The morning was still and quiet.
Nikolai gently patted the tiny girl who was still asleep in his arms. The large gift boxes remained stacked in the living room, untouched. The mansion was silent — everyone still asleep.
By exactly 8:00 AM, the gang walked in holding their bags. Servants rushed forward, taking the luggage and placing them in rooms at the other side of the mansion. They all sat down, whispering among themselves, feeling bad for the tiny girl after yesterday's chaos.
Nikolai walked in, folding his sleeves casually.
"Why are you all here so early? Bambi is still sleeping," he said coldly.
"Well… we are all moving in," Darya replied.
"Huh?" Nikolai frowned.
"Yeah, we, uhmm… we're here for Lily so… yeah," Kenan muttered while drinking water.
"Yep," Dominion Apex added.
"Brother, Lily is not in her room," Yulian suddenly said.
Everyone froze.
"Uhmm… Nikolai…" Addison's voice trembled.
"I found her!" she shouted.
They rushed outside — and their eyes widened.
The tiny girl was sitting on the grass, playing with Nikolai's tigers.
"Good kitty!" Lily giggled, patting them as they roared playfully. She had somehow let them out of their enclosure.
Nikolai owned four of the world's most dangerous tigers — an Indochinese tiger, a white Siberian tiger, another Indochinese tiger, and a Malayan tiger.
"Lily, get away from there!" Nikolai shouted.
She only giggled louder.
"LILLY GET OUT NOW!" he roared.
The tiny girl flinched at his loud voice.
"Woah, calm down. They're not hurting her. She's just feeding them," Megha said calmly.
The guards quickly secured the tigers.
"No…" Lilith whispered sadly.
Nikolai stormed forward and grabbed her arm.
"Are you crazy?! Those are dangerous animals! They could eat you!"
Her lips trembled.
"Y… y… you're mean! T… t… the k… kit… kittens were s… sad and h… hungry so Lily g… gave them a snack and y… you scolded me! I no talk to you… again! Big meanie!"
She cried and stomped on Nikolai's toe.
"It doesn't hurt," he muttered.
"Oh yeah? Take t… this!" she yelled — and kicked him hard in his manhood.
His eyes widened instantly.
"DAMN!" Damian shouted.
The tiny girl stuck her tongue out and ran inside, wiping her tears.
"Boss… a-are you okay?" Damian asked while everyone burst into laughter.
"It's not funny!" Nikolai growled angrily.
Inside, Lily opened all the gift boxes.
Her eyes sparkled.
Bengal and Indian dresses, colorful lehengas, henna cones, bangles, anklets, necklaces, earrings — jewelry everywhere.
She clapped happily.
"Kya tumhein apne uphaar pasand hain? (Do you like your gifts?)" Urlima asked.
The tiny girl nodded excitedly.
"Come on, baccha, let's apply henna on you!" Nimra and Rima said.
Lilith sat still as the intricate henna patterns were drawn on her hands.
Two hours later, the henna had dried beautifully.
Rima had secretly written Nikolai's name on Lily's right palm.
His name darkened quickly.
"Look at her hand," Vishal said to Nikolai.
Nikolai glanced at her palm.
"Looks like you and Lilith will have a healthy relationship. Also… you'll fall deeply in love with her," Vishal teased.
"I doubt it," Nikolai replied dryly, making Vishal roll his eyes.
By 3 PM, Lilith was fully dressed in a traditional Indian outfit — glowing like a little bride.
When she saw Nikolai, she pouted angrily.
"Lily, go with brother," Arina said softly.
"Nope. Nikki is a big meanie!" she huffed, folding her arms and turning away.
Nikolai rolled his eyes and lifted her up.
"Let me go, you big meanie!" she protested.
They got into the car and drove off.
She refused to look at him.
"Lily?" he called softly.
"Hmmmp!" she turned away dramatically.
He chuckled and pulled her closer, kissing her cheeks repeatedly — then gently kissed her lips.
She froze.
Then she giggled.
"Lily not mad anymore," she declared proudly.
He smiled at her.
They arrived at a vast field covered with soft green grass. In the center stood a large resting place with a huge decorated roof.
Nikolai held Lily's hand.
Urlima handed him red vermilion powder.
Vishal handed him a real gold Indian wedding necklace — a sacred mangalsutra.
Yes.
Nikolai was getting married to Lilith.
Damian was recording everything.
"Lily tum shaadi kar rahi ho. (Lily, you're getting married)," Vishal said.
The tiny girl gasped.
"Really?!" she asked excitedly.
"Yes, love," Olivia smiled.
"T… to Nikki?" Lilith whispered.
"Aur main sirf Nikki se hi shaadi karungi. (I will only marry Nikki)," she said proudly, holding his hand tightly.
"Come on, the auspicious time is passing!" Urlima urged.
Vishal handed the necklace to Nikolai. Urlima passed him the vermilion.
Nikolai gently applied the red vermilion into the tiny girl's hair parting.
Then he placed the gold wedding necklace around her neck.
"Yayyyy! Mihu is married!" Lilith cheered.
"Who is Mihu?" Caspian and Darya asked together.
"I am!" she laughed.
"Her full name is Lilith Mahira Baneva," Damian revealed.
"Wait — Baneva is a Bengali name!" Rima gasped.
"Lily, are you Bengali?!" she asked.
"YES!" the tiny girl shouted happily, clapping and swinging her teddy bear.
Meanwhile — in New York.
Troy, Ishaan, Rezaul, the boys, and Anika were discussing how to get the tiny girl back.
Tamanna walked in with a strange man.
"I found a husband for our dearest Gem," she smirked evilly.
"You have no right!" Ishaan snapped.
A car pulled up outside.
A lady stepped out.
"Home…" she whispered before walking inside with armed men.
"So you're saying Lily should marry an unknown man because you want 50% of the Gem position?" Nihal asked coldly.
Tamanna smirked.
The strange man beside her smiled foolishly.
Suddenly—
Shot.
The man collapsed.
Blood spread across the marble floor.
The same woman stood there holding a gun.
"Nobody will marry my Gem," she said calmly.
Everyone was frozen in shock.
The woman was the Queen of the mansion.
The mother of the boys.
Lilith's mother.
"Mumma?" Karim whispered.
The woman stood tall in a black salwar kameez, a black veil resting on her forehead, silver bindi shining, black kohl lining her sharp eyes.
She was Mrs. Riyana Sohan Murad.
"Hello, Tammy," Riyana said coldly.
Silence filled the mansion.
"You boys are in deep trouble."
Their mother was not dead.
She was alive.
And they were in very big trouble.