Nikolai held Lunessa carefully in his arms before gently placing her down beside her little toys. Her mini train had broken, and the moment she realized that it was no longer working, she began to cry.
"Hold on, sweetie," Nikolai reassured her.
Lunessa sniffed, her little face scrunching up as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Beside her, Tasnim held her sister's hand, blabbering softly as though she were trying to calm Lunessa down in her own little language.
Nikolai examined the mini train, determined to fix it for his daughter.
"There we go, Princess. All fixed now!"
He smiled as he turned it on.
The little train immediately began moving around the room, making its familiar sound.
"Choo! Choo!"
Lunessa's tears disappeared almost instantly.
Her little eyes widened as she watched the train moving around her. She began crawling after it, clapping her tiny hands happily as she followed its movements.
Nikolai watched her with an affectionate smile.
His daughter crawled around for a little while before eventually making her way back to her father.
She lifted herself toward him, planted a little kiss on his nose, and giggled.
"Aww! Baby, you're welcome, dear," Nikolai said lovingly.
He kissed her little cheek before allowing her to return to her toys.
Lunessa happily continued playing, completely forgetting that she had been crying only moments earlier.
For Nikolai, moments like these were priceless.
No matter how demanding his responsibilities became, no matter how many enemies stood against him, and no matter how dangerous the world outside their home could be, his daughters would always remain his greatest weakness.
And he would never apologize for that.
THE HIDDEN MANSION — AVLEEN'S RECOVERY
Inside the hidden mansion, Avleen's medical journey had been difficult.
Her surgery had failed twice, leaving everyone around her terrified of what might happen next. However, after enduring so much uncertainty, she had finally received the right treatment.
Rurik sat beside her, gently rubbing her hair while she slept.
His expression remained serious as he watched her resting peacefully.
After everything that had happened, seeing her finally get some rest brought him a little comfort.
He continued stroking her hair softly, careful not to disturb her sleep.
Meanwhile, Vlada was at school, going about her day.
Life continued for everyone, even when some wounds took much longer to heal than others.
CHARVI AND KNOX — TWO MONTHS AFTER THE BREAKUP
Two months had passed since Charvi ended her relationship with Knox.
Since their breakup, neither of them had spoken to the other properly.
Charvi had made the decision because she was terrified of hurting him. She believed that her anger, her painful past, and the terrible things she had endured would eventually destroy the happiness they could have shared.
She loved him, but she did not believe that love was enough to make her worthy of the future he wanted.
Knox, on the other hand, had been devastated.
He hardly came out of his room anymore. He spent most of his time alone, struggling with the emptiness Charvi had left behind.
He missed her terribly.
He missed her voice, her smile, her presence, and even the little things she did without realizing how much they meant to him.
Eventually, he began packing his belongings.
He had decided to leave for Australia.
Perhaps leaving would help him escape the memories that haunted him.
Perhaps the distance would finally allow him to move forward.
But before he left, he wanted to see her one last time.
He wanted to say goodbye.
And perhaps, somewhere deep inside, he still hoped she would give him a reason to stay.
LILITH VISITS CHARVI
Charvi sat alone in her dark room.
She had barely moved from her place for a long time, and the silence surrounding her had become almost unbearable.
The door suddenly opened.
Lilith stepped inside.
"Chi, come with me," she said gently.
Charvi slowly raised her head.
"Amma?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Lilith looked at her.
"Come with me now, Lily said nothing more as she waited for Charvi to follow."
Charvi hesitated before finally getting up.
She followed Lilith to the hall, where the older woman sat down while Charvi remained standing in front of her.
Lilith studied her face for a moment.
"I heard you and Knox broke up. Why is that?" she asked.
Charvi lowered her gaze.
"We aren't for each other, Maa," she answered in a low voice.
"Why do you think that?" Lilith asked.
Beside her, the water in the kettle was getting hot.
Charvi swallowed painfully.
"Maa, he is a good man, but I… I am not pure. I can't give him what he wants," she confessed.
Lilith's expression softened.
"He wants to start a family with me, but I… I can't," Charvi continued.
Her voice trembled as she struggled to finish her sentence.
"Did you tell him the reason?" Lilith asked.
Charvi shook her head.
"No."
Lilith sighed quietly.
"I think it's time you tell him before he leaves."
Charvi immediately looked up.
"I… I don't know how to say it."
Her hands began trembling.
"I lost my dignity that night. I lost everything."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
The words had been trapped inside her for years, buried beneath shame, fear, and memories she had desperately tried to forget.
"It is hard, yes," Lilith said gently. "But you need to let go, my dear. He is a good man for you. He will understand."
Charvi gripped her scarf more tightly.
She wanted to believe Lilith.
She wanted to believe that someone could hear her story and still look at her with love rather than disgust.
But the fear remained.
What if Knox looked at her differently?
