simply nodded once. Neither argued.
---
When they finally walked toward the wedding hall, the guests rose and began clapping. The sound filled the large room as Emrah led the two women down the aisle.
They took their places.
The marriage officiant began with Efsane.
"Would you like to marry Emrah Aybeyli?"
"Yes."
He turned to Emrah.
"Would you like to marry Efsane Saygın?"
"Yes."
The same process repeated with Efsun.
"Would you like to marry Emrah Aybeyli?"
"Yes."
"Would you like to marry Efsun Haznedar?"
"Yes."
The officiant closed the book.
"Then I announce you man and wives. You may kiss the brides."
Emrah kissed both of them in turn. The guests applauded again.
Then the officiant handed him two marriage certificates.
Emrah's fingers tightened around the papers. Both were fully stamped. Both were official. Both carried the proper seals and signatures.
He stared at them.
This was impossible.
Under Turkish law, a man could not legally marry two women at the same time. Yet both certificates were perfect. The seals were real. The registration numbers were valid. There was no sign of forgery.
*How?*
His mind raced through possibilities. Cengiz's connections? Some high-level manipulation of the system? A legal loophole he wasn't aware of? None of it fully explained what he was holding.
Beyond the universe, an enormously powerful entity smiled and said:
"This is my wedding gift to you, Emrah Aybeyli."
---
Emrah's phone vibrated once in his pocket.
He pulled it out. A single notification glowed on the screen:
**Incoming force. Multiple units. ETA: 90 seconds.**
His expression did not change.
He slipped the phone away.
A sharp, clear whistle cut through the air from somewhere near the back of the hall.
Cengiz's signal.
A heartbeat later, the first windows shattered.
Men poured into the hall from multiple entrances. Their movements were too fast, their strength unnatural. The Chocolate Cake had already done its work.
Chaos erupted.
Guests screamed. Tables overturned. Weapons appeared in the hands of Emrah's people.
Emrah raised his left wrist. The Infinity Watch glowed once.
Time slowed.
The world stretched into heavy, syrupy motion. Bullets drifted through the air like lazy insects. Attackers moved as if underwater.
Emrah opened a small rift beside him and pulled the Infinity Blade free from the Pocket Domain. The black edge caught the light as he stepped forward and began cutting through the slowed enemies with precise, lethal strokes.
He released the time dilation.
The world snapped back.
Efsane was already moving. Blood from the first fallen attackers lifted from the floor and formed into a long, flexible whip and a shorter blade. She carved through the enhanced men with terrifying efficiency. Red sprayed across her white dress until the fabric was no longer white at all.
Efsun stood still for a moment, eyes locked on one of the attackers. The man's expression changed. Without warning he turned and opened fire on his own allies, cutting down two of them before the others realized what had happened.
Yusuf's System interface flickered open in his vision. He activated his strength-boosting skill without hesitation. Power flooded his limbs as he and Aslan closed in on one of the stronger enhanced men. With the boost active, Yusuf overpowered the target's unnatural strength long enough for the two of them to subdue him. They dragged the captive toward a side exit and into a car and then disappeared just as the next wave of chaos began.
---
Emrah's eyes unfocused for a fraction of a second.
In that brief moment, his precognition unfolded.
He saw the possible futures.
In one, he continued fighting. More of his people died. Efsane and Efsun were injured. The Director's forces still arrived, and the situation spiraled into a bloodbath that cost him far more than he could afford.
In another, he tried to escape with the two women. The SWAT team was already too close. They would be hunted down within hours, and the Director would gain even more justification to act openly.
In the third path, he surrendered now.
They would be taken. But they would remain alive. The Director would believe he had won. And from inside the cage, Emrah would still have options.
The visions collapsed.
Emrah lowered his blade and raised one empty hand just as the main doors burst open.
Elif led a full SWAT team into the hall, weapons raised.
"Nobody move!"
"Everyone calm down," Emrah said clearly.
He did not resist.
Within moments the officers had secured the room. Emrah, Efsane, Efsun, and several family members were placed in restraints. The remaining attackers who could still stand were forced to the ground.
Outside the venue, a black van sat parked at a careful distance.
Inside, the Director watched the live feeds on multiple monitors. A thin smile spread across his face.
"Now you're within my grasp," he said quietly. "And you can't run away.