Monday morning arrived with the beginning of another busy week.
Sunlight streamed through the enormous mansion windows, illuminating the polished marble floors and the luxurious interior. The entire residence was alive with movement, particularly because the little girls had decided that waking up early was the most wonderful thing in the world.
Their excitement was impossible to contain.
Some were giggling in their seats, others were babbling to one another in their adorable baby language, and a few were reaching for anything their tiny hands could possibly touch.
Lilith was finally resuming her usual schedule that morning.
After spending time with her family, she had to return to her responsibilities, and she was determined to manage everything without sacrificing the precious moments she shared with her daughters and husband.
The girls were already secured in their luxurious stroller, their little bodies comfortably strapped in while Knox prepared to take them back to the mansion with Charvi.
Mila, meanwhile, had been dropped off at school.
The morning had been carefully organized, and everyone knew exactly what they needed to do.
However, the moment the girls realized that their mother was preparing to leave, their excitement reached another level.
They had no idea what the day had in store for them.
For now, they were simply happy to be together.
Outside, several luxurious vehicles stood in the driveway, their polished bodies reflecting the morning sunlight.
Kesian glanced at the vehicles before turning toward Gloria.
"Which car?" he asked.
The others followed his gaze as they scanned the collection.
Gloria pointed toward one of the cars.
"That one," she answered confidently.
Wiktor stood nearby, chewing gum with a mischievous smirk spreading across his face.
He looked between the vehicle and the others as though he already knew how much excitement was about to follow.
Without wasting another moment, everyone climbed into the car.
It was a McLaren Speedtail.
The sleek machine looked almost unreal beneath the morning sunlight, its aerodynamic silhouette and striking design making it impossible to mistake for an ordinary vehicle.
Lilith settled into the driver's seat.
She adjusted herself comfortably, checked that everyone was ready, and placed her hands on the steering wheel.
The engine came alive.
A low, powerful sound rolled through the driveway.
The girls immediately reacted.
"WOO HOO!!!!!!"
Their enthusiastic cries filled the vehicle.
Lilith laughed.
"Everybody ready?"
"YEAHHHHHH!"
She grinned, pressed the accelerator, and drove away.
The McLaren Speedtail surged forward, leaving the mansion grounds behind as the vehicle glided onto the road.
The wind rushed past the windows.
Inside the car, laughter and excited voices filled the air.
Lilith couldn't help smiling.
For all the responsibilities waiting for her, moments like these reminded her that she was still a young woman with a family, a life, and people she loved more than anything.
She could face the world when necessary.
But she could also enjoy a morning filled with laughter.
And today, that was exactly what she intended to do.
NIKOLAI'S SHOPPING EXPEDITION
Meanwhile, Nikolai Devereaux had finished his work for the day.
Ordinarily, he would have returned directly to the mansion or continued handling the endless responsibilities attached to his position.
Today, however, he had another plan.
He was shopping.
More specifically, he was shopping for his girls.
Valentine's Day was approaching, and Nikolai had already decided that he would not allow the occasion to pass without making his wife and daughters feel extraordinarily loved.
He had never needed a special date to appreciate his family, but he enjoyed finding reasons to surprise them.
And when it came to Lilith and their daughters, he had absolutely no intention of being reasonable about how much he spent.
His shopping list was already extensive.
Clothes.
Jewelry.
Little gifts.
Special surprises.
Things he knew his daughters would enjoy.
And a few things he hoped would make Lilith smile.
As Damian accompanied him, Nikolai continued looking through the available items, carefully selecting things that reminded him of his family.
Damian, however, had another reason for stopping at a particular store.
The moment he stepped inside, a memory returned to him.
It was an old memory.
One that had remained in his heart long after the circumstances surrounding it had changed.
He remembered Iniya's father lying on a hospital bed.
The room had been quiet, and the atmosphere had carried the unbearable weight of things left unsaid.
Damian could still remember the conversation.
