Frightened Koray threw the plate of cookies on a low table and, getting up from the sofa, walked around Defne on tiptoe. Carefully touching the puddle with the toe of his sneaker, he pulled the girl by the sleeve of her dress and asked:

- Skinny, did you pee yourself?

His question brought Defne out of her stupor. She stared at him and shouted indignantly:

- No! My water just broke! - Her face acquired a confused and plaintive expression, and her voice turned into a barely audible wheeze: - I'm giving birth...

- Oh Allah! - Koray, like a chicken, flapped his arms on his sides and ran around the room. - So, what do we need? We have to go to the hospital! Who will take us? No Sukru! Nero is there! Calling Nero! Ay, where is my phone?! Yes, there it is! Nero! Nero!

Defne, holding her belly, also rushed around the room, looking for the phone, and could not find it anywhere.

- Skinny! Koray jumped at her. - Why are you jumping like a grasshopper?! Do you want to give birth to Diana right here?!

- A-ah! Defne yelled at him. - Where is my phone? I need to call Omer!

- Nero!!!Nero!!! - shouted into the phone Koray. - Skinny is giving birth! Fly here soon! We need to take her to the hospital! Oh yes, where are you galloping? - He shouted at Defne and grabbed her hand. - We are calling Omyush! Calling!!!

In a French restaurant in Ankara, Omer scrambled to his feet and fumbled through his pockets with shaking hands, looking for his phone. It rang again in his hands before the alarmed man even had time to unlock the screen.

- I am listening, Koray! - he barked and immediately heard a hysterical squeal from the phone:

- Omyush !!! Omyush !!! The skinny one is giving birth! Peed herself!

- What are you talking about! - he heard an indignant cry of Defne. - My water broke! Water! Give me the phone! Dear! - the voice turned from angry to plaintive. - It started...

Defne sobbed. Omer's heart sank with fear and compassion. His girl is scared, confused, and he is far away and can not calm her down and help. Moreover, there is no one left in Istanbul who could support and take care of her at this moment. No one but the clumsy Koray.

"Defne," Omer begged. "Don't cry!" Please! Everything will be fine! I will come soon and be next to you!

"Omer, I'm scared!" Defne whispered, barely audible.

"I know, my love, I know," Omer began to persuade her. "But don't give in to fear." Don't scare the bead. Do what you have to do. Go to the hospital. Remember that I love you!

"I remember," Defne gasped convulsively.

- Here is my clever girl! Give the phone to Koray.

- Omyush! - came a hysterical cry from the speaker. - Nero is on her way! And Black Mamba is with her. We will immediately take the skinny girl to the hospital!

Black Mamba? Grandpa Hulusi? Omer did not understand the cause-and-effect relationship of grandfather's appearance in Koray's car, but he was glad that he would be with Defne in those minutes. At least one sober, reasonable person.

- Koray, listen to me! - Omer sternly interrupted Koray's screams. - You take Defne to the hospital and don't leave her a step. You calm and support her. You forget about your whims and think only about Defne! Only about Defne! - his calmness broke into a cry. - You understood me?!

- Ay, Omyush, stop talking! Koray shouted angrily at him, not at all scared. - The skinny girl jumped upstairs! I'm running after her!

The phone went silent. Omer removed it from his ear and looked in confusion at his friends, frozen in tension.

- Defne's going into labor, - explained. - I have to fly to Istanbul immediately! - he took a couple of steps to the door and immediately stopped and grabbed his head. - Allah! Until the morning there is no flight to Istanbul!

Koray took off heavily after Defne to the second floor and saw her back hiding behind the bathroom door.

- Skinny, where are you going?! - He yelled and rushed after. The door did not budge, and he tugged on the doorknob. - Open it! Omyush told me not to take my eyes off you!

"Koray," came an angry hiss from behind the door. - I need to wash and change. Wait in the hallway.

Koray, lamenting, ran down the corridor and called Neriman again.

- Nero!!! Faster! The skinny girl jumps around the house like a ball! We risk catching Diana on the move! And I do not know how to deliver a baby! This was not described on the site! Ay, I'm delaying you! I'm waiting!

Defne left the bathroom and Koray again, lamenting, bustled around her:

- Skinny, how do you feel? Diana won't climb?