What if he pitied her?
What if he left her just as everyone else had?
She wiped her cheeks, took a shaky breath, and finally decided to face the truth.
THE CONFESSION — CHARVI'S DARKEST SECRET
Charvi entered her room.
Knox was sitting on a chair, both arms resting on his knees.
He looked up when he saw her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"You're here?" Charvi whispered.
Tears immediately gathered in her eyes.
Knox slowly stood up.
"I came to say goodbye," he replied.
Charvi sniffed.
He walked toward her, and she stared into his eyes, trying to memorize the face she feared she would never see again.
"Thank you for the months, Chi. It was beautiful while it lasted. And maybe you will find someone who loves you more than I do," Knox said quietly.
Her tears began flowing more heavily.
He gently wiped them away with his fingers.
Then he turned and began walking past her.
"Marital rape," Charvi whispered.
Knox stopped.
He slowly turned around.
"Hm?" he asked.
"Marital rape. That's why I ended things with you. I thought that if you knew about me, you would leave me alone, just like everyone else did."
Knox stared at her.
"Marital rape?" he repeated, struggling to understand.
Charvi's lips trembled.
"I was raped by two men," she whispered.
Her voice broke.
"At thirteen, I was forced into child marriage."
Knox stood frozen.
He could barely comprehend what she had just told him.
"W… when I got my first period in my village, we were expected to get married immediately. My father kept checking my late sister and me to see whether we had started bleeding."
Charvi struggled to breathe.
"My sister was fifteen when she got her first period. My mother pleaded with my father not to sell her off and force her into marriage, but h… h… he killed her."
Knox's face changed.
Nobody had ever told him any of this.
Nobody had ever given him a reason to understand why Charvi carried so much pain.
"Nobody did anything. Nobody spoke about it because it was considered traditional for men."
She began crying harder.
"In just three days, my sister's body came home. Twelve men raped her to death. They abused her, starved her, and tortured her."
Knox stared at her, his thoughts tangled in horror, disbelief, and grief.
He wanted to say something.
He wanted to comfort her.
But he could not find the words.
"I… I got my first period at thirteen. I was planning on running away."
Charvi's hands shook as she remembered.
"My eldest brother sold me to his friend in exchange for land and money."
She looked down at the floor.
"I worked day and night. I ate their leftovers. I wasn't allowed to go outside except to work on the farms."
Her voice became smaller.
"Then one day, he came back drunk while I was asleep in the kitchen."
She gripped her clothes tightly.
Knox watched her, understanding that telling this story was hurting her all over again.
"He dragged me into the room. My head hit the stairs, and there was blood everywhere."
Her breathing became uneven.
"I begged and cried for help, but none of the women came."
She covered her mouth briefly, trying to contain her sobs.
"He stripped me and raped me all day. N… none stop."
Knox's eyes filled with tears.
He had never imagined that the woman he loved had endured something so terrible.
Charvi continued, forcing herself to speak even though every word seemed to reopen an old wound.
"For three years, I lived like that. When I was sixteen, his brother kept watching me while I worked."
She swallowed.
"That was when the accident happened at the farm."
Her eyes became distant as the memories returned.
"I was told not to come inside unless I brought vegetables for my mother-in-law. It rained the whole night."
She began trembling violently.
"His brother and his friends got me…"
Her voice broke completely.
"They harassed me. They touched me everywhere. I… I… I can still feel their hands on me."
She pressed her palms against her arms as though trying to remove a touch that was no longer there.
"Their dirty smiles. Their lustful eyes. The way they raped me."
Knox's hands curled into fists, but he remained still, listening to her.
"They dragged my body to a truck and tied me to it. They drove off."
Charvi sobbed.
"My body still has marks from that night."
She wiped her face, but the tears would not stop.
"I woke up in the hospital. The doctor told me I was pregnant and that I had lost the baby."
Her voice became almost inaudible.
"Then I received more bad news. I can't give birth again."
Knox stared at her in shock.
"I escaped before anyone could get to me again. I spent two years on the streets."
She took a shaky breath.
"Then Mother found us and took us in."
Her shoulders began shaking as she cried harder.
"I am sorry."
She covered her face in shame.
Knox could hardly bear to look at her without feeling his heart break.
She had spent years believing that what had been done to her had taken something from her worth.
She had believed that her suffering made her unworthy of love.
And she had carried that belief into their relationship, silently preparing herself to be abandoned.
"I really do love you a lot," Charvi continued through her tears. "I just can't give you the family you wanted. I am so sorry. Please forgive me, Knox."
For a moment, he remained motionless.
Then he stepped closer.
Without saying another word, he pulled her into a deep hug.
Charvi stiffened in surprise before breaking down against his chest.
"I am sorry for everything," Knox whispered.
His arms tightened around her.
"I didn't know this was the pain you had been carrying for years, Chi. I am so, so sorry, my love."
