Gunshots and bullets fired echoed in Zeynep's ears, she could barely see, walk or hear well but the loud bangs and tangs made their way to her ears. Everytime she opened her eyes, she saw Halil Ibrahim's silhouette right next to the door. He had a gun in his arms and occasionally revealed himself to shoot the men. Zeynep had no idea how many men guarded the house or the kidnapper at that but with the duration Halil took to finish all of them, they must have been more than two dozens.

Some men got their bones broken, legs disabled and even lost their lives after Halil was done with them. Bodies laid down all over the house, screams of pain and agony also added to that. Although they had mordern guns and weapons, they were most definitely not a match for Halil Ibrahim. He went through the whole house to confirm if he got everyone most importantly if he got their leader. He also took this chance to completely finish off the ones that had their lives intact. No soul should survive after laying a finger on his wife. In fact, if he could, he would've burnt that whole house down in order to erase their existence permanently. Fortunately for them, he had bigger concerns to take care of.

After he finished ransacking the whole house he ran back to Zeynep. Zeynep had been calling his name from a long time ago, she had no strength so her voice was not audible enough.

"Halil Ibrahim..." He hears when he climbed the stairs back to the room Zeynep was being held. Sometimes Halil forgets himself in a fight. He goes on a rampage which erases existence of everything and everyone around him. If it's killing then he'll be a killer. Contrary to that, this time he didn't execute anyone, he needed to finish things quickly so he could go back to Zeynep, he wasn't going to leave her alone after everything knowing that one of the reason they can't simply be together is his absence. So he runs to her the moment he hears her call his name.

The moment he gets there, he sees Zeynep stammering, woobling towards the stairs. His stubborn wife, despite her being in a sorry state, still manages to get off the bed, walk a few steps, reach the door and almost walk down the stairs. If he had went on with his thirst for revenge then a bigger disaster would've fallen upon him. Zeynep's hands held onto the stair rail despite her body shaking from the loss of strength.

Halil has now slowed down, with heavy steps he walks towards Zeynep. Zeynep feeling a bit breathless, her head is spinning and her view is all fuzzy. In the end she couldn't hold on anymore and was going to collapse but Halil acts quickly. He jumps to catch her before she could reach the floor, he can't even call out her name because his heart was currently breaking from seeing her. Out of everything he's done wrong, this current status Zeynep was in made him feel the worst. A husband's role is to protect their wife and a soldier to protect the innocent but in conclusion, he failed both as a husband and a soldier. Nonetheless, Zeynep looks at him, her eyes; it's as if they were back to their good days. It was as if the old Zeynep had made a comeback, as if all the suffering was worth it for she could finally lay in his arms and not feel any burden.

It was also hard on her, Zeynep loves Halil Ibrahim to death. She is perfectly aware that her love for him can be left out in the open for people to see and can be buried deep in her heart for no one to feel. What did he have that made her heart beat like crazy every time they met? What did he say that used to give her sleepless nights? No, honestly, when did she even fall for him? It's always been Halil Ibrahim for Zeynep, the moment she met him, it was as if God erased all the other men and the only one left and available was him.

She always spoke about how she chased him around to confess her love, that didn't work she turned to violence to grab his attention then toned it way down to friendship all this just so he stays by her side. However fate couldn't help but play a joke with them, the man she could never let go even in her dreams now remains her love only in her dreams. She asked herself several times and has been asked several times too. Why on earth is she giving up on her love? Why is she hurting herself so? And why now?! Truth is, the only definite answer between Halil Ibrahim and Zeynep is always love. It's their love for each other that is the problem and solution to everything. While she sat all alone with her thoughts at the Leto house, she saw how her little brother ended up being used and even losing his life for worthless and baseless power struggles. Despite him being the most innocent, he also managed to get blood in his hands.

She has always lived in an environment where you use or get used; therefore, trust for her was always a test and if she gave it up fully then the consequences would be dire. On top of that, she fell in love with a man with more secrets than her entire family. She tried numerous times to figure him out but his walls were impenetrable, she feels left out in her own husband's life. Let's say she ignores that, how is she to live with him when she fears for the nights? Nights when her husband disappears to his business leaving her behind guessing his whereabouts. Danger is obviously inevitable but can't she be a bit selfish with the life of her lover and husband? They all won't understand her and that's why she makes up excuses every time they ask.

Halil carries Zeynep in his arms, he walks over the dead bodies on the floor and through the front door he walks. He looks back inside, a sudden regret hits him for not avenging Zeynep fully. He ought to erase everything that touched her from existence... however, he not only couldn't do that but also couldn't find the nuisance that caused all this. He went to one of the cars opened the back and carefully placed Zeynep inside, he adjusts her head to a better position so as to not hurt her head on their way back. Then he got on the front at the driver's seat and drove away.

