It had been forty minutes.
Forty long, agonizing minutes had passed while everyone waited outside the hospital room, anxiously listening for any sound from inside.
Alexio had barely moved.
His eyes remained fixed on the closed doors while his hands were clasped tightly together. Every few seconds, he glanced toward the door again as though staring at it hard enough would somehow make it open faster.
The Dominant Apex stood nearby, waiting.
Nikolai was there.
So were the others.
Nobody wanted to leave.
Finally, the doors opened.
Dr. Clara stepped outside.
Everyone immediately turned toward her.
Dr. Clara took a breath before giving them a reassuring smile.
"She's asleep," Dr. Clara said. "And the babies are ready."
Alexio's shoulders immediately relaxed.
He looked at her.
"The babies?"
Dr. Clara nodded.
"Yes. You can go inside."
Alexio didn't need to be told twice.
He stepped forward quickly, but before entering the room, he stopped.
He washed his hands carefully and cleaned them thoroughly, making sure everything was properly sanitized before he approached the newborns.
Then he walked toward them.
Slowly.
Gently.
His heart was beating so hard that he could almost hear it.
There they were.
Two tiny babies.
Alexio stared at them for several seconds.
Then he carefully reached down and picked up the baby girl.
She was wrapped in a beautiful green blanket.
He held her as though she were made of glass.
"H…Hi," he whispered.
The tiny baby moved slightly in his arms.
Alexio smiled.
"She's so beautiful," he whispered. "Just like your mama."
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the baby smiled.
Alexio froze.
His heart tightened.
A warmth spread through his chest that he couldn't explain.
He looked at the tiny girl in disbelief.
"You smiled?"
His voice was barely audible.
He carefully placed her back down.
Then he reached for the second child.
He picked up the baby boy.
"Hey, buddy," he whispered.
The baby boy slowly opened his eyes.
Alexio stared at him.
His expression changed immediately.
The baby's eyes looked exactly like Ivelle's.
Alexio smiled softly.
"You look exactly like your mama."
He chuckled quietly.
"If I get to know her well, I might get close to her," he said softly.
The baby stared at him.
Then the boy broke into a smile.
Alexio's heart melted.
"Oh, come here."
He hugged him gently, making sure to support his tiny body properly.
He kissed his forehead before looking down at both babies.
For the first time, Alexio understood how quickly a person could become attached.
These weren't his children.
Not yet.
But something about them had already touched him.
Something about the way their tiny hands held onto him made it difficult to pull away.
He looked at them again.
"You two are dangerous," he whispered with a small smile.
Meanwhile, the basketball match had reached another explosive moment.
Lily scored another point.
"GOAL!"
The entire hall exploded with cheers.
"MIHU! WOOOOO!"
Riyana shouted excitedly.
Nikolai immediately stood up and clapped.
"That's my girl!" he shouted.
Mila was sitting on Nathan's neck, clapping her little hands enthusiastically.
The Valkyries were only ten points away.
The Invictus had been performing incredibly well, especially with their amazing dunks.
The whole school was cheering for them.
The atmosphere inside Helixor Prime Academy had become completely electric.
Sohan wiped tears from his eyes.
Mila continued clapping her hands.
The scoreboard now showed ninety-nine points.
The rival team was only ten points behind.
But Elysia was becoming increasingly frustrated.
She was breathing heavily, her expression filled with anger.
Lily grabbed some water and poured it over herself.
"Good job, guys," Mrs. Gyda said proudly. "I am very proud of you all."
Mila waddled over toward Lily.
Lily immediately smiled when she saw her.
"Thank you, sweetie," Lily said, taking the drink.
Mila looked around.
"Where is dada?" she whispered.
She sucked on her pacifier while pointing toward the top.
Lilith held Mila securely.
Diana and the rest of the group watched.
"Look!" Peter said suddenly.
"Isn't that her fiancé?"
Everyone looked.
They saw Nikolai.
He had been watching Lily the entire time.
Nikolai walked toward her.
He gently wiped Lily's face.
"You got this, baby," he said softly. "I trust you, just like you trust me. My love, so win this."
Lily nodded.
Their eyes remained locked on each other.
Then they performed a heart-touching couples handshake.
"I love you so much!" Lily said.
"I love you very much," Nikolai replied.
Mila climbed back onto Nathan's neck.
The match was almost over.
There were only four minutes remaining.
Lily was breathing heavily.
Her chest rose and fell as she tried to regain her strength.
The rival team was desperate.
Elysia angrily threw the ball.
Dayane caught it.
"NO!" the rival coach shouted.
Lily looked toward the clock.