He held her tightly, allowing her to cry.
He kissed her forehead and gently stroked her hair.
He did not ask her to explain herself again.
He did not demand details.
He did not tell her that she should have spoken sooner.
He simply held her.
Charvi clutched his shirt as though she were afraid that he would disappear the moment she loosened her grip.
Knox rested his cheek against her head.
"Oh, baby," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I missed this."
He held her even closer.
For the first time in two months, they were no longer standing on opposite sides of a silence neither of them knew how to break.
They were simply Charvi and Knox.
Two people who loved each other.
Two people carrying different kinds of pain.
And two people who still had a chance to decide what their future would look like.
AT SCHOOL — STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GROWTH
At school, Lilith sat with her project group.
Their assigned topic was:
Strategic Management and Corporate Growth in Multinational Conglomerates and International Marketing Strategies for Multinational Business Expansion.
The group had been discussing their research, dividing responsibilities, and reviewing the materials they had gathered.
Diana, however, was busy typing on her phone.
Her friends sat behind her while the other students worked on the project.
Zeno happened to glance toward the library entrance.
He noticed Wiktoria walking inside.
A mischievous smirk appeared on his face.
He excused himself from the group.
"BRB," he said.
Then he followed her.
ZENO AND WIKTORIA — A SECRET CRUSH
Wiktoria hummed softly to the song playing in her ears as she walked between the library shelves.
She stopped in front of a high shelf and stretched her hand toward a book placed just beyond her reach.
She rose onto her toes.
Still, she could not reach it.
She pouted adorably.
"Hmmm!" she murmured.
Suddenly, a taller hand reached above her and took the book from the shelf.
The person handed it to her.
"Oh, thank—"
Wiktoria stopped speaking when she looked up.
Zeno.
Her academic rival.
The boy who had spent years making her life difficult.
And the same boy who had secretly harbored a crush on her for three years.
"Come on, Bunny. Complete your sentence," he teased.
Wiktoria held the book tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She attempted to walk away.
Zeno stepped into her path.
She moved to the right.
He blocked her again.
She tried the other side, but he moved with her.
Eventually, he bent down to meet her height.
"Oh, aren't you just more gorgeous up close?" he whispered.
Wiktoria's back touched the wall behind her.
Zeno moved closer.
"D… don't touch me," she warned.
He gave her a teasing smile.
"Oh, Bunny, I'm trying not to. But you're irresistible."
She stared at him.
"Since our first year, I've tried my absolute hardest to stay away from you, but you're just too cute," Zeno admitted.
Wiktoria pushed him away.
He chuckled and caught her by the waist, pulling her closer.
Their noses almost touched.
Zeno's cheeks turned red.
For three years, he had tried to conceal his feelings for her.
He was a bully, and she was his academic rival. Their constant competition had made it difficult for him to admit that the girl he teased most was also the girl he could not stop thinking about.
Wiktoria's cheeks turned red too.
Their foreheads touched.
"This is our little secret, Bunny. Just you and me," he whispered into her ear.
"No… this is wrong," she replied, pushing him back slightly.
"I know," Zeno said. "But, to be honest, Wiktoria, I don't care."
He pulled her closer and kissed her.
The kiss caught her off guard, but she eventually wrapped her arms around him.
Zeno's movements softened as he kissed her again.
"You liar," Wiktoria whispered when they finally separated.
Then she kissed him back.
Zeno chuckled.
"Diana will never know. And Lilith won't know either. Your twin brother won't know. Just us."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I promise, Zeno said."
They kissed again.
Neither of them noticed how complicated their secret could become if the wrong person discovered it.
For now, however, the library remained quiet, and their secret stayed between them.
NIKOLAI AND AZENARI — THE POWER OF A PACIFIER
"Oh, come on! I said sorry!" Nikolai protested.
Azenari sat in front of him with her pacifier in her mouth, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
She pouted at her father.
Nikolai leaned closer, attempting to charm his little daughter into forgiving him.
"Come on, baby. Dada's sorry, hm?"
He made the cutest apologetic face he could manage.
Azenari lifted her tiny arms and tapped his face while blabbering at him.
"I know, I know. Bad Dada," he admitted.
She blinked at him.
Then she blinked again.
Nikolai stared at her little face.
He was a powerful man, but apparently, none of his influence could save him from a tiny girl with a pacifier.
"Hi, Nikki!" Lilith greeted as she walked in.
"Bambi, welcome home."
He leaned toward her, and they kissed.
Azenari giggled happily, bouncing her little body as she watched her parents.
"HELLOOOOOOO!" Lilith announced cheerfully.
She kissed Azenari's cheeks.
"Weekends at home! Yayyy!"
Azenari clapped her little hands.
Her happiness was contagious.
Soon, they gathered their belongings and got into the van.
