"I should return to my duties in palace, I have been absent for a week and there is very much of job to do now," Iskender said as he was dressing in his kaftan, finally feeling better after the poisoning which occured a week ago.

"Sultan won't be angry at you if you stay one more day with me," I said as I looked at him really trying to convince him, as I wanted to spend each minute with him.

"I am yours always, Handan, I will return as soon as possible," Iskender quickly kissed my lips but I took his hands into mine.

"I will miss you until then," I smiled knowing I couldn't convince him to stay anymore, he had to do those duties.

"I will miss you too, Handan, you know I miss you even if I don't see you for a hour," he kissed me last time before he for real had to leave, as duties called him.

I knew I wouldn't leave the palace while Iskender isn't here, because I had actually no where to go. I was so angry on my mother that I didn't want to see her face. She wasn't even sorry for what she had done and I was afraid if she would dare to do those things once again.

I really loved Iskender, as he was the only one I had next to me. I started trusting him as I did no one else, even if there were still things I hid from him, I was ready to abolish all my ideas for the future because of him. Because I really wanted to have a child with him and have a family, and live normal life.

"Sultanim, Esmahan Sultan invited you and your husband Iskender Pasha tonight at her place for a dinner," my maid Esma said to me and I was really surprised about this.

"How did that come?" I asked her.

"Sultana said she wants to have good relationship with you again and she doesn't want any more fights, since you are sisters," Esma said what she knew.

"Lies," I sighed, "Then inform Iskender Pasha about that, we will be going there."

Esma nodded and sent the men to the palace to inform him, even though I wasn't willing really to go at that dinner. Since Esmahan ordered Gulcicek to poison me I didn't trust her, but I knew she wouldn't want to poison me now.

I knew the thing she wanted was for me to see her life with Murad Pasha. She thought I would be jealous when I would see the two of them together, but obviously she didn't knew I actually fell in love with Iskender and was really happy in this marriage.

"Esma, prepare carriage. First I will go to Topkapi and then I will go to Esmahan's place together with Iskender," I said and she just nodded.

Real reason was I wanted to meet Musa who was my loyal servant even since my childhood. As he was worker of harem, Mahfiruze didn't allow him to leave the harem and go and serve me, and he was the only person I believed.

"Sultanim, I'm so happy to see you here. Since you left this palace no one is here to make us happy always," Musa said as his smile widened when he saw me.

"I came here to speak with you Musa, as I have to open my heart to someone and there is no one that I trust as you," I said and he already seemed worried at my words.

"What is it Sultanim?" He asked worriedly. He has been with me since I was basically just a child and he would never betray me no matter what.

"I don't wish to speak with my mother anymore, and all the plans for the throne are now behind me. In myself I feel like I betrayed my late brother for not doing this, but I would rather wish to live normal life," I said.

Musa knew for all the plans that we always had, because he was involved in them. He was Chief Agha of Harem during the reign of my father, and he was right hand of my mother who believed him more than she believes me. But even if he is loyal to her, he is also loyal to me even more than is to her.

"Sultanim, it's so obvious your love for Iskender Pasha is greater than your wish for revenge," Musa said and I knew he didn't want me any harm, but his words made me feel like I actually betrayed my late brother who should have been Sultan.

"I am tired of living in fear if he would find those things, he would stop loving me if he knew I would go against my brother Sultan," I said. It was hard for me to open, and Musa was only person I could actually open to.

"Your mother regrets poisoning him after she saw how much he means to you," he said and I knew my mother didn't regret doing that, but regrets because I saved him. She obviously didn't want bad relationship with me, but couldn't stand my husband.

"Remind her that she don't try to do it again because next time I won't have mercy on her," he was really surprised by my coldness towards my mother.

"Sultanim, I think you should come to good terms with your mother because you have only one another. Everyone else is against you and-" Musa started telling me what I knew already, and himself alone he stopped knowing that couldn't make the things better.

"I know that, but I won't be able to forgive her doing that to Iskender."

