As soon as Defnе crossed the threshold of the office, Omer, casting a gaze at her, frowned and asked anxiously:

- What happened?

She took the whimpering Emine Diana from his arms and hurried to the nursery.

- Later, - she answered. - First I will feed the baby, and then I will tell you everything.

He didn't insist. Silently he paced the cramped space of the nursery and looked anxiously at Defne's aloof face. She was feeding the daughter, but her thoughts were somewhere far away. And these thoughts were completely bleak.

When Emine let go of the nipple and groaned demanding, Defne mechanically put her to her other breast. Omer stopped beside her, lifted his wife's face by the chin, and, looking into her eyes, asked:

- Defne, is it that bad? She nodded silently. - You're scaring me.

"Please," Defne asked hoarsely. - Let me feed Emine. And then we will go down to Sapphire and I will tell you everything.

Omer sighed and obeyed.

***

The white ferry smoothly plowed the dark turquoise waves of the Sea of Marmara. Two young girls and a guy stood by the handrails and looked at the receding coast of Istanbul. It drowned in a translucent haze and became more and more ghostly.

Mert took his phone out of his pocket, looked probingly at the girls, and said:

- We need to write to our relatives.

The girls followed him and pulled out their phones. Esra gripped the smooth, thin rectangle in her hand and turned to her friends:

- We will send messages now and turn off the phones. We can be tracked by a signal, but I do not want to be found earlier than this one ... - her voice broke, but she immediately pulled herself together, - before Kadir Shishmaz leaves Istanbul.

- And how do you know that he left? Banu asked.

Esra stubbornly raised her eyebrows on the bridge of her nose and replied:

- I will. It will become easier to breathe.

They parted in different directions and tapped their fingers on the phone screens.

"Grandma, just don't worry. You must not. You have sugar and blood pressure. I'm alright. I'm safe. But while this man, my father, is in Istanbul, I cannot live at home. Don't worry about me. I'll be back as soon as he leaves. "

"Laura, just don't be angry with me. I cannot do otherwise. Esra needs help and I cannot leave her alone. I promise I'll be careful and won't lose my head. Love you!"

"Mom, don't worry about me. Esra is in trouble, and I have to help her. I'm a man. "

Messages went on the air.

They pressed buttons on the side of the phones and the screens went out.

Iplikci went down to Sapphire. Defne automatically noted that the secretary's desk was empty. Wondering where Esra could have gone, she went into her office. Omer, with the baby in his arms, followed her. In the study, having settled Emine in a portable basket, he turned to his wife.

- Tell me, - ordered.

Defne took a deep breath and, in a dispassionate voice, recounted everything that had happened here earlier.

- He wants a million dollars. Otherwise, he will take Esra, - she finished her story.

The mask of aloofness cracked and shattered into pieces. Lively emotions distorted her face. Defne covered it with her hands and her shoulders trembled. Omer immediately came to her side and hugged her.

"Don't cry," he asked. "We won't let him take Esra.

Defne pressed firmly against his chest and clasped her arms tightly around his waist. At that moment, for her, he was that tree over the abyss, which would hold her and prevent her from falling.

In the corridor, doors slammed one after another, and rapid, echoing footsteps were heard. They got closer and louder. Their knocking evoked vague anxiety and fear. The door flew open and Laura rushed into the office, followed by Mirai. Both looked frightened. The Iplikci took a step away from each other and looked at the women inquiringly.

"Defne," Laura said. She heroically tried to appear calm, but her nervous movements gave her away. - Is everything okay with Esra?

Defne didn't have time to answer. Her phone rang. She accepted the call and spoke into the phone:

- Yes, grandmother.

A stream of words poured out of the speaker. Defne listened and turned pale.

"Calm down," she said into the phone. - She wrote herself, so everything is fine with her. We will find her and resolve everything.

Defne lowered her hand with the phone clutched in it and looked in confusion at the women, and then at Omer.

"Esra has escaped," she whispered.

"Banu with her," Laura said.

"And Mert too," Mirai said.

- But why? Her eyes widened. The conjecture pierced the brain like an arrow. - Allah! She heard...

