It was raining outside.
Mila sat near the fire, rocking herself gently as both families sat together. They had received their gifts, and Hassan held Noor carefully in his arms as she rested against him.
"Noor, my dear," Ms. Najma said warmly.
Noor smiled at her father.
"Hi, Papa," she said weakly.
"Hello, my sweetheart," Mr. Ghulam replied.
He hugged her tightly.
He was now a billionaire in Pakistan. He had used half of the money from her dowry and started multimillion-dollar businesses.
Mrs. Hira, her stepmother, sat nearby, scanning everywhere around her.
"This is bigger than ours," Mrs. Hira said.
"Lily is the owner. She runs this house," Hassan said.
He carefully placed the baby in Najma's arms.
"Tu tu tu," Najma said.
He stared at her.
"He is so beautiful," Mr. Ghulam said.
"He has your eyes, son," Najma said.
Noor held her belly.
"So, what's his name?" Mrs. Hira asked.
"Mother, I want you to name him. Father was the one who named Zain, and now you," Noor said softly.
Najma's heart softened.
"His name will be... Azaaryan," she said.
Hassan held Noor's hand gently with a smile.
"That's a great name, Ms. Najma," Mr. Ghulam said.
Both stepsisters, Aleena and Eshal, and Mrs. Hira sat and listened.
Suddenly, Zain waddled in.
"Hi, Granny!" he said.
"Zain, my boy, how are you?" Mr. Ghulam said as he hugged him.
"I otay. Wook, am a big bubba now!" he said proudly.
"Of course, and I got this for you," Mr. Ghulam said.
He gave him a limited-edition video game.
"Granny, it big. I no take. And it cost a lot. Mama says always buy little and save!" Zain said.
Mr. Ghulam's heart bloomed.
He looked at Noor.
"You taught him well, my child," he said.
She smiled.
Aleena scoffed.
"If she said save, then why did she marry a rich man?" Aleena said.
"It's Allah's will," Hassan said.
"And Noor is an engineer. Recently, she launched her app and got over $70 billion dollars all by herself. Google, AI tech companies, all invited her. She's on the news and everywhere. She started from school. I trade fair, so it's not my money. If I want to get her anything, she gets mad at me, and she spoils me a lot," Hassan said while smiling at Noor.
Aleena's face twisted.
Mr. Ghulam held Azaaryan.
"He has Noor's dimples," he said as they admired him.
Meanwhile, Darya was done with a meeting.
As she finished and walked into her office, she saw an older man holding Rian.
"Hi, Grandpa," she said.
"Hello, my Ary," he replied.
His name was Mr. Yegorov.
"How is Maira?" he asked.
"She's fine and still working after I told her to rest," she said.
She hugged him.
"I need to discuss something about your father," he said.
Her face fell.
"Okay," she said.
They sat down.
"He is looking for you in the north. He wants you to get married to the rival's son and get a deal that will land on your table," he said.
She smirked at him.
"Interesting," she said.
He nodded.
"And he doesn't know about your son and wife. So I am hosting a party tomorrow night. I want you to make it grand," Mr. Yegorov said.
She rotated her pen between her fingers.
"Okay," she said.
He played with his great-grandson.
By nightfall, Darya sat while thinking.
Her father and mother had an arranged marriage, and his mistress killed her mother. Then her father brought another girl home as his love child, and Darya was thrown out.
Her grandfather took her in.
"Baby?" Maira said.
"Hm?" Darya said.
"I was talking to you about today, but you seem lost. What's wrong, Ary?" she said, sitting beside her and holding her hand.
Darya lay on her lap and sighed as she explained everything to her.
"Oh, darling. I'm sorry, baby," Maira said while rubbing her chest.
"Go, baby. Your grandpa says so. He wants to show his son what he threw away. You're my brave, strong, angry bird, so wipe them out. I'm one call away. Anywhere you need me, I'll be there," she said.
Darya kissed her.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you so much," Maira said.
And they had their time together.
During breakfast, Mila was eating waffles.
She yawned.
Sarah got her dressed up.
Salvatore held Mattie, who felt very sick.
"Let go, Mimi," Nathan said.
"You want something? I bring for you," Mila said while holding Mattie's hand.
"Ice cream and chocolate milk," he said.
"Otay. I get it. You nappy and take yucky drink to get otay. Muwh!" Mila said as she kissed his forehead.
"Thank you, Mimi," Salvatore said.
"Ba ba!" Mila said.
Caspian held her, and they all went to the office.
Noor was asleep.
Hassan covered her while he placed Azaaryan in his crib.
Zain was in his room watching a video on how to build.
Hassan sat with his laptop, typing and ordering things for his wife and his sons.
Aleena dropped a cup of coffee for him.
"Take it away. I don't want it," he said.
She frowned.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. Noor isn't going to get mad over coffee," she said.
He noticed that she was dressed too much like she wanted his attention.
"You realize that I am married to Noor. You came here with a plan, and that is going to shatter soon. Very soon.
"Now listen carefully. I don't do second. I have one wife. She has given me two wonderful sons, so if you have shame, then you wouldn't be doing this disgusting act of yours.
"You chose to follow a married man. That is your stepsister's husband. Because of money, while women your age are doing something with their lives.
"Get out of my sight now," Hassan said.
Aleena was dumbfounded by his words.
"Useless, shameless slut," he said, walking away from her.
She made a tight fist.
Mr. Ghulam heard him.
Hira used to be Noor's mother's best friend.
After her death, she made her way into his bed.
She was jealous of their love and wanted the same thing after her death.
And got nothing.
Everything died with her.
Darya came out holding Rian.
She sighed.
Maira sent a dress for her as she and her guards walked out.
"Ready, boys?" she said.
"Yes, boss," they said.
Everyone got into the cars and left.
Meanwhile, three hours later in the north, in a town not too far from Moscow called Lobnya, ruled by the Lukanov Bratva, they were all at the party.
The leader, Don Nazarov, Darya's father, stood nearby.
"Boss, there is nothing we can find to trace her," a guard said.
He blew his cigarette.
"Where are you, Ary?" he said.
The party was an excuse to get her home.
"Baby, don't worry. We will find her," Mrs. Carol said.
He sat as his father, Mr. Yegorov, cleared his throat and clicked his glass cup.
"Attention, everyone!" he said.
They turned to him.
"Today, I host this party on behalf of someone special. I trained for years and also handed all my wealth in her name. She worked hard for it. When my company was going down, she saved it, unlike the others I have that are filled with greed," he said, looking at the children.
"So this party is in her honor.
"My great-granddaughter," he said.
"Sweetie, it's you!" Mrs. Carol said to her daughter, Neith, who stood proudly.
"Please welcome my great-granddaughter," he said.
As Neith walked forward, he stopped.
"Darya!" he said again.
Everyone stopped.
Everyone whispered as the doors opened.
Then Darya walked in while smoking.
Don Nazarov stood up in shock.
Men and women stood behind her.
She blew the cigarette out and smirked at them.
She wore a fitted black top tucked into high-waisted tailored trousers that elongated her silhouette.
Over everything, she wore a long, flowing black trench coat that fell gracefully to the floor, creating movement and elegance with every step.
A slim belt subtly defined her waist, while pointed black heels added sophistication.
Her look was clean, timeless, and understated, embodying quiet luxury and effortless wealth without needing flashy details.
They clapped.
She inhaled her cigarette.
"Game on, fuckers," she said.