The Forced Vows

MARIN Pov

The music in the nightclub was pounding so hard it vibrated through my chest, but the only thing deafening me was the sheer terror of being caught.

I clutched my phone with trembling fingers, staring at the chat screen that remained cold and unyielding. The message I had sent my father hours ago was marked as 'read,' yet there was no reply.

"Father, mother is starting to fade from my memory... I'm forgetting her face, so please send me her photos."

Nothing. Not a single word. A wave of bitter agony washed over me, but I didn't even have the luxury to weep. I was standing in the most dangerous, restricted bar in Istanbul with a fake ID-a place my family would literally kill me for stepping into.

"Why is your face so pale, Marin?" Elfida's voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts as she leaned in, shouting over the loud bass. "Is it because of your brother? I took care of everything! Your parents think you're safe at home!"

"Are you insane, Elfida?!" I hissed, my heart hammering against my ribs as I scanned the dark, flashing lights around us. "This isn't a joke! If my father or brother finds out I'm here, I won't just be grounded-they will destroy us both!"

Elfida let out a nervous laugh, trying to brush it off. "I'm too young to die, Marin! Your brother wouldn't actually-"

"He WOULD!" I cut her off, my voice shaking with raw emotional tension. "You don't know my family! I'm Marin Alakan-I'm not even allowed to use my own surname in public! My brother's shadow covers every move I make, even from hundreds of miles away!"

The heavy weight of my reality squeezed my throat. At twenty-three, I was a prisoner to a prominent family that hid me away like a shame, a daughter ignored by her father and hunted by her brother's rigid rules.

Before Elfida could reply, the atmosphere in the VIP section directly across from us violently shifted.

The air turned razor-thin. People suddenly began backing away in a panic as a towering figure stepped out of the shadows. The sheer presence of the man radiated pure, lethal authority. Broad shoulders, dark hair, and a pair of intense, sharp eyes that cut right through the dim lighting.

It was Karan Milan.

The moment his hazel eyes locked onto mine, time stopped. A dangerous, suffocating charge passed between us-a recognition so intense it felt like a collision of fates.

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the music! Oguz, Elfida's brother, lost his temper and lunged blindly toward Karan's men, shouting threats that made my blood run cold.

Chaos erupted.

"Oguz, NO!" Elfida screamed, but it was too late.

In a fraction of a second, Karan moved with terrifying speed. Before Oguz could even land a strike, Karan caught him by the collar and slammed him violently against the bar counter. The sound of glass shattering echoed over the music as people scattered in terror.

I gasped, backing away until my spine hit the wall, completely paralyzed by fear.

Karan didn't even look out of breath. He let Oguz drop to the floor, wiped a smear of blood from his knuckles, and turned his gaze directly back to me. The room fell into a suffocating hush as his heavy steps echoed toward where I stood trembling.

He leaned down slightly, his dark, commanding presence swallowing me whole.

"You're standing in the wrong territory, little sea..." he growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble near my ear. "Get out before your family's enemies realize whose blood you carry."

He turned and walked away, leaving me frozen in place, my pulse racing as the realization hit me: My secret was out, and my nightmare was just beginning.

Chapter 2

Our classmate, Goksel, was turning twenty-four, and the rest of the group wanted to throw him a surprise party and invited us. As much as I didn't want to go, I couldn't break my friend's heart, so I came along.

I muttered to myself: "I've spent enough hours playing the role of someone who enjoys social crowds. Since we came together, let's leave together, Elf. I have to wake up early tomorrow for a job interview."

Elfida scoffed: "Forget about working. Your brother will never allow it."

I sighed bitterly: "I don't even remember the last time I saw my brother. Sometimes I deliberately try to annoy them, hoping they'll come to see me. But still, nothing. In the end, I'll do something drastic just so I don't have to stay away from them!"

She said sarcastically: "Just sacrifice yourself to tradition then! That's the only way they'll ever actually notice you."

I said, reaching for my purse: "Let's leave."

She whined: "Do we go out all the time? Let me stay a bit longer! Goksel's handsome cousin is here too! Maybe we can get closer." She pointed toward them with insistent eyes.

I raised my eyebrows: "We? You mean you, not me."

She pouted: "Can't I have a boyfriend, Marin?"

Taylan was enjoying himself with the others, with Cenk and Goksel standing close by. Taylan was the one my friend liked. Then again, Elfida was the type to fall in love quickly and get attached easily-a trait I actually liked about her because she lived in the moment.

Noticing my gaze, Cenk walked over to us. As he approached, the expression on my face withered like a plucked flower. My sudden mood shift didn't escape his notice as he leaned in and asked softly, "What kind of look was that, Marin? Are you really that bothered by me?"

I said in a cold tone as a chill ran down my spine: "You might have erased certain things from your memory, but I haven't forgotten." I had a bad history with him, and whenever I looked at his face, those moments came rushing back.

"You're looking at me like you're afraid of me."

I snapped back with a sharp look: "Why would I be afraid of you? If you're confusing me with the Marin from years ago, you have a long wait ahead. Besides, I haven't forgotten anything you said to me."

Without losing his smile, he asked: "And what did I say to you, Marin?"

I stepped closer and whispered so only he could hear: "You told me: 'If I killed you and buried you right here, no one would look for you. You're just an abandoned girl with no family.'"

