Ateş's eyes were locked on Arzu with a pleading look. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, almost begging for this woman's love.
Arzu also fixed her gaze on his. Her heart was racing as she swallowed hard.
"I... I'm hurting your life..." she attempted to say, but Ateş cut her off by putting his finger to her lips.
"I'm warning you for the last time," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and threatening. "Don't make decisions on my behalf."
Just as this moment was about to break, Arzu's phone rang sharply.
It was Natya calling. Arzu quickly answered:
"What happened, Natya? Is my mom okay?"
Natya's broken Turkish was filled with concern:
"Azu Hanım, your house is burned! I came, you said 'come,' but... the house is gone! It's destroyed!"
Arzu took a deep breath, rolling her eyes in frustration.
"Ah, yes... I just found out. That's why I told you to come directly to the house. I'm sorry. We've moved to a different place, I'll send you the location. Come there, okay?"
"Okay, Azu Hanım."
Ateş locked his gaze on Arzu.
"My men are still at the hospital. If anything happens, they'll inform us immediately, don't worry," he said in a calm yet reassuring tone.
Arzu lowered her head sadly.
"I know... Thank you so much. But I don't think I can relax until I see my mom with my own eyes."
She slowly approached and placed a soft kiss on Ateş's cheek.
"Natya is coming anyway; she'll look after Mert. I'll go to the hospital. I've troubled you enough, I'm sorry... You can go now."
But Ateş, like a hunter savoring the taste of that kiss, took a subtle step forward. His eyes were still fixed on her face.
"I've noticed something that makes me very happy, do you know?"
Arzu raised her eyebrows in curiosity.
"What is it?"
Ateş's lips twisted into a sly smile.
"Because I'm the owner of this house... the crazy goat can no longer kick me out. Perfect situation."
Arzu laughed out loud.
"So, you're saying, don't interfere... whenever I want, I'll leave?"
"Exactly."
"Hmm... then keep this in mind, Sir," she said with a wink, walking towards Mert.
Ateş stared after her for a moment.
"Bad goat... What am I going to do with you?"
Arzu heard his grumbling, and her lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Just as the smile was still fresh on her lips, the doorbell rang with a sharp sound. After a few seconds of silence, a faint woman's voice came from outside:
"I... I'm Natya! I came for Arzu Hanım! Open the door!"
One of Ateş's men cracked the door open and quickly checked. Then the door opened, and Natya rushed in, out of breath, her hair scattered by the wind.
"Ah, Arzu Hanım!" she gasped, arms wide. "The men at the door... they were so scary! The guns I saw, the faces! It was terrifying, where are we? What's going on here?"
Mert ran over with small steps and hugged Natya.
"Natyaaa! I missed you so much!" he shouted.
Natya, for a moment, forgot her fear and embraced the child with love.
"I missed you too, little prince. You've grown so much!"
As Arzu watched them, her face mixed with peace and gratitude. Then, she turned to Ateş with a soft expression.
"Now that Natya's here... I should go see my mom," she said.
Ateş, hands in his pockets, tilted his head and looked at her with a playful smile.
"Did you really think I would let you go alone, goat?"
"I don't need to, Yaman, really," Arzu said, rolling her eyes slightly, but her voice was unsure.
Ateş took a step forward and moved even closer to her. "From now on, I'll never leave you alone. Enough with the stubbornness, let's go."
Arzu rolled her eyes again.
"I really don't need you to... you..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Ateş wrapped his arm around her waist. With a firm push,
"I've made up my mind. Let's go," he said.
Natya, still shocked, shook her head.
"Arzu Hanım... what's going to happen to the people here?" she asked in fear.
Arzu smiled faintly,
"Don't worry, Natya. Those men are here to protect us. Yaman's job... Anyway," she said.
Ateş, meanwhile, was laughing at how Arzu described him and his men.
Arzu turned her gaze and asked Natya, "By the way, how is my mom? Did you see her?"
Natya shook her head, her eyes sparkling with affection.
"I saw her. She's doing well. She was resting, but we had a little chat. She's still teasing the nurses, making jokes."