***

The ferry moored to the island of Buyukada. Vacationers went ashore and scattered in different directions. The two girls and the boy were the last to get off the gangplank. They stopped at the pier, looked around, and walked westward. It was quite far from the city sea station to Iplikci's house. All three were tired and hungry. When the familiar red-tiled roof appeared among the green tops of the trees ahead, the girls and Mert quickened their pace. Flowers grew in large clay pots near the house, on the terrace. There were a lot of them and all were brightly colored. Esra counted out the fifth pot, lifted it, and pulled out the key.

- There it is! - She said with delight and unlocked the door. - We have a roof over our heads and water in the tap. Now we will inspect the kitchen. Maybe some food was left.

Mert, without waiting for her words, was already rattling the doors of the cabinets and the refrigerator.

- Yes, there are reserves for a whole month! - He said with delight. - We will live! Girls, let's start cooking the dinner. I'm hungry as a hundred wolves!

***

Omer raised the security service to its feet. Mr. Karan and his people were in search of the fugitives combed all the train and bus stations. They systematically reported the results to the boss over the phone. Mirai and Laura were worried, but tried to be brave and morally supported Defne:

"Don't worry," Laura persuaded her. - Esra is not alone. Banu and Mert are with her. All three are serious and responsible. Everything will be fine with them.

"You don't understand," Defne looked at her with teary eyes. "She learned that she was just a bargaining chip for her father. Esra is suffering, and I cannot help her."

"She can handle it," Mirai stroked her shoulder. - And she will become stronger. She always knew that her father was an unworthy person. By his act, he only confirmed this.

Omer put the phone in his pocket and turned to the womеn.

- The guys did not take tickets for the train or the bus. So they are in Istanbul. Perhaps some of their friends. Karan already has a list of Esra and Mert's classmates. He goes to the addresses to talk to them. Do not worry. We will find them.

Emine groaned in the basket. Defne raised and rushed to her daughter. Omer was ahead of her. He took the baby in his arms and, in a tone that did not tolerate objection, ordered:

- We're going home. There is no point in staying in the office. As soon as something becomes known, Mr. Karan will call me, and I will inform everyone else.

At home, Defne left Emine with Omer and went straight to the shower. She wanted to wash off this terrible, long, dreadful day. She undressed and stood under a tight stream of hot water. They whipped on the skin, washed away the physical fatigue, but the soul remained dreary. Defne was terrified for Esra and mentally begged her to be strong and prudent.

Washing off the shower gel, Defne ran her hand over her chest and froze. Something was wrong. The habitual tingling sensation from the arriving milk was gone. And the breast itself seemed empty. Defne squeezed her with a convulsive gesture. Not a drop of milk appeared on the tip of the nipple. Defne squeezed the second - the same result. She squeezed and squeezed, but in vain. There was no milk. Having flown out of the shower headlong, Defne put on her robe, tightened the belt, and ran into the bedroom. Emine slept on their with Omer bed, while Omer himself stood facing the window and talked on the phone.

"Omer," Defne called.

He looked around and hastened to end the conversation:

- Serdar, calm down grandmother. Tell her we're looking for Esra. As soon as something is known, I will immediately inform, - hiding the phone in his pocket, he turned to his wife: - What's the matter with you? You are as pale as a sheet.

"The milk is gone," she whispered plaintively.

Omer's swarthy face was now as white as a wall.

"We have no mixture," he whispered and jumped off. - I'm going to the pharmacy!

Stopping next to his wife, he took her face in his hands and, looking into her eyes, said warmly:

- Calm down. Get a hold of yourself. Nothing bad happened. We will resolve everything. Do you hear?

She nodded. He kissed her forehead and quickly left the room. Defne covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

Why? Why is that so? Why did her body react so violently? Her baby didn't deserve it. She had to grow up calm and happy. After all, no artificial feeding can replace that miracle, that happiness and a sense of security that a child experiences at his mother's breast.

Something soft touched her legs and she heard a plaintive whine. Defne looked down at the floor. The puppy pressed his head against her legs and looked into her eyes with a sad, full of understanding and compassion look.

- My dear, - Defne bent down and scratched his ear. - You feel everything, right? The most loyal and devoted puppy in the world. Will you stay with Emine while I change?