Resigned that the madman calls her daughter by a different name, Defne took a deep breath and reined in him:

- Koray! Stop panicking! Nobody climbs! I don't even have contractions yet! - As soon as she uttered this phrase, she grabbed her belly and bent in half. - Allah! I have already! Koray, watch the clock!

- Eight in the evening! - he shouted in fright and, grabbing the noisily breathing Defne by the hand, pulled her into the room. - Say what you need to take!

- In my purse, there is my passport. My health insurance is on the nightstand. Take it and put it in the bag.

- Insurance! Insurance! - Koray jumped to the nightstand, opened it, and turned everything that was in it on the floor. Feverishly fingering the contents, he yelled: - Insurance! Where is it?!

- Ay! - Defne jumped to him and pulled out a thick sheet of paper folded in half from the pile. Putting the insurance in her purse, she slipped a comb and toothbrush into it. - Koray don't mess around! Take the white bag from the dressing room. It has clothes for the baby.

Koray flew like a bullet into the dressing room and returned with a white bag. Defne was looking for something in the jewelry box. A car honked in the street.

- Nero has arrived! - Koray was delighted and shouted at Defne: - What are you looking for there? Why do you need jewelry in the hospital? No, I understand that you are obsessed with them, but not to such a degree!

Defne fished the opal necklace out of the box and exhaled with relief:

- Here it is!

"Skinny," Koray touched her forehead. - Do you have a fever or a dullness of mind? Why do you need beads?

- I need it! - Defne capriciously stamped her foot. - Opals saved us on Bora Bora. They are a talisman and should be with me. That's just, - Defne frowned. - I can't wear them. Anyway, they will order me to take it off, - She resolutely thrust the necklace into his hands and ordered: - Put it on!

Koray's eyes popped out of their sockets. Staring at the pregnant girl, disheveled like a sparrow, he stuttered and tried to persuade her:

- Skinny, why do I need the beads? They won't suit me at all. My style does not fit such adornment, - he made a pleading grimace. - Maybe we will put it in your purse?

- Put it on! - Defne repeated resolutely and again doubled over in pain.

Koray, with shaking hands, fastened the necklace around his neck and clucked around the groaning girl.

- Skinny, breathe! Inhale through the nose, - he sucked in air noisily, - exhale through the mouth...

- The time! Defne moaned.

- Ay, time! Koray looked at his watch. - Twenty minutes have passed. Skinny girl, let's go to the hospital! He whined. - Just Diana will climb. And I do not know how to deliver the baby. Not shown on the site.

The contraction ended and Defne, catching her breath, straightened up. Throwing the package into Koray's hands, she grabbed onto her purse and hobbled into the street. He followed her and prayed aloud that the clever Diana would still sit in her mother's belly and not hurry to climb outside.

Frightened Neriman and Mr. Hulusi were standing near the car.

"Oh, I told Omer that you'll give birth soon, and he: the doctor said two weeks later," Neriman mimicked her nephew plausibly and asked Defne sympathetically: "My dear, how long is it between contractions?

"Twenty minutes," she replied.

- Oh my god! Poor, poor, Defne! - Neriman cried and the eyes of the woman in labor filled with tears.

Mr. Holusi shouted at his daughter-in-law and ordered her to open the car door.

- Daughter, - helping Defne get into the car, he spoke, - Do not worry. We are with you, and Omer will arrive soon. I called your grandmother. They, too, have already left Manisa.

- Ay, what caught them all! They did not sit at home! - Koray whined with a recitative and Neriman and Hulusi finally paid attention to him. Both of them opened their mouths in surprise.

- Korish, my life, what's around your neck? Neriman asked, nodding at the necklace.

- Ay, do not pay attention! The talisman is. It takes care of Diana!

- Emine! - Unable to resist, Defne hissed from the car. - Her name is Emine! And stop talking already! Let's go to the hospital!

- You know a lot! - Koray protested, sitting down heavily in the car. - The girl is so beautiful! Princess! Her name is Diana and only Diana!

"Korish," Neriman stopped him and started the car. - The baby hasn't been born yet. How do you know if she is beautiful or not?

- Nero! Koray objected indignantly. - She is the daughter of Omer and Skinny! What else could she be?

Mr. Holusi sat down in the front seat and shouted at both:

- Be quiet both! - He turned and asked Defne: - Daughter, are you comfortable? Does anything hurt?