"Your mother only wants you to make sure to take Iskender on yours side, nothing else, because this way she doesn't trust him," he repeated the words of my mother and I knew she still blamed him for killing my late brother, but I knew Iskender haven't done that.

"I will need time to take Iskender on my side, but right now only thing I wish is peaceful life and nothing else. I want to have a normal family," I sighed.

"I know it, Sultanim, but I must tell you something. Ali Suleiman Pasha was seen in the city and Sultan knows about it. He started searching for him and Kapudan Murad hid him in his palace," I couldn't believe what I heard from Musa.

"He is playing dangerous game, if Esmahan finds out about it she would only tell it to Sultan and then Murad would only lose his life," I said as I knew I would be really sorry if anything bad happened to Murad. I stopped loving him but no matter what he would always be special in my heart and he was still my friend if nothing else.

"Sultanim, he doesn't care about anything now because he is heartbroken. He still loves you and he doesn't care if he dies when he is not happy," Musa said and I sighed knowing how problematic this could be for all of us.

"He better stop having emotions for me because that is impossible now. I love Iskender and I do not wish to look at anyone else," I said and at that moment I saw Valide Mahfiruz Sultan walking so I nodded to Musa and went to her.

"Handan Sultan, what wind did you bring here?" She asked me as she held her head high proudly. She didn't like to see me in this palace and I knew she isn't happy because I am here.

"I came here to visit Musa, you know, since you didn't allow him to go with me in my palace, and then together with Iskender I'm going on dinner at Esmahan's palace," I said to her.

"

So unfortunately then we'll have to spend time today together," she said in a sarcastic tone and I wish I could slap this woman in front of everyone how I couldn't stand her. I had no idea she was invited too and it probably means that brother Sultan is also going there.

"Sadly," I said as my gaze moved to Sevgi Hatun who was in high months of her pregnancy as she walked with a smile to Mahfiruz. Oh how much I didn't need even her to go there.

"Handan Sultan, Mahfiruz Sultan," she bowed to both of us and then placed her hand on her belly proudly as she wanted to show me how she would give birth to a heir soon.

At that moment luckily Iskender came out of his chambers together with my brother Sultan. Iskender saw how uncomfortable I feel in this situation as he knew I never loved Mahfiruz, nor she loved me, so he came exactly on a time.

"Handan, my sister, it's great to see you here. I can't wait for all of us to have family reunion in a hour," Mehmed said with a smile to me when we finally all went to the carriages.

Mahfiruz, Mehmed and Sevgi sat in the one carriage, while Iskender and I sat in our own carriage and all of us were accompanied by the maids who always follow us.

"I've seen you feel uncomfortable with the Valide Sultan," Iskender said as our ride towards Esmahan's palace began.

"I don't have any strength to spend time with her and Esmahan," I said as he took my hand into his and smiled.

"My dear wife, everything is going to be fine. If you don't feel like you would stay more there, then you tell me and we will leave," he said and I smiled to him, but little much he knew the real thing that worried me was that Ali Suleiman was hiding in their palace and now everyone is going there and they could easily catch him.

"I wish I could be alone with you rather than with all of those people who hate me," I said and looked outside of the window of the carriage.

"Your brother Sultan doesn't hate you, and I'm sure Kapudan Murad Pasha doesn't hate you as well," I almost choked at his words as I had no idea if he said that on purpose or what.

"Iskender, that was in the past," I said to him.

"I know it was, but I'm sure he never stopped loving you," he said.

"Don't be jealous of him," I smiled at him and he didn't want to admit it, but I knew he would be jealous there even though he had nothing to be jealous of, when my heart belonged only to him.

"Only he can be jealous of me when I have the most amazing woman in the whole world," Iskender kissed my lips gently as exactly at that moment we arrived in front of their palace.

"Handan Sultan, Iskender Pasha, welcome to our Palace," Kapudan Murad Pasha greeted us as we came first to their palace. He bowed to me and then nodded to Iskender and immediately I could see the hate in his eyes towards Iskender, who felt the same towards him.

