Nikolai opened the door to Lily (Neva)'s room slowly, as if afraid even the sound of the hinge might break her fragile silence.
She was by the window.
The light outside touched her softly, but it did nothing to ease the weight on her face. Tears rolled down her cheeks in quiet streams, falling without resistance, as though she had long stopped trying to hold them back.
Nikolai's expression softened instantly.
He crossed the room in steady steps and pulled her into his arms.
Lily didn't fight it. She leaned back into him, small and exhausted, like she had been waiting for that exact moment all day.
He rested his forehead gently against hers.
"Come, baby… we have a surprise for you, love," he whispered.
Her tear-filled eyes flickered up. "R…really?"
He nodded once, wiping her tears with his thumb, slow and careful, as if she was made of something breakable and sacred.
Then he lifted her into his arms.
"Nikki—put Lily down e…e…everyone l…looking!" she whispered loudly, panic and embarrassment mixing in her voice.
But Nikolai only smiled.
And carried her downstairs anyway.
The moment they stepped into the hall, everyone turned.
"Oh my goodness," Yulian said immediately, laughing in disbelief.
Lilith (Baneva) quickly covered her face with her teddy bear, hiding completely as all eyes fell on her.
"Baneva?" Amena called softly.
At the sound of her name, Lily slowly peeked over the top of the teddy bear. Her green eyes—bright, uncertain—met Amena's amber ones.
She blinked slowly.
Then, hesitantly, she lowered the teddy bear from her face.
The room fell quieter for a second.
Even Amena paused.
Because Lily's presence—her expression, her fragile beauty—was overwhelming in its innocence.
"H…hello," Lily (Neva) said softly.
Nikolai leaned slightly, smiling. "Baby, this is your great-grand aunt Riyana."
Lily stepped forward carefully, her small feet moving with hesitation. When she reached Amena, she bent down and touched her feet respectfully.
"Bless you," Amena said gently, still stunned, eyes fixed on her.
It was hard to process her—this tiny girl standing in front of her, so delicate yet so deeply loved.
"Jt time for the exchange of Rings!" Zahuril announced.
Nikolai took Lily's hands immediately, grounding her.
Around them, the family gathered.
Amena had six children—two boys and four girls. The boys were Shakil and Mithun, while the girls were Reshma, Fahmida, Huma, and Ismat. They all sat together, watching closely.
Huma, however, kept glancing at Nikolai.
"He's the one who said he was handsome," she muttered under her breath, clearly amused and distracted.
Lily giggled softly at her husband's attention toward her.
"Why is she acting like that?" Huma asked.
Zahuril sighed. "Baneva is stuck in a childlike state. It happened after Ria's accident. Her mind regressed. But her husband doesn't play with her health—he loves her a lot."
The room quieted at that explanation.
Nikolai rubbed Lily's hands softly, grounding her as she looked around, overwhelmed but safe.
Rima stepped forward and placed a ring chosen specially for Nikolai into Lily's small hands.
The room filled with phones recording, soft claps, and emotional murmurs.
Lily carefully slipped the ring onto Nikolai's large finger, then leaned forward and kissed his fingers.
"Awwwwww!!!!!!" the girls reacted instantly.
Then Hassan handed Nikolai the ring.
Nikolai lifted Lily's tiny hand and kissed her fingers before slipping the ring onto her.
The applause grew louder.
Huma smirked lightly. "This is going to be fun," she said.
But outside the warmth of the ceremony, not everyone was simply watching with emotion.
A group of men stood at the edge of the crowd.
"Boss, a lady said she looks so cute."
"Yeah," another man replied. "Nikolai is a lucky bastard."
They laughed.
But the mood shifted instantly when Bratva members subtly moved, guns appearing as tension changed in the air.
Nikolai noticed immediately.
He pulled Lily closer, holding her hand tightly.
"Congratulations, love," he said softly, rubbing her hair.
"Thank you, Mister!" Lily replied happily.
Then everything shifted again.
"The Ghost Monarch Enzo," a voice announced.
A man stepped forward.
