Ivelle stared at her babies.
She couldn't take her eyes away from them.
Three tiny lives had completely changed everything.
The car was quiet as Alexio sat beside her. He had already darkened the windows, making sure nobody outside could see inside.
Ivelle swallowed nervously.
"I…I…haven't fed them yet," she whispered.
Alexio looked at her.
"The doctors are at home," he said calmly. "The women will teach you."
Ivelle nodded slowly.
Before she could say anything else, the baby boy suddenly broke into a loud cry.
"WAAAAAH!"
Ivelle immediately reached for him.
At the exact same moment, Alexio reached toward the baby too.
Their hands touched.
Both of them paused.
The baby continued crying.
Ivelle gently touched his tiny hand.
Alexio carefully supported his head.
Slowly, the baby's cries became quieter.
Then he calmed down completely.
Ivelle looked at Alexio.
Alexio looked down at the baby.
"S…so…"
He hesitated.
"Uhmm…what are their names?"
Ivelle looked down at her children.
A memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
Her mother.
Her voice.
The words she had once told her.
"I don't have any girls' names," Ivelle whispered.
She swallowed.
"But m…m…my mother once told me that if I ever h…had a boy, I should name him…"
Alexio looked at her.
"Name him what?"
Ivelle looked at the baby.
"Renzo."
Alexio studied the boy's tiny face.
Then he smiled.
"His name is now Renzo."
Ivelle looked at him.
"Y…Y…Y…you can name the girls, please, sir?"
Alexio raised an eyebrow.
"Your their mother. Why me?"
"You help me a lot," Ivelle said quietly. "I'm giving you the honor. Please name them."
Alexio looked toward the two girls.
Both were peacefully sucking on their pacifiers.
He stared at them.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
His mother's face flashed through his mind.
Her smile.
The memories they had shared.
The warmth of his childhood.
He slowly looked at the first baby girl.
"The first one is Luna."
Then he looked at the second.
"And the second is Estrella."
Ivelle looked at him.
"Estrella…"
Alexio nodded.
"It's my mother's name."
Ivelle smiled.
Alexio gently touched the baby's cheek.
Then he looked at Ivelle.
"We are home."
"Huh?" she asked.
The car doors opened.
Alexio stepped out.
He carefully carried the babies while the guards approached.
"Is everything set?" Alexio asked.
"Yes, boss," Bastian replied.
"And your sister has landed."
Aurex had already left to get her.
Alexio nodded.
He walked into the mansion.
"Hey, guys."
"Hi, Alex!" everyone answered.
"Come on, Ms.," Bastian said.
Ivelle stepped out of the car.
Her legs trembled slightly.
She slowly followed Alexio into the mansion.
The moment she entered, she began scanning the enormous interior.
Pictures.
Family pictures.
Photographs covering the walls.
Generations of people.
A family she knew almost nothing about.
Then she noticed Mila.
Mila stood nearby watching something on her iPad.
Suddenly, Mila looked up.
"Hiii, Ally!"
She waved.
Then she waddled toward him.
Her eyes widened.
"Babies!!!"
Alexio smiled.
"Yeah, love. Babies."
Mila giggled.
She kept her hands on her hips as she stared at them.
Addison approached Ivelle with a warm smile.
"Welcome."
Ivelle looked nervous.
"Don't be afraid," Addison said. "It's safe here."
The women surrounded Ivelle and hugged her.
Ivelle's eyes widened.
She wasn't used to people welcoming her so warmly.
Meanwhile, Lilith and the girls were eating breakfast at Cassia's mansion.
Her stepsister Kostya was there too.
The same Kostya cassettes had beaten up.
She still had bandages around her arm.
There were black-eye marks and bruises across her body.
"Cassy, baby, your bags are packed," Mrs. Reet said. "I triple-checked everything."
Mr. Lawn looked toward Cassia.
"And did you see the alert yesterday?"
Cassia looked at him.
"It's too much."
She continued smashing avocado onto her bread.
"Why that amount?"
"I have more than that," Cassia said casually.
