Nikolai woke up early that morning.
The mansion was still quiet.
Most of everyone was still asleep, and the early morning sunlight had barely begun to shine through the enormous windows.
Nikolai carefully got out of bed.
He looked at Lilith.
She was still sleeping peacefully.
Her long hair was spread across the pillow, and one of her hands rested protectively over her enormous pregnant belly.
Nikolai smiled.
He gently leaned down and scooped her into his arms.
Lilith immediately whined in her sleep.
"Come on, Bambi," Nikolai whispered.
She moved her head against his chest.
"Hmmmm…"
"It's time for your morning walk."
Lilith whined again.
"Bambi, it's for your own good. Now come on, darling."
She pouted even though her eyes were still closed.
Nikolai laughed softly.
"You know you need the exercise."
He carefully dressed her in her gym pants and a comfortable shirt before helping her downstairs.
"Good morning, brother."
Daria stood nearby, holding Leonid's arm.
"Morning, D."
Nikolai smiled.
Lilith immediately whined again.
Daria and Leonid laughed.
"She's not happy about this morning walk," Daria said.
"She never is," Nikolai replied.
Lilith glared at them sleepily.
They laughed even more.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the mansion, Rosa gently tapped Salvatore's face.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Good morning, sunshine."
Rosa hit the bed.
Salvatore laughed.
"Oh, grumpy morning, huh?"
Zhanna was still asleep.
She had been having restless nights because of her daughter.
Salvatore looked down at Rosa.
"Alright, Mama. Day off."
He smiled.
"You and I are gonna have a big day."
Rosa giggled.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Salvatore picked it up.
"Yeah?"
"Brother?"
"Yeah. What's up? How are you?"
"I'm fine, brother. How is Zee and the kids?"
"She's sleeping now. She's been taking care of Rosa every single night."
Salvatore removed Rosa's diaper.
His sister became quiet on the phone.
"Brother… it's Mother."
Salvatore paused.
"Uhmm… how will I put this?"
"What did she do now?"
"Well, you know she doesn't like Zee at all."
Salvatore sighed.
"Go on."
"She brought a lady and is planning on trapping you during Thanksgiving dinner."
Salvatore frowned.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I need to escape from here."
She took a deep breath.
"She arranged my marriage with a guy who only wants my share, and now she's making arrangements. Brother, help, please."
Salvatore immediately became serious.
"Fine."
He thought for a moment.
"You remember the garden hidden door?"
"Yes, brother."
"You and the four pack your bags and go there by midnight."
His voice became firm.
"If not, put sleeping pills during dinner. My team will be waiting for you."
"Thank you so much, brother."
Her voice became emotional.
"I love you so much."
"Love you all too."
The call ended.
Zhanna yawned.
"Who was that?" she mumbled sleepily.
Salvatore placed Rosa down on the bed.
"The girl's mother is making them get married forcefully."
He shook his head.
"It's good. I didn't even want to go for Thanksgiving anyway."
Zhanna rubbed his hair sleepily.
"Sleep, baby. I got her."
Salvatore smiled.
They kissed.
"Come on, Bambi. We are almost there."
Nikolai held Lilith's water bottle.
Lilith continued whining.
She walked slowly, breathing in and out as she held her bump.
Step after step.
She continued walking.
And walking.
And walking.
Eventually, they reached the giant door.
"All done, baby."
Lilith immediately grabbed the bottle and drank.
Farhan approached her with a towel.
"Here."
"Thank you, Bhai."
She smiled.
Farhan kissed her forehead.
"Morning, Mama."
Mila came running toward them.
"Good morning, my sweetheart."
Lilith kissed her cheeks.
"Morning, sissys."
She tapped her bump.
"Sissys?"
Nikolai looked at Mila.
Mila opened her arms.
Nikolai immediately picked her up.
"Morning, Papa."
"Good morning, love."
He hugged her.
Damian entered.
"Boss."
He leaned toward Nikolai and whispered something into his ear.
Nikolai nodded.
"Bambi, I drop you at the restaurant, hm?"
Lilith nodded.
Soon, they went upstairs to take a bath together.
