Mini PrefaceWhen I met Habbab, I was sure that love had finally appeared to rescue me... I could never have been more wrong, the man I married was my personal undoing and the one who fill my heart with so much hatred and desire for revenge. Chapter 1Melek ErdoğanMy heart beats so fast as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I feel beautiful, even more than I felt inside my red bindalli, the night before at the henna party. I can't believe it, I, Melek Erdoğan, am going to become the bride of the perfect man for me. I have never been happier. I stroke my lips, trying to cover the perpetual smile I've had since I woke up. I spin around, filled with ecstasy, my veil tangling around my body and I guffaw at my clumsiness, as I try to get out of the tangle of white tulle fabric. The dress was given to me by my future husband and his family, I am so honored to wear it and to know that he is such a thoughtful man who has even thought of the smallest details.There is a light knock on m
MelekI walk from one end of the shack to the other, I can't go back home, my grandfather is going to kill me, everyone will know that Habbab rejected me and I will be marked, I can see in my mind how the whole town will turn their faces away when I pass by. My family is important in the village where we live, everyone attended my wedding and they will know what happened to me. When I look out the window, I see that it is getting dark, I haven't eaten all day and I don't care, I am beaten and worn out, I have cried for hours and I have no idea what I should do…“You are going to die, Melek, grandfather Çakir is going to make sure of it,” I said to myself.All my life, Çakir Erdoğan, my paternal grandfather, has hated me, I have never understood why I am not blessed in his eyes. For years I had to remain in silent, not even moving to avoid his outbursts of anger and insults, I can't go back there anymore. I make a decision, I am going to die no matter what, he and my family will make s
Habbab ArslanTwenty-two years in the pastI remember waking up with sweat running down my body, a choked scream in my chest, and tears wetting my cheeks. My grandmother, as always, ran to me and comforted me. Again, I had a nightmare about the monster that murdered my parents, there wasn't a single day when I didn't ask about them, until the woman who protected me, who was there for me, told me the truth. Since then, is always been the same nightmare, over and over again."That feeling you have in your chest, Habbab, keep it in your heart, hold it so that one day you can avenge your parents, you can destroy the family that hurt you so much." She stroked my hair and comforted me as she said those words. "Never let your soul go soft, harden it like a rock so you will have the strength to seek justice for the crime they committed against your mother and my son.""I promise grandmother, I promise I will avenge my family, I will make the Erdoğan's pay, I will take everything they have, yo
HabbabThree weeks had passed since the day I was introduced to Çakir's granddaughters, in the course of those seven days I took care to give my all attention to Irem, making her believe that I was interested in her and her charms when there is nothing further from reality. Don’t get me wrong, I had nothing against the girl, but I realized her true personality, growing up among the whims that her grandfather fulfilled, she imagines that all men should pay homage to her, praise her and place the world at her feet.Instead, Melek... She was so humble, tender, and kind. She worked as a waitress in the restaurant of the family's hotel. Unlike her cousin, she had not been allowed to attend college, but she still had to work in the family business.That day, I decided to wait for her to finish her shift and walk her home, if only by chance. She always shortened the distance by taking a very rural road, full of dirt, rocks, and animals not at all pleasant, even if it was a bit dangerous, she
Chapter 4HabbabA few days after my first approach with Melek, I am determined to ask for her hand. Before I leave my hotel room, I make sure my suit and the rest of my clothes are spotless. As I am knotting my tie, my business partner and best friend, Erdem Şahin, walks in with his typical worried face. Erdem is the son of my grandmother's housekeeper, we were raised as brothers, and now he is in charge of my family's finances, there is nothing I wouldn't trust this man with, he is the most loyal, honest, and transparent person I ever meet. "My dear friend, how was your weekend?" I welcome him in a good mood. The smile on my face is impossible to disguise. Whenever I get to see Melek, my mood changes, and I feel somewhat... Happy."You're very smiley considering the situation we're about to get into."That takes away my good mood, of course, Erdem had to remind me of the real reason why I'm going to ask for Melek's hand. Revenge. My grandmother's plan couldn't work if Hazar hadn'
"Thank you." It's all I can say as I gain my composure again. Hazar nods with compassion in his eyes, he too should win the Oscar for best acting. "Habbab has been very excited about the proposal that he brings you today," Erdem speaks for me, giving me time to regain my voice. "We have big plans, which we hope will be to your liking." "Wonderful, Mr. Erdem, wonderful," Çakir speaks in a very good mood. "Mr. Çakir," I manage to say. "We have a long time working together, and we have managed to have a good relationship and trust. I think we can go one step further in that relationship, become one big family." "There's nothing that would make me happier boy." "If you would give me your blessing, I would like to bring my aunt and her daughter, my only living family, to your home to ask for your granddaughter's hand." I see Irem's curl jump, of course, she thinks I'm talking about her, she must be jumping with excitement, but there's nothing more wrong, I'm not going to ask her, my t
HabbabThe Erdoğan threw the house out the window, for today's celebration, I can tell even without having entered the mansion. Lights are flashing from inside and the doors are open for guests, like Irem's maternal family. I'm supposed to come to ask for Irem's hand, or at least that's what they think, but they couldn't be more wrong. I'm not coming for that woman. Melek is the woman I want... No, the one we need as part of our revenge plan. She is the daughter of Hazar, the murderer of my parents. I'm going to take Melek's virtue and return her to her father with a bow on her head."We can't go in there" Enise speaks next to me, as we get out of the car, I roll my eyes at her nonsense talking. "Habbab, please don't do this to me, you're married to me."I turn to face her, and with a fake smile on my face, I grab her arm and pull her close to me so no one can hear what we are talking about."That's enough, Enise, you'd better shut up, or go back to the hotel. You know why we're doing
"Yes, Mr. Habbab, you may marry my daughter." The smile that bursts from my lips, though I don't want to admit it, is genuine. Melek looks at me through his tresses with some apprehension. "We need to perform the engagement ceremony, Senay, take our daughter, put her in a better dress, fix her up for the ceremony and we will meet in the living room.""Yes, husband, I will"My bride-to-be is led by her mother to her room where she is taken care of, while the rest of us return to the living room. This time Enise sits next to me, the rest of the room is silent."Well, our engagement wasn't that dramatic." She whispers in hatred to me."Shut up, Enise, I swear if you say anything you're going to end up worse than Melek."She gives me an angry look but remains silent. Between her and the machinations of the Erdoğan family, I feel like I can't even breathe. My greatest wish is to end this revenge plan of my grandmother's and to have a free life, to have the weight of my responsibilities sto