He could still remember the way Iniya's father had spoken about his daughter.
She likes soft yellow ducks.
Lots of chocolate milk, too.
Those simple preferences had stayed with Damian.
They were small details, but they mattered.
They were the kinds of things a father remembered about his child.
Damian stood still for a moment, staring at the items displayed before him.
Then he picked up his phone and wrote the details down.
Soft yellow ducks.
Lots of chocolate milk.
He saved the information carefully, committing it to memory once more.
He would not forget.
Afterward, he continued shopping, selecting jewelry and clothing before moving on to other items he believed would be appreciated.
His hands were occupied with gifts, but his thoughts remained elsewhere.
He wondered how Iniya was doing.
He wondered whether she was eating properly.
He wondered whether she had been sleeping.
Most of all, he wondered whether she was still carrying the pain of losing her parents alone.
He knew that some wounds could not be healed simply by purchasing gifts.
Some required patience.
Some required presence.
And some required a person to remain beside you even when there was nothing they could say to make the pain disappear.
Damian finished selecting the gifts.
But the memory of Iniya's father followed him long after he left the store.
THE GIRL AT THE GRAVEYARD
Meanwhile, Iniya sat at the graveyard.
Two graves stood before her.
Her parents.
Fresh flowers had been placed on both graves, their petals resting gently against the carefully maintained memorials.
Iniya had dressed entirely in white.
The color made her look almost fragile against the gray surroundings, but there was something profoundly exhausted about her expression.
She sat quietly, staring at the names engraved into the stones.
She had spent so much time trying to understand how life could change so quickly.
One moment, a person was there.
They spoke.
They laughed.
They argued.
They made plans.
And then, suddenly, all that remained were memories and a name carved into stone.
Iniya's body felt numb.
She had cried until her eyes hurt.
She had questioned everything.
She had wondered whether there was something she could have done differently.
But the graveyard offered no answers.
Only silence.
Footsteps approached.
Iniya did not immediately turn around.
Someone lowered himself onto the bench beside her.
It was Mr. Rathore, Damian's father.
She recognized him almost immediately.
"Mr. Rathore, sir?"
She straightened and turned toward him.
Despite the heaviness in her heart, she respectfully bent forward to take his blessings.
He placed a hand on her head.
"Bless you," he said gently.
Iniya lowered her gaze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Mr. Rathore looked toward the two graves.
"You know," he began quietly, "I miss your father very much, too."
Iniya turned toward him.
"I remember our fights. Our arguments. The way we used to laugh together. We disagreed about plenty of things, but that never meant I stopped caring about him."
His voice carried the weight of old memories.
"Your father was a good man in many ways. We had our differences, but I respected him."
He paused before continuing.
"And he missed your mother terribly."
Iniya's expression changed.
She turned toward the grave bearing her mother's name.
For a long moment, she simply stared at it.
"He knew he was going to die," she whispered.
Mr. Rathore looked at her.
"He knew?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her fingers moved against the fabric of her white dress.
"He knew, and he still tried to make everything easier for everyone else. He still worried about things. He still thought about the people he loved."
Her voice trembled.
"He loved Mama so much."
Mr. Rathore listened without interrupting.
Iniya swallowed.
"At least he's happy now," she continued softly. "He's with Mama. He loves her more than anything."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"At least they have each other."
Mr. Rathore's heart tightened.
He had known grief.
He had known the emptiness that followed the loss of someone important.
But seeing Iniya sitting between the graves of her parents, dressed in white and trying to convince herself that they were finally at peace, made the pain feel especially cruel.
He reached for her gently and pulled her closer.
Iniya did not resist.
Instead, she leaned against him.
Her head eventually settled on his lap, and she closed her eyes.
The exhaustion of grief had caught up with her.
She had spent so long trying to remain strong that she had forgotten what it felt like to rest.
Mr. Rathore adjusted his position so she could lie more comfortably.
Then he began patting her gently.
Iniya's breathing gradually slowed.