Night had deepened, there were no cars or any sign of life on the road. The car shined it's headlights through the dark road. After a long drive, they finally arrived at their house. Oguz and Turan were both standing at the gate waiting for his return. At the sight of the car, they quickly hurried to open the gates. Halil drove the car through the gate and into the premises, they ran towards the car curious as to what happened. They had questions and asked them but Halil had no time for chitchat. The moment the car stopped, Halil got off the car and rushed to pick Zeynep up. He opens the back door, carefully pulls her out into his arms then walks her into the house. Everyone looks flabbergasted, EdaNur and Sema who just stepped out from the sound of the car couldn't even get a good look at Halil.

Halil carries Zeynep into the house and straight to their room. He kicks the door open, walks a few steps to the bed and carefully lays Zeynep on it. He pushes her hair that had covered her entire face to the sides, he stares at her for a moment then takes the bedsheet and covers her up. The bed had it's owner back, it didn't even screech when he was placing her on it as if it was glad she was back home. The cold room now saw light at last, Halil put on the light for her so she could feel some warmth, also, so that she sees a familiar environment when she wakes up. He gives her a last look as he exist their room and closes the door behind her.

"Halil Ibrahim... how's Zeynep?" Turan asks.

"She'll be fine..." Halil answers briefly, "Oguz, let's talk..." he pulls Oguz to the side. They both walk away from the main house to the glass room. Oguz seats right in fornt of Halil Ibrahim, he can clearly see the rage on his friend's face. He carefully asks, "Where did you find her?"

"My brother, I messed up big this time..." Halil cries.

"What do you mean?" Oguz asks.

"I couldn't get this guy, which means Zeynep's life is going to be in danger..." Halil explains.

"But who is he?" Oguz wonders.

"Like I know, he hides behind a phone like a coward." Halil bangs the table in rage. "Instead of fighting like a man, he resorts to games like a little child..."

"By the way, the bombing was pretty bad..." Oguz reports, " A bunch of kids got hurt, fortunately no one died but the kids surely got spooked. This thing will be with them forever..."

Halil stands up, he is extremely pissed off, he can't stop stroking his beard and entire face. He looks through the glass into the house. " If you could've seen Zeynep's state then..." his voice shakes.

"She's fine now, isn't she? Safe with you, here no one can take her..." Oguz comes and places his hand on his shoulder. Halil looked like he really needed a friend at that moment. He needed Oguz so that he could vent without being criticized. He just needed someone who could listen and not ask questions or push him for anything. Oguz stands by him, he gives him assurance and with him Halil can calm his nerves, he can also have someone to sought advice from.

" I don't know what I'd have done if something happened to her Oguz..." Halil said painfully. "I found her so fragile on a bed in a house with more than a dozen men..."

"Who could this guy be though?" Oguz ponders, "Maybe it's someone you know..."

"Let's ask Zeynep when she wakes up, she saw his face so maybe she could describe him for us." Halil explains. "Also, you need to go to the warehouse first, I can't leave Zeynep right now, there's a warehouse in the outskirts. Looked like they are working with illegal goods or something. I found Zeynep's location there..."

"Don't worry, I'll bring the Major..." Oguz assures.

"There's also a house a few kilometer after, bodies all over so tell the guys to go there..." Halil relies on Oguz to investigate while he nurses Zeynep back to health. After Oguz leaves he sits alone for a while, he lets out a bitter sigh then stands up and exits the glass room. Inside the house, Sema and EdaNur have been gossipping. They couldn't believe that Zeynep has been brought back to the house despite her actions and even words. Their faces looked grim and almost as if they wanted to throw Zeynep out of the house. They both then decide to head to the room where Zeynep slept.

The fact that Halil Ibrahim brought her back to the house she left through lies and deception angered them so. Quickly they open the door and meet an already awake Zeynep, she was just coming through when they both walked into the room. Zeynep stared at them and she immediately knew what was up.

"What do you think you are playing at?" Sema starts.

"What do you mean Sema?" Zeynep asks.

"I mean, what are you playing at again?" Sema pauses for a second then continues, "Do you think because Halil forgave you everyone will?"

"You ask to leave, Halil let's you go... have you no shame to come back here and lay on the bed you abandoned?" EdaNur adds.

"I have no energy to fight you two right now... if you have any questions go ask Halil Ibrahim..." Zeynep tries to ignore them. She stands up from the bed then start walking towards the door slowly. Sema grabs her hands and turns her to face them. Then she threatens, "Leto's are not welcome here..."

"Thanks for reminding me but for your information, this is my house... I think if anyone should ask permission it's you..." Zeynep replies.