Meanwhile, Cleo and Ivelle were looking for birthday gifts for Lily.
The triplets were with Alexio.
They were all sitting together when little Luna, who was now one and a half years old, reached up and tapped Alexio's face.
Alexio kissed her cheek.
"D… D… Dada!"
Alexio froze.
"Huh?"
He stared at her.
"What did you just say, love?"
Luna smiled widely.
She kicked her little legs excitedly.
"Dada! Dada! Dada!"
Alexio immediately picked her up.
He kissed her cheeks endlessly.
Luna giggled loudly.
Tears rolled down Alexio's cheeks.
Ivelle entered.
"Why are you crying?"
Alexio looked at her.
"S… she called me Dada."
He started crying even more.
Ivelle's heart melted.
She wiped his cheeks.
Then she held him.
Their feelings grew stronger every day.
Alexio looked at her.
Their foreheads touched.
The triplets giggled happily.
Alexio made them giggle even more.
Soon, everyone was laughing.
Four hours later…
Deep underground, an enormous crowd roared.
The underground fight had reached its final moments.
The crowd screamed.
The Apex monstrosity delivered his final blow.
The man collapsed unconscious.
A deafening roar erupted from the audience.
The fighter wiped his face.
The crowd cheered even louder.
Rurik stood nearby.
He smirked proudly.
Then he entered the locker room.
Meanwhile, at the Mellow House, it was crowded.
People filled the restaurant.
Dates.
Families.
Students.
Workers.
Business people.
Everyone had gathered.
The restaurant was alive with conversation, laughter, food, music, and movement.
But one particular man continued staring at Lily.
He was the same man who had been coming there repeatedly.
He never came only to eat.
He came to see her.
Every single day he got the chance.
His name was Semyon Evan Prokhorov.
He was half Russian and half British.
And he had been coming to the restaurant not because of the food.
But because of Lilith.
Seerat handed Thalia a plate as she served customers.
"Boss."
Amelia approached Lilith and whispered something into her ear.
Lilith smirked.
"Take the money."
Amelia looked surprised.
"Go shopping."
Amelia stared at her.
"Have some days off. I will appreciate your hard work, love."
Lilith smiled.
"So you give me this, and bye-bye."
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
"Y… you appreciate me?"
Lilith looked confused.
"Why are you crying?"
Amelia immediately hugged her.
"I love you, Boss!"
She cried.
"Thank you so much. You're the first boss to ever appreciate my work."
She wiped her tears.
"Thank you."
"Awww."
Lilith hugged her back.
She gently wiped Amelia's tears.
Amelia eventually left.
Lilith sat in the art studio.
Several people were around her.
She was drawing and painting with complete concentration.
Her brush moved carefully across the canvas.
She rubbed her bump gently.
"Mhaira, lunchtime!"
Seerat's voice echoed through the room.
"Mhaira…"
Semyon whispered the name from across the room.
He watched her carefully.
"Here, Baneva. Let me help you."
Avleen approached Lilith.
"Baneva?"
Semyon quietly repeated the name.
"Baneva?"
Addison walked inside carrying food.
"Lily. Boss sent lunch for you."
"Lily… Mhaira… Baneva?"
Semyon stared.
The names stayed in his mind.
Lilith's table had already been prepared.
She looked down.
A meticulously arranged bento box sat in front of her.
The bento included a bed of rice decorated with a pickled plum and black sesame seeds.
Other compartments contained karaage, Japanese fried chicken, two cheese-filled fish cakes that looked possibly like chikuwa, tamagoyaki, a rolled omelet, broccoli florets decorated with tiny pink decorations, sweet potato, and pasta salad.
There were also small red sausage pieces shaped like octopuses.
The bento box itself was silver or gray metal.
Beside it was a chicken salad bowl.
It contained pieces of what looked like grilled or baked chicken, corn, cucumber, lettuce, and a creamy dressing.
Lilith sat down.
She ate slowly.
Halfway through, she stopped.
"I'm full."
Seerat immediately shook her head.
"Nah-ah."
Lilith pouted.
"You're going to finish everything now."
Lilith whined.
"Come on, Mama."
Wazir pointed toward her belly.
"Your babies need this."
