Nikolai had finally fallen asleep.
After everything that had happened throughout the day, exhaustion had eventually taken over him. His head rested comfortably against the pillows while his breathing became slow and peaceful.
Lilith sat beside him, gently running her fingers through his hair.
She smiled softly as she leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"Bambi," Nikolai murmured in his sleep.
Lilith's smile widened.
"Yes, my love?" she whispered, even though she knew he was completely asleep.
Nikolai shifted slightly, his brows relaxing again.
"Stay," he murmured sleepily.
Lilith looked at him with pure affection.
"I'm staying," she whispered.
She continued rubbing his hair while, outside the room, several guards were already busy preparing the new babies' room.
Boxes were being carried inside.
Furniture was being arranged.
Tiny blankets were being folded.
The room was slowly transforming into a beautiful nursery for the seven babies who would soon arrive.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Xeno stood in front of a mirror.
He wore a perfectly fitted suit.
He buttoned his sleeves carefully, adjusting his cuffs when his phone suddenly rang.
He picked it up.
"Yes?"
"We have the kid, sir," the guard said.
"Good."
The call ended.
Xeno slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped outside.
He walked through the mansion until he reached Lilith.
She was sitting comfortably while knitting tiny baby hats.
Rurik was helping her organize the little pieces of yarn.
Lilith glanced up.
"Xeno."
He stopped immediately.
"Yes, Maa?"
"Come here."
Xeno slowly moved toward her.
Lilith continued knitting for a few seconds before finally looking directly at him.
"Words reached me that you let your personal assistant, who was your first love, get sexually abused in the club."
Xeno's expression immediately changed.
Lilith continued.
"You called her too, gave her a file, and allowed male prostitutes to touch her."
Xeno rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"And then you broke into her apartment last night."
He remained silent.
Lilith placed the little hat down.
"And you're going to get married to her as we speak."
Rurik looked at Xeno.
"Y… y… yes, Maa," Xeno answered.
The former Bratva member lowered his gaze.
Lilith picked up another tiny hat and examined it.
"Bring your daughter and your bride home."
"Y… yes, Maa."
Xeno immediately turned around and walked away.
Rurik watched him leave.
Lilith continued knitting as though she had just given him the simplest instruction in the world.
Ayla sniffed as she walked back and forth.
She was nervous.
She had been waiting.
Riley was taking a nap when the door suddenly opened.
Xeno walked inside.
"Hello, darling."
Ayla turned sharply.
"Where is Riley?!"
Xeno hissed and covered his ear dramatically.
"My daughter was very excited last night to meet her papa, so she came with him."
Ayla grabbed his collar.
"Where is my daughter?"
"Oh, okay," Xeno said with a laugh.
Ayla narrowed her eyes.
"Where is Riley?"
"Well, you have three options now."
Ayla stared at him.
"One," Xeno said, holding up a finger, "if you ever want to see Riley again, you will do as I say."
Ayla's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Two," he continued, "you will get dressed in this beautiful dress I picked for you in ten minutes. Dress up pretty."
Ayla stared at the dress.
"And thirdly," Xeno said, "you will get married to me in one hour. Be fast, sweetheart."
Ayla's tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Maa is waiting for the newly married couple."
Xeno paused.
"Us."
Ayla's lips trembled.
"And you remember Nikolai, right?"
"Y… yeah," she said shakily.
"Well, his wife is the lady of the house. I live in it. It belongs to her."
He pointed toward the dress.
"So, my pretty girl, be quick."
His expression hardened.
"Or else you will never see Riley again."
Ayla stared at him.
She slowly took the dress.
"Good girl."
Xeno gently patted her head.
Ayla closed the door.
She looked down at the beautiful dress in her hands.
Her tears continued falling.
Nikolai took a very long nap.
He had barely moved when tiny footsteps entered the room.
"Papa!"
Mila waddled toward the bed.
Nikolai opened one eye.
"Papa, lunch time. Come on."
Mila reached up and tapped his face.
Nikolai smiled.
He slowly sat up.
"Hey, baby."
"Hi, Dada."
"Mama say I call you," Mila said.
Nikolai yawned.
Mila handed him a T-shirt.
He took it and put on the gray shirt.
