Nikolai held Lilith in his arms. She was still sleeping, her tiny body curled against his chest, hugging him softly while he slowly rocked her. Her breathing was calm, innocent—unaware of the storm already building around her.
"Capo, they are in the meeting room," Emil said, stepping in. Marco and Brandon stood behind him.
"She's gonna wake up soon," Marco added quietly.
"Capo, do you have your wedding suits?" Emil asked.
"Oh shit… I forgot," Nikolai muttered under his breath.
"Also, Meghan and your mother are having an engagement party for you and Lily," David said as he walked in.
"Hm," Nikolai replied lowly.
He gently laid Lilith down on the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face before standing up and walking out with them toward the meeting room.
But just as they left—
Lilith stirred.
She yawned softly, rubbing her sleepy eyes, clutching her big teddy bear tightly in her arms. Her hair was messy, falling all over her face. Slowly, she waddled out of the room, her tiny feet dragging along the floor.
Then she saw it.
Mud.
Her eyes widened with pure excitement.
She dropped her teddy and ran outside, giggling, kneeling down and happily plunging her hands into the mud. She smeared it on her arms, her cheeks, her clothes—completely lost in her little world, playing joyfully.
—
Meanwhile, Nikolai sat at the head of the table as Leonid stood up.
The meeting began.
Around them, the family moved with urgency, preparing for the engagement party. At the same time, the Murad family were on their way to Russia.
"Speak," Nikolai said, his voice firm, his mixed accent clear—his English dominant but edged with Russian depth.
"I have seven doctors with me from different countries," Leonid began. "We have been studying her case for months now. I have chosen only the best—from international hospitals and elite teams."
Nikolai nodded once.
"The three men are Dr. Mason from the States, Dr. Raphael from Switzerland, and Dr. Kelvin from Singapore. And the ladies are Dr. Clara from France, Dr. María from Spain, Dr. Liv from Germany, and Dr. Violet from Australia."
"Good," Nikolai said. "Now listen."
His voice turned colder.
"These are the things my wife likes and dislikes. You already know her condition. She hates loud noise. No shouting. No yelling. No insolent behavior. Don't make her mad."
He leaned forward slightly.
"She loves playing, drawing, running around… happy dance. She also loves to explore unsafe things—which is being taken care of."
"She struggles with her words," David added. "She tries to pronounce things she can't."
"She is the Queen of this mansion," Hammed said.
"She is the gem of the Obsidian Trail," Vishal added, eyes sharp.
"Sohan Murad?" Dr. Mason asked, surprised.
"Yes," Sabrina confirmed.
"We are all going to be very careful," Darya said.
"Also soft," Addison added.
"Anyone who shits will be messed up badly," Olivia said bluntly.
"No shouting at her. Don't even think of raising a hand," Hassan warned.
"If you want to live, be patient with her. No kidding—she can actually kill," Alexxio said coldly.
"If she wants to play, force yourself to play," Nathan added.
"Don't go near her toys. And she loves to cook," Kenan said.
"Make sure everything goes well with her," Valerio said.
"She has manners not because of her condition—but because she means it," Caspian added.
"We want the best and smartest behavior," Rohan said.
"So you all better behave," Nolan finished.
"So… got it?" Damian asked.
"Yes, we do," the doctors replied together.
"Uhmm, Capo… come take a look at Lily," Adrian said.
They moved toward the window.
And there she was.
Lilith sat in the mud, molding it carefully into a small figure. Her tiny hands shaped it with focus as she bowed her head slightly.
"Dear G…G…Goddess Lamxi… p…p…pretty please… bless my N…N…Nikki… and bless everyone too…"
Her face and body were covered in mud.
"Gosh…" Nikolai muttered.
He immediately walked outside.
"Come out of the mud, Lily," he said angrily.
She looked up at him.
"Hmmm… Pretty please take care of l…Lily, Nikki… if Lily is not here… okay? Pinky promise!" she said, holding out her muddy finger.
It broke him.
"Nothing will happen to you, okay? Don't scare me. Now come—let me wash you!" he snapped, his fear turning into anger.
She flinched.
He saw it instantly.
He rubbed his jaw, sighing deeply.
"I'm sorry, Bambi… but you scared me. That's why. Okay, baby… let's get you clean."
He turned on the outdoor tap, washing the mud off her gently.
"Your baba is on his way. Do you want him to get angry?"
"Lily mad at N…Nikki now," she pouted.
