Is this destiny?

Merve felt a pair of hands wrapping around her, and it took her a moment to realize that it was Corey.

"I am so proud of you!", Corey said, unable to conceal his excitement.

Merve looked at Corey with a complex expression, fearing that he will think of her as savage, but the only things she saw in his hazel eyes were love and acceptance.

Corey Smith, the boy who gave her his jacket three and a half years ago while they watched fireworks, who came to the Cliffside Villa to train and to study and to ask her for tips on throwing knives and survival skills, the boy who supported her without asking for anything in return, the boy who knows about her dirty past and accepts her the way she is, and he took her to his prom and went to Eastern Europe with her… her boyfriend.

Merve knew that Corey loves her, but this was the first time that it felt real to the point of her sensing his love enveloping her completely and making her safe as she melted into his embrace.

Merve peeked toward Sarah and Aiden, and met their approving gazes.

\'Don\'t let anyone bully you…\', Merve heard the echo of Sarah\'s words in her mind.

Merve smiled and leaned more into Corey. His fight with Victor was next, but they had a few minutes to spare until the medical team carries Samantha away and the staff wipes the blood from the floor of the ring.

Samantha\'s parents were not sure how to react to this. They just saw their daughter being brutally beaten, and not just them, everyone saw it! But no one stopped it. And based on what all Samantha said before she was bashed unconscious, there was a big chance that no one will dare to say anything.

"Mr. and Mrs. Long…", Samantha\'s parents jumped when Aiden\'s icy voice sounded from behind them. They turned in slow motion and saw that Jeff was standing next to Aiden. Both White brothers appeared like giants who were looking at ants. Aiden narrowed his eyes threateningly and continued talking: "I am not sure if just your daughter is looking down on the White family, or if that is something that took roots in your family."

Samantha\'s parents were shocked. Did Aiden just accuse the whole Long family of disrespecting Whites?

"I can assure you that Longs are hoping for a good collaboration with the Whites.", Steve was quick to interject to what Jeff hummed in acknowledgment.

"Then, it seems that you have a few rotten apples…", Aiden drawled while his eyes moved slowly from Steve to Samantha\'s parents.

"It seems so…", Steve confirmed. "Please, allow me to handle this."

Samantha\'s parents were pale as if they saw a ghost. Rotten apples? Will they be kicked out of the family? Now what?

"I would like to be present when you handle this situation, if you don\'t mind.", Aiden said stiffly to what Jeff added: "Me and Anna as well."

Before Steve could respond, Charlie said: "Include Emma and me as participants. It is one thing if fighters provoke each other, but Samantha said how Corey is with Merve due to impure motives, indirectly saying that Corey is not a decent boy."

Rachel (aka Samantha\'s mom) panicked when she heard Charlie\'s words. Sure, that is what Samantha said but... There were no buts. 

Rachel\'s anxiety shoot through the roof when she realized that Aiden, Jeff, Steve, Gabriel, and Charlie circled around them. And for some reason, Jasper and Felix were with them as well. They are obviously surrounded. Why is no one helping them?

"Please, this was just Samantha\'s momentary indiscretion.", Rachel pleaded while looking at Steve. As the patriarch of the Long family, he should be able to defuse the situation.

Jeff snorted. "How unfortunate for you that her indiscretion happened at the party in front of so many witnesses. If we brush this off, the White family won\'t be able to step on the street from shame."

Gabriel hummed in agreement with Jeff\'s words. "Every family\'s honor is important. If they see us as weak, anyone will dare to attack us. It\'s for the best to deal with these situations decisively, and punish everyone involved to send a clear message for others."

"Samantha was already punished!", Travis (aka Samantha\'s father) reminded everyone that the limp body that is being carried away on the stretcher is Samantha.

