Chapter 214: "Too serious or too intense

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifteen

Asli’s eyes snapped open, her stomach tightening with a sharp, hollow pull that made her sit up immediately. Not the usual kind she ignored until it passed. This one clawed. Hunger consumed her like she hadn’t eaten in a week.

The scent reached her a second later and she licked her lips. Her gaze shifted to the tray that was already set on the small table near her bed. It was covered, and untouched, waiting for her to devour it.

She frowned slightly. She never ate in her bed. Never asked to.

But before she could even question it, the door opened and her nanny stepped in, like she had been expecting that exact reaction.

A small smile curved on her lips.

She didn’t ask any questions, nor did she offer any explanations.

She placed a few more plates on the table and disappeared again returning moments later with the rest, setting everything down with practiced ease. She carried the large tray towards her.

"Put it on the table," Asli said quickly, already swinging her legs off the bed.

She didn’t wait.

By the time the dishes settled, she was seated, fingers already reaching, tearing, and tasting everything on the plates

A soft sound slipped out of her.

"Mm... this is good."

She froze for half a second.

Then blinked.

Her nanny chuckled under her breath. "Well... thank you."

Asli didn’t respond. She was already eating again. She just kept eating like she hadn’t eaten in days.

The older woman stayed where she was, watching quietly.

Asli reached for the water without thinking, then for the small bottle beside it. The pills slid into her palm, and she swallowed them in one motion.

It wasn’t until the empty bottle touched the table that she paused.

Her eyes lifted slowly and met her nanny’s.

The older woman didn’t hide the fact that she saw her or look away. She just kept that same quiet smile.

Asli held her gaze for a second longer, waiting for a lecture, a warning, or something.

But nothing came.

The silence stretched, but it wasn’t heavy.

She looked down again.

"Thanks for the food," she muttered, a little more quietly this time.

Her fingers slowed against the plate.

"You know..." she started, then stopped.

Then tried again.

"You already know."

Her hand hovered briefly over her stomach before dropping back.

"I just..."

"You need me to take care of you," her nanny finished gently.

Asli looked up.

"I’ve always done that," the older woman continued, a small glint of humor in her eyes. "Now I’ll just... do it more."

A short laugh escaped Asli before she could stop it.

"Yeah."

Silence settled again, lighter this time.

Then...

"We might be leaving soon," Asli said.

The words came out steady, but her fingers tightened slightly around her cup.

"I know you’ve been here... almost all my life." Her gaze drifted. "I’ll make sure you’re set. You, Matilda, her mother. I’ll make sure you have everything covered."

She swallowed.

"Monthly support. Your sister too, I’ll make sure she gets the best care."

Her nanny didn’t even let her finish.

"Don’t be silly." The words came quickly and firmly.

Asli looked up.

There it was, the warmth she never had from any parent. Her nanny kept them for her.

"Your place is my place."

Asli’s throat tightened.

"I’m giving you freedom," she murmured.

The words sounded right, though they didn’t feel right.

Her vision blurred slightly, and she blinked, but it didn’t stop the warmth slipping down her cheeks.

Cole.

Now he.

She let out a small breath, almost a laugh.

"I’m... lucky," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

Her nanny watched her for a second. Then shook her head softly. "Freedom?"

A faint scoff followed, but she caught herself, lips pressing together.

Asli noticed.

But she didn’t push.

"Should I tell Matilda?" her nanny asked instead. "And Josephine? What about her brother?"

Asli wiped at her cheek quickly, shaking her head. "Not yet."

Her gaze drifted.

Matilda alone was enough to manage.

Josephine was still finding her footing.

And the boy...

Cole barely had time to train him.

Everything was stacking up too fast.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.

Pulling everything at once would raise questions.

She needed a plan. A clean one.

Before Demir opened his mouth or before her adoptive father found out.

A knock broke through her thoughts.

Josephine slipped in after a soft call.

"Someone is asking for you," she said. "He said the recruits are waiting."

Asli blinked.

Right.

"Tell him I’ll be there," she said.

Josephine nodded and left just as quietly.

Her nanny turned back to her. "You need to be careful," she said, voice softer now. "Your work... It’s not gentle."

Her eyes flicked briefly to Asli’s stomach.

"Maybe let Cole handle things."

Asli smiled faintly. "I’ll be fine."

Her hand rested lightly over her stomach for a second.

"I’ll take care of us."

Her nanny watched her, something warm settling in her expression.

"I want to see this version of you," she said.

Asli’s brows lifted. "What version?"

"The one who becomes a mother."

The words landed and stayed.

A slow smile spread across Asli’s face. "You think so?"

"Absolutely."

Her nanny stepped closer, folding her arms loosely.

"You protect people without realizing it," she said. "You carry things that aren’t yours. You show up for everyone even when you don’t want to."

A small pause.

"You care. You just pretend you don’t."

Asli blinked again and again. That didn’t sound like her.

At least not to her. This wasn’t the version of herself she knew. This was not the one she had built.

Now that she was going to be a mother, did it matter?

She looked down briefly at her child in her belly.

Would they see her that way? Would they even see...

Her?

Or what she had become?

Her jaw tightened slightly.

She had never cared what anyone thought.

But this...

This was different.

"I know you’re... intense with your work," her nanny added, pulling her back. "But you’re kinder than you allow yourself to be."

"As long as I’m not boring," Asli muttered lightly.

Her nanny laughed.

"I can work with ’too serious or too intense,’" Asli added with a small shrug.

She stood, stretching slightly.

"Just tell me when I’m being too serious with my child."

Her nanny smiled. "You’re already joking. That’s a great start."

A small laugh slipped out of both of them.

Not long after, Asli stepped into the training hall. The sound hit first. Their bodies were moving. Feet striking. Breath cutting through the air.

Then she saw Cole at the center. He was focused and precise and unrelenting like always.

He moved through them as he belonged there; correcting, pushing, and breaking their rhythm and rebuilding it in the same breath.

Asli paused at the entrance for a second, watching.

Then she stepped in.

The room shifted instantly.

They stopped, turned, and bowed.

Her gaze swept over them once before she gestured lightly. "Continue."

Their movement resumed.

She walked toward Cole. "What are we working with?"

"They’re strong," he said, not taking his eyes off them. "This batch... they’re solid."

A trainee stumbled. He corrected him without looking.

"If they keep this up," he added, "they’ll be field-ready."

She nodded slightly. "How long have they been at it?"

"A little over thirty minutes."

Asli crossed her arms loosely, watching them now.

For a brief second, she imagined walking away from all of this.

And strangely, it didn’t feel as heavy as it should have.

Not anymore.

The training hall doors suddenly slammed open hard enough for the sound to crack through the room.

Every movement stopped.

The recruits straightened almost instantly, heads turning toward the entrance. Even the air seemed to tighten.

Asli’s gaze snapped up sharply.

Daniel stood at the doorway.