Tok! Tok! Tok!
"Khayra!" called Ratna from outside.
Khayra knew exactly what her aunt wanted to talk about. She stood up from her seat and walked toward the door. Opening it, she found Ratna already standing there.
"You're not asleep yet, right? Come, let's talk for a moment with your uncle and me in the living room," Ratna requested.
"Alright," Khayra replied, following Ratna to the living room.
Khayra sat on the sofa, with Andi and Ratna right across from her, both staring intensely.
"Khayra, are you serious about marrying your boss?" Ratna asked.
"Yes, Auntie."
"Listen, Khayra. Normally, we wouldn't interfere in your personal affairs. But we know about your relationship with Yuda and Yuda's marriage to Ziya. Are you sure you want to marry your boss? Think about it carefully—marriage isn't about finding an escape. It's about living together for a lifetime," Andi advised.
"I've thought it through, Uncle. I'm not marrying Kaivan as an escape or a rebound from my heartbreak. In fact, he's the one who healed me," Khayra said calmly, her gaze unwavering.
"If you're truly certain about him and about your judgment, then I can only support your choice," Andi replied.
"But, Khayra…" Ratna hesitated, looking troubled. "About the wedding funds and preparations that ended up being used for Ziya and Yuda's wedding—you're not going to demand it back, are you? You're not going to ask us to finance your wedding, right?"
Her words cut straight into Khayra's heart. What kind of heart did this family even have?
"Auntie, I've been saving for my wedding for two years. I set aside part of my salary to prepare for the wedding I wanted. How could you use it without paying me back? And on top of that, Ziya took my fiancé," Khayra said, emphasizing each word.
"Watch your mouth, Khayra. You should be grateful you can still live here comfortably. Your parents didn't even leave us any compensation. Are you happy insulting my daughter like this? Do you want everyone to know that she slept with her cousin's fiancé?" Ratna's voice rose, filled with emotion.
Khayra clenched her fists, holding back tears—and the urge to shout back.
"But I've been living here since I started working. I pay rent for my room every month, Auntie—more than the usual amount," Khayra replied.
"So now you want to start keeping score with your own aunt?" Ratna's voice grew sharper.
"That's enough, Ma," Andi interjected. "Khayra, go back to your room."
"No! Get out of this house!" Ratna's sudden outburst shocked both Andi and Khayra.
"Why? You've insulted my daughter, and you want me to pay you back for what's already been used. You should have said something before Ziya's wedding if you wanted me to pay for everything. And now you think you can still stay here after saying all that? Just because your boss wants to marry you, you think you're so special? Don't forget—he's still nothing compared to Yuda, who's a lawyer!" Ratna sneered, her words laced with contempt.
The pain seared through Khayra's chest, burning her heart and leaving her breathless.
"That's enough, Ratna. Khayra, go rest in your room," Andi said.
Without another word, Khayra left for her room.
"What a shameless girl!" Ratna scoffed.
"What's wrong with you, Ratna? She's your niece," Andi said.
"Step-niece! She's my brother's stepdaughter, brought here by her father!" Ratna shouted angrily—words that stabbed straight into Khayra's heart.
"What do you mean, Auntie?" Khayra returned to the room, her eyes sharp and filled with shock.
"Tsk, so the annoying secret finally comes out," Ratna said coldly.
"You're not my brother's biological daughter. Your mother—who knows who she is or where she's gone. Your father married my sister when you were three years old," Ratna said.
"You've been nothing but trouble. Because of you, I lost my brother forever!" Ratna's voice cracked like thunder, striking Khayra's very soul.
"You should be grateful you're alive and grew up well because of me and my sister Sarah. Otherwise, you might have ended up a beggar on the streets!" Ratna added, her voice dripping with hatred.
"I don't want to see her here anymore, Pa. Don't stop her—let her leave," Ratna said, storming away.
Khayra stood frozen, still trying to process the barrage of words. She jolted when she felt a hand on her shoulder and instinctively stepped back—only to realize Andi was standing right in front of her, his gaze predatory.
"E-excuse me," Khayra muttered, hurrying to her room. She quickly shoved all her clothes into a suitcase, along with her laptop and a few books.
She grabbed her sling bag and was about to leave when she froze again—the figure standing at her door had already stepped inside and closed it.
"Don't listen to your aunt. Just stay here—I'll try to talk to her," Andi said, walking toward her.
"And I'm quite surprised by the secret your aunt just revealed. I honestly just found out about it myself," Andi continued, stepping closer.
"Uncle, please… leave me alone," Khayra pleaded.
"Are you afraid of me? I'm not going to eat you, relax," Andi chuckled.
"How about this—I have an apartment. Why don't you stay there?" he offered.
"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle. But I don't need it," Khayra said, moving to pass him. But instead, Andi grabbed her arm and threw her onto the bed.
"I've been holding myself back all this time, Khayra. But you—so arrogant and hard to get!" Andi snarled, trapping her beneath him, trying to violate her.
"No! Let me go! Argh!" Khayra screamed, kicking in the air as his legs pinned her knees, his hand gripping both of hers tightly.
She kept struggling, fighting back despite how hard it was.
"At last… after all this time holding back, you'll be mine!"
***