Then father and daughter went downstairs together.
Lilith was in the pool.
She was peacefully swimming while Nikolai sat nearby eating.
Lilith performed a few graceful backstrokes.
Nikolai watched her for a moment before clapping.
"Alright, out, Bambi."
Lilith immediately pouted.
"Nope."
Nikolai raised an eyebrow.
"How you get in the water is nice," she said seductively, giving him a wink.
Nikolai smirked.
"Listen, hot mama, get out of the pool so you can eat."
Lilith tilted her head.
"Well… you can help me out, right, big daddy?"
Nikolai immediately felt his face becoming warm.
"I see what you're doing, young lady."
Lilith pouted.
"If you come out, you get fifty kisses."
Nikolai smiled.
"Vaada(Promise?")
Lilith's eyes brightened.
"Promise!?"
"I promise."
Lilith happily climbed out of the pool.
She cleaned herself up before walking toward him.
Nikolai looked at her and smiled.
"Your boobs are getting really huge, by the way."
"Duh. I'm pregnant."
Nikolai scoffed.
Lilith sat on his lap and grabbed both his cheeks.
"Look at my cutest baby boy ever."
She squeezed his cheeks gently.
"Aren't you just adorable, Nikolai? No wonder ladies are always after you."
Nikolai's face became red.
Lilith laughed.
Then she kissed his face.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
And again.
She continued until she had given him all fifty kisses.
Then she gave him one final slow kiss.
Nikolai smiled and rubbed her bump.
Outside, a car parked.
Both Xeno and Ayla stepped out.
Ayla stared at the enormous mansion.
"Oh wow."
"Yeah," Xeno replied.
Ayla held her red bridal lehenga carefully as they walked around to the other side of the mansion.
Rohan was waiting.
"Ready?" he asked.
Xeno nodded.
He discreetly placed the gun beneath Ayla's veil.
Rohan began chanting.
The wedding ritual started.
They performed the ceremony together.
Back inside, Mila was being fed when suddenly a powerful voice echoed through the mansion.
"MILLLLLLLLLL!"
Mila gasped.
"KAMMYYYYYYY!"
She immediately climbed down and ran toward the entrance.
There stood Kalma.
She had just returned from her honeymoon with Vittoria.
They had both gotten married after Vittoria married her.
"My baby girl!"
Kalma lifted Mila into her arms.
Mila hugged her tightly.
Tears came down Kalma's cheeks.
"I miss you aloooooot!"
"I miwss you, Biggggggg Kammy!"
Mila squeezed her.
"I now go to school! I have many shiny stars! I be good girl in school!"
"Oh, my sweetheart."
Kalma kissed her.
"I saw your dance video from school."
She smiled.
"Did you make Dada cry?"
Mila looked around and giggled.
"Dada cry biggggg because I go to school!"
They both laughed.
Lilith came outside.
"Kammy!"
Kalma's eyes immediately softened.
"Hi, babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"
The two women hugged.
Kalma kissed Lilith's cheeks.
"Why, hello, little kittens."
She looked toward Lilith's growing bump.
Nikolai entered.
"Boss."
Kalma placed her hand over her chest.
"Kam, welcome back."
Nikolai tapped her shoulders affectionately.
"When is she due?" Vittoria asked.
"End of this month or the first week of August," Nikolai answered.
Kalma hugged Mila again.
Mila hugged her even tighter.
Meanwhile, Xeno's wedding ceremony continued.
He wore the diamond wedding necklace.
Then he applied vermilion to Ayla's hairline.
They began the seven-vow walk.
"Walk faster," Xeno whispered.
He pointed the gun behind her.
Ayla suddenly turned toward him.
"You idiot!"
Xeno blinked.
"Come wear this damn lehenga YOURSELF!"
Rohan struggled not to laugh.
Urlima chuckled softly as she watched them.
They completed the final round.
"Congratulations," Rohan announced.
"You both are now husband and wife."
Xeno smiled.
Ayla struggled with the heavy dress.
Xeno reached down and held the last end of her lehenga, helping his wife walk.
Together, they entered the mansion.
Urlima performed the welcoming ceremony for them.
Ayla looked around at everything.
The mansion was enormous.