The family drove off together, ready to enjoy their time at home.
LUNCH AT THE MANSION — NISTARINI TRIES MEATLOAF
During lunch, Nistarini looked around the mansion in amazement.
The interior was beautiful, and every corner seemed carefully designed.
"This place is beautiful," she whispered.
Lilith served her some food.
Nistarini looked down at the dish and poked it curiously.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's called meatloaf," Farhan explained as he settled Nimra, who was three months pregnant with her second child.
"Kya?" Nistarini asked, confused.
"Meatloaf. Taste it," Lilith encouraged.
She took a spoon, cut a small piece, and tasted it slowly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She looked at Lilith.
"It tastes really good! This is my first time trying it," she said.
Lilith smiled.
Before anyone could continue the conversation, David walked into the room.
"Uhmm, Boss," he said.
"Yeah?" Nikolai replied.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Mila was standing there, holding flowers.
Kalma stood behind her.
"Hi, Papa!" Mila greeted.
Nikolai looked at his daughter.
Then he looked at the flowers.
Then he looked back at his daughter.
"Aww, Mimi, are those for Papa?" Meghan asked.
"Nope!" Mila answered brightly.
Nikolai's expression changed.
"A boy gave Mil pretty flowers because I'm very pretty!"
Silence.
Nikolai froze.
The glass cup in his hand slipped.
CRASH!
The cup shattered.
Everyone stared at him.
"Uh-oh…" Lilith murmured.
Nikolai looked as though he had just received the worst news of his entire life.
"Oh, really, baby? Is he your boyfriend?" Arina asked mischievously.
Mila blushed.
"Nooooo! He's my friend!" she insisted.
Nikolai covered his mouth.
Adrian, who was holding his new baby boy, Bastian, looked at him.
"The boss is in denial," Adrian remarked.
The family burst into laughter.
Naomi leaned toward Mila.
"Is he a gentleman, Mil?"
"Uh-huh!" Mila replied enthusiastically.
"He opens doors for me, gives me lots of chocolates, and kisses me here!"
She pointed to her cheek.
That was the final straw.
"THAT DOES IT! HELL FUCKING NO! KISSES?!" Nikolai exploded.
Lilith immediately looked at him.
"Nikki!"
But before he could continue his dramatic protest, Ella joined the conversation.
"Calm down, Unca! I have a boyfriend, and he kisses me here too!"
She pointed at her cheek.
"WHAT?!" Ethan shouted.
"No boys until you're twenty!" he declared.
Ella folded her arms.
"Well, it's not my fault I'm gorgeous," she replied confidently.
Kalma laughed.
"Clock it!"
Mila happily returned to her father.
"Look, Papa! These are my favorite flowers!"
Nikolai stared at them with absolute despair.
"My worst fucking nightmare," he whispered.
Mila giggled.
"I'm going to sleep now. Bye!"
She skipped away happily.
Lilith watched her daughter disappear down the hall before looking at Nikolai.
He turned toward her with an expression of pure devastation.
"Look, look, look! She's doing the 'I'm in love' skip! She can't have a boyfriend! She's not thirty yet! How the fuck am I going to deal with this, huh?!"
He looked at Lilith as though she were supposed to provide an immediate solution.
Lilith struggled to contain her laughter.
"Calm down, Nikki," she said, holding him gently.
"CALM DOWN?!" he repeated.
"No, no, no, no, no!"
He shook his head repeatedly.
"She's growing up! One day, you'll walk her down the aisle," Lilith reminded him.
Nikolai went silent.
His mind began wandering.
He imagined Mila years later, standing beside him in a beautiful wedding gown.
He imagined holding her arm as they walked down the aisle.
He imagined her smiling at him before releasing his arm.
Then she would take her husband's arm instead.
She would look at her husband with the same smile she once gave her father.
Nikolai's imagination went further.
He imagined another man taking Mila away from him.
His expression darkened.
He shook his head violently.
"FUCK NO!" he declared.
The entire family burst into laughter.
Lilith held him closer, laughing against his shoulder.
For Nikolai, the idea of his little girl growing up was apparently more frightening than any enemy he had ever faced.
KNOX SEEKS HELP FOR CHARVI
Later, Knox sat beside Charvi while she slept.
He gently rubbed her hair, watching her peaceful face.
After hearing her confession, he understood that her decision to leave him had not come from a lack of love.
It had come from fear.
She had spent years believing that her past had made her unworthy of happiness.
Knox wanted to help her understand that she deserved a future beyond the suffering she had endured.
He wanted to give her the chance to dream again.
When Dr. Maira entered the room, he looked up.
"You called?" she asked.
Knox nodded.
"Charvi is barren, but I want to make her dream come true. Is there anything possible for her case?"
Dr. Maira considered his question carefully.
