He bent, pressing his face to her floor-length red veil and speaking in her ear, “You are truly stunning, aşkım.”

Yasmin blushed and smiled. Her wedding dress had turned out perfect and was by far the finest thing she’d ever owned. She loved it and would treasure it forever.

The sari was handmade with a gold embroidered bodice over red silk fabric, with a sweetheart neckline. The short cap sleeves and the front of the dress were embroidered with gold and inlaid with jewels. A red sash crossed over Yasmin’s shoulder and wrapped around her waist. It wasn’t originally meant to go with the dress, but Volkan had insisted when he saw the swath of bare belly that would be revealed without it.

She wore her hair in an intricate braided updo with a gold and red crown with her veil. She’d traded in her glasses for the contacts Volkan had insisted on buying her when he found out she preferred them over her thick glasses. The total effect was stunning, so Yasmin had to agree with Volkan’s assessment, though she gave the dress more credit than herself.

She and Volkan exchanged their vows, kissed, and then greeted their guests. Everyone seemed looked delighted, even Aisha, who’d flown in on Volkan’s private jet the day before. She’d arrived in time to join their mother, Narin, and Zeynep in decorating Yasmin’s hands and feet in henna. She hugged her sister and held her close.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to accept your decision to get married,” Aisha said quietly in Yasmin’s ear. “I can see how happy you are and Volkan seems like a great guy. I wish you the very best in your marriage.”

Yasmin blinked away tears as she squeezed her sister back. She hated that she’d lied to her family, but there was some peace in knowing they weren’t worried about her. Of all the people in the world, Yasmin wanted to open up to her sister and tell her the truth, but she couldn’t. Aisha was a warrior. If she found out what really happened to Yasmin, she would make the world burn until her little sister was avenged. Perhaps one day Yasmin would confess to Aisha, but not today or any time soon.

Yasmin was amused when she and Volkan were tied together with a red ribbon and made to stand in each other’s embrace while members of his family came up and pinned money and gold to the ribbon.

“You’re richer than Bill Gates,” Yasmin said with a laugh as Volkan’s great uncle pinned a Turkish note to the ribbon. “Why are we taking money from people?”

Volkan chuckled and said, “It’s tradition, my love. It would insult them if we rejected their offerings.”