As I tried to pull away, he grabbed my arm and pulled me close: "Marin... I wasn't in my right mind back then; I was under the influence. Really. I would never harm you. How could you think I'd hurt you when I love you this much?"

*When I love you this much.* My stomach churned. Isn't that what they call love-the very thing that makes people do the worst things, lose their minds, and then regret it?

Staring directly into his eyes, I let my disgust show: "Keep your distance from me. I don't want to resolve this legally, but if you force my hand, I won't hesitate. Believe me, it will end badly for both of us."

Releasing my arm, he said: "Alright, I'm sorry. Whatever you want." He quickly stepped back to put distance between us. As he walked away, my tense body finally relaxed.

Sitting next to Taylan, Cenk forced a smile onto his face. The two were cousins who saw each other often. Taylan asked his cousin: "Wasn't there any other place? I really can't believe you brought me to this man's venue."

Cenk shrugged carelessly: "What could I do? Goksel likes this place. We came for him, so just relax and enjoy yourself."

Elfida asked, her curiosity piqued: "Whose venue is it anyway?"

Taylan replied: "Nobody important."

Hating to be dismissed, Elfida fixed her gaze on Cenk: "At least you tell me, what's the story? Who owns this place?" Taylan's uneasy look made her even more curious.

Noticing my interest as well, Cenk leaned forward. Keeping his eyes on me, he said: "There's a man named Karan. They say the pain that trembles in the most delicate part of the heart, on the most sensitive strings, is called an ache. It burns a person's soul-a faint, subtle ache that penetrates deep and is hard to forget. It's a pain that doesn't kill you, but makes you suffer endlessly."

A pain that doesn't kill you, but makes you suffer endlessly.

His words sent a shiver through me, though I didn't quite understand what he was referring to.

He continued in a mysterious tone: "That's why they call him the heart-acher. Karan is a dark, mysterious man-some call him a mobster, others address him with words of high authority."

Taylan's visible irritation didn't escape my notice. He grew increasingly angry, staring at a single spot without blinking. To see what had caught his attention, I slowly turned and looked toward the upper floor, where a crowd had gathered in the VIP section.

Cenk asked: "Isn't that the guy?" Both cousins were locked onto the exact same person.

Overlooking the railing of the balcony-like area, I saw several men. Elfida was looking up as well, trying to figure out which one he was. She asked Taylan: "Which one?"

Without taking his eyes off the spot, Taylan took a heavy sip of his whisky, speaking in a voice laced with rage: "The one in the black shirt. Karan Milan."

Karan Milan.

The moment I heard his name, a familiar sensation swept through my entire body. I must have heard this name before; otherwise, I couldn't make sense of the rush of emotion inside me.

Cenk confirmed: "Yeah, that's him. Karan Milan."

Only one person in the VIP section wore a black shirt. His back was turned to us, and he had dark hair. As I looked at his broad frame, I instinctively grew curious about his face. Narrowing my eyes, I saw him move. He turned forward and rested his hands on the iron railing, bringing us face-to-face. He was listening intently to the man beside him, scanning the crowd while slowly nodding to show he was listening.

In that moment, I saw his eyes. The distance between us wasn't vast. We weren't right next to each other, but I could clearly see the color of his eyes, illuminated by the bright lights.

Captivating hazel eyes.

He had hazel eyes that mesmerized anyone who looked into them.

Taylan said with disgust: "Coward. He's started traveling with bodyguards."

The men beside him clearly didn't look like bodyguards. If they were, I doubted he would be talking and laughing with them so comfortably. Besides, those men seemed quite at ease themselves. It was clear they respected him-there was even a trace of fear in their eyes-but they didn't act like hired security.

My thoughts slipped out before I could stop them: "They don't really look like bodyguards..."

Annoyed by my remark, Taylan snapped: "Do you know better than us, Marin? That man is a total coward."

I bit my lip and shrank back into my seat, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from Karan Milan: "I was just saying."

Three elegantly dressed, beautiful women entered the VIP area, all three locking their sights on him. One of them stepped forward, leaning against the railing next to him, and began flirting playfully, her eyes gleaming noticeably even from where I sat.

The man they called the heart-acher didn't even turn to look at her. He responded to her persistent talking, but his eyes never met hers-a gesture typical of someone whose heart already belonged to another. Instinctively, my eyes drifted down to his hand, searching for a wedding band on his fingers. There was no ring. Before long, he dismissed the women from his side.

Bothered by Taylan's lingering anger, Elfida asked: "What's the issue between Taylan and him, Cenk?"

Cenk explained: "Taylan's father had a legal dispute with him."

Unable to contain his rage, Taylan added: "My father would have destroyed him if he wasn't a man who thought about the future."

Cenk said with equal hatred: "He was supposed to be sentenced, but whoever was backing him got him out of court scot-free. That's why Taylan holds a grudge-he caused his father a lot of trouble back then."

Clenching his fist, Taylan said: "They're bad men. Not quite mobsters, not quite leaders-just some guy who thinks he's a king because he has money. Karan the heart-acher. If you burned this place down with him inside, you'd be doing humanity a favor."

At that exact moment, time seemed to slow down, and I felt someone's eyes on me.

Looking directly up at the VIP lounge, my eyes locked with his. For a split second, our gazes crossed, and I saw his brow furrow. Those sharp hazel eyes beneath dark eyebrows made me swallow hard.