Within minutes, she had fallen asleep.
He looked down at her.
For a while, he simply sat there, allowing her to rest.
Then his phone rang.
He answered quietly.
"Father?" Damian's voice came through the line.
Mr. Rathore glanced down at Iniya before responding.
"She's sleeping now."
Damian fell silent briefly.
"She fell asleep?"
"Yes. She's been here for some time."
Damian exhaled softly.
"All right."
Mr. Rathore looked toward the graves again.
"She needs time, Damian."
"I know, Father."
"Don't rush her."
"I won't."
The call continued for a little longer before they said their goodbyes.
Damian returned his attention to the gifts he had purchased.
He carefully packed everything away.
He would see Iniya soon.
He would not force her to speak.
He would not demand that she stop grieving.
He would simply be there.
Because sometimes love was not about finding the perfect words.
Sometimes it was about staying.
NIHAl'S UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
Elsewhere, Nihal was in a supermarket.
His shopping cart was filled with items for his wife, Khushi, who was expecting their baby.
He had been carefully selecting maternity clothes, comfortable essentials, and other things he believed she might need during the coming weeks.
Every item received his attention.
He checked the material of the clothes.
He examined the packaging of the baby products.
He compared different options before making his decisions.
Becoming a father had changed the way he looked at the world.
He was no longer thinking only about himself.
Now, there was Khushi.
There was the baby.
There was the family they were building together.
And he wanted to make sure they had everything they needed.
As he passed through the baby aisle, something caught his attention.
A small stuffed elephant.
Nihal stopped.
He picked it up and examined it.
The elephant was soft, with little ears and an adorable face.
He turned it over in his hands.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"This is cute," he murmured.
He imagined the baby holding it.
He imagined Khushi laughing at how excited he was becoming over the smallest things.
He placed the stuffed elephant into his cart.
Then he continued shopping.
A few minutes later, he entered the drink aisle.
"Nihal?"
He turned at the sound of his name.
A man was standing nearby.
For a moment, Nihal stared at him before recognition settled in.
"Cunha?"
Cunha grinned.
"What's up, bro!"
Nihal extended his hand.
The two men shook hands warmly.
"Sup, bro?" Nihal replied.
Cunha laughed.
"It's been a while!"
"Yeah, it has."
As they spoke, Nihal noticed a woman standing behind Cunha.
The moment he recognized her, his expression changed.
Everly.
His ex-girlfriend.
She looked at him with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
"Hi, Nihal."
His face became unreadable.
"Hm," he answered.
Everly's smile faltered slightly.
She had apparently expected a warmer greeting.
Instead, Nihal returned his attention to Cunha.
Cunha glanced down at the shopping cart.
His eyes widened as he noticed the maternity clothes, baby products, and stuffed elephant.
"What is all this, bro?"
Nihal looked at the cart.
"Oh, just shopping for my wife. I'm going to be a dad soon."
Cunha stared at him.
"What?!"
Nihal laughed at his reaction.
"Yeah."
"You got married?"
"Last year."
Cunha looked genuinely surprised.
"Bro, you got married last year and you're telling me only now?"
"I've been busy."
"Busy?" Cunha repeated incredulously.
Nihal chuckled.
"Very busy."
He glanced down at the shopping cart again, and his expression softened.
"She's the best wife. Honestly, I didn't expect everything to happen the way it did, but I'm grateful. She's wonderful."
The affection in his voice was unmistakable.
Cunha smiled.
"Wow. Congratulations, man!"
"Thanks, bro."
Everly stood beside them, listening.
Her expression gradually became colder.
She had not expected to hear Nihal speaking about another woman with such happiness.
She had not expected him to be married.
And she certainly had not expected him to be preparing for fatherhood.
Nihal looked like a man who had moved forward with his life.
A man who had found happiness somewhere else.
A man who no longer appeared interested in looking back.
Everly tightened her grip on her handbag.
Then she forced a smile.