Two minutes.
Only two minutes remained.
Ines passed the ball to Lily.
Immediately, the opposing players began aiming for her.
"Come on, Neva!" Rezaul shouted.
"Lily, come on…" Tory yelled.
"Mhaira…" Ishaan said nervously.
Tamman held his arm.
The entire hall suddenly became silent.
Lily bounced the ball.
She tried to pass through the opposing team.
But they blocked her.
Again.
And again.
"You little rat!" Elysia shouted.
Lilith wasn't far away.
Lily took a deep breath.
Then she remembered the move Sohan had taught her.
Her eyes sharpened.
She knew exactly what she had to do.
She threw the ball into the air.
Then, with full force, she jumped.
Higher.
Higher.
The world seemed to slow down.
Lily reached the ball.
Nikolai immediately stood up.
Lily passed the ball between her legs.
She caught it with both hands and held it tightly.
At the same time, Elysia jumped.
But Lily was already in the air.
She swung toward the goal.
She struck the ball.
"GOAL!!!!!!!"
The entire hall screamed.
But Elysia grabbed Lily's foot.
She pulled her down.
Lily crashed onto the ground.
Hard.
A sharp cry escaped her.
"AHH!"
Nikolai's face changed instantly.
"SHIT!"
He ran down the stairs.
Elysia smirked.
"Bitch!" she said.
Yamini immediately stepped forward.
She punched Elysia in the face.
"You're the bitch!" Yamini shouted.
Nikolai reached Lily.
He immediately lifted her into his arms.
"I got you, darling," he whispered.
Lily winced.
He carried her toward the locker room.
Mila covered her face and began crying.
"Shhhh," Nathan said gently, patting her.
The hall was still filled with noise.
But something much bigger had happened.
For the first time in years, Helixor Prime Academy had won the cup.
The victory belonged to the Invictus.
But Lily had paid a painful price for the final goal.
Inside the locker room, Nikolai carefully placed her down.
"You okay, baby?" he asked.
The medical staff examined her foot and ankle.
They carefully bandaged it.
After examining her, the nurse looked at Nikolai.
"Her ankle is broken," the nurse said. "She has to use a walking boot for three weeks."
Nikolai looked at Lily with a deeply worried expression.
"I'm fine," Lily reassured him.
Nikolai lowered his head.
Lily noticed the tears in his eyes.
She gently raised her hand and wiped them away.
"Don't cry."
Sohan walked inside.
"Oh, my dear," he said before hugging her.
"Ayo, Lilith, you good?" Ines asked as the team walked in.
"Yeah," Lily said.
She smiled.
"We won."
"They're waiting for us to take the cup!" Ljerkan said.
"Yeah," Edel added. "Elysia is suspended from all games now."
Lily slowly stood.
Immediately, Nikolai placed his arm around her waist.
"I can walk," she said.
"Shut up, tiny woman," Nikolai replied.
Before Lily could argue, he picked her up.
"Nikolai!"
"No."
He carried her outside.
The moment they reached the hall, the crowd erupted.
Nikolai carefully put her down.
Lily limped forward.
The school went wild.
"INVICTUS!"
"INVICTUS!"
"INSVICTUS!"
"INVICTUS!"
The entire Academy celebrated.
The teams received their medals.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
The main cup was brought forward.
Lily and the entire team gathered around it.
Together, they lifted the cup into the air.
The entire hall erupted.
Riyana held Sohan's arm.
They watched the celebration with smiles.
"Wow," Anika said to the boys. "So I win?"
Nishi giggled.
"Uhmmm… maybe?"
"Uh-huh," Ariz said.
"You're all going to pay us now," Amala said.
"The ladies are right," Nikolai said, laughing. "You all gotta pay."
Everyone laughed.
The celebration continued.
But far away from the noise of the Academy, another story was unfolding.
It had been eight hours.
Ivelle still hadn't woken up.
Alexio sat quietly with the triplets resting against his chest.
The hospital room door opened.
The whole group was there.
The Dominant Apex had come to the hospital after Lily's match.
Nikolai looked toward Alexio.
Alexio had fallen asleep.
He was shirtless, with the three babies resting against him.
Dr. Liv entered.
"Oh," she said softly.
Everyone looked at her.
"How is she?" Olivia asked.
"We did a C-section on her," Dr. Liv explained. "The boy got stuck for two hours inside her. She was in deep labor pains."
Nikolai's expression became serious.
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-one," Dr. Liv replied.
Alexio was still deeply asleep.
The babies were holding onto him tightly.
Addison smiled.
"This is adorable."
"They're not even his kids," Caspian said, "but they're holding onto him tightly like he's their dad."
