Nikolai slowly opened his eyes after hours of sleep. The warmth beside him reminded him that he was not alone. Lily was still sleeping peacefully inside the tent, her head resting close to him, her breathing soft and calm.
For a moment, he simply watched her.
His tiny wife, the woman who had changed his entire world.
The dangerous man everyone feared became completely different whenever he looked at her.
Carefully, Nikolai moved his arm around her and lifted her gently, making sure not to wake her. He carried her inside the mansion and placed her carefully on the bed, pulling the blanket over her.
After making sure she was comfortable, he walked toward Mila's room.
When he opened the door, his expression immediately softened.
His little girl was awake.
Mila sat on her bed, sucking on her pacifier while rubbing her sleepy eyes. The sight made Nikolai smile.
"Good morning, my sweet angel," he whispered.
He walked closer and kissed her forehead gently.
Mila looked up at him with sleepy eyes.
"Dada," she said softly.
Nikolai smiled.
"Yes, my princess."
He carried her and prepared her for the morning. He bathed her carefully, changed her clothes, and fixed everything before lifting her into his arms again.
"Let's go, baby," he said.
He walked out of the room with his daughter in his arms.
Meanwhile, Lily was inside the shower, enjoying the warm water after everything that happened. The peaceful morning felt almost unreal.
Nikolai had already finished bathing and was now sitting down, carefully doing Mila's hair.
When Lily stepped out, she smiled at the sight.
"Good morning, darling," Lilith said.
Nikolai looked up.
"Good morning, love."
They leaned closer and kissed.
"Hi mama," Mila said happily.
Lilith's face instantly brightened.
"Hello, my baby."
She kissed Mila's forehead.
After getting ready, Lilith changed into a beautiful brown maxi dress. She looked elegant but simple, the kind of beauty that made Nikolai unable to look away.
"I have a study session by 12:00 until 4:03," she explained. "My exams are next week."
"Of course, love," Nikolai replied. "I created a study table for you in my office."
Lilith smiled and kissed him.
"Thank you."
Then she suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, where are Argo and Cherry? I haven't seen my babies since I came back."
Nikolai chuckled.
"Well, Cherry is being lazy and classy while Argo became bigger than before."
Lilith immediately turned excited.
"Give them back, and I will also buy my puppies and kittens."
She clapped her hands happily.
Nikolai looked at her lovingly and nodded.
"Anything you want, love."
Inside a dark, abandoned warehouse, the atmosphere was cold and terrifying.
A man sat in the middle of the room, his wrists trapped by heavy chains. His body carried pain from the torture he had suffered, but his eyes remained sharp.
An eagle tattoo covered part of his skin.
A woman with a dark feminine presence walked toward him.
"So how does it feel, my love?" she asked.
The man looked at her with hatred.
"I am not your love. Let me go."
The woman smiled.
"You want to leave so badly."
She stepped closer.
"But first, I want you to bring her to me. Then I will let you go."
She held up a picture.
A picture of Lily.
The man's eyes fell onto it.
"She is gorgeous," he said.
Suddenly—
The woman slapped him.
"How dare you call her that!?"
He only chuckled.
"What do you want from her?"
"Not what," the woman replied. "Who."
Her eyes darkened.
"She is the Gem of the Obsidian Trail. Sohan Muard's daughter. She studies at Helixor Prime Academy. She is also the King of Kings' wife."
She smiled.
"She is my key."
"Anyone who brings her to me will be rewarded."
The man stared at her.
"But what do you actually want from her? She looks peaceful. Do you really want to destroy someone's life?"
The woman laughed.
A terrifying laugh.
"She is Lilith."
Her voice became colder.
"She is the key to the Obsidian Trail Empire."
"I want that empire."
"My father was this close to getting his hands on it."
She leaned forward.
"I became one of the most powerful and dangerous women in Russia."
"Kalma is second."
She grabbed his face.
"Get me the Gem, and you get your freedom."
She smiled.
"And your mother's location."
His eyes widened.
"What?"
"Yes."
She whispered.
"I know where she is."
"She works with Nikolai."
"First get me Mahira Muard."
"Get me Mrs. Lilith Nikolai."
The woman screamed with rage, attacking a guard repeatedly before laughing as she rubbed blood across her face.
At Helixor Prime Academy, the library was peaceful.
Gloria explained different strategies in the stock market while everyone shared their ideas.
The Venom Syndicate was also sitting in the library, studying.
Unknown to Lilith, Nikolai had hacked into the school cameras.
His eyes remained on his wife.
He watched her sitting quietly, focused on her work.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"So beautiful," he whispered.
He was completely obsessed with her.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Boss, there is a problem," Emil said.
Nikolai's expression immediately changed as Emil explained everything.
"I'm on my way."
Mila was in his arms as he stood up.
He walked out of the room.
Oyiva had finished cleaning.