"Esmahan Sultanim," Iskender bowed to my sister who just smiled politely to both him and me.

"I am very glad to welcome you in our palace," Esmahan said placing her hand under Murad's and he seemed to be really surprised as her reaction, but she didn't hide the smile on her face.

"I am glad to see you here happy," I fake smiled to her as I knew everything she was doing here was fake and just wanted to hurt me if I would think she is happy with Kapudan Murad Pasha.

"I hope you two would be happy as the two of us are, am I right my love?" Esmahan said with a fake once again as she asked Murad who just nodded at her words and continued to look bit at me and then bit at Iskender.

"We are even more than that, I never even had an idea I would have such amazing wife whom I love more than anything," Iskender said as he placed his hand on my back and gently grabbed me closer to himself as he was doing this while looking at Murad, on purpose.

Very quickly after us Mehmed, Mahfiruz and Sevgi have arrived and Esmahan and Murad greeted all of them, but I started feeling anxious as I saw Murad is not moving his gaze away from me and I knew Iskender saw that too.

We sat around the table where the dinner was served. I sat next to Iskender but on the opposite of us Esmahan and Murad sat. I hated every second of this dinner because its only purpose was to show Esmahan's fake sadness here.

"It's so nice we are all here as one big family. I never imagined we could all get along so well and be so close one to each other," Mehmed said and whatever he said wasn't true, because none of us loved anyone else. There was hate between each one of us and everyone hated on someone. But Mehmed didn't know about those all fights that occured.

"I know this is a beautiful situation, but I have one serious thing to show you, Your Majesty. I know Handan Sultan won't be happy when she sees it, but that would be really helpful to you," Esmahan said and at the same time Murad and I looked at her. We both knew what was going to happen now and bring the both of us in the terrible situation.

Iskender looked at her and then he looked at me as he had no idea what was happening in this moment. Esmahan nodded to servants who grabbed Ali Suleiman Pasha here in front of all of us, and everyone's eyes widened.

"Ali Suleiman Pasha who was hiding for whole time. Luckily, my beloved husband has found him and now I am giving him to you Your Majesty. He and Handan Sultan won't be able to mourn anymore after her late brother nor collaborate," Esmahan said and I couldn't believe how she could have done something like this. Servants pushed Ali Suleiman down on the floor to kneel in front of Mehmed.

"What does this have to do with me?" I asked as I pretend stupid about this. She had no real evidence I knew about him hiding nor anyone, and I had no idea how Murad played so well on her, as I was sure she found out he is hiding and then he made up a lie, instead of saving his longtime friend and ally.

Ali Suleiman didn't even look at me since he knew he could bring more trouble, but everyone else's eyes were turned to me.

"Because he was longtime ally of your late brother and of course you knew about him hiding but didn't want to admit where is he located," Esmahan said making everyone else continuing looking at me which made me crazy at this moment.

"I had no idea where he was, I even had no idea if he is alive. I don't know why this is a reason to blame me, Esmahan, or you just want to give me more pain mentioning my brother for the whole time?" I asked her seriously as I knew I would have to use all I have to get what I want. I started showing signs of hurt when she mentioned my brother, and I knew Mehmed would realise it.

"Handan Sultana is right, she had nothing to do with Ali Suleiman Pasha because I found him in Edirne hiding. I don't know how Sultana could be anyhow related to him, Your Majesty," Murad said and surprised everyone as he defended me even in front of his wife, but that made Iskender sigh deep and look at him with anger.

"Aghas! Lock Ali Suleiman until I decide about his fate," Mehmed said, "And Esmahan I think there is no reason for you to blame Handan when what she could get from hiding him? No one can play against me anymore, I am last male Ottoman alive, until my dear Sevgi gives birth to a son."

"I think we should go home," Iskender said as he was tired of this conversation, but Mehmed stopped him from doing that.

"You will stay, I want us to get along. Esmahan it is not nice from you to mention Handan's late brother when you know how much that hurts her," Mehmed said and I gave him a sad look, while Esmahan felt really bad this time since she had no idea Mehmed would confront her.