"Oh, Bambi… Lily wouldn't marry her Nikki again?" he teased softly.
"L…L…Lily m…marry big meanie N…Nikki," she said, crossing her arms.
He chuckled.
A maid handed him a towel. He cleaned her, changed her into a cinnamon-colored oversized zip-up hoodie and jumpsuit, and carefully applied vermillion in her hair.
"Mihu!" Riyana called, waving.
Nikolai carried Lilith inside.
"Hi, baba! Hi M…M…Mumma!" she said.
"Hi, Lily," the boys greeted as she blew them kisses.
Anika hugged her tightly.
"Baba… Nikki s…s…scolded me…" Lilith complained.
Sohan looked at Nikolai with a sharp, angry father's gaze.
"She was all muddy. She just woke up," Nikolai defended.
Sohan said nothing. He kissed Lilith's forehead and hugged her tightly.
The doctors were introduced. Sohan gave them a stern warning—and rewarded them with ₽20 million rupees for treating his daughter.
—
Four days later.
Lilith was still angry.
She hadn't spoken to Nikolai. She hadn't slept in his room.
Today was their engagement party.
Daria and Zhanna were dressing her, but as they stepped out to get her shoes, Lilith sat quietly in the corner.
Then—
Men walked in.
She stayed silent.
Unnoticed.
But her iPad… was recording.
"We need to finish him off now. We got the poison. Once he drinks it, we get his thumbprints. We paid the waiter—a lot. Everything is ready."
"Nikolai will die once and for all."
Her eyes widened.
They left.
She crawled out.
Then ran.
"I think she heard us! Get her!" one of the men shouted.
But Lilith ran faster.
She bumped into Sergei and Jaxon.
"What's wrong, Lily?" Jaxon asked.
"S…s…show Nikki… Lily gonna s…s…" she struggled.
"Save him from what?" Sergei asked.
Then they saw the men.
Guns were drawn instantly.
Lilith looked down—
Nikolai was holding a drink.
"NIKKI NO!" she screamed.
Everyone looked up.
She ran downstairs.
"What's wrong, Bambi?" Nikolai asked.
She grabbed the drink.
"Hey—that wine—it's not—" he started.
She drank it.
All of it.
"N…N…Nikki… save Nikki… okay now…" she said, breathing heavily.
"GET THE CARS! THAT WAS POISON!" Sergei shouted.
"What?!" Sohan roared.
Lilith clutched her chest.
Nikolai picked her up instantly and ran.
He drove like a madman, holding her in one arm.
"Hey, hey, hey… keep those eyes open for me, baby. Okay? Bambi—for your Nikki… please…"
"My c…chest hurts… a lot… N…Nikki…" she whispered.
"Please, baby, hold on for me—FUCK!" he shouted, hitting the wheel.
They arrived.
Leonid had already contacted the hospital.
Nurses rushed her in.
"Keep breathing, Bambi… okay…"
She giggled weakly.
"Lily loves you…" she whispered, kissing his hand.
Her eyes closed.
"Lily? …Lily? …LILY?!" Nikolai shouted.
They took her into the operating room.
The family arrived.
"Where is she?!" Sohan demanded.
"H…her hands dropped before she could even…" Nikolai stammered.
"She's not gone. No. She can't leave me… right? She was mad at me… but she promised not to leave…" he whispered.
"Nick, sit down. You're losing your mind," Mrs. Francesca said.
"I AM LOSING HER, NOT MY MIND! I WILL KILL WHO FUCKING DID THIS!" he roared, eyes blood-red.
He punched the wall.
Everyone flinched.
"Nikolai, calm the fuck down. She's in the operating room. Let's wait," Sohan said, barely holding his own rage.
"Capo… we got the name. It's Grigory. Rival company. They want you dead. They also stole from you," David reported.
Nikolai didn't respond.
His eyes were locked on the operating room door.
Tears filled them—but didn't fall.
He turned and walked out.
"Brother?" Meghna called.
"He's going to cry. Nobody should follow him," Sohan said quietly.
"Cry? But he has never…" Arina whispered.
—
Nikolai reached the rooftop.
And then—
He broke.
A scream tore out of him so loud it echoed across the entire hospital… into the city itself.
"My Bambi…!"
Tears streamed down his face.
Uncontrollably.
His hands trembled.
His breathing shattered.
And then—
Something changed.
His temper.
His coldness.
That darker side of him awakened fully.
His grief turned into something dangerous.
Something deadly.
All he wanted—
Was his tiny wife…
To be okay.