Arzu's eyes welled up, and she patted Natya's shoulder.
"Thank goodness for you, Natya..."
"Thank goodness for you too. I'm glad you came," Natya said with a smile.
Ateş took a step forward and headed for the door.
"Come on. Let's take you to your mother. Natya can stay here with Mert."
Arzu shook her head and kissed Mert once more.
"I'll be right back, my dear. Natya is here, we'll see each other tonight. I love you."
Half an hour later, when they reached the hospital door, Arzu's eyes widened.
The surroundings were filled with men in dark suits, whispering into earpieces. It was as if a state dignitary was at the hospital. But... it was only Arzu's mother.
"Isn't this a bit much, Yaman?" she said sharply. "You've assembled an army!"
Ateş shrugged and grinned mischievously.
"I take care of business, goat," he said, gently placing his hand on Arzu's waist to guide her inside.
With forced touches, he acted as if coordinating a vehicle.
Ateş's constant yet subtly alluring controlling presence was making Arzu dizzy.
When they entered the room just outside the ICU, Arzu saw her mother sitting up, reading a book.
"Mom?" she said, her eyes filling with tears.
The woman looked up and smiled with joy.
"My girl..." she called out, lifting her head from the book.
Arzu ran to her, hugged her first, then sat at the foot of the bed, holding her hands.
"How are you, my dear?"
The elderly woman straightened up joyfully.
"I'm doing great, don't worry. I'm still standing tall. What did you think of me?"
She gently stroked her hair.
"I was so scared," Arzu said, her voice trembling.
"I'm fine, my darling, don't worry. Stop frowning," the woman said, gently caressing her cheeks.
At that moment, Arzu's mother turned to Ateş and scanned him from head to toe.
"Who is this handsome gentleman?" she asked. "He's quite the looker..."
Ateş slightly bowed and nodded.
"I'm Yaman. Arzu's..."
He turned his gaze to Arzu and winked. "Roommate."
The woman giggled. "Arzu never mentioned you, but this handsomeness doesn't go unnoticed. I won't forget you now."
Ateş was pleased. He smiled with a hint of pride.
"The same goes for you. You radiate light. You're very beautiful," he said.
Arzu rolled her eyes, looking at her mother as if to say, "Don't."
"Mom, please..."
"Okay, okay, I didn't say anything," the woman giggled.
The laughter that filled the room didn't last long.
Just as this warm moment was unfolding, a sudden chill filled the air.
The door to the room opened, and Kerem appeared, holding flowers and a few packages under his arm.
(For those who have forgotten, Kerem is the scoundrel, the runaway husband.)
Kerem entered the room with great confidence, as if he had been waiting for this moment for years.
"Oh, Arzu, you're here too..." he said, fixing his gaze on Arzu.
With a performance that would earn applause from actors, his eyes immediately welled with tears.
"You wouldn't believe what's been going on. I've missed you so much," he said dramatically.
Arzu's eyes widened in shock, trying to understand what was happening.
"Kerem?! How did you get in here?!"
Kerem acted as if he hadn't heard her. He quickened his steps and, with arms wide open, started walking toward her.
"Arzu, you've been in my dreams. I fall asleep every night thinking about you. These flowers and cookies are for you. Remember, I had the lemon-flavored ones made... your favorite..."
Just as he was about to hug her, Ateş intervened like a shadow.
He grabbed Kerem's arm firmly, then with a swift motion, lifted him off the ground and held him by the neck.
"What... what are you doing?! Let go!" Kerem grunted, struggling in confusion.
Ateş's eyes were burning with fury. Through gritted teeth, he growled,
"Get your filthy hands off my woman. If you ever try to get close to her again... I'll break your neck!"
Kerem, suspended in the air, struggled to catch his breath.
"I... I just wanted to talk..."
Arzu stood frozen, her face pale as if the weight of the years had suddenly fallen upon her.
Ateş still hadn't let go. It seemed like all of his hatred for this man was directed toward his body.
"Listen to me, Rat! Pack your flowers, cookies... and leave, before I break your neck!"