Volkan refused to let go of Yasmin, ignoring the arms that reached for her as the speedboat docked. He stepped from the boat onto the dock, then leapt up the stairs and toward the ambulance that was coming out to meet them, lights flashing.

As the doors to the ambulance were opened, Volkan climbed inside with Yasmin still safe in his embrace. He continued to hold her as the paramedic checked her over.

Yasmin craned her head to see the activity on the dock. Narin had her arms around Defne, who had collapsed to the dock after Henry had helped her up the stairs. She was sobbing, tears streaking down her cheeks as she pointed toward the ambulance and screamed her side of the story for all to hear.

“She stole him!” Defne tried to pull her mother’s arms from her neck. “Volkan, I love you! Choose me! She’ll never make you happy.”

Yasmin cringed and glanced at Volkan whose face was stony. It was clear he heard Defne’s words but was unwilling to acknowledge them.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Volkan’s head jerked down as his gaze met hers. “What can you possibly be sorry about?” he asked, a note of bitterness in his tone. “My family keeps trying to kill you. You are not to blame for their actions. I should never have brought you here to Istanbul. We could have lived happily anywhere in the world. This is my fault.”

She smiled at him, though it was strained. “You love your family and your home. Your life is here. You aren’t any more responsible for the actions of your siblings than I am.”

“Aren’t I?” His eyes were pools of darkness as he looked at her, his body stiff with anger. “I brought you here against your will and forced you into an unwanted marriage. Am I not just as much to blame as my brother and sister for your suffering?”

The paramedic drew in a sharp breath, his fingers stilling on Yasmin’s wrist. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, concern in his expression.

She tipped her head back and leaned up to kiss Volkan’s jaw, her lips lingering against his bristled skin as she breathed him in, absorbing his strength. “No one kidnapped me, and I married you of my own free will. I forbid you from saying otherwise. Now hold me tighter because I think we’re about to find out how the baby is doing.”

She held her breath, hoping that Volkan could take the hint. There was little point in demanding anything of Volkan because he was going to do his own thing anyway, so she needed him to wake up and realize what he was saying in front of outsiders.