The wedding dinner was over.
The mansion had finally quieted after hours of laughter, music, and celebration. Nikolai walked through the grand halls, his wife resting peacefully in his arms, her head nestled against his chest. She had fallen asleep after dancing with the family, her small body exhausted but content.
He carried her gently into their room, laying her carefully on the bed. With slow, careful movements, he changed her dress, making sure not to wake her. His fingers brushed against her soft skin as he adjusted her clothes, his gaze filled with warmth.
"Now it's the India wedding…" he murmured with a soft smile.
He leaned down and kissed her lips gently.
The night closed in around them, wrapping them in silence as both husband and wife drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile…
Crash!
"UGH!!!!"
The sound of glass shattering echoed through the room as a woman screamed in fury.
"He is mine! MINE MINE MINE MINE!"
Her hands were bleeding, shards of broken glass cutting into her skin as she trembled violently.
"Can you like get over him?" another woman beside her snapped. "You're the one who fucking played him back in school and now you're calling him yours!?"
The first woman's breathing was erratic, her eyes wild.
"His wife is mentally unstable since her childhood," the second woman continued coldly. "She's the Gem of a group. Didn't you see how the most powerful mafias—even the president—all bowed to that tiny girl? She is now the Queen of the Mafia King. There is nothing you can do. Let go of him."
"NO! HE IS MINE!" the mad girl screamed.
"And I will get the mental girl out of the way… even if it means she dies."
She began laughing like a maniac.
2 days later…
2:30 AM
Nikolai's body burned with heat.
Lilith stirred.
She woke up slowly, her tiny form shifting as she climbed out of bed. She waddled to the bathroom, did her business, then returned quietly.
She paused.
Nikolai's nose was red.
"N…Nikki?" she whispered, clutching her teddy bear.
"Hm…?" Nikolai murmured weakly.
She reached out and touched his face.
It was hot.
"Oh no…" she whispered.
"Go back to sleep, Bambi…" he mumbled.
"N…N…No…"
She dropped her teddy bear onto the bed.
"Sicky?" she asked softly, holding his hand.
"Don't worry, love… go back to sleep… I'll take drugs in the morning…" he said faintly.
"Hmmm…" she hummed.
Then she turned and waddled out of the room.
Down the hallway, she spotted Farhan and Nimra cuddling.
"Nikki sicky… l…lily… T…take care of her…" she mumbled in panic.
Then she ran into the kitchen.
"Hey cupcake, what's wrong?" Farhan asked immediately.
"N…N…Nikki… S…S…Sicky…" Lilith stuttered, grabbing a bowl and opening the freezer.
"Are you looking for cold water, baby?" Nimra asked gently.
Lilith nodded quickly.
They helped her fill the bowl with ice water.
Without wasting a second, she ran back upstairs with them.
Nikolai was still lying in bed.
Lilith climbed onto the bed and dipped her small hands into the icy water. She squeezed a towel, then carefully placed it on his forehead.
She rubbed his chest softly.
She opened the windows to let fresh air in.
And she stayed there.
All night.
Taking care of him.
She kissed his nose again and again.
By sunrise…
The door opened.
Farhan and Nimra entered, along with Leonid.
He checked Nikolai.
Lilith looked up, worried for her huge husband.
"I'm proud of you, Lily," Leonid said gently. "You brought Nikolai's fever down with cold water and let air into the room."
She didn't understand.
She yawned.
"Come on, baby. You need sleep now," Farhan said.
She shook her head, refusing.
Three minutes later…
Nikolai woke up.
His head felt clear. His body felt stronger.
He turned.
His tiny wife was holding his hand, a towel resting on his forehead.
He slowly picked up his phone and checked the CCTV footage.
2:30 AM.
He watched everything.
Her tiny movements.
How she kissed his nose every few seconds.
How she wiped the sweat from his body.
How she carefully placed the towel on his forehead.
How she cried… while holding his hand.
Now, she was asleep on his chest.
"Oh my sweet baby… you took care of me even in your state…" he whispered, rubbing her cheeks.
"I promise… I'll make sure you get better soon."
He gently bathed her, changed her clothes, and carried her to the hospital room in the house.
He laid her softly on the bed.
"How are you feeling, Nikolai?" Leonid asked.
"I'm okay now," he replied, stroking Lilith's hair.
"She took good care of you all night," Leonid said.
"She's the best… Have you found a kidney donor?" Nikolai asked.
"Yes. We have. We'll move her to the hospital this evening. The donor accepted the money—we've secured the kidney."
"Thank you."
At the office…
"Hey Boss," Damian greeted.
"How's your health?"
"I'm better. Back now."
"Good, because I honestly missed you. There's a lot of work," Damian said with a chuckle.