"Here, I will be back," Nikolai said, handing Mila to her.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
Nikolai opened his weapons case.
He loaded both guns, checked every bullet, and walked away.
Lilith sat in her hidden spot inside the library.
She had finished reading ancient history and was now writing down important points.
Her iPad rested beside her as she searched through information using her pen.
Valen and his team entered and took their seats.
Alara picked up a book.
"Interesting," she said.
Juliette reached for her phone.
Suddenly—
"What?" Lily asked, looking at her.
Juliette looked shocked.
Her phone rang.
"Yeah?"
A voice came through.
"Run, Mahira. Now!"
"For what—"
Before she could finish, gunshots echoed through the school.
Everyone froze.
"What was that?" Alara asked.
"Bhai, what is going on?" Lily shouted.
She quickly packed her bags.
"MAHIRA!"
A man's voice echoed.
They looked toward the entrance.
Mahira stood frozen.
"You're coming with us," the man said.
"Who are you?" she asked fearfully.
Alara looked at her.
"Do you know them?"
Mahira shook her head and immediately started dialing Nikolai.
The men fired again.
"Run!" Kazim shouted.
Everyone moved.
"Get her!"
Lilith grabbed her phone.
"Zafraan Bhai, help. They are after me!"
"Hide!" Cassia shouted.
Valen loaded a gun.
"Nikki," Lilith whispered.
Meanwhile, inside the warehouse, Nikolai's hands were covered in blood.
Very bloody.
Several men hung upside down.
"Ready to speak?" Nathan asked.
The men were barely alive.
One of them laughed weakly.
"M…M…Mhaira…"
Nikolai's eyes darkened.
"She is your wife, isn't she?"
Nikolai stepped forward.
"Dare bring my wife into this?"
The man struggled to breathe.
"She was already the main key herself."
"She wants Mhaira."
"She wants her."
"We were only a distraction."
"The main plan was kidnapping her from school."
Nikolai's expression became colder.
"What do they want from her?"
The man whispered.
"S…She is the Gem."
"She is the key to everything."
"Mhaira is the Queen."
"The key…"
His eyes closed.
His last breath left his body.
"Key to what?" Nikolai asked.
No answer.
"KEY TO WHAT!?"
Suddenly—
"Boss!"
Damian rushed in.
"Gunshots at Lily's school. She managed to escape."
Nikolai immediately opened his phone.
Forty missed calls.
His heart tightened.
He tracked her location.
Then he ran.
Lilith hid inside the park.
Tears filled her eyes as she called her father.
Sohan answered.
"Hello, baby?"
"Baba…"
Her voice broke.
"Some goons are after me."
"They said they want the Gem."
"I'm scared, Baba."
"Calm down, my baby," Sohan said.
"Tell me what happened."
She explained everything through her tears.
Sohan looked up and sighed.
"Lily…"
"You need to be safe."
"You need to stay home for now."
"I will find out who did this."
"I promise, my little deer."
She sniffed.
"Lily!"
"Lily!"
"Lily!"
Nikolai's voice echoed.
She crawled out of her hiding place.
The moment he saw her, he ran.
He pulled her into his arms.
She immediately broke down.
Nikolai cupped her face.
He wiped her tears gently.
"Come, baby."
"Let's go home, my love."
He lifted her into his arms.
She held onto him tightly.
The Venom Syndicate watched.
"Shhh… it's okay baby. It's okay," Nikolai whispered.
"That's her fiancé?" Baran asked, shocked.
"He is extremely tall."
"No, no, no. He is the tallest."
"Seriously?"
Cassia stared.
Valen watched silently.
"They said they want The Gem."
"She is a Gem of what?"
"Yamini, find out."
"Yes, boss."
Lilith eventually fell asleep in Nikolai's arms.
Her phone continued buzzing with messages from her friends asking if she was okay.
Nikolai sent a picture.
She was safe.
Sleeping peacefully.
"She is safe and asleep."
"She will be fine."
"It is a small matter. I handled it."
Then he called Sohan.
"Nick, is she okay now?" Sohan asked.
"Yes, father."
"She is scared."
"Who are those people?"
"And Lily is the key to what?"
Sohan became silent.
"I never thought this day would come."
"I hid my daughter from them."
"And from that chamber."
"Twenty years ago, I created a chamber with all the secrets and hard work of the Obsidian Trail."
"One day…"
Sohan stopped.
"Zafraan and Farhan will tell you."
"I am at the hospital with Ria."
"Okay, father."
"Get better soon."
Nikolai ended the call.
Sohan sighed.
"Give it," he told the doctor.
The doctor injected him with strong antibiotics.
Riyana held his hand.
Soon after, Sohan fell asleep inside the hidden underground hospital wing.
The secrets of the Obsidian Trail remained hidden.
But the world had started searching for the Gem.
And Lilith Muard Nikolai was no longer just a woman living a peaceful life.
She was the heir everyone feared.