- I am fine. It doesn't hurt," she replied and immediately groaned from another attack of pain.

"Fifteen minutes," Koray shouted, looking at his watch. - Oh, Diana is in a hurry! Nero, drive!

Looking at his daughter-in-law's face, distorted with pain, Mister Hulusi supported him and ordered Neriman:

- Speed up and rush with the wind! I will solve the problems with the traffic police.

Omer frantically tried to reach the airport information desk. Тhe fifth time he succeeded, but the information was disappointing. The operator confirmed what he already knew - the next flight to Istanbul tomorrow at six in the morning. There are no more flights today. Groaning in despair, Omer put the phone in his pocket and ran out into the street. Ahtem and Laura and Seda hurried after him. Sinan stayed to pay the bill.

On the street, Ahtem held the rushing Omer by the hand and judiciously suggested:

- Maybe you can rent a car and drive to Istanbul?

Omer looked at him with dry, sore eyes and replied:

- Six hours! Ahtem, six hours' ride! And Defne is alone there! She's scared! The bead is scared! I promised that I would be with Defne from the first contractions until the baby is born. And I did not keep my word!

- It's not your fault! - Laura objected softly. - That is how the circumstances developed.

"It doesn't make me feel any better," Omer replied bitterly. - And Defne too.

Sinan came out of the restaurant, followed by an elegantly dressed couple, whom Omer recognized as Burak and Farah Sarafoglu.

"Mister Omer," Burak addressed him and extended his hand to greet him. - We saw the reportаge. To say that I am outraged is to say nothing. Believe me, I use all my influence so that Cengiz and the editor of the program were severely punished and fired from their jobs without recommendations and the opportunity to find work in their specialty.

Omer shook the outstretched hand and thanked with restraint:

- Thank you, Mr. Burak. Reporters like Cengiz are a shame for journalism. You can't cover up venality and meanness.

"You are right," Sarafoglu agreed and asked: "I noticed that you are very worried about something. If I can help, just tell me.

- Unless you have a flying carpet, - Omer joked sadly and explained. - Defne has gone into labour. We did not expect it so soon. Yesterday at the examination, the doctor said that there are still two weeks. But, probably, the excitement of today has made its mark. Defne is in Istanbul. Alone. And I'm here and the next flight to Istanbul is only tomorrow morning.

Burak Sarafoglu, scratched over his lip, exchanged glances with his wife and spoke:

- I don't have a flying carpet. But there is an ordinary plane. Farah and I flew it to Ankara on business and will be happy to lend it to you.

Omer could not believe his ears. A private jet that will take him to Istanbul without delay. To Defne and Bead. He looked incredulously at the smiling Sarafoglu, and the only thing he could say:

- Are you seriously?

"Of course," Farah smiled warmly, touching his hand.

"I'll pay for the flight," Omer promised.

"Don't you dare even think about that," protested Burak. - Once Mrs. Defne gave Farah and me invaluable help. We only repay the debt and are infinitely happy that we can do this. A car with a driver is waiting for us in the parking lot. If you, Mr. Omer, are ready, we can immediately go to the airport.

"I'm ready," Omer answered and, turning to his friends, wished: "Good luck tomorrow. Show everyone what Sapphire is worth!

- Fly and don't worry about anything, - said Ahtem. - think only about Defne and your daughter. Everything will be fine here.

"Call us," Laura asked. - We'll worry.

"And tell Defne we love her," Seda added.

"Brother," Sinan smiled a wide smile. "Next time we meet, I'm going to hug Daddy Omer and Mommy Defne. And will kiss little Emine's fingers.

Omer's throat tightened. Feeling a burning gratitude filling and cramping his chest, he smiled a trembling smile and said:

- Thank you! It's good that you are!

Turning abruptly, he hurried after Burak and Farah Sarafoglu to their car.

There was a ringing silence in the house of the chief of the Istanbul police. After the scandalous reportage that covered the head of the birthday man and the owner of the house with shame, the guests hurried to leave the feast. Only the son and daughter of the owner of the house remained in the living room Mehmet Astarkhan and Hazal Chatay. And also his best friend and former father-in-law of his son, Onder Gumuskaya.