"I felt them kicking six times," Dr. Liv said.
Everyone looked at Alexio.
"He's gone through shit," Vishal said. "He can be a good father."
"Of course," another member said.
"We've seen how he took care of his sister."
"Speaking of sister," Aurex said, "she's coming now."
"Uh-oh," Darya said. "Damian is going to go crazy."
Nikolai broke into a chuckle.
"Even Meg," he added.
After another ten minutes, Ivelle slowly opened her eyes.
She stirred.
Her breathing was weak.
She moved her hand toward her belly.
Then she felt it.
Her bump was gone.
Panic immediately filled her expression.
"M…m…m…my babies?" she asked.
The nurses quickly brought the babies to her.
They carefully placed them into her arms.
Ivelle stared at them.
Her eyes filled with emotion.
"Here," Rima said as she placed the baby boy into her arms.
Ivelle held both babies.
She looked down at them.
They were safe.
They were alive.
Her babies.
Across the room, Alexio was still sleeping.
Vishal walked over and tapped him.
"Oi, get up, bro."
Alexio groaned.
"Go away, man."
Nikolai folded his arms.
"Alex, get your ass up."
Alexio slowly opened his eyes.
He looked around.
Everyone was there.
He immediately realized he had fallen asleep.
He reached for his shirt and put it on.
"Boss," he said.
Ivelle looked toward Nikolai.
"B…boss?" she whispered.
Nikolai looked at Alexio.
"Come with me."
Alexio followed him outside.
Once they were away from the room, Alexio turned toward him.
"Yes, boss?"
"She stays with you," Nikolai said.
Alexio blinked.
"Huh? Why?"
"Your boys told me everything," Nikolai said. "And the babies. You're growing attached to them."
Alexio remained silent.
"I saw the way they held onto you," Nikolai continued. "And Dr. Liv told me about the kicks too."
Alexio looked down.
"I don't know her fully yet, boss."
"I know," Nikolai replied. "Take your time to know her."
Alexio looked through the glass window.
Ivelle was sitting there with the babies.
He stared at her quietly.
Then he nodded.
"For the kids," he said.
"Fine," Nikolai replied.
A small smile appeared on Nikolai's face.
"Good boy."
Later that evening, Lily arrived at Cassia's home with the girls.
"Hi, guys!" Lily said. "The stuff is here!"
Lily clapped excitedly.
"Yayyyy!"
The girls cheered.
Each of them began checking the products.
Everything was finally there.
Meanwhile, Alexio was packing the bags.
He zipped them shut one after another.
The bathroom door opened.
Ivelle stepped out.
She was wearing a light green dress.
Her hair was curly.
Alexio looked at her.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Ivelle noticed.
"T…Thank you, sir," she said softly. "I will be going home with the babies and resume work tomorrow."
Alexio stared at her.
"No."
She blinked.
"Sir?"
"You're coming home with me."
Ivelle looked confused.
"Boss said so."
She remained silent.
Alexio continued.
"Also, I got everything from your old home out and moved into the mansion."
Ivelle's eyes widened.
"We tested your blood and did a lot of research on you completely," he continued. "You're clean. Too clean."
She stared at him.
"And I will be taking care of the babies from now on. No excuses. No problems."
Ivelle opened her mouth.
Alexio pointed toward the door.
"So the car is outside. Let's go."
She stood there speechless.
"But, sir—"
Before she could finish, the guards entered.
"Ready, boss?" Zarek asked.
"Yeah," Alexio replied. "Take the kids to the car. I'll be there with her."
"Yes, boss," Zarek said.
He carefully carried the baby carriers and took them outside.
Alexio looked at Ivelle.
"Let's go."
He held her hand.
She followed behind him.
They walked outside together.
The night air was cool.
The car was waiting.
Alexio opened the door and helped her inside.
He sat her down carefully.
Then he entered the car.
The vehicle started moving.
As the mansion became their destination, Ivelle looked out through the window.
She still couldn't believe what had happened.
Her life had changed in a single day.
Her babies were alive.
She had survived the C-section.
Alexio had taken responsibility for her and the children.
And now she was going to live with him.
Meanwhile, somewhere else, Lily was celebrating a victory despite her broken ankle.
The Invictus had won the cup.
The Academy was still celebrating.
And Nikolai was beside Lily.
At the hospital, Ivelle held her babies.
Alexio had already begun forming an unexpected bond with them.
Three lives had changed.
Three futures had been rewritten.
And none of them knew just how much their lives were about to become connected.
The car disappeared into the evening darkness.
The journey to their new home had begun.