"Capo. It's great to see you after all these years," the Ghost Monarch said calmly.
Behind him stood his group—the Nightfall Syndicate.
Lily tilted her head.
Her gaze stopped.
Her body froze slightly.
Her eyes locked onto a detail—his mole near his ear.
A memory flickered violently.
"N…N…Nanno?" Lily whispered.
"Nano," he corrected softly.
"Neva, he said."
Her eyes widened.
"Nanno look! N…Nanno back!!!" she said excitedly, pointing at him.
Zahuril looked alarmed. "No fucking way… why is she acting like this? What's wrong with my Neva?"
Nikolai crouched beside Lily immediately.
"First of all, back off my wife. Thank you," he said firmly. "Second—she is mentally unstable. She is stuck in a childlike state."
Then he softened again, holding her hands.
"Thank you, Neva… if not for your secret passage, uncle would have been killed, love."
"Stop calling her love," Nikolai snapped, pulling her hands away slightly, jealous and protective.
"Jealous much?" the man smirked.
Zahuril stepped closer, staring at the Ghost Monarch.
"Adnan?"
The man turned fully.
A smirk formed.
"Dadu onek din por dekha holo apnake dekhe khub bhalo laglo," he said smoothly.
(Grandpa, it's been a long time. It feels really good to see you.)
The name hit the air like a shockwave.
His presence became clearer—tall, nearly 7'1, ice-blonde hair, dragon tattoo on his arm, honey-brown eyes sharp yet softened when they landed on Trinetra.
Trinetra's hand tightened into a fist.
Recognition struck like lightning.
Years ago.
University.
He was there.
Adnan.
The man who stole her dress design.
The man who took her $600,000 competition win.
The man she had once fallen in love with… deeply… painfully… blindly.
Her breath caught.
Adnan's gaze softened slightly when he saw her.
"My baby," he whispered under his breath, but stayed composed.
Lily, meanwhile, clapped.
"Nanno back!"
The party continued around them, chaos blending with celebration.
Adnan hugged Zahuril.
"I am Dadu for everything and for my family," he said quietly.
Zahuril sighed. "It's okay. I'm just happy you're alive. Your grandpa would be very happy to see you."
"Moros is dead," Zahuril added. "Your grandpa burned him alive two days ago… after Baneva told him she risked her life to remember."
Adnan's expression sharpened.
"What the hell happened to her? Why is she like this?"
Zahuril explained everything.
Adnan looked back at Lily—now giggling beside Nikolai like nothing in the world was wrong.
"Come on, it's time for Lily gifts!" Aarav announced.
Nikolai gently guided her outside.
He held the edge of her dress so she wouldn't trip.
They seated her carefully on a chair.
A teddy bear was placed into her arms.
It was from Rhea.
The screen behind them lit up.
A video began.
The sky appeared first.
Then a gate.
Heaven's gate.
"A very special invitation from heaven," the text appeared.
Riyana held Sohan's arm as everyone watched in silence.
Then—Rhea appeared.
Not physically.
AI-generated.
But real enough to break hearts.
She waved.
Lily stood up immediately.
"Nani?" she whispered.
The AI Rhea stepped forward and hugged Lily, kissing her cheeks.
"I love you, Mihu Nani loves you so much…"
Her voice continued.
Blessings. Prayers. Love. Forever words.
Lily trembled.
Tears fell.
"I love you too, Nani!" she cried suddenly. "I LOVE YOU!!!"
Doves were released.
Over 2,000.
They circled around her like a living sky.
She raised her hands toward them.
Nikolai wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"For me, Nikki?" she asked, sobbing.
He nodded.
She turned and kissed him deeply.
In front of everyone.
Gasps.
Then smiles.
Then laughter.
Huma groaned. "Awww!"
Fireworks exploded into the sky.
Taran (Massimo) held Elena's hand.
Dylan sat on his neck. "Wowwwww! It sooo beautiful!"
The twins laughed with Rima.
And Nikolai stayed wrapped around Lily—his tiny wife—holding her like she was the only truth in the world.