The Price of Pride

Chapter 26

"No," she cries, still in her sleep. "Don't. Mine. You can't have him. No!"

She screams one last time as her eyes fly open in a panic. She's clutching her belly. As quickly as he can, he pulls over and stops the car.

"Reyhan? What's happening? Are you okay? Are you in pain? Talk to me sweetheart." He pulls her into his arms when she starts to tremble.

"Give me a minute," she pants, burying her face in his neck, trying to calm down.

"Bad dream?" he asks. But that only makes her cry.

"She can't take my baby," Reyhan sobs, unable to get Cavidan's earlier threats out of her head. She knows the threat was empty, her fear irrational. But she feels the panic nonetheless. The dream was too real. "Don't let her take my baby, Emir."

"Never," he promises. He lifts her head from his shoulder so that he can look her right in the eyes. "You know I will never let that happen."

He continues to stroke her back and murmur promises. She eventually settles down. But he knows he can't take her home like this. Emine and Murat would have his head over her condition. An idea comes to him and he smiles at the simple brilliance of it. They may not be in Ankara anymore. But nothing says he can't bring a little Ankara here for her. He shoots off a couple of text messages and sets his plan in action.

"You just relax," he says to her, setting his hand on top of hers as it rests on her stomach. She lets their fingers intertwine.

"I'm okay," she tells him. And she means it. The dream had shaken her, but the longer she's awake, the more she can put it away and forget. "I'm not going to let your mother hurt me anymore."

"She can't hurt you, Baby. She won't," Emir swears. "I won't let her. Your parents won't let her. You're not alone against her anymore. Always remember that."

She smiles.

"I have you right here," she says, bringing his hand up to her heart. Then she places it back on her belly. "And here."

He's right, she realizes. She isn't alone anymore. She's surrounded by so much love and support.

"You've been too stressed lately," he says, interrupting her thoughts. "I know my dad is sick, but we're finally making moves that should lead to him recovering a bit of his old self. This clinic will be good for him. And he'll be out of the house so we won't have to see my mother."

"It shouldn't be this way," Reyhan sighs. "You shouldn't have to leave your home and your family for me."

"Reyhan, you are my home. My family." He turns to look at her, stroking her cheek. "My everything."

And just like that, the rest of her stress melts away. Sure her life isn't perfect. But it's beautiful. It's full of love and happiness. It's full of family and friends. Her children. Emir. And now, all she has to do is embrace it and live in it. The situation with Cavidan is what it is. She realizes now there's nothing she can do to change it. She can't make the woman love her. All she can do is live her life as far away from the woman as possible. All she has to do is trust Emir to keep her safe.

"Where are we going?" she asks when she finally looks around and notices they're no longer headed towards home. It's been a long day and all she wants right now is to hold Ayla and let the little girl's infectious happiness seep into her soul.

He just gives her that wicked little grin that tells her he's up to something.

"Just a little surprise," he says, turning into the parking lot of a cute little diner that reminds her a lot of their favorite restaurant in Ankara. Ayla had loved it and they went often. Her mouth begins to water when she realizes how much she missed the food.