"That was between Samantha and Merve. We will follow the rules and the grudges between participants will stay within the ring.", Aiden said to what Rachel and Travis visibly relaxed. A second later, they stiffened when Aiden spoke again: "However, Samantha insulted all my kids. She called them trash and peasants. And she labeled Merve\'s twelve years old sister as a slut who sleeps for benefits. How do you think that young girl felt when she heard those words? She is not a teen yet, but she is being targeted in such a vicious way. Do you think these are matters we can let go? If you heard someone insulting your daughter like that, would you be able to let it go?"

Steve wore a solemn expression. "I have a daughter and if someone shamed her publicly by calling her names, I would go mad." He turned to Aiden. "At this time, I can only offer you my apologies and a promise that I will not stop pursuing this matter until we find a satisfying way to settle this. How about we discuss what is acceptable over lunch tomorrow?"

Rachel swayed slightly and then her legs gave up on her. Travis caught her before she fell to the ground. Seeing that no one moved a muscle to help hold his wife, Travis cursed internally. This was worse than what he thought.

With Whites and Smiths coming to the Long family because Samantha offended them, this looked like déjà vu. Will Steve again summon all Longs and play a video that will show to everyone how Samantha embarrassed them? Well, considering how many Longs are present at this event, by tomorrow\'s lunch, everyone will know what happened here and if they need to part from anything they own in order to save the Long family face, they will become the target of hate from the Long family as well.

No matter what process they follow, it was obvious that it will not end well for Samantha, and Travis hoped that they will not be chased away from the Long estate.

He exhaled heavily. Samantha is doomed and Steve will probably take whatever assets Travis and Rachel still have. He wondered if it\'s a good idea to cut off the ties with Samantha. That might buy them some grace from Steve, and they can secretly help their daughter later. Maybe.

Travis slapped Rachel a few times, to get her to open her eyes.

"Wake up. We need to go to the hospital with Sam…", he reminded his wife.

Travis turned to Steve and bowed slightly in submission. "We will talk more later. Please, allow us to go with Sam. She needs us."

Steve nodded in agreement. "We will let you know at what time tomorrow to come so that we can discuss the situation before Whites and Smiths arrive."

Travis and Rachel dragged themselves toward the main villa, after the people who carried Samantha away, and the crowd parted to open a path for them like they have some contagious disease.

Hande stepped into the ring with a wet towel.

"Here, wipe your hands with this…", Hande said to Merve. "If you go to wash your hands, you will miss Corey\'s fight."

Merve let go of Corey and looked at her bloodied hands. She didn\'t realize that she is so messed up. "Thanks."

Hande smiled. "Thank you for beating up that obnoxious girl. I hope she recuperates well so that I can beat her up as well."

Merve looked at Hande and she wondered if Hande is genuinely happy or if she is good at faking it. "You don\'t mind that I lost it?"

Hande looked at Merve with confusion obvious on her face. "Why would I mind? You did the right thing. When someone attacks your dear ones, you fight back. Did you forget that Sarah and Aiden always say how we need to make an example of people who provoke us so that others don\'t get funny ideas? Besides, it shows that you are capable. You don\'t need others to protect you anymore, you can stand up for yourself and for the ones you care about. And that is a good thing."

Merve shook her head helplessly. "When did you grow up so much?"

Hande grinned, happy that Merve acknowledged that she has grown. So far, Merve always treated her like a baby. Or maybe Merve grew and realized that people are not the same.

Hande took the towel from Merve and reminded her sister: "We should get out of here, Corey\'s fight is about to start."

Merve watched as Hande slipped between ropes which Ade pushed apart for her and they hopped off the edge of the ring together. Hande and Ade exchanged a few words and walked toward the side, probably to dispose of the bloody towel. Merve admired how Ade and Hande do everything together. They are best friends and a couple in love.

"Will I get a kiss for good luck?"

Merve smiled when she heard Corey\'s voice. She turned toward him and pecked his lips. "You don\'t need good luck but be careful. He didn\'t have good intentions when he challenged you, and we can\'t predict what he is about to do after he witnessed the outcome of my fight with Samantha."

Corey hummed in agreement and his hands snaked around Merve. If she thought that one little peck on the lips was enough, she was gravely mistaken.

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