Hazal sat on a baroque brocade sofa, trying to put what had happened in her head. A brilliant, well-thought-out and prepared plan has failed. The husband is arrested. The firm's reputation has been destroyed. The father is disgraced and his image is undermined. But this was not the most terrible thing for Hazal. She didn't take revenge on Mirai. Didn't crush her and not destroyed her. And now she could not imagine how she could live on with the fire that burned her from the inside.

Her father entered the room. His hawkish face was blacker than a cloud. Standing in front of his daughter, he asked:

- Are you completely brainless with your idiot husband? What did you think when you went on open theft and fraud? Moreover, the media were involved! I called the Ankara police chief. The charges against your husband are too serious to be ignored.

"Daddy," Hazal whispered plaintively. - Help ...

- Help ?! - the man lost his temper and yelled at his daughter in a voice that was not his own. - You say help ?! You and your backward husband made a scandal that could cost me my job and my career! No, honey! - He moved his index finger in front of her nose. "Don't expect any help from me this time. You made this mess - sort it out!

- But we will go broke! - Hazal cried hysterically.

"This is your problem," her father answered harshly.

His old friend, Onder Gumuskaya, approached him and tried to calm him down:

- Engin, do not cut it in the heat. Hazal is your daughter.

- And what did you do once? the man barked at him. "Didn't you cut off your daughter who had dishonored you?"

Gumuskaya turned pale, but Hazal turned pale even more.

Mirai sat next to the TV as if struck by thunder. She was ashamed and bitter again. As then, eight years ago. Kartal and Mert looked at her with concern.

- Mom, - said the son. - Do not mind it! They didn't succeed. You were acquitted before they could accuse you.

"Mert is right," Kartal supported him. "These scoundrels have failed. Mirai, don't take it to heart.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"You don't understand," she whispered, strangled. "I'm disgraced again. Again my name is in the media.

"If anyone is disgraced," Kartal objected judiciously, although his voice was vibrating with anger, "it's Hazal Chatay. She showed her true face to all of Turkey. I just don't understand why you went to see her? And when?

Mirai caught her breath convulsively and replied:

"She said she had a letter from my mom. Farewell letter. Mom died, and I never said goodbye to her. It hurt me for years. Do you understand? I couldn't help but go. Do you remember that in the middle of March I asked you to leave work for an hour? That's when it happened.

"Mom," said Mert. - Do you understand that Hazal Chatay has lured you into a trap? The letter from my grandmother was just an excuse. She would never have given it if it were not for the need to lure you into the Turkish Gold company and her office.

Her son's words opened her eyes. Mirai saw the whole vile picture with horrifying clarity. Anger woke up in her soul. So strong that it subdued all feelings and thoughts. It has appeared before. But then Mirai suppressed it and allowed Hazal to take over, to win. But now she won't allow it!

Struggling to her feet, Mirai rushed to the door. Kartal caught her hand and asked:

- Mirai, where are you going?

- To Hazal! she answered firmly. - It's time to show her who Mirai Astarkhan is!

Mert went to his mother and firmly declared:

- I'm with you!

Kartal took the car keys from the table in the hallway and nodded at the door.

- Let's go!

At the Chatay house, the servants reported that Mrs. Hazal had gone to her father's birthday. Mirai ran off the porch and ran along the street. She knew perfectly well where the house of the chief of the Istanbul police, dear uncle Engin, who in childhood considered her the second daughter, and then found himself among a pack of jackals, was located. Bloodthirsty jackals, protecting their own, and gnawing almost to death an innocent woman. But his betrayal did not come as a blow. Indeed, among the pack of jackals, there were the father and the husband whom Mirai then, seven years ago, loved with all her heart.

Kartal and Mert ran after her. The gate of the mansion was open. Mirai walked past the driveway and took off onto the porch and pushed hard on the doorbell. A servant opened the door. With fear, as if at a ghost, staring at the angry woman, she tried to say that the hosts did not receive guests, but Mirai pushed her away and resolutely walked into the living room. Kartal and Mert followed her.

Everyone was here. Uncle Engin, Hazal, ex-husband Mehmet Astarkhan, and ...her father. Everyone she loved and who betrayed her. Mirai looked at everyone. Uncle Engin looked gloomy, Mehmet was confused, her father angry. Hazal's eyes burned with hatred. Mirai approached her and, looking at her face, asked:

- For what? Tell me why you hate me so much? What did I do to you?