Nikolai sat quietly, his eyes fixed on his tiny wife as she stayed with her great-grandfather, Zahirul. The mansion was unusually warm that day, filled with voices, family presence, and the uneasy calm before something unseen.
Zahirul turned gently toward the little girl.
"Neva, do you like the house?"
She nodded quickly.
"Uh huh… I… i… it v… v… very b… b…"
A man nearby finished softly, "Beautiful?"
Her face lit up immediately.
"Yes!" she said happily.
Zahirul had nine children—six daughters and three sons. The daughters were Fatema, Nabila, Shabnam, Oishi, Giti, and Chaya. The sons were Noman, Salman, and Asif. Noman was Riyana's father.
All were married, except tragedy had touched Asif deeply—he had lost his wife to an assassination carried out by goons who attacked the mansion. He was now left raising twin toddler daughters alone.
Zahirul shifted his gaze.
"Ria?"
The tiny girl, Lily—Neva—spoke softly.
"She coming."
Nikolai immediately looked up.
"Who is Ria?"
Riyana answered calmly.
Giti's eyes widened instantly.
"You mean Rima Rahim Uddin?!"
Giti froze.
"That her full name?"
Caspian answered without hesitation.
"Unfortunately, yes."
A dark feminine voice suddenly echoed from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Rima stood there.
She had arrived.
Her smile was sharp, almost mocking.
"Shobai-ke shubhechha, onek din hoye geche tai na?"
(Greetings everyone, it's been a long time don't you think?)
The tiny girl's face lit up.
"Ria!"
Rima walked in slowly, dressed in a flowing blue halter-neck gown with a dramatic train and a cape-like sleeve falling from one shoulder, the slit revealing her stride with controlled elegance.
One of the women whispered in shock,
"Oh my goodness… what is she wearing?"
Rima sat without asking, crossing her legs. She lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, smoke curling around her like a warning.
Her eyes landed on Zahirul.
"Nanu."
Zahirul sighed.
"Rima… you know the rules, don't you?"
Salman spoke cautiously.
Rima didn't respond. Instead, she handed Lily earbuds and an iPad playing a basketball game.
"Fuck your dumb rules," she said flatly.
"Rima!" Oishi snapped. "HEY!"
In a flash, Rima raised a fully loaded gun.
"Shut the fuck up and sit your ass down."
Silence fell instantly.
"Ria down," Nikolai ordered sharply.
Noman exhaled.
"You know her?"
Mr. Noman answered,
"She is a member of The Dominion Apex… the bloody sniper herself."
Alexxio frowned.
"Sniper?"
Giti whispered,
"You're a mafia woman?"
Nabila said sadly.
Rima's expression softened slightly.
"Yeah. I am."
Zahirul's voice cut through the tension.
"All of you leave. I want to talk to Rima."
Slowly, they obeyed.
Nikolai lifted Lily into his arms.
"Uhmm… come on, Bambi."
He carried her outside where her cousins were waiting. The moment they saw her, they called her to play games, and she disappeared into their laughter.
Inside, silence returned.
Zahirul cleared his throat.
"Rima… I know you've been very wrong. And no apology can fix it. But I want you to move on. You don't have to forget or forgive… but at least talk to them. Just once. Asif will be beside you."
Rima exhaled.
"Okay."
Zahirul smiled faintly.
"Now go change. This is what you kids call 'hot' but I find it… ewww."
Rima laughed, hugging him briefly before leaving.
By nightfall, Nikolai was rocking Lily to sleep when his phone rang.
"Yes?"
"Boss… someone stole from us. A lady. They're saying half of the company is now in her name. They're trying to hack your account—sir, hurry!"
Nikolai's expression hardened.
"What?"
"Yes sir! They're inside the system!"
He opened his laptop immediately.
"Everyone move," Damian said as chaos erupted.
Nimra's fingers flew across the keyboard.
"They're almost in!"
Farhan entered abruptly.
"Move."
He connected a USB and ran a command.
"System—destroy."
Nikolai secured the network and released a counter-virus.
"We need to go back," Nathan said.
"But how do we explain this?" Rima asked.
"Don't worry. Go. I'll handle it," Sohan said.
"We'll take care of Lily," he added.