"We have treated patients with similar cases. However, we need to understand her individual medical condition before discussing what might be possible. Bring her to the hospital for a full checkup," she explained.
Knox nodded.
"Sure."
He looked down at Charvi and gently continued rubbing her hair.
He knew there were no guarantees.
He knew that some things could not simply be fixed with money, determination, or love.
But he wanted to explore every medically appropriate option available to her.
He wanted Charvi to have the opportunity to make informed decisions about her own future.
Dr. Maira left the room.
Knox continued sitting beside Charvi, silently hoping that the days ahead would bring her more peace than the years behind her.
LILITH'S NIGHTMARE — THE ANCIENT WEAPON
That night, Lilith was asleep when a disturbing dream began unfolding in her mind.
She stood in a strange place surrounded by darkness.
An ancient weapon appeared before her.
It was glowing.
Its presence felt old, powerful, and dangerous, as though it had survived countless generations.
Lilith reached out and held it.
The weapon's glow intensified.
Then she saw blood dripping from it.
Blood belonging to her enemies.
The images became increasingly vivid.
The darkness seemed to close around her.
Suddenly, Lilith gasped and woke from her sleep.
Her breathing was uneven.
She looked around the classroom, disoriented.
Only her friends were there.
Wiktor noticed her expression immediately.
"You okay, girl?" he asked.
Lilith wiped her face and nodded.
"Yeah. Just a nightmare," she answered.
But the strange weapon remained in her thoughts.
She could not understand why she had dreamed about it or why the images had felt so real.
For a moment, she sat quietly, trying to steady her breathing.
Whatever the dream meant, she could not shake the feeling that something ancient was waiting for her.
JUNE 12 — THE PROJECT GROUPS FACE MS. ANJA
Gloria's phone suddenly chimed.
She glanced at the screen.
A message appeared.
Boss is coming this week, so prepare yourself.
Gloria read it carefully.
It was June 12, and the project groups were busy working on their assignments.
Lilith sat with her group, reviewing their work.
Diana, however, had other plans.
She stood up and collected her belongings.
"I'm going shopping, y'all can handle this, right?" she announced.
The others stared at her.
Monica slowly turned toward Diana.
"Diana, you haven't helped with anything yet! In your stupid mind, do you think that if we get grades, you and your group will receive the same results?"
Diana rolled her eyes.
Vasilisa crossed her arms.
"We aren't your slaves, so you will work too."
Tiffany scoffed.
"Or what?" she challenged.
Before anyone else could respond, Ms. Anja approached them.
"Or you fail this course, fail the class, and repeat this course again while the others graduate," she said firmly.
The group fell silent.
Ms. Anja looked directly at Diana and the other students who had contributed little or nothing to their projects.
"It's your cheap and disgusting behavior that allows other people to work while you enjoy yourselves. You expect your classmates to carry you while you do absolutely nothing."
Diana's expression hardened.
Ms. Anja continued.
"Every group will present individually, one by one. So move your lazy asses and get to work."
The students began talking among themselves.
Ms. Anja raised her hand to silence them.
"And one more thing. Do not steal another person's work. I will know if you do."
She looked around the room.
"Good luck."
With that, Ms. Anja walked out.
Diana gripped her Chanel bag tightly.
Raul laughed.
"Going shopping?" he mocked.
He tilted his head.
"What's wrong, hm?"
Monica laughed at Diana's expression.
Diana said nothing.
But the message was clear.
She would have to contribute to the project whether she liked it or not.
THE RETURN OF VALEN AND VALENCIA
"Good morning, everyone!" Valen and Valencia greeted.
The twins had returned after three years away.
A great deal had happened during their absence.
Mr. Grayson had passed away two years earlier, and they had remained at their parents' home in Italy.
Now they were back.
"Hi, guys!" Zhanna exclaimed, hurrying over to hug them both.
Valencia smiled when she noticed Rosa.
"Awww, Rosa! You're getting bigger, baby!"
Rosa giggled.
Valencia handed her a beautiful gift.
"Here you go, baby. A pretty gift for you."
Rosa accepted it happily.
Valen suddenly gasped.
"Oh my God! Mila!"
He called her name so loudly that several people turned around.
"MILAAAAAAAA!"
Mika ran toward him.
Valen immediately lifted her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
"V!" she exclaimed.
"I missed you so much!" she added.
"Aww, baby! I missed you too, sweetheart," Valen replied.
Mila hugged Valencia next.
The twins laughed as they welcomed her.
Then their attention shifted to the babies.
"Hello, lovies!" they greeted warmly.
The girls smiled at them.
One by one, they crawled toward the twins, eager to be held and cuddled.
Valen and Valencia bent down to welcome them, showering the little ones with affection.
After three years away, their return brought a new kind of happiness to the mansion.
There were hugs, laughter, excited voices, and countless questions about everything that had happened while they were gone.
