(Mila was sleeping peacefully beside Lilith, her tiny body curled close to her mother. Across the city, inside his mansion, Nikolai quietly watched both of them through the security cameras installed inside Lilith's apartment. A gentle smile rested on his face until his phone suddenly rang.)
"Hello Grandma," Nikolai said.
"Hey Nick, how are you? How is Mila?" Viktoria asked.
"My sweet girl is fine. Today she said 'Hi Dada.' It was cute," Nikolai replied proudly.
"That is so adorable, Nick," Viktoria laughed softly.
"I will bring her soon. And Lily got into the university. She ranked first in the entrance examination. She also received the full scholarship."
"Oh… I am so proud of her," Viktoria said warmly.
"Tell me, is there anything?" Nikolai asked.
"Well… your great-grandmother is on her way. And… there are some problems too," Viktoria answered.
"Oh… I see. I will tell Damian to pick them up," Nikolai said.
"I have a plan, and you will follow everything I tell you. Okay?" Viktoria said.
"But—"
Nikolai interrupted.
"Do you want your wife back?"
Viktoria sighed.
"Yes… I really do."
"Then just obey. I will stay for a few days too."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Yes, Grandma," Nikolai answered before ending the call.
(He placed his phone inside his pocket, adjusted his black polo shirt and white pants, then walked downstairs.)
"Good morning, brother," Arina smiled while carrying little Ella.
"Morning, Ari. Morning, Ella."
Nikolai gently patted Ella's tiny head.
The little girl giggled happily.
"You look happy these days, Nick," Ethan said before leaning over and giving Arina a kiss.
"Yep… but now we have a problem. Great-grandma is coming today… and Grandma is staying here."
Arina groaned dramatically.
"The last time they brought a girl when Lily wasn't here… now they are coming again."
Ethan chuckled.
"Mama?" Ella called.
"Hungry, sweetheart?" Ethan asked.
"Yws!" Ella nodded excitedly.
"Okay, baby. Let's eat."
He looked back at Nikolai.
"When is Lily going to school?"
"On the tenth. I gave her a black card from our wedding. I hope she uses it."
"And her admission form?"
"She filled it. I wrote my name as her guardian."
Ethan blinked.
"She doesn't know that?"
"Nope."
"Wait… she was trying to leave it blank?"
"Yep."
"Aree Mihu…" Ethan muttered.
(Nikolai simply smiled before quietly walking away.)
••••••
(Inside Lilith's apartment.)
(Mila slept peacefully inside Lilith's arms.)
Ding Dong.
"Coming!" Lilith called.
She carefully placed Mila on the bed before opening the door.
Standing outside…
…was Nikolai.
He carried several shopping bags.
"Hi, Bambi."
"Morning, Nikki."
He immediately looked toward the little girl.
"Hiii, my little angel."
He walked inside and gently kissed Mila's forehead.
"Hi Dada," Mila smiled sleepily.
Lilith closed the door before sitting beside them.
(Two minutes later…)
(Mila had completely fallen asleep inside Nikolai's arms.)
He slowly rocked her back and forth before placing another kiss on her forehead.
Just then…
The apartment door opened.
"Hi Lily," Meghan smiled.
"Hi Meg."
The two women hugged.
"Hello Mimi Baby…"
Meghan looked at Mila.
"…Oh… she fell asleep."
"Not to worry. You guys go. I'll stay with her."
"Thank you, Meg. I really appreciate it. Her milk is inside the fridge."
"It's fine, Lily. She's my niece after all."
Lilith smiled.
"Let's go, Bambi. Don't forget your list."
She accepted the papers from him.
Nikolai gently guided her downstairs.
He opened the passenger door.
Lilith looked at him shyly.
"I can open it."
"I know, Bambi."
He smiled warmly.
"Let me do it for my wife."
She quietly entered the luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
Nikolai closed her door before walking around and entering the driver's side.
"Let's go."
The driver nodded.
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS smoothly drove away.
••••••
(They arrived at the shopping mall.)
Lilith looked around.
"It… it's empty, Nikki…"
She nervously held the edge of her veil while her neatly braided hair rested over one shoulder.
"I know, Bambi."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Well… I kinda…"
He smiled sheepishly.
"…got the entire mall for you today."
She stared at him.
Then…
…she pouted.
Nikolai leaned closer.
Their noses gently bumped together.
Her ears instantly turned bright red.
She blinked at him.
He smiled.
Without warning…
Lilith leaned forward…
…and softly kissed his cheek.
His dark blue eyes widened.
She giggled before quickly stepping out of the vehicle.
Nikolai stood completely frozen.
"She kissed me…"
he whispered to himself before quickly following after her.
(Inside the mall.)
"Welcome, Mrs. Lilith," the manager greeted respectfully.
Lilith looked at him before turning toward Nikolai.
"Did he threaten you to clear the entire mall?"
Nikolai walked behind her.
"Oh no… no… no…"
The manager laughed nervously.
"I'm sorry, sir. Don't mind him. He doesn't listen to me."
Nikolai chuckled.
"We are at your service, Mrs. Lily. Everything is yours."
Nikolai shook the manager's hand.
Their first stop…
…was the school supplies store.
Lilith unfolded her shopping list.
Nikolai quietly followed behind her while pushing a rolling basket.
She happily placed inside:
(Pencils)
(Pens)
(Colored pencils)
(Markers)
(Sketch pencils)
(Crayons)
Then suddenly—
"Nikki! Look!"
She excitedly held up a box of colors.
"I haven't drawn in a long time."
He smiled softly.
"You were too busy taking care of Mimi… and everyone else."
She giggled shyly.
Nikolai picked up a wooden pencil.
"This is good for your studies?"
She nodded.
Soon the basket filled with more writing supplies.