She smiled.
"And it's their papa who made it."
Lilith pouted.
Her belly suddenly moved.
"Ouch."
Wazir immediately pointed.
"See?"
Lilith sighed.
She continued eating.
More.
And more.
And more.
Eventually, she finished everything.
Meanwhile, Nikolai sat inside the meeting room.
Every company representative and staff member had been searched before entering the mansion.
"Please, shoes," Damian instructed.
Everyone obeyed.
They waited.
Outside, Salvatore stood near the entrance.
Cars continued pulling up.
Rosa was wrapped around his chest.
Mattie was asleep with Zhanna.
Four girls came down.
"Brother!"
Salvatore smiled.
The girls ran toward him.
He hugged all of them.
He had four sisters.
Ornella.
Nunzia.
Gaia.
Antonina.
All four were Italian sisters.
"We missed you so, so, so much!"
"I missed you all too."
Salvatore smiled.
"Hi, Rosa."
Ornella gently rubbed Rosa's hair.
"Let go," Salvatore said.
The girls laughed.
They all went inside.
Five hours later, Lilith returned home.
She was holding several shopping bags.
The guards immediately rushed toward her.
"Hey!?"
Everyone looked at her.
Including Rozalia.
Lilith sat down.
Someone immediately gave her water.
"I have to make lunch."
The head maid immediately shook her head.
"Lily Boss strictly said that we shouldn't let you into the kitchen."
Lilith stared at her.
"And your heavy duties are suspended."
"What?!"
Lilith stood.
"How dare he?!"
She held her bump.
Then she began waddling toward the door.
Rozalia stepped in front of her.
"Sir is busy."
"Move."
"That's his wife," one of the guards said.
Rozalia looked at Lilith with slight shock.
Lilith stared at her.
"Excuse me?"
She angrily moved Rozalia aside.
Then she entered the meeting room.
The meeting was immediately interrupted.
"NIKOLAI!!"
Everyone looked at her.
Nikolai looked up from his papers.
"Yes, my darling?"
"Did you ban me from the kitchen?!"
She marched toward him.
"Yes, I did."
Lilith's mouth dropped open.
"And also no garden work."
He calmly continued.
"I got a gardener."
Lilith frowned.
"And no going to the restaurant for now."
"Why?!"
"Leonid said you need rest before your due date, love."
Nikolai held her hands.
Lilith stared at him.
"T… that's not fair."
One of the female CEOs spoke gently.
"Mrs. Lilith, it's for your sake."
Lilith looked at her.
"When I was pregnant, work made it hard for me during labor time."
The woman smiled softly.
"So it's best for you and the baby."
Lilith rubbed her bump.
She sighed.
"Fine."
"Come on, Bambi."
Nikolai gently took her away from the meeting room.
Rozalia watched them.
Her eyes burned with anger and jealousy.
Nikolai kissed Lilith lovingly.
"I'm not mad."
"I know, Bambi."
He rocked her gently.
Lilith slowly fell asleep in his arms.
Elsewhere, Ramira fed Azlan.
Vishal strapped Zlata securely to his chest.
"Ready, my sweetheart?"
Ramira nodded.
They got into the cars.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a mansion.
Namala came outside holding a tray.
Vishal wore glasses and carried Ramira's bag.
The twins were also one year old.
Ramira came down after Vishal opened the door for her.
They walked toward the mansion.
"Welcome, son."
Namala smiled.
"Let's get this over with, please."
Vishal's voice was cold.
Nirmala sighed.
She performed the welcoming ceremony.
They entered.
Rain poured outside.
"Hello, son."
Mr. Pyotr stood there.
Five of his children were behind him.
They had three girls and two boys.
The girls were Tanirika, Lada, and Anvitha.
The boys were Miron and Advay.
Everyone sat down.
Ramira took his blessings.
"Bless you."
She handed Zlata to him.
"Hello, darling."
Mr. Pyotr smiled.
Zlata made baby noises.
He kissed her cheeks.
She giggled.
Nirmala held Azlan.
He giggled at her.
Lilith's birthday was tomorrow.
Nikolai had been shopping for days.
He had also prepared another room.