"How about you come to the club tonight?" she asked sweetly. "We could have some drinks."
Nihal looked at her.
"No, thanks."
Her smile remained in place.
"Why not?"
"I don't drink or party anymore."
He adjusted the items in his cart.
"Besides, I run my own business now. I have responsibilities."
Everly studied him.
"Interesting."
Nihal did not respond to the comment.
Cunha, sensing the awkwardness, quickly changed the subject.
"How about we meet for lunch sometime?"
Nihal looked at him.
"Sure."
"When?"
"In a month, perhaps. I have a trip coming up, so I'll be busy until then."
Cunha nodded.
"That works. We'll stay connected."
"Definitely."
They shook hands again.
Just then, Nihal's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, and his entire expression transformed.
The seriousness disappeared from his face.
A warm smile spread across his lips.
"Darling?"
He answered the call and began walking away, pushing his cart ahead of him.
Everly remained where she was.
She watched him move farther down the aisle.
He was smiling at his phone.
His voice had softened.
He spoke to his wife with an affection that seemed effortless.
Everly's fingers tightened around her skirt.
She watched until he disappeared around the corner.
The man she had once known was no longer standing before her.
Or perhaps he was.
Perhaps he had always possessed the ability to love someone deeply.
Perhaps she had simply lost the opportunity to be the person who received that love.
Whatever the truth was, one thing had become painfully clear.
Nihal had moved on.
And he seemed genuinely happy.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING
At the airport, Lilith waited in the VIP section.
The private area was spacious and comfortable, with luxurious couches arranged near the enormous windows overlooking the runway.
The girls were settled on the couch.
Mila was holding flowers, carefully keeping them in her little hands.
Nyxara was sucking on her pacifier.
The other babies were making their usual adorable noises, occasionally turning their heads toward the windows whenever something moved outside.
Lilith sat nearby, watching them.
She had missed this feeling.
The anticipation.
The excitement.
The certainty that someone important was about to walk through the doors.
A private jet had just landed.
Lilith turned toward the window.
Her eyes immediately found the aircraft.
She watched as the jet came to a stop and the preparations for disembarkation began.
Then she saw him.
Nikolai.
Her husband was walking down from the aircraft.
Lilith's face brightened.
The moment the girls noticed the movement and recognized the familiar figure approaching, their excitement grew.
Nyxara removed her attention from her pacifier.
Her little hands moved excitedly.
Then she began clapping.
Nikolai entered the VIP section.
The moment he saw his daughters, he stopped.
His expression changed instantly.
The man who could command rooms with a single look stood there smiling like the happiest father in the world.
His daughters.
All those little faces.
All those tiny hands reaching toward him.
He had missed them.
He had missed their laughter, their babbling, their unpredictable little expressions, and the way they could turn an ordinary day into something extraordinary.
Nyxara was especially excited.
She began crawling toward him.
Nikolai stared at her.
Then he looked at Lilith.
"Boss, she's crawling!" he exclaimed.
Lilith was wiping Hereena's mouth when she heard him.
She laughed.
"Yes, Nikki. She's been doing that."
Nikolai looked back at Nyxara.
The baby continued crawling toward him, her little body moving with determination.
He bent down immediately.
Nyxara reached him.
He opened his arms, and she crawled straight into them.
Nikolai lifted her carefully.
"Hello, my angel!"
Nyxara answered with an excited burst of baby sounds.
"Ah-goo!"
She began bouncing in his arms, her little legs kicking as she tried to express the enormous happiness she felt at seeing him.
Nikolai laughed.
"Oh, you missed Papa, didn't you?"
Nyxara made another excited sound.
He kissed her cheeks repeatedly.
"My little princess."
She squealed.
He kissed her again.
Then he held her close, breathing in the familiar scent of his baby.
For a moment, the rest of the world seemed to disappear.
There was no work.
No responsibility.
No endless stream of decisions.
There was only his daughter in his arms.
And he was exactly where he wanted to be.