Nikolai also helped her choose notebooks and paper.
"You need all these, Bambi. They're important."
She looked worried.
"But… they're expensive… and it's too much…"
"Nope."
He smiled.
"You need them, love."
Her cheeks became pink again after hearing him call her "love."
They continued shopping.
They picked:
(Backpack)
(Laptop bag)
(Pencil case)
(Ring binder)
(Lever arch file)
(Expanding file)
(Plastic folder)
(Presentation folders)
(Document wallet)
(Clipboard)
(Sheet protectors)
(Binder dividers)
(Binder clips)
(Paper clips)
(Stapler)
(Staples)
(Staple remover)
(Hole punch)
(Tape dispenser)
(Clear tape)
(Double-sided tape)
(Rubber bands)
(Desk organizer)
(Magazine holder)
(File storage box)
(Label stickers)
(Name labels)
(Bookends)
(Business card holders)
(ID badge holder)
Later…
Lilith reached the bags section.
She carefully chose several comfortable college bags.
(On Cloud 9 Tote Bag)
(Leather Tote Bag)
(Academic Tote)
(Water Resistant Tote)
(Cotton Tote Bag)
(and several other comfortable tote bags.)
Nikolai also picked up additional supplies specifically for her Business Administration course.
Eventually…
Four shopping baskets became completely full.
Lilith looked worried again.
"Should I reduce them? I don't need this many…"
"Nope."
He smiled.
"Oh…"
He suddenly picked up a children's storybook.
"This one's for Mila."
Lilith smiled brightly.
"Oh yes… she'll love this."
"Sometimes I sing to her before bed."
"Other times…"
"I tell her stories about the temple."
"She loves them."
Nikolai smiled.
"I'll read bedtime stories too."
"I already have a mini library waiting for her at home."
Their eyes met.
(His deep dark-blue eyes.)
(Her bright shining green eyes.)
Neither looked away.
Finally…
"Let's go."
She quietly smiled.
They continued shopping.
She selected:
(Shoes matching her university uniform)
(Hair pins)
(Hair bands)
(Lip balm)
Nikolai looked at another shelf.
"Lip gloss?"
She smiled.
And nodded.
He silently added:
(Lip gloss)
(Lipstick)
Everything was finally finished.
At the cashier…
The receptionist couldn't stop secretly staring at Nikolai.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Every item was scanned.
Everyone nearby whispered while looking at Nikolai.
"That will be ₽405,700."
Lilith's eyes became huge.
"L-let's reduce some…"
"Nope."
Nikolai handed over the black card.
She immediately shook her head.
He rolled his eyes playfully…
…held her hand…
…and used her own finger to complete the payment.
"Paid."
Lilith gasped.
"Done."
"Let's go."
The workers packed every single item while guards loaded everything into waiting vehicles.
Outside…
Lilith couldn't stop giggling.
Nikolai kept telling terrible jokes.
She laughed harder.
Holding several shopping bags…
She skipped happily.
Then suddenly…
She ran to the left.
Nikolai shook his head.
She laughed louder.
He caught her.
Spun her around.
Her beautiful laughter echoed throughout the empty mall.
The employees quietly smiled while watching them.
••••••
(Their next stop…)
…the gadget store.
Lilith whispered excitedly,
"I'm getting my… first phone."
"Yes, Bambi."
As they walked inside…
She noticed a children's tablet.
"This… for Mil?"
"Yeah, love."
"She'll love it."
They carefully compared several devices.
"No Apple products," Lilith reminded him.
"Yes, Madam."
After almost twenty minutes…
Lilith finally chose:
(Samsung Galaxy Book5 Ultra)
(Google Pixel 9 Pro)
(Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones)
(Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra)
She smiled brightly while completing the purchase.
The workers carefully packed every device.
"Nikki…"
She held up her phone.
"My first phone…"
Tears filled her eyes.
Nikolai gently kissed her forehead.
"Let's go."
"Oh…"
"We also need to stock your kitchen."
She quickly shook her head.
"Some other—"
Before she could finish…
He gently pulled her toward the supermarket.
Another shopping basket appeared.
Then another.
Three baskets.
"Love…"
"Let's go."
She tried arguing.
But…
Her 8'10" husband completely ignored every protest.
She added more milk for Mila.
They shopped together.
Nikolai secretly added several packs of coffee for her.
An hour later…
They finally finished.
••••••
(Meanwhile…)
Several luxury vehicles stopped outside Lilith's apartment.
The guards unloaded countless shopping bags.
Inside the apartment…
The front door quietly opened.
Everyone immediately froze.
Both Mila…
…and Meghan…
…were sleeping deeply together.
"Meg…"
Nikolai whispered.
"Hmm?"
Meghan sleepily rubbed her eyes.
"Let's go," Nikolai whispered softly.
Meghan nodded.
"Bye, Mimi."
She gently looked toward the sleeping little girl.
Nikolai bent down.
He softly kissed Mila's cheeks.
Lilith carefully carried her daughter into her arms.
"Goodnight, Nikki."
"And…"
"Thank you."
Nikolai stepped closer.
He gently kissed Lilith's cheek.
Then…
He rubbed his nose against hers.
"Goodnight, love."
He whispered.
Lilith smiled.
She watched them leave.
Then quietly locked the apartment door.
••••••
(Ten minutes later.)
(Nikolai and Meghan arrived back at the mansion.)
Nikolai was still smiling happily.
Until—
"Hello, Nick."
Viktoria stood inside the mansion.
Nikolai immediately hugged her.
Then…
He noticed several unfamiliar faces standing behind her.
"Hello, Kaal."
"It is finally good to see you in person," the elderly woman said with a mysterious smile.
Nikolai's expression slowly darkened.
Because…
He immediately realized…
The biggest problem of all…
…had finally arrived.