The answer came sooner than she expected.
That afternoon, raised voices echoed through the house.
Asli stepped into the hallway, her heart racing.
Namik had arrived.
"You're getting careless," Namik said sharply.
Ferhat stood across from him, calm but tense. "Everything is under control."
"Is it?" Namik's eyes shifted toward Asli.
She froze.
"You trust her too much."
"I don't trust her."
"Then prove it."
The room fell silent.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Asli's pulse pounded in her ears.
"What do you want?" Ferhat asked.
Namik's smile was cold.
"Send her away."
Asli's breath caught.
Send her away?
Or kill her?
She couldn't tell.
Ferhat didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"No."
The word was firm.
Final.
Namik's expression darkened. "You're choosing her?"
"I'm protecting what's mine."
The words stunned everyone.
Including Asli.
Because for the first time…
Ferhat didn't just keep her alive.
He claimed her.