Kid silently climbed onto the bed and lay down next to the girl. Resting its head on its paws, it buried its nose in her cheek, and Emine smiled in her sleep.

Her smile returned a smile on Defne's face. It was tortured, but bright. No matter how much there is evil, meanness, and baseness in the world, unconditional loyalty and love always turn out to be higher. They save from pain and heal the soul.

Emine opened her eyes. For a couple of minutes, she led them around the room, and then with a loud cry, she called her mother. The puppy raised its head and, putting its paw on the baby's tummy, purred. Emine, listening, fell silent. Defne ran out of the dressing room, hastily tugging at her T-shirt.

- Thank you, friend, - she thanked the puppy and took her daughter in her arms.

Emine turned her head and started looking for the breasts with her open mouth. Defne took her in her palms and, holding her in the air, spoke:

- Be patient, honey! Dad will be back soon and bring some delicious milk. Be patient, my golden girl.

But Emine didn't want to stand it. She wanted to eat. And immediately. That she announced with a loud cry. Kid jumped out of bed and barked in alarm. Defne began to walk around the room, rocking the baby in her arms and saying:

- Hush, my soul, hush! Be patient a little. Dad is on his way.

The front door slammed downstairs, and hurried steps up the stairs were heard. Omer, eyes wide with panic, rushed into the room and put on the dressing table a cardboard box painted with bottles of infant formula. Opening it with shaking hands, he spoke quickly:

- Here! This is the best formula for babies up to one-month-old. I called the pediatrician. She said to take exactly this. It is liquid. No need to dilute or heat. Just put a pacifier on the bottle. Now I will wash my hands and do everything, - he kissed the crying Emine on the top of her head and prayed: - Be patient, my heart! Be patient a minute. Now daddy will feed you.

He disappeared into the bathroom and ran out of it ten seconds later, wiping his hands with a towel on the way. Tossing it on the bed, he took out a bottle of formula and a sealed sterile nipple from the box. Deftly opening the package, he screwed the nipple onto the bottle and turned to Defne:

- Give her to me. You are already falling off your feet. Sit down, rest, and I will feed Emine.

Defne put the crying baby on his bent elbow, and Omer brought the bottle to her mouth. Emine grabbed the nipple and froze, puzzled. The sensations were not the ones she was used to. Mom and Dad held their breath. But then the baby smacked, listened, and began to suck greedily. The parents breathed out a sigh of relief. Omer pointed to a chair and ordered his wife:

- Sit down.

- And you? - Not budging, she objected.

- And I walk, - he looked at his daughter affectionately. - The bead likes to be worn. Let her be calm. She's already stressed. Although ... we all have stress today.

"Stress with the size of the universe," Defne agreed with him. Sitting down in a chair, she threw her head back and closed her eyes.

Later, the Topal family arrived at Iplikci's house. Grandmother Turkan shouted and complained that it was not otherwise but they were all cursed.

- This satan Kadir has appeared! My Esra ran away because of him! Defne's milk is gone! What kind of misfortune is this on our head?! - She raised her hands to the sky and swayed from side to side.

Serdar and Nihan glanced at her but did not dare to speak. Omer was also silent. He was holding Emine in his arms. He pressed her tummy to his chest, and she was quite sniffling, putting her head on his shoulder. Defne, mechanically adjusting the bright pink hat on her head, wearily turned to the upset Turkan:

- Granny, stop the hysterics. It won't help us. We need a cool head and a sober mind now. The situation is really difficult. "She looked around her family. - I have a story to tell you. Just let's go outside. Emine was hardly out on fresh air today.

- Oh, my doll, - grandmother threw up her hands. - All-day indoors! Bring her quickly to the garden!

In the garden, Emine was put into the pram, and the whole family sat around the table under an old apple tree. Ahtem and Laura came up through the gate between the estates. They looked alarmed but behaved with composure. Sitting down next to Topal, they looked at Defne with sympathy. She smiled wryly and offered tea.

- Girl, what tea! You will do it for three hours," Nihan protested. - Tell us what the problem is! Don't keep us waiting!

Omer, allowing his wife to tell the family without delay, went to the kitchen to make tea. Defne looked at each person at the table in turn and spoke. She spoke evenly about Kadir Shishmaz's visit to Sapphire, the ultimatum he had voiced, and that Esra probably heard him. That's why she ran away.