Because he was busy with their own room, he had made Lilith sleep in Mila's room for three weeks.
Lilith was asleep.
Meanwhile, Wazir got the twins dressed.
Dante sat down after his shower.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
He yawned.
"Bye-bye, pretty auntie!"
Joan and the other child ran outside.
"Be careful!"
Wazir watched them leave.
Dante rubbed his face.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded.
Wazir walked toward him.
She touched his forehead.
"You have a fever."
Dante sneezed.
"No, I don't."
Wazir frowned.
Dante tried to stand.
Wazir stepped out.
Four minutes later, she returned with a box and a glass of water.
Dante was already dressed for work.
"Where are you going?"
"Work."
His voice was raspy.
Wazir handed him some pills.
He took them.
Then she locked the door.
Dante stared at her.
"Why are you locking the door?"
"Well, you aren't leaving."
She folded her arms.
"I don't mind tying your hands to the bed."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"Now, if you don't drop that suit and get into these comfortable clothes and sleep until your fever comes down…"
She pointed toward the bed.
"You're staying here."
Dante scoffed.
"Move."
Wazir smiled.
"Okay."
She tied her scarf around her waist.
"What are you doing?" Dante asked.
Wazir moved closer.
And closer.
Dante moved backward.
And backward.
She grabbed his tie.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"
She grabbed his hands.
Then she tied both of them to the bed.
"Let me go! I have work!"
His phone rang.
Wazir giggled.
"Ouuu."
She covered his mouth with her hand.
Then she picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
She listened.
"Hi."
She looked at Dante.
"Actually, he is very, very sick."
Dante's eyes widened.
"He got a fever, and your boss will not be in the office today until his fever is gone."
She paused.
"Who am I?"
She looked at Dante.
"I am his girlfriend."
Dante's eyes widened even more.
"Yes."
She continued.
"I am taking care of the kids and him too."
She listened.
"So please, any meetings should be moved, and forward any important messages to him."
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Wazir smiled.
Dante stared at her.
"Girlfriend, huh?"
He smirked.
"Like that title, huh?"
Wazir blushed.
"Here. Take them."
Dante looked at her.
"You are very beautiful."
He rubbed her back.
Wazir gently placed her forehead against his.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
They simply stayed there.
Together.
A moment of peace between two people whose feelings had been slowly growing.
By 11:58 p.m., the mansion was quiet.
The door of Mila's room slowly opened.
Footsteps entered.
Lilith was asleep.
Everyone waited.
The clock moved.
11:59 p.m.
Then…
12:00 a.m.
"Mama! Mama! Up! Up! Wakey wakey!"
Mila jumped onto the bed.
Lilith opened her eyes.
She yawned.
"Baby?"
She rubbed her eyes.
Then she looked around.
Everyone was in the room.
Nikolai stood there holding a cake.
Everyone smiled.
"Happy Birthday, Lily!"
"Happy Birthday, Mama!"
"Happy Birthday, Big Mama!"
"Happy Birthday, my Mama!"
Mila began singing.
Lilith's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Happy birthday, love."
Nikolai smiled.
Lilith looked at the cake.
Across the cake was a funny meme picture.
Written across it were the words:
HOLY SHIT, I'M 20!
Lilith burst out laughing.
Her phone suddenly rang.
She picked it up.
It was her friends' group chat.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!!!!!!!
Lilith chuckled.
She looked around at everyone.
Her family.
Her friends.
Her husband.
Her daughter.
Her babies.
She closed her eyes.
She made her wish.
Inside her heart, she prayed:
I hope my family, my friends, and I always stay together and happy.
And I hope I have a safe delivery and bring all my seven girls into the world safely.
She opened her eyes.
She blew out the candles.
Everyone cheered.
Lilith cut the cake.
She fed herself first.
Then she began feeding everyone else.
Mila giggled.
Nikolai kissed her forehead.
Lilith smiled through her tears.
She was twenty.
She was pregnant with seven baby girls.
She was surrounded by the people she loved.
And for that moment, nothing else mattered.
The candles had been blown out.
The cake had been shared.
The laughter filled the room.
And Lilith's twentieth birthday had officially begun.