After spending another moment with Nyxara, Nikolai looked toward Lilith.
His wife was watching him with a smile.
He walked toward her.
"Hi, baby," he said softly.
Lilith stood up.
"Nikki!"
She moved into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Nikolai wrapped his free arm around her, holding both his wife and their daughter close.
Lilith drew back slightly to look at him.
"You look more handsome than ever," she whispered.
His smile widened.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
She examined his face with exaggerated seriousness.
"Much more handsome."
He laughed quietly.
Then he leaned down and kissed her deeply.
Lilith responded immediately, wrapping her arms around him.
When they finally parted, Nikolai rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you so much," he whispered.
Lilith's expression softened.
"I love you more than anything."
He brushed his nose against hers.
"My Bambi."
She smiled.
"My Nikki."
He kissed her again.
Then, with their daughters gathered around them, they prepared to leave the airport.
Nikolai had returned.
And his family was finally together again.
A FAMILY FILLED WITH STORIES
Inside the car, the atmosphere was wonderfully chaotic.
All the girls except Mila, who was still at school, were with them.
The babies seemed determined to tell their father everything that had happened during his absence.
They babbled continuously.
One made a noise.
Another answered.
A third waved her hands.
Nyxara leaned forward in her seat, apparently determined to contribute to the conversation.
Nikolai listened with exaggerated seriousness.
"Really?"
A baby answered with a string of incomprehensible sounds.
He nodded.
"Oh, you don't say?"
Another little voice interrupted.
He turned toward her.
"Wait, wait. Let your sister finish."
Lilith burst out laughing.
"Nikki, they aren't having a meeting."
He looked at her with mock seriousness.
"Of course they are. I'm receiving important reports."
She shook her head.
"Important reports?"
"Extremely important."
He glanced at the girls.
"Continue, my princesses. Papa is listening."
The babies babbled even louder.
Nikolai nodded as though every word made perfect sense.
Lilith watched him.
She loved moments like this.
She loved seeing the man who carried so many responsibilities become completely absorbed in the smallest things his daughters did.
She loved the way he gave them his attention without making them feel that they had to compete for it.
And she loved that, despite everything he had accomplished, his greatest happiness could still come from sitting in a car and listening to his babies babble.
For a while, she simply watched him.
Then her smile faded slightly.
"Nikki?"
He turned toward her.
"Yes, baby?"
"I've been having weird dreams lately."
His expression became attentive.
"For how long?"
"About a month now."
He studied her face.
"What kind of dreams?"
Lilith hesitated.
She had been trying to find a way to explain them without sounding as though she was frightened of something she could not understand.
But every time she remembered the dream, the feeling returned.
She sighed.
"I don't know how to explain it."
"Take your time."
She looked down at her hands.
"In the dream, I'm covered in blood."
Nikolai's expression grew serious.
Lilith continued.
"I'm sitting on a golden throne. Everything around me feels enormous. There are people everywhere."
She paused.
"There's a black mark on my neck. And a black crown."
Nikolai listened without interrupting.
"You were standing behind me," she continued. "And there were thousands of people. Maybe millions. They were all bowing down to me."
Her voice grew quieter.
"It felt so real, Nikki."
He reached for her hand.
Lilith squeezed his fingers.
"My dream voice kept telling me that it was my future."
She shook her head.
"I don't want that kind of future. I don't want to be sitting on some terrifying throne with blood everywhere and millions of people bowing down to me."
Her eyes searched his.
"It was a terrible nightmare."
Nikolai knew about the dream.
He had heard enough to understand that it was troubling her, but he also understood that the fear it caused was real.
He did not dismiss her.
He did not laugh.
He did not tell her that she was being ridiculous.
Instead, he moved closer.
He kissed the place on her head where her hair met her forehead and rested his head against hers.
Lilith closed her eyes.
For a moment, she allowed herself to forget the disturbing images.
She allowed herself to feel the warmth of his presence.
She allowed herself to remember