The Topal family sat as if hit on the head. Even grandmother Turkan could not find words. Serdar, swallowing a lump in his throat, said hoarsely:

- Million dollars? Is he crazy? Where can you get that kind of money? And how can you demand them for your daughter? Threatening to make her unhappy, ruin her life ... can a father do that?

- Our father can, - Defne stated the fact.

Omer brought tea, put the tray on the table, checked if Emine was okay, and sat down next to his wife. She took a cup in her hands, took a sip of tea, returned it to the table, and clasped it in her palms. The hot cup warmed her icy fingers, but with the soul was more difficult. Despite the warm evening, there was a coldness in it.

"I'll put up the Cafe for sale," said Serdar. - This will be very little, but at least something.

- Don't be silly! Omer objected. - The Cafe is your bread. Plus, you're doing great in this business. It would be foolish to ruin it.

- But what to do? I can't allow him to take Esra," Serdar answered with undisguised despair.

"I'll die without my Esra," his grandmother supported him, and Nihan patted her shoulder soothingly.

"I'll find the money," Omer said firmly.

Tears rolled down Defne's face. She wanted and was afraid of these words. She understood that besides Omer, no one was able to help her family, but at the same time, to the point of shivering, she did not want him to give his hard-earned money to her infamous blackmailer father.

And then Ahtem spoke:

- The most stupid and wrong thing would be to give money. The blackmailer won't stop there. He will pull and pull them out of you until the conditions for blackmail run out. That is until Esra turns 18.

- Ahtem is right, - Laura supported her husband. - You can't give in to blackmail. Otherwise, you will fall into a trap, from which it will be very difficult to get out.

- But what to do? - Defne whispered in fright. - We cannot give him Esra. It's like killing her with our own hands.

Omer put his arm around her shoulders, silently reassuring her and promising protection. Ahtem looked into her eyes and answered:

- It is necessary to find something that will characterize him as an irresponsible, dangerous person and through the court deprived him of parental rights.

- Good idea! - Omer supported his friend and, considering his words, scratched the stubble on his chin.

"Good," Defne agreed. - If only to know his vices and weaknesses. But so many years have passed. Serdar and I practically do not know him.

"Let's look," Omer said confidently. - There are private detectives and we will attract Mr. Karan.

"But it will take time. And we have very little of it!

Defne's voice broke. And then grandmother Turkan spoke:

- Kadir is a player. Even when he lived with Aisun, she did not see a penny from him. He lost everything at cards.

- What? Omer's eyes flashed. - Player? But in Turkey, gambling is prohibited.

- Here is the vice! - Ahtem snapped his fingers and turned to Omer: - Contact a private detective, let him get information on Kadir Shishmaz in this direction.

Omer got up from the table, took out his phone, and went to the pool. He spoke for about five minutes and everyone at the table, scanning his broad back with glances, was tensely awaiting his return.

"The detective goes to work immediately," said Omer, returning to the table. - He already had to conduct similar investigations and he has his channels of information.

The Topal family exhaled and their faces, dark with alarm, brightened.

***

It was evening on the island. The young people went down to the sea and lit a fire on the sand. Living tongues of flame soared upward and recaptured a circle of reddish, warm light from the darkness. In this circle, two girls and a boy were sitting on the sand. They looked at the fire and talked.

"If someone had told me a couple of months ago that I would run away from home, I would have answered that he was crazy," Esra said quietly. - I have always been obedient and reasonable. I was never even scolded. Not at home, not at school. "She smiled sadly. - I love my family. Grandma. Serdar with Defne. And Nihan, and Omer. They are already our family too. And I love Emine and Iso. They are so cute and funny. Small. Defne must have gone mad with anxiety. She always took care of me, like a mother. When I had nightmares at night, she came to my bed, hugged me, and I was no longer scared.

"You're in luck," Banu sighed just as softly. "Nobody hugged me or chased my fears away."

Mert also shared a revelation:

- And I went to my sisters and hugged them when they cried at night, and my mother was at work. She worked very hard. Because our asshole father threw us out of the house without a dime.