Mr. Lawn smiled.
"It's not, baby. Just enjoy your travels."
"Thank you, ma," Lily said.
Mrs. Reet smiled.
"No problem, Mrs. Devereaux."
Lily smiled.
Kostya suddenly stopped.
She looked at Lilith.
Then at Cassia.
"So you're Mrs. Devereaux, huh?"
Lilith continued eating.
Kostya stared at her.
"Didn't expect you to be…"
Cassia slowly looked at her.
"Mind completing that fucking sentence?"
Kostya became silent.
Mr. Lawn looked at her.
"Do you?"
Lily continued eating, completely ignoring Kostya.
Soon afterward, everyone left for their appointments.
The bags were sent to the next person's house.
Meanwhile, Aram walked inside.
"Bless you, dear," Riyana said.
She immediately rushed toward him.
"I missed you so much!"
She hugged him.
"You were just five, and now you're a big boy!"
"I missed you too, Mumma," Aram replied.
Suddenly, Rafsan grabbed his ear.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Bhai(brother !")
Aram winced.
"Brother!"
"Foolish boy!" Rafsan said. "Your mother landed in the hospital for two months searching for you!"
"I can explain!" Aram said.
"Come here," Sohan said.
Aram slowly walked toward him.
Nearby, Nikolai was rocking Mila to sleep.
"Why did you run away from home, Ram?" Sohan asked.
Nikolai sat beside him.
Aram lowered his head.
Then he began explaining everything that had happened in America after his father's death.
"T…that's what happened."
He wiped his tears.
"I contacted my grandmother here in Russia and left."
"I stayed with her for years until it was her time."
He swallowed.
"She died, leaving only me."
Aram shook his head.
"I swear, Uncle, I didn't do it. I didn't kill her."
He wiped his face again.
"And Mom…even after finding out, she looked me in the eyes and called my late father a dog."
"She said that we were the same."
His voice cracked.
"I hate her."
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"And I will never forgive her."
"Never."
Riyana's heart broke.
"Oh, baby."
She looked at him.
"You should have gone to the boys."
"Ishaan, Tory, and Rezaul were here."
"The house is big enough for you, sweetie."
Aram lowered his head.
"Like I'm a burden."
"That's what they called me."
He looked at Riyana.
"I know there were other families, and especially yours, Mumma."
"But I left completely."
Sohan took out his phone.
He dialed a number.
Mila was asleep on Nikolai's chest.
Ariz approached and handed Nikolai a blanket.
"Here."
"Thank you," Nikolai said.
He covered Mila.
Sarah carefully reached for her.
But Mila suddenly broke into a sob in her sleep.
Nikolai immediately held her back.
"Uh-oh," Riyana whispered.
Nikolai sighed.
He held his baby girl against his chest.
"Shhh. Papa's here."
Mila snuggled closer.
Aram remained standing quietly.
Sohan stood and walked toward the window.
The phone connected.
"Hello, Sohan."
A deep feminine voice came through.
"I found him," Sohan said.
"He's in Russia."
"He is in the same school with Mhaira."
"He is a graduate."
"And he works with Mihu's husband here in Russia."
He paused.
"And now he's coming for the wedding in India."
There was silence.
Then the woman gasped.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"I will come!"
"I'm coming!"
The call ended.
Sohan turned around.
"We leave for India now."
Aram looked at him.
"Now?"
"Yes."
Sohan's expression became serious.
"Make sure you be there. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Aram replied.
Meanwhile, after one hour, Sohan and the family left for India.
Outside Alexio's mansion, a car arrived.
Alexio stood waiting.
The door opened.
A stunning, dazzling lady stepped out.
She was wearing a white ribbed tank top paired with a dark-wash denim mini skirt and a matching cropped denim jacket with silver buttons.
For footwear, she had chosen white knee-high slouchy boots with a unique metallic heel.
She accessorized with a white leather baker-boy hat and a white quilted shoulder bag featuring a silver chain strap and a small attached pouch.
She looked toward Alexio.
Her face immediately lit up.
"BROTHER!!!!!!!!"
