Episode 2

Chapter 1

The suitcase was on the bed. Inside it, Cintia packed not only clothes but also the memories she had built over the last five years living in a boarding school in Switzerland.

She was happy; it had been months since she had seen her father, and to her surprise, he had asked for her to be picked up that weekend to spend some time at home. Cintia was an only child, heiress to Nazir Makiere, a Turkish multimillionaire who had made his fortune in stock market investments and partnerships with software companies.

Cintia finished packing her clothes into the suitcase. At the door, some classmates had come to say goodbye. Saore was the closest among them; they exchanged confidences and shared tastes that had made them best friends.

"I still can't believe you're leaving."

They hugged. For some reason, Cintia would not be returning next semester, and this had already been communicated by the school principal.

"Perhaps you can visit me in Istanbul."

Cintia smiled with a heavy heart; she knew it was unlikely to happen. Saore was one of the Yakuza heiresses, and even though everyone at that boarding school knew, it was a forbidden topic between them.

"I'll talk to Papa. Who knows, maybe he'll have some business around there; he could take me to see the Grand Bazaar, the Topkapı Palace."

Saore wiped her tears and handed Cintia a small box. The hand-embroidered kimono inside had been a gift from her mother before her death.

"Saore, I can't accept this."

Cintia said, her voice choked with emotion. She knew it was the most precious treasure in the world to her friend.

"I want you to have it. You know how things work in my house."

She looked around, making sure no one was listening.

"Mama gave this to me to wear at my wedding, on a happy occasion, but that's unlikely to happen, Cindy. Probably, when I return in six months, I'll have already been given in marriage to one of Papa's men. I'll be dead because I prefer death to being forced to sleep with one of them. You will marry for love; you will be happy, just like in your dreams."

Cintia cried, hugging her friend tightly. She lamented Saore's terrible fate of having to marry out of obligation and not for love, as they had often dreamed together. She reached for her neck and took off the gold crucifix she wore. Although born in Turkey, her mother was from Mexico, one of the reasons she followed Christianity.

"Here, I want you to have this."

"Cindy..."

"I know you don't believe in God. The little medal isn't a reference to Him, but so you remember me."

She fastened it around her friend's neck, finished saying her goodbyes, and walked down the boarding school ramp. Her father's butler was waiting for her, standing beside a black imported car, and smiled at her.

"Miss."

"Cindy, Madur."

She kissed the old man's cheek.

"You've always called me that."

She got into the car, waiting for him to close the door. Her honey-colored eyes stared at the boarding school with melancholy. The entire flight to Istanbul was spent sleeplessly, daydreaming about the trips she would take, the outings with her father, and how close they would be—something new, as Nazir had always been a cold man who prioritized work and forbade public displays of affection. Still, he was loved; Cintia was proud of her father and spoke of him fondly.

"We're almost there, Cindy. Get some sleep; you haven't closed your eyes the whole way."

Madur drove from the airport to the house. Cintia dozed, clutching her white fur coat. She had expensive clothes and sophisticated shoes, even though she rarely had anywhere to wear them; uniforms were what she wore almost all the time. It was cold, and already early morning when Madur parked the car.

"Wait a moment, I'll get the suitcases from the car, and we'll talk a bit. I need to speak with you, Miss."

Cintia was so anxious she didn't hear. She got out without even waiting for the butler to open the door and walked through the living room with a smile on her face.

"Papa."

She ran up the stairs, entered the room. The smile vanished when she saw the man lying on the bed, connected to various devices and machines.

"Papa."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"What happened?"

She looked at the door. Madur was there, standing, in silence.

"What happened to him?"

He put the suitcases on the floor and extended his hand to Cintia.

"Please get up."

He pointed to the bed.

"Sit down."

She obeyed, her face wet with tears, staring at Madur sadly.

"How long has he been like this?"

"About six months."

"I was here six months ago, Madur. He was fine."

The man sat beside her, sighed.

"Your father has a serious heart problem, child. It's a congenital disease he has struggled with for many years."

"How did I not know about this?"

Cintia confronted him, her heart aching in her chest. As distant as her father might have been, she should have been informed about his health condition.

"You're only sixteen, Cindy. Your father has been in an induced coma for almost six months, due to three failed transplant attempts."

"I thought that would take longer. How did he get three organs so quickly? How did they perform surgeries of this magnitude in such a short period?"

Madur remained silent.

"Please don't hide anything from me. If my father is in a coma, who called the boarding school demanding my leave?"

The man stood up, crossing his arms in front of his body as if something were stuck in his throat.

"Before the first surgery, Mr. Nazir appointed a legal representative to take care of things. This man has been managing the house, employee payments, and even medical expenses. He has permission not only to make decisions regarding the companies and bank accounts, but he also has your guardianship, Cintia."

"A guardian?"

"A scoundrel."

Madur closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure.

"He is a cruel man, with a malevolent gaze and a mocking smile on his face. I don't know what Mr. Nazir was involved in, but one thing is certain: that man is bad, very bad, child."

Cintia looked at him, frightened.

"My God, why would Papa do this? Why would he leave everything we have in the hands of a monster?"

Silence.

"Madur."

"This man is not an ordinary person, not a lawyer or one of the vultures from the business world Mr. Nazir associated with. He is an organ trafficker, Miss, a criminal involved with the mafia. Rumor has it that your father lost everything he had to this man."

"Impossible. My father has money, many assets. Even if he had committed such madness, we would have the money to pay for this man's services."

Madur put his hand in his pocket.

"That is true, but in any case, you are about to find out, child."

He handed her a card; Cintia accepted it.

"He gave orders for you to meet him at this hotel tomorrow night."

She stood up, walked over to her father, positioning herself beside his bed.

"Estefano D'Avila."

She read the name on the card, her voice trembling.

"What do I do now? Do you think I should go, Madur?"

The man ran his hands through his gray hair.

"You have no choice. His words were as follows, Miss:"Tell Nazir's daughter I'll be waiting for her. In case she refuses to show up, I want to make it clear that it's not a good idea. If I go to that mansion, I'll bring two things with me, and neither will please her.

"What was he referring to?"

"You dragged by your hair, child, and the heart your father carries in his chest."

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