Nikolai's phone rang again—unknown number.
He answered.
"How dare you," he said coldly.
A laugh came through.
"Nick baby… what's wrong? Did you get the message? Everything belongs to me now… including you."
His jaw tightened.
"Check your systems before talking."
A voice from the background reported,
"Ma… system crash. Everything is down. It's a deadly virus!"
"I will kill you," Nikolai growled.
A woman quickly covered Lily's ears.
"Now, now baby…" the caller teased.
"Shut up," Nikolai snapped. "If I get there, I want my shipments back. You have no rights to my businesses. You're done. Got it, bitch!"
He ended the call.
"Location?" Nimra asked.
"Chelyabinsk, Russia," she replied.
"We go," Nikolai said.
Sohan nodded.
They left.
Before departing, Nikolai paused at the bed.
"Bambi?"
She was asleep.
He placed flowers beside her, kissed her lips softly.
"I love you very much… I'll be back before you know it, sweetheart."
He kissed her nose and left.
By morning, July 28th, Lily woke up in a royal bed surrounded by veils and soft light.
"W… where Nikki?" she asked.
Anika sat beside her.
"I'm very sorry, sweetie… he left last night. It was important."
"N… Nikki l… left me? No b… bye bye?" she whispered, tears forming.
Anika unfolded a letter and read softly:
"My dearest tiny baby… I pinky promise to be back, okay my love. See you soon, my Queen."
Lily broke down crying.
"I w… will not t… talk to N… Nikki and e… everybody again!"
She buried her face in the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably.
Anika stroked her hair.
Meanwhile in Russia…
Nikolai entered a cold meeting room.
A man named Gleb stood there.
"We now have half your company in our name. Step down. Our boss is coming."
Nikolai laughed.
Not humor.
Something darker.
He sat in his CEO chair.
"You don't have the right to sit there anymore," the man said.
"Take him out," Nikolai ordered.
Bang.
Two men dropped instantly.
Brandon and Adrian lowered their weapons.
Gunfire erupted.
Within seconds, bodies fell—controlled, precise execution. Enzo, Sabrina, Nimra, Olivia, Valerio—each movement lethal.
One man was left screaming.
"You won't escape—"
A shot to his leg silenced him.
"Emil," Nikolai said calmly.
"We've got the bastard behind this."
David looked outside.
"She's here… with about 16 men."
Doors opened.
A woman stepped in.
Abellona Sorokina.
Half Polish, half Russian.
Red mini skirt, orange hair, black heels.
"Hi Nick sweetie!"
His eyes darkened.
Memories returned—school, betrayal, humiliation.
She smiled.
"Everything in my name now. You will divorce her in two months and marry me."
Nikolai's voice dropped.
"You think my work is yours?"
She smirked.
"It is."
A woman checked the system.
"What the—everything is under Lilith's name…"
Silence.
Abellona froze.
Nikolai stood.
"My wife owns everything. My company. My empire. Even my family agrees."
Abellona's face twisted.
"Kill her. Me and my women will destroy your wife."
That was the moment chaos erupted.
Gunfire. Screams. Metal.
But Nikolai didn't move.
When it ended, Abellona was dragged out.
"I WILL KILL HER!" she screamed.
Nikolai fired once.
"Try it, and your family will mourn."
She left.
Six days later, shipments were recovered. Traitors eliminated.
Nikolai stood speaking to Taran.
"She's here," Taran said. "And she brought everyone's shoes… to hit you."
Nikolai chuckled.
Then—
A scream.
Lily.
Blood.
Knives.
Goons.
Zahirul fired instantly, dropping five men. Riyana opened fire. One attacker fell dead instantly.
But Lily was injured—arms, legs, forehead bleeding.
A stone struck her. A bullet grazed her arm.
The video call showed her unconscious in Zafraan's arms.
Nikolai's expression shattered.
"Let go!" Hammed shouted as they rushed to leave.
Before boarding, Nikolai stopped.
He bought her candy, ice cream, oversized sweatshirt, flowers.
Everything she loved.
Everyone brought gifts.
They boarded the jet.
And took off.
Toward war.
Toward her.
Toward the storm waiting for the Queen of Underworld.