"How is Lily?"
"She took care of me all night. She's asleep now… but we found a donor."
"Thank goodness."
"The India wedding is going to be the biggest wedding in India! I can't wait to dance!" Damian said excitedly.
"How many ceremonies are there?" Nikolai asked.
Damian sat down.
"Boss, Indian weddings are multi-day celebrations with three main stages: pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding."
"Pre-wedding includes rituals like Roka, engagement, Mehendi, Sangeet, and Haldi."
"The wedding day features the Baraat, Jaimala, and sacred rituals like Kanyadaan and Pheras around the fire."
"After that, you have Vidaai and Griha Pravesh, followed by a reception."
"There's going to be a lot of singing and dancing," Nikolai said.
"Yeahhhh! I'm pumped!" Damian grinned.
"I'll buy a mansion in India… and Bangladesh too. I want to see them."
"Yes, Capo."
Later that day…
Everyone returned home.
Sohan and the family had already left for New York to prepare for the grand Indian wedding.
"We are shifting her now," Leonid said.
Nurses and an ambulance arrived.
"Go! Go! Go!" Anika ordered.
Lilith was placed on a stretcher.
Dr. Kevin put an oxygen mask on her face.
Nikolai kissed her forehead.
The doors shut.
Then—
Gunshots.
Nikolai turned sharply.
Men were firing.
"GET DOWN!" Karim shouted.
"Boss!" Enzo yelled, throwing him a gun.
Nikolai pulled his own weapon and fired back.
Then…
A woman walked forward.
The shooting stopped.
"WHERE IS SHE!?" she demanded.
She wore red.
A mask covered her face.
Sergei handed Nikolai a fully loaded M4 Carbine.
"How dare you," Nikolai growled.
"Hand the Gem over," the woman said.
"Who are you?" Karim asked coldly.
"WHERE IS SHE!?"
"Sohan killed my son… I want to return the favor. Give me Mahira!"
"Amala!" Reyan suddenly shouted.
She froze.
"Ray…" she whispered, removing her mask.
"Dad didn't kill Jai—it was your dirty brother!" Reyan said.
"You both know each other?" Nikolai asked.
Karim answered, "Yes. They were in love. Wanted to marry. But she was forced into another marriage. She's 32 now. Reyan is 24."
Reyan stepped forward.
Weapons lowered.
"Go back and ask your brother. If he denies it—kill him," Reyan said calmly. "I loved Jai too. He was my son too."
"It's been 8 years… good to see you again, Meri jaan…"
"Ray…" she cried, hugging him tightly.
"He was just 5…" she whispered.
"I know… but he's with me."
She froze.
"What?"
"Come with me."
Shock filled her face.
"He's alive. In school. In New York. High school."
"I saved him. He was in a coma for 4 months. Lost his memory for a while… but he recovered. He's 16 now. I'll bring him to you."
"You didn't tell me all this 9 years ago, you bastard!" she yelled, slapping him.
Nearby—
Nikolai calmly sipped tea.
"Really, boss?" Nolan asked.
"Shhh… hot gossip for Lily later," Nikolai smirked.
Reyan made a call.
"Bring my son to Russia. Pack his bags. Buy things for Lily's wedding. Fire the jets. You have 8 hours."
"Yes, boss."
"Let's go," Reyan said.
"What now, ma'am?" her men asked.
"Let's go back. I need to change… I'll be back."
"I'll wait, my love," Reyan said.
"You… don't have a wife?"
"I never stopped loving you."
He kissed her hand.
"One hour," she said, walking away.
But her anger toward her brother burned stronger.
Meanwhile… in the hospital…
Anika took a deep breath.
She cut out Lilith's damaged kidney.
Doctors watched in awe.
She carefully placed the new kidney, connecting everything flawlessly.
"She's so skilled," Dr. Violet whispered.
Anika and the team stitched Lilith up.
"All done…" Anika murmured, kissing her forehead.
Outside—
The red light went off.
Lilith was wheeled out.
Nikolai grabbed her tiny hand.
"Mr. Karim, your wife is very skilled," Leonid said. "We are impressed."
"T…Thank you…" Karim said, stroking Lilith's hair.
But tension lingered.
Karim and Anika had argued.
She overworked herself.
He had yelled.
She cried.
It had been two months.
No talking.
No sharing a room.
Anika missed him.
But his words had cut deep.
Lilith was moved to the VIP suite.
"Is she okay now?" Ethan asked.
"She is. Let her sleep," Anika said gently.
"Thanks, Mom."
Nikolai sat beside the bed.
Holding her tiny hand.
And slowly…
He fell asleep.
Still waiting—
For his wife to wake up.