Everything was elegant.
Everything seemed almost unreal.
They finally reached Lilith's hall.
There stood the tiny pregnant woman.
Nikolai was applying belly oil to Lilith's bump.
"All done, darling," Nikolai said.
Lilith kissed him.
Then she looked toward Ayla.
"Hello, Ayla. Been a long time."
Ayla looked at Lilith.
"Hi."
Ayla folded her hands respectfully.
Both Ayla and Xeno bowed and took Lilith's blessings.
Lilith placed her hand over them.
"Bless you."
Then she looked at Xeno.
"And Xeno, you are going to get punished."
Xeno knew exactly what she meant.
He nodded.
"Good."
Nikolai fed Lilith.
Then he suddenly looked around.
"Where are the cars?"
Lilith smiled.
She raised a whistle and blew.
The guards immediately removed the black cloth covering the vehicles.
Everyone looked.
There stood the Range Rover Sport.
Its dark emerald green finish gave it a powerful and sophisticated presence.
The deep green paint looked almost black in low light, while sunlight brought out rich emerald tones across the sculpted bodywork.
The SUV had a wide, commanding stance, a sleek sloping roofline, flush door handles, sharp LED headlights, and a distinctive grille that gave it an unmistakably luxurious appearance.
The dark emerald finish made the vehicle look elegant rather than flashy, with a refined, almost royal character.
Inside the cabin, the interior could be imagined with soft black or deep tan leather, elegant metallic detailing, a large central touchscreen, a digital driver display, a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated seats, and carefully finished surfaces throughout.
The spacious rear seats provided plenty of room for passengers, while the large cargo area kept it practical.
Overall, the Dark Emerald Green Range Rover Sport combined luxury, sportiness, elegance, and a strong commanding presence.
It was the kind of SUV that looked equally appropriate arriving at a five-star hotel, driving through the city, or pulling up at a private estate.
"Ouuuuuuuu!" Abellona exclaimed.
Nikolai immediately took a video of his tiny, happy wife.
Lilith did a little happy dance with her bump.
"Oh my bikes!"
She looked delighted as the guards brought the motorcycles out.
About six of them were lined up.
Mila clapped excitedly for her mama.
Nikolai grinned at Lilith.
Lilith climbed into the Range Rover Sport.
Nikolai joined her.
She took him on a test drive.
Later that evening, Xeno was on his knees.
Ayla stood nearby holding her scarf.
Lilith rubbed her bump.
Eris and Thalia stood ready with the whips.
Lilith looked directly at Xeno.
"Now, Xeno, you will get sixty lashes."
Xeno swallowed.
"For one: letting her get assaulted."
Ayla lowered her gaze.
"Two: kidnapping her daughter and getting her into marrying you in such a manner."
Xeno remained silent.
"Three: mentally abusing her."
Lilith stared at him.
"Do you accept your punishment?"
Xeno looked toward Ayla.
Then he nodded.
"Yes, I do."
Eris gave him a lash.
Thalia followed.
"Oh, Jesus," Galina whispered.
The lashes continued.
"One…"
"Twenty…"
"Forty-five…"
"Fifty…"
"Fifty-six…"
"Sixty."
Xeno's body trembled from the pain.
Rurik looked at Nikolai.
His eyebrows were raised.
Nikolai slowly shook his head.
"Your wife is damn scary," Alfred whispered.
"She got that from her dad," Nikolai replied.
He paused.
"Who is on his way here."
Twenty minutes later, Ayla took a bath.
She was exhausted.
She had barely finished when the door opened.
"Mama!"
Riley ran toward her.
Ayla immediately hugged her.
Xeno entered behind her.
"Are… are you okay?" Ayla asked coldly.
"Yep," Xeno answered.
"Papa hurt?"
"No, love."
Xeno rubbed Riley's cheeks.
"I'll take the couch."
He picked up the pillows and lay down on the couch.
"But it papa bed, Mama," Riley whispered.
"Shhh."
Ayla gently patted her daughter.
Riley eventually fell asleep.
At 10:34 p.m., Ayla quietly checked Xeno's back.
The marks were still fresh.
She took the first-aid box.
She applied some cream carefully, trying to ease his pain and treat the wounds.