She ran toward him.
Alexio caught her and hugged her tightly.
"My little star."
She laughed.
"Oh, come on, brother! I'm a biggest star!"
Alexio smiled.
"Welcome home, Cleo."
Her name was Cleo.
She was his little sister.
Their mother had given birth to her after she died.
Cleo looked around.
"I thought Nikolai lived at his old place."
Then she looked at the enormous mansion.
"This is damn!"
Alexio smiled.
"It's for his wife."
"He built it for her and the family."
Cleo gasped.
"He had a wife now?"
"Yeah."
Alexio smiled.
"And an adorable baby girl."
"Come. Let's go."
Cleo held his arm.
The guards groaned in frustration as they watched them walk inside.
Cleo looked around.
"Wowwwwww!"
She stared at the mansion.
"This is absolutely beautiful!"
Nikolai appeared while holding Mila.
"Welcome home, Cleo."
Cleo walked toward him.
She bowed.
Then she gently touched Mila's face.
"She's adorable."
Nikolai smiled.
"Like her mama."
He looked down at Mila.
"My wife isn't at home, but she will be by maybe next week."
Cleo nodded.
Zhanna brought her bridal suitcases.
Cleo took them.
Everyone sat together and talked.
She had brought things for Alexio.
She had also brought things for the babies.
The mansion was filled with conversation and laughter.
ONE WEEK LATER
One week passed.
Lilith and the girls did a lot of shopping.
They slept at each other's houses.
They visited salons.
They prepared for the wedding.
Nikolai missed Lily badly.
Mila missed her too.
Meanwhile, the girls were in the salon.
"Lily, we're leaving your hair natural for the wedding," Wiktoria said.
"Yeah," Moiri added. "It makes the bride glow more."
"Everything natural!"
The girls giggled.
The bridal spa treatments began.
Tonight was Yamini's house.
Tomorrow would be the last stop.
Lily's mansion.
The girls eventually came out.
Lilith made a call.
"Hello?"
"Amma?"
Damian answered.
"Dammy, I need a favor," Lily said.
"Tell me."
She explained her plans.
There was a pause.
"Lily, you're gonna get me killed."
He sighed.
"But alright."
The call ended.
Lily smiled.
She had bought some spicy clothes specifically to tease her Russian donkey husband.
The girls laughed as they left the mall.
They headed toward Yamini's mansion.
Meanwhile, Nikolai watched a video of the island.
He smiled.
Mila was asleep.
His phone buzzed.
He looked at the message.
"See you tomorrow, my donkey."
A huge grin appeared on his face.
"My Bambi," he whispered.
He lay down beside Mila.
Soon, he was sleeping too.
INDIA
Meanwhile, in India, Riyana was known as the Flower of the Muard Empire.
Her graceful beauty.
Her wonderful voice.
Her beautiful dance steps.
Everything about her had made her admired.
Sohan always fell deeply in love with her.
But what happened when the flower got insulted?
The mansion was extremely large.
The families all sat together laughing and choosing jewelry for the wedding.
Bhairavi walked in.
Riyana looked toward her.
"Your blessings are still as gorgeous as ever, my dear," Bhairavi said.
Sohan smiled.
Riyana received her Bengali family members.
Everyone hugged her.
The family continued preparing for the wedding.
It was noon.
Sohan and Riyana were together.
Riyana suddenly gasped as Sohan smirked at her.
"You…you naughty man."
She laughed shyly.
"Let me go. It's almost lunchtime."
Sohan smiled.
He brushed his nose against hers.
His hands rested around her waist.
"Meri priya ("My beloved.")
"Meri Jaan said ("My love.")
"Mera khoobsurat phool ("My beautiful flower.")
Riyana blushed deeply.
They shared a gentle kiss, just like old times.
Their love remained strong despite their age.
They had grown older together.
They had built a family together.
And their affection for each other remained.
During lunchtime, Riyana served everyone.
Several women walked in.
"Aree, they are very rich," an older lady said.
"Namaskar(Greetings") Sanjot greeted.
