Erkan's decision to bring Dicle to the mansion upsets the balance of the Aldur household. He tries to keep their marriage hidden from both his family and Burçin's, but the truth cannot stay secret for long. When it comes out, a harsh confrontation with his father follows. Erkan's refusal to marry Burçin sparks a serious conflict, and after a heated argument, he chooses to leave the house, taking Dicle with him. Arriving in Istanbul, Dicle finds herself lost in a life she does not understand, holding on to the only person she knows. Erkan, uncertain and under pressure, settles with her temporarily while trying to figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, Esat works to bring his son back home, at the same time İnci secretly puts her own plan into motion, one that would not only bring Erkan back but also push Dicle out of their lives. When unexpected visitors arrive at their door, the pressure around them tightens.

To save both his life and Dicle's, Erkan is forced to strike a deal with Ferman and returns to the mansion with her at his side. But they are not alone. Civan secretly enters the house as a driver, hiding that he is Dicle's brother in order to watch them and prevent their marriage from ending. Esat and İnci are pleased to have their son back, yet Dicle quickly realizes the mansion brings new trials. The greatest obstacle is İnci, who does not want her there and begins laying fresh traps. When the Aldur family starts preparing for the divorce, they discover it will not be as easy as expected. Caught between the divorce and his advancing engagement to Burçin, Erkan resorts to a plan he believes will remain hidden. Instead, it pushes Dicle into deep heartbreak and changes everything between them.

The marriage of Dicle and Erkan, known only to those outside the Aldur family, is leaked to the press through Tahir and quickly spreads across the entire country. Dicle, upon learning that the document Erkan had her sign was a divorce paper, is utterly devastated. While Erkan works on uncovering who leaked the news, he tries to explain the truth to Burçin and mend their relationship. Burçin demands that the engagement happen immediately and that she be shown to the entire country as the "real bride". For this to come to pass, Dicle must announce at the engagement night that the marriage is merely a formality. The engagement ceremony, held in the shadow of paparazzi cameras, takes on an entirely different dimension with Dicle's shocking statement that surprises everyone. At the end of the night, the unexpected decision Dicle makes for her own life becomes the beginning of the unease that settles in Erkan's heart.

Upon learning of Dicle and Kadir's decision to marry, Erkan begins to question his feelings toward Dicle for the first time. Though he hasn't yet fully grasped his emotions, he finds himself constantly trailing Dicle, waiting for an explanation from her. But this time, Dicle is resolute; she gives Erkan no quarter. Influenced by someone within the family who appears friendly but subtly steers others toward their own interests, Dicle resolves to stand on her own two feet and starts working at the company. In addition to honing her reading and writing skills, she begins her first steps toward forging a new identity for herself. As Dicle grapples with the heartbreak Erkan left behind while clinging to the hope of rebuilding her life, her growing strength only fuels the anger of her brothers upon hearing of her marriage plans. In particular, Ferman's shadowy scheme with Fikret threatens to upend everyone's lives and snuff out Dicle's newly budding hopes once more.