"I hope both of the new couples are happy, Iskender, how do you feel with Handan Sultana? I hope you are fine now regarding that you were poisoned at the first day of your marriage," Mahfiruz said and this conversation started psychically to kill me inside. All of them wanted to turn Iskender against me when he was the only one I have.

"I am happy with Handan Sultana, those things were done by the people who were against us. But I want you to make sure Sultana, no one can get between us or make us hate each other, no one," Iskender said as he placed his hand on my hand and he really defended me in front of her.

"Excuse me Your Majesty, I am not feeling well, I would like to relax a bit if it's not problem," Sevgi said as she nodded to him and went with Esmahan's maids on the upper floor in the room where she would relax.

But very soon, we were all shocked when we have heard a scream. All of us left outside of the main room to see Sevgi laying down on the floor with blood all around her.

"Sevgi Hatun.... She fell down the stairs..." My maid Esma started saying as she and Esmahan's maids were around her.

Mehmed went quickly and took her into the bridal style and placed her on the bed in the room, before the nurse came.

I stayed down and took Esma by the side because I didn't like the fact she was here with them.

"What happened Esma? How could a woman fall down the stairs she is pregnant, why haven't the maids looked at her?" I asked her.

"Sultanim, I... I just did what they ordered me to do, I made sure other maids didn't see me doing it," Esma said and I almost collapsed when I heard her words.

"What have you done?" I tried not to yell at her.

"Kapudan Murad Pasha ordered me to do it, he said it's for you and your good to do that," Esma said as she started crying and I took her hand so aggressively.

"How could you listen to him? I would never wish for this to happen. You will have poor woman on your conscience for the rest of your life," I hissed at her.

"Is everything fine?" Iskender asked me as he came behind my back.

"Nothing is fine Iskender," I said as I couldn't lie to him. Lying only would make our relationship even worse.

He looked at Esma, who then confessed everything to him. He dismissed her, and stayed alone with me downstairs while everyone else was upstairs waiting for doctor to check up on Sevgi and try to save her baby.

"Why would Murad do it for your good?" Iskender asked me as he took me to the side.

"I don't know, I don't even like this situation. I want to punish Esma for what she has done, she can't-" I started saying but Iskender just took my hand in this moment and grabbed closer to him.

"You will tell me now, Handan, is there something else I need to know, or I know everything?" He looked directly in my eyes.

"You know everything, I have never lied to you nor I will," I said, but he didn't seem to believe me now.

"I love you Handan, but all what happened today made me question are you really saying the truth to me," he said while still looking at me.

"I guess their lies are more important," I said as my eyes filled with tears.

"Handan, don't cry," he went to take me into a hug.

"I feel you don't believe me and that everyone is going against me. Is it my fault that my brother had much allies who are still today against Mehmed so everyone uses me as a reason? I did nothing Iskender," I said.

"I know you have nothing to do with Ali Suleiman, but this whole thing about Murad," Iskender said.

"I had no contact with Murad since I was engaged to you, I don't know why he can't stop going around me, but I swear to you I had no contacts with him," I started telling him, but the doctors came outside and we both went upstairs to see what has happened to Sevgi. We entered her chambers.

"Sevgi Hatun lost her baby, I am sorry Your Majesty," Nurse said and Sevgi started crying in front of everyone. No matter I didn't like her I felt so sorry in this moment.

"It's all because of you," Sevgi yelled at me, "your maid did this to me."

"Handan?" Mehmed raised his eyebrows.

"My maid confessed now she has done it, but I swear to you I haven't ordered that," I seriously said to my brother Sultan.

"Then why would your maid do this? You hate me!" Sevgi hissed at me, but Mehmed looked at her seriously.

"Enough, Sevgi. Handan would never do this," Mehmed said and looked at me.

"Let's go home please," I turned to Iskender, but he looked at me as he was cold as a stone.

"You go, I will return later," he said so coldly.