Xeno remained quiet.
Ayla said nothing.
Neither did he.
Two days remained until Lilith's birthday.
Nikolai had ordered all the stores to prepare everything.
The mansion was already becoming busier.
Mila was drawing with Mattie and Zain.
Colored pencils and papers were scattered around them.
Meanwhile, Diya and Adrian had been fighting.
They had not spoken to each other for an entire week.
Diya was in school.
She sat quietly writing.
First, she wrote a love letter.
Then she wrote an apology letter.
She sealed both letters.
Then she bought flowers for him.
Back in Adrian's office, Hammed looked at him.
"Still not talking?"
"Yeah," Adrian answered angrily.
Before Hammed could say anything else, a man entered.
"Excuse me, sir. There is a letter and flowers delivered for you."
Adrian took them.
He immediately recognized that the flowers were his favorite.
He opened the letter.
The first line made him pause.
Hello, grumpy bear.
He continued reading.
Well, I'm writing this because…
His expression slowly softened.
I miss you a lot. I really do. And also, I love you so much. I will change to be a calm person, not a mad goat that I am.
Adrian smiled slightly.
Then he reached the next part.
And maybe this will cheer you up. Look in the box.
He opened the box.
His eyes widened.
Inside was her underwear.
Adrian immediately closed the box.
His cheeks turned red.
He quickly looked around.
Then he continued reading.
Give it back tonight, Daddy.
Love you.
Adrian smiled.
He folded the letter carefully and pick the underwear he smelled it Hmmm he said with satisfaction.
By evening, Nikolai had finished his online meeting.
He leaned back.
"Damian."
"Yes?"
"Bring all meetings home."
Damian nodded.
"Of course."
Meanwhile, Iniya was cleaning Damian's room.
She brought him coffee.
Damian was slowly catching up with her.
Iniya looked down at her saree.
"Hmmm."
She pouted.
"What?" Damian asked.
"This dumb pin doesn't wanna come out."
She pouted adorably.
Damian walked over.
He carefully removed it.
"Thank you, sir."
He stared at her waist for a moment.
"Damn mole," he mumbled.
Her phone suddenly dinged.
Iniya picked it up.
The message was from Nitan's new number.
She blocked the number immediately.
Damian had already read the message.
I will never let you have a peaceful marriage.
I will ruin your relationship with Damian.
You chose him just to get back at me.
And you chose his money.
I will never let you have peace until you are out of his life completely.
Damian's expression hardened.
He forwarded the threats to himself.
Then he sent them to his father.
Iniya came back into the room yawning.
She fell onto the bed.
Within moments, she had fallen asleep.
Damian looked at her.
He quietly tucked her in.
Then he covered her with the blanket.
Outside, Rurik sat on a rocking chair.
It was already midnight.
Rurik was thirty-seven years old.
The mansion had become quiet.
He closed his eyes.
"Excuse me, sir."
Rurik opened his eyes.
It was Avleen.
"It's late. Why don't you go inside to sleep?" she asked.
Rurik looked at her.
"And you are?"
"Kaal's cousin."
She pointed inside.
"You call him Nick."
Rurik frowned.
"Kaal?"
She nodded.
"He's half Indian Punjabi," she said quietly.
"Oh. I didn't know."
Avleen held out a blanket.
"Here."
Rurik took it.
He looked at her.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-six."
He nodded.
"You live here?"
Avleen nodded.
"I go to school here."
Rurik looked surprised.
"You're not done with school?"
"Actually, I didn't get the chance to complete my studies in India."
"Why?"
Avleen lowered her eyes.
"They don't let girls study. Only boys."
Rurik frowned.
"That's stupid."
Avleen looked at him.
"Right?"
"And they are not smart," she added.
Rurik looked at her.
"Sit."
Avleen sat beside him.
She adjusted her scarf over her head.
The mansion remained silent around them.
Two people who had both experienced broken pieces of life sat together beneath the quiet night sky.
Rurik looked ahead.
Avleen looked at him.
Neither of them knew what the future would bring.
But for the first time that night, they were not alone.
And sometimes, two broken people meeting at the right moment could become the beginning of something neither of them had expected.
Something that could eventually lead them together.