His Substitute Wife

The Sixth Sense

Aleena awkwardly stood around while Melek and Rezan sultan cooked together and chatted. Rezan sultan would occasionally throw shade Aleena's way. It seemed that everything Melek did was worthy of praise according to Rezan sultan. The surprising part of it all was, she seemed to genuinely mean it. Of course, she was mostly praising to throw shade towards Aleena for not being as impressive as the girl, but she didn't seem to be uttering empty words. Every word she said held warmth to it. Aleena really couldn't believe that the harsh and cold Rezan sultan actually had someone she loved so warmly. 

"Instead of standing there, go and set the table?" Rezan sultan ordered Aleena, the warmth in her voice disappearing the moment her words were directed to Aleena. 

Aleena sighed and nodded as she picked up a table sheet and went to set it. 

"I'll help you," Zeynep told her with a small smile, seeming to sympathise with her. 

Although Aleena felt slightly uncomfortable around Zeynep due to the fact that she was Rezan sultan's right hand man, she also couldn't help but feel glad that she was around. Because quite frankly, Aleena had a feeling that the madam would even find some sort of fault in that. 

The two put everything together in record speed and finished just as Melek and Rezan sultan stepped out of the kitchen. Zeynep entered the now vacant kitchen with another helper and the two prepared to bring the food out. 

Once again, Aleena was left to stand around while the helpers finished preparing the table and Melek and Rezan sultan continued to speak about Melek's past year in Istanbul. 

Aleena stood for a few more minutes to see if there would be anything that Rezan sultan would want her to do but when the madam continued to speak to her guest, she decided it would be appropriate for her to go upstairs and change. They were expecting more guests after all, and she didn't have to be from Mardin to know the importance of hospitality. So changing out of her messy, flour decorated outfit was a no brainer. 

She knocked on the door to her room to make sure Zayd wasn't in there and once she received no response, she stepped inside and picked out a clean outfit. 

This time she chose a more presentable floral maxi dress that was both modest and suitable for the occasion. She stared at it for a while trying to see if there was anything that could get Rezan sultan to talk and when she decided that it really was fitting, she put it on. Truth be told, the dress wasn't something she would have ever worn back at home. It was much longer than she liked and it really didn't look flattering on her. It just fell straight to her feet without showing her shape whatsoever. However, she was sure that Rezan sultan would keep her mouth shut so she went with it. 

Once she was cleaned up and dressed, she stepped out of the room and went back downstairs and was met with warm snd happy chatters. Watching Rezan sultan and Melek speak made a strange longing feeling form in her heart. It wasn't a longing to be accepted by Rezan sultan, but a longing to have such a warm and loving person in her life.

Aleena had never met her mother as she had passed away when she was very young, and her father never remarried so she had never had a mother figure in her life. Unlike most of the other girls in the world, she had never experienced what it was like to have a mother. In fact, one of the main reasons she dreamed of getting married to someone she loved was so that she could experience the love of a mother through her future mother in law. It was simply something she craved with her whole heart.

However, it seemed that that dream was still so far away. Especially now that she was in a fake marriage where her in laws hated her. 

"Why are you standing there?" Rezan sultan's harsh voice sounded to her eyes, forcing her to break out of her thoughts. Aleena blinked in confusion for a brief second before she quickly recovered and walked towards Melek and Rezan sultan. 

Rezan sultan looked her up and down and looked as if she had something to say but she didn't get the chance to do so because the door to the courtyard opened and in walked an unfamiliar man. 

Upon seeing him though, Rezan sultan beamed even brighter than she had when she saw Melek. And the stranger too beamed in response before he stepped forward, grabbed her hand and placed his lips on it before lifting it to his forehead to show respect. 

Rezan sultan looked down at him with an expression filled with pride and love. Whoever he was, Aleena couldn't help but be impressed that he had managed to elicit such emotions out of the otherwise cold madam. Aleena hadn't even seen her react that way to her own grandson. 

"How have you been?" the stranger asked, a large and very handsome smile on his face. 

Aleena didn't catch what Rezan sultan said to the stranger because suddenly, her husband stepped down the stairs beside her, and gently nudged for her to follow him. Aleena did and soon enough they were standing before the stranger. 

Aleena watched as Zayd and the golden haired man shook hands warmly before the two of them turned towards Aleena. 

"This is Ilhan, my closest friend and business partner," Zayd introduced to Aleena. "This is Aleena, my bride." 

Aleena's heart skipped a beat upon hearing him call her his bride. Although she had no romantic feelings towards Zayd, there was just something so musical about hearing the words "my bride" come out of his mouth. It wasn't even anything particularly romantic about the words themselves but hearing such a deep voice say such soft words made them sound incredibly romantic. 

Ilhan turned towards Aleena with nothing but warmth, "Congratulations," he smiled down at her, "I apologise for not being able to make it to your wedding. I was out of the city."

Aleena was at a loss of words for a brief second. Ever since entering Mardin, he was the only person to treat her so nicely that it left her slightly surprised. She was at a point where she wasn't expecting any kindness at all. 

"It's alright," she smiled brightly up at him. "We decided to hold it very last minute so I understand." 

Ilhan's eyes twinkled in kindness making Aleena's inside feel completely warm. She had absolutely no idea who the man before her was, but she already felt as if he was someone that she could trust with her deepest and darkest secrets. It was strange how much a simple smile could sway someone's feelings. One sincere smile form the man before her was all it took for him to become the most likeable person in the city for Aleena. 

Before anyone could say anything else, Melek suddenly invited everyone to the table, as if it was her own home. 

"Looks like the table is set, let's sit down," she smiled at everyone. And although nobody asked, she made sure to add, "I cooked dinner tonight so I hope you can all enjoy it." 

"You did?" Ilhan asked, his brows slightly furrowing. His eyes held slight frustration but no one besides Melek seemed to catch on to it. 

"Yes," she grinned. "Aleena doesn't know how to cook so I helped Rezan sultan instead." 

Aleena felt her face burn as all eyes turned to her. Once again, she wasn't sure if Melek was doing it on purpose, but this was the second time she was humiliating Aleena in front of others. Either she was really dense and naive and didn't understand what it was that she was doing so wrong, or she had ulterior motives and was purposely making Aleena lose face. 

Aleena couldn't tell exactly which it was, but her sixth sense was telling her that the girl before her was not good news. She decided it would be in her best interest to stay clear of her as much as she could for the next six months.