The family greeted them.
"Please come sit," Riyana said.
The elderly woman wore gold everywhere.
Jewelry covered her neck, wrists, ears, and fingers.
Everything shone.
She sat down.
Her name was Daya Singh.
Daya looked around the mansion.
"So you're the bride's family, huh?"
"Ji(Yes) Riyana answered.
She sat down.
Her sons were behind her.
Daya looked toward Riyana.
"I am Daya, the oldest family member."
She paused.
"I haven't met your daughter."
"But the family is telling me she works and doesn't stay at home."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Is that what you taught your daughter?"
Sohan immediately became angry.
Riyana smiled calmly.
"My daughter has always been independent."
She continued.
"And Nikolai is a good husband supporting her."
"She earns her own money."
"And she is building a future for herself."
Daya crossed her legs.
"Remember who you all are talking to."
The room became quiet.
"Nikolai lost Lily once."
She stared at Riyana.
"Not again."
"We are the Muards."
"We don't take disrespect."
Reyan immediately spoke.
"Mhaira is the only daughter of Baba."
"So please mind your words."
Daya smiled.
"Of course."
"But I wanted Kaal to get married to a family friend of mine."
"I promised their hand together when your daughter left him and gave birth to a daughter instead of a son."
Karim immediately replied.
"Nikolai is happy with his little girl."
"Boys," Riyana said.
The men became quiet for her sake.
Daya snapped her fingers.
"This is Kaal's dowry list."
A document was brought forward.
"What you need to give the groom's family and him."
"Present it on the wedding."
She looked directly at Riyana.
"I mean, you can do that since you're not a good housewife and mother for training your daughter well."
Riyana remained silent.
Daya continued.
"And if it's not your fault, you let her run wild."
"We are a good, respectful family."
"And Kaal's money is being spent on this so-called royal wedding."
She leaned back.
"Mrs. Riyana, I know you're old now."
Riyana's heart broke.
Sohan's anger grew.
He grabbed six iron rods.
"Calm down, son," Mr. Kadeon said.
Sohan bent all six rods.
The metal twisted under his hands.
Daya smirked.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
She was insulting Riyana.
"With all due—" Aarav began.
Riyana raised her hand lightly.
Everyone stopped.
She looked at Daya.
"I can also say the same for you."
She remained composed.
"But I have manners."
She extended her hand.
"So please, can I have the list?"
Daya suddenly threw the list at Riyana's face.
"HEY!!!!!"
The entire Muard family immediately stood.
They pointed their guns toward Daya and the people with her.
Daya gasped.
"How dare YOU!"
Sohan stepped forward.
But Riyana blocked him.
She gently held his head.
He was boiling with anger.
"Please," she whispered.
Her hands folded together.
"Please."
Sohan looked at her.
Tears began falling down Riyana's cheeks.
Sohan's expression softened.
He wiped her tears.
Then he kissed her forehead.
Riyana smiled.
She picked up the list.
"Of course."
She looked at Daya.
"I will provide everything on the list for the groom."
Daya hesitated.
"G…Good."
"No mistakes."
"Or we will call off the wedding."
"Goodbye."
Daya turned around and walked out.
The doors closed behind her.
Sohan looked at his wife.
Riyana smiled.
"It's okay," she said.
"Come on."
She wiped her tears.
"Let's eat!"
"Mumma…"
Ariz looked toward her.
Riyana smiled.
"Come on. List all eat. Come, come, come!"
The family slowly returned to the meal.
But nobody had forgotten what had happened.
The Flower of the Muard Empire had been insulted.
She had been humiliated.
She had been spoken to without respect.
And nobody had stopped it.
Not because they didn't care.
Not because they weren't angry.
But because Riyana had smiled.
She had chosen dignity.
She had chosen peace.
She had chosen her family.
And perhaps that was what made her even more dangerous.
Because the Flower of the Muard Empire could smile while her heart was breaking.
But everyone who loved her knew the truth.
A flower could be delicate.
A flower could be beautiful.
A flower could be gentle.
But even a flower had thorns.