For a little while, the house felt even more alive than usual.
MONDAY MORNING — NIKOLAI'S OFFICE
Monday morning arrived.
Inside Nikolai's office, Tasnim sat on the floor, arranging her blocks.
Her sisters were asleep nearby.
Nikolai was attending a meeting, reviewing documents while the company representatives explained their work.
Olivia approached him quietly.
"Boss, the girls are asleep, except Tasnim. She's busy with her blocks," she reported.
Nikolai nodded.
He glanced toward his daughter, who remained completely absorbed in her little activity.
Tasnim picked up another block and carefully placed it on top of the others.
She appeared determined to build something impressive.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, Nolan was working in his office.
Berlina slept peacefully in her miniature crib beside him.
He had installed a small crib in the office so that she could remain close while he worked.
Oswald and Warren entered.
"Boss," they greeted.
"Shhh!" Nolan immediately warned.
Both men stopped.
Oswald lowered his voice.
"Oh."
They glanced toward the sleeping baby.
Berlina was wrapped softly in a warm blanket. Her little hands were tucked beneath the fabric, and her hair partially covered them.
Her pacifier rested in her mouth.
The baby noise machine hummed gently nearby, creating a soothing atmosphere while helping maintain a comfortable environment for her.
Oswald looked at her and smiled.
"Aww."
Nolan rose from his chair.
The men carefully moved away from the crib, making sure not to wake Berlina.
They left the room quietly.
Nolan watched them go before returning his attention to the sleeping baby.
For all his responsibilities, he was determined to make sure Berlina remained safe and comfortable.
TWO WEEKS LATER — THE FEVER THAT WOULDN'T BREAK
Two weeks passed.
June was coming to an end.
It was midnight, and most of the girls were asleep.
Except Giselle.
She had been crying throughout the night.
Nikolai held her in his arms, gently rocking her as he tried to soothe her.
"Shhh, baby. Why isn't your fever coming down?" he whispered.
His voice trembled.
Tears began rolling down his cheeks.
He had faced dangerous situations without hesitation, but seeing his little daughter sick and uncomfortable was something he could hardly bear.
Giselle cried louder.
Nikolai held her closer.
"Please, baby," he whispered.
He checked her again, hoping that her fever would finally begin to decrease.
But she continued crying.
"Nikki?"
Lilith's sleepy voice came from behind him.
She had been asleep after finishing her last examination, but Giselle's cries had woken her.
Lilith came downstairs and found Nikolai sitting with their daughter in his arms.
He was crying.
Lilith's expression immediately changed.
She approached him and gently took Giselle into her arms.
Then she began breastfeeding her, trying to comfort the distressed baby.
"Hey, baby," Lilith whispered to Nikolai. "Look at me. Why are you crying?"
Nikolai sniffed.
"Her fever… I… I can't get it to come down."
His voice broke.
"She's in pain. She's crying so much, and… and it hurts."
Tears continued streaming down his face.
Lilith looked at him with concern.
She understood how frightened he was.
Before she could say anything else, the doctor entered.
Nikolai's tears continued as the doctor approached Giselle and began examining her.
After checking the baby, the doctor turned toward them.
"She has a high fever. I checked the girls too, and they are all okay. Only Giselle has the fever," the doctor explained.
Nikolai immediately looked at his daughter.
"Is she going to be okay?" he asked anxiously.
The doctor explained that Giselle needed medication and careful monitoring.
"I've brought medication for her. Make sure she takes this in the morning after meals, and this one at midday as instructed," the doctor said, explaining the prescribed schedule.
Nikolai accepted the medication.
He listened carefully to the instructions, determined not to make a mistake.
Lilith continued holding Giselle.
Gradually, the baby became calmer.
Her cries softened until she finally fell asleep.
Lilith looked at Nikolai.
"Come on, Nikki. Sleep now," she said gently.
Nikolai sniffed and wiped his nose.
He looked at Giselle one more time before leaning toward Lilith.
He was exhausted.
He was frightened.
But at least their daughter was finally resting.
FOUR DAYS LATER — THE PROJECT VIDEO CALL
Four days later, Lilith joined a video call with her project group.
She sat comfortably while Brown explained the group's work.
Everyone was listening carefully when a deep voice suddenly interrupted from behind the camera.
"Lily, baby, I got your drink. I'm heading to the office now. Need anything on the way back, darling?"
It was Nikolai.
The group immediately looked at Lilith.
Lilith muted the call.
"No, Nikki. After this, I'll go to the store later. You have a great day at the office. And, oh, I'm buying your stuff because you've run out of snacks and drinks," she told him.
Nikolai smiled and leaned toward her.
He kissed her deeply.
The students stared at their screens.
Lilith turned on the speaker again and returned to her work.
"Bye, baby. Love you!" Nikolai said.
Lilith did not reply immediately.
She continued writing.