"So what are you gonna kick us out..." EdaNur questions.

"Think whatever you want, now can you please let me go..." Zeynep answers.

"Listen to me-

"What's going on here?" Halil Ibrahim's voice asks, he stands at the door and can clearly see tension with the ladies. He sees Zeynep standing up while Sema and EdaNur look a bit aggressive with her. He walks to Zeynep take her hand then lead her back to the bed then turns to the two ladies.

"If anyone has a problem with Zeynep being here, question me about it. Let me not see you two giving her a hard time for the second time, understood?" Halil Ibrahim roars.

Both Sema and EdaNur node their heads half-heartedly. They are clearly not over it and are going to wait for an opportunity to suffocate Zeynep with their hatred. Hearing that, they both walk out of the room heading somewhere else where they could freely badmouth Zeynep without suffering the consequences. Halil watches them leaving then shuts the door behind them. He turns to Zeynep and the fierce look in his eyes softens in the speed of light. He tries to help Zeynep sleep comfortably but Zeynep has no need for his help.

"I just came to check if you were awake already, plus I thought I'd look for a shirt for you to change into after taking a shower." Halil anxiously explains. "Let me check if I have anything comfortable for you..."

"Can you let me go home please?" Zeynep requests, "Am clearly not welcomed here..."

"Anyone who doesn't welcome you here is not welcomed by me and they can leave if they want..." Halil assured. He then tells her to not mind anyone and anything said, she is first the owner of the house and second she's Halil Ibrahim's person. Zeynep then went to the bathroom and took a shower, she changes into the shirt Halil Ibrahim gave her. It was particularly long, extremely baggy and it looked like a dress for Zeynep. The short sleeves which usually looked fitting on Halil's arms looked like long sleeves for her. If only she didn't bring all her stuff back with her, she would've just had to change into one of her own clothes.

She walks out of the bathroom shyly, Halil Ibrahim is sitting on a chair in the room. He notices Zeynep, she had her hair all wet, drops of water fell from her hair to the floor. She was trying to dry them with a towel, this image felt like a still picture to Halil Ibrahim. Seeing her dry her hair literally made his heart skip a beat, as Zeynep flipped her hair left and right, Halil felt slight drops of water hitting his face. Even though he could've sat there and admire his love longer he saw her struggle with the hair. So he pulls her hand leading her to sit at one of the chairs, he steals the towel from her hands and proceeds to dry the hair for her.

Likewise, Zeynep felt somehow shy, Halil Ibrahim was doing nothing but dry her hair but still she couldn't contain her excitement. Her heart pounded loud Halil almost heard it, she placed her hand on her heart so as to keep it quiet but to no avail. Halil Ibrahim finished drying the hair, he then took a comb and combed them down for her. It wasn't anything fancy but it was neat, he carefully inserted some at the back of her ears then took a seat next to her. Finally the hair task was done and all that was left was the eating part. Zeynep noticed a bowl of soup on the table, she wanted to reach for it but Halil beat her to it.

"I'll feed you..." He whispers.

"I can feed myself..." Zeynep says.

"You'll only do that when am not around... otherwise, am feeding you..." Halil insists.

She didn't accept at first but Halil held on till she accepted. First spoon gets successfully delivered, second spoon successfully delivered as for the third spoon, it unfortunately spilled on Zeynep's cheeks and flowed downwards. Halil acting quickly he used his finger and stopped it from reaching Zeynep's neck. The finger manages to stop the soup from going any further, he then moves it so as to collect the one that spilled tracing it back to Zeynep's lower lip. His finger slowly rubbed the soup across Zeynep's lower lip. Was it because Zeynep was drinking soup? Halil just suddenly got extremely thirsty. He just couldn't help but want to kiss Zeynep, her lip was all wet and his finger could only feel the softeness of the lip. He gulps while starring at Zeynep's lip. As if teasing him, Zeynep kept sucking the soup from her lips and all these just made Halil lose his breathe. It was either he kisses her or he runs outside to calm his heart.

As if drawn by a magnet he found himself closing in onto Zeynep's lips. The distance kept getting shorter and shorter and now he could feel her breathe on his face. She was breathing heavily maybe due to the heat of that moment. Halil closed his eyes and that soft feel numbed his whole body. He couldn't move even though he wanted to, both his hands were occupied so he couldn't even hold Zeynep. That moment with his eyes closed drove an electric shock to his brain, suddenly all the problems and thoughts had been erased. Halil felt ultimate peace and if he could, he'd stop the world at that moment and never let it pass.

However that moment was cut short when Zeynep pushed him away. With all her strength she forced him away by pressing onto his wound accidentally. Halil Ibrahim felt a surge of pain and that's when he snapped out of it.