Chapter 154

Ayleen quietly handed a glass of water to Uncle Ibrahim, who sat on the edge of his bed, his head bowed low as if the weight of the day rested entirely on his shoulders. The quiet in the room was oppressive, filled with unspoken emotions that hung heavy in the air.

“I’m sorry, Ayleen. You had to witness all of this,” Ibrahim muttered softly, his tone laced with guilt and weariness.

Ayleen shook her head, offering him a gentle smile. “It was bound to happen, Uncle Ibrahim. No one is to blame for this.”

Ibrahim sighed deeply, the lines on his face more pronounced as he rested his elbows on his knees. “The more I try to keep Murat away from this chaos, the more he seems to be drawn into it. It feels like the more I want peace for both of you, the more elusive it becomes.”

“Sometimes we can’t fight destiny,” Ayleen said, her voice tinged with sadness. “We just have to face it, no matter how difficult it seems.”

He glanced up at her, a flicker of appreciatio