Nikolai waited.
Then he spoke again.
"Lilith Mhaira Beneva ND, I said I love you!"
Lilith's cheeks turned red.
The entire group erupted into laughter.
"Come on, tell the man you love him back! Don't be shy," Brown teased.
The others laughed even harder.
Lilith covered her face briefly.
"I love you too, Kaal," she finally replied.
"Bye, baby!" Nikolai said happily.
"Bye, love," Lilith answered.
The call went silent for a second.
Then Monica practically screamed.
"Awwww!"
Diana rolled her eyes.
"Shut up," she muttered.
"Fuck off, bitch," Monica shot back.
Their laughter continued as the group returned to the project.
Lilith tried to concentrate on her work, but her cheeks remained warm.
Her husband certainly knew how to embarrass her in front of her classmates.
And judging by his expression before he left, he had enjoyed every second of it.
NOLAN TAKES BERLINA TO THE SALON
Later, Nolan entered a salon with Berlina.
He had brought her there to have her ears pierced.
He looked at the baby in his arms, then glanced around the salon.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked.
Agrona nodded.
"Yes, Boss. So she can wear pretty earrings!"
Horace looked at Nolan.
Nolan appeared nervous.
He had tried to convince himself that everything would be fine, but the thought of Berlina crying made him uncomfortable.
"All right," he finally said.
The piercer approached.
Nolan looked at her seriously.
"If she cries, I will kill you and burn this shop down. Am I clear?"
The piercer stared at him.
She nodded nervously.
"But, sir, it's a needle piercing. She will cry, though," she explained.
Nolan turned toward his team.
"That is true, Boss," Warren admitted.
Berlina was busy playing with Nolan's rings.
She pulled at them curiously, completely unaware of the discussion taking place around her.
Nolan turned her gently toward him.
"Shut up, okay? Don't you dare cry," he warned her.
Berlina smiled.
She even pulled his tie.
Nolan stared at her.
"All right. Ready, Angel?" Oswald asked.
Berlina hummed softly.
Nolan held her securely.
"Three…"
He took a breath.
"Two…"
Everyone watched.
"One!"
THUMP!
The piercer completed the procedure on both ears.
Berlina's eyes widened.
Nolan immediately looked at her face.
She was still playing with his tie.
He blinked.
"All done?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Double piercing on both ears. Look," the piercer answered.
Nolan examined Berlina's ears.
There were two tiny holes on each ear.
He carefully rubbed her back.
"Strong girl," he murmured.
Berlina giggled.
Nolan looked relieved.
The entire group finally relaxed.
Afterward, they went to the jewelry store together to select earrings for Berlina.
Nolan examined the available designs carefully, determined to choose something beautiful for the little girl who had barely noticed the procedure.
A STRANGER TAKES AN INTEREST IN LILITH
Elsewhere, Lilith pushed her shopping cart toward the next section of the store.
She was concentrating on the items she needed when she noticed a man repeatedly looking in her direction.
At first, she ignored him.
However, he eventually approached her.
"Hey, beautiful," he greeted.
Lilith glanced at him briefly.
Then she raised her hand, deliberately showing him her wedding ring.
The man looked at it.
"I don't care about that. How about we exchange numbers, hm?" he asked.
Lilith's dark green eyes met his brown ones.
Her expression immediately turned cold.
"Get lost. Now," she ordered.
The man smiled as though her rejection amused him.
"Okay, Princess. See you around."
Lilith moved away without responding.
She had no interest in entertaining his behavior.
However, the man took out his phone and secretly snapped a picture of her.
He studied the photograph with a smirk.
"Find her information," he ordered someone.
He had no idea how dangerous it could be to become interested in the wrong woman.
Lilith continued shopping, completely unaware that someone had begun looking into her identity.
She picked up Nikolai's favorite chips.
Then she selected chocolates for Mila.
She placed the items in her cart and continued with her shopping.
To Lilith, it had been nothing more than an irritating encounter.
But to the stranger, it was the beginning of an investigation.
HAPPY NEW MONTH — TEN MONTHS OF LOVE
The first day of a new month arrived.
Lilith gathered the girls and clapped her hands happily.
"Happy new month, babies! It's Mama Month, and you're all ten months old now! Yayyyyy!"
The girls giggled excitedly.
Their tiny hands clapped along with their mother's.
Nikolai and Lilith stood together as they celebrated another month of their daughters' lives.
They blew out the candles, continuing the little tradition they had maintained on the first day of every month for each of the girls.
The celebration was filled with smiles, laughter, and affectionate kisses.
Every month reminded them of how quickly their daughters were growing.
And neither parent wanted to miss a single moment.
MILA'S FLOWERS — NIKOLAI'S NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE
Mila walked into the room holding even more flowers.
Nikolai's face immediately became irritated.
"More flowers?" he asked.
Mila giggled.
"For Sissy!" she explained.
Nikolai visibly relaxed.
"Better," he replied.
Mila looked at him mischievously.
"Aww, Papa's jealous!"
Nikolai scoffed.
"I am not jealous."
"Hmmm. Really?" Mila asked.
She tilted her head.
"Okay, then. My boyfriend will give me more kisses. We have a playdate!"
Nikolai slowly turned toward Lilith.
"DATE?!" he exclaimed.
Lilith immediately tried to calm him down.
"Playdate, Nikki."
He stared at her.
Then he looked back at Mila.
"You're grounded!" he declared.
Mila giggled.
She was deliberately pulling her father's leg, and she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
Nikolai could only stare at her in disbelief.
Before he could continue his protest, Lunessa reached toward him.
"D… Dada!" she said.
Both parents froze.
Lilith's eyes widened.
"Oh my God, baby! You said Dada!" she exclaimed.
Nikolai's heart melted instantly.
He scooped Lunessa into his arms.
"Dada! Dada!" Lunessa repeated, clapping her hands.
Nikolai kissed her cheeks repeatedly.
For a moment, every thought about Mila's supposed boyfriend disappeared.
His attention belonged entirely to the little girl in his arms.
Lilith smiled at them.
These were the moments she treasured most.
The laughter.
The little voices.
The first words.
The affection that filled their home.
No matter how complicated life became, their family continued giving them reasons to smile.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE VENOMOUS BEAST
The private jets landed.
The Venomous Beast and the group disembarked.
One by one, they walked toward their waiting vehicles.
The Devourer King settled into his car.
They were going to see their families first.
After their journeys, everyone wanted to return home, embrace their loved ones, and spend some time away from their responsibilities.
The vehicles soon departed, carrying them toward their respective destinations.
Meanwhile, somewhere else, an entirely different home was being prepared for a very special arrival.
THE NEWLY BUILT MANSION — YAMINI RETURNS
Inside a newly built mansion, the workers were busy cleaning every room.
Everything had to be perfect.
Geeta was in the kitchen, preparing fresh food.
Mr. Jaswant sat nearby while one of his company representatives showed him a project.
Geeta looked around, checking that everything was in order.
"Come on! I want everything to be clean. My Yaya is coming!" she announced.
Mrs. Amudha sat nearby, sipping her tea.
Her daughter, Chitra, was still behaving like a spoiled brat.
Mr. Jaswant, however, no longer paid attention to either of them.
His focus was elsewhere.
The mansion was being prepared for someone important.
Someone whose arrival would change the atmosphere of the house.
Suddenly, the doors opened.
A loud voice rang through the mansion.
"GRANDMAAAAAAA!"
Geeta's head snapped toward the entrance.
Then she screamed with excitement.
There she was.
Yamini.
She rolled her luggage into the mansion with an unmistakable sense of confidence.
At twenty-three years old, she looked even more beautiful than before she had left.
Her outfit was stylish, edgy, and unapologetically bold.
She wore a black oversized Balenciaga bomber jacket with distressed details.
Beneath it was a white strapless bustier featuring a skeleton-hand graphic across the bust.
A black leather miniskirt accentuated the outfit, paired with a belt featuring a large silver buckle.
Black knee-high stiletto boots completed the look.
She carried a white shoulder bag decorated with a graphic of Marilyn Monroe and the words Forever Beautiful.
Yamini looked around the mansion and grinned.
"AM BACKKKKK!" she announced.
Mr. Jaswant immediately stood up.
For a moment, he simply stared at his daughter.
Then he walked toward her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Meri Baccha!" he exclaimed.
"My child!"
Yamini hugged him back.
Her smile widened as she felt his arms around her.
But before they could say much more, Geeta rushed over and pulled Yamini away from him.
She wrapped her arms around her granddaughter, hugging her tightly.
"Look at you, my sweet baby!" Geeta exclaimed.
She held Yamini's face between her hands, examining her as though she were still the little girl she remembered.
"Have you been eating?" she asked worriedly.
Yamini burst into laughter.
"I missed your food so much, Grandma!" she replied.
Geeta immediately brightened.
"Come, come, come, come!"
She took Yamini's hand and led her toward the dining room.
Yamini followed, still smiling.
Geeta had prepared fresh food for her, and she was determined to make sure her granddaughter ate properly after being away for so long.
Once they reached the dining room, Geeta began feeding Yamini with the enthusiasm of someone who had waited years for this exact moment.
Yamini accepted the food happily.
She had returned home.
And judging by Geeta's excitement, she would not be leaving the dining table hungry anytime soon.
For the first time in a long while, the mansion was filled with the sounds of a long-awaited reunion.
Laughter echoed through the rooms.
Hugs were exchanged.
Food was served.
And Yamini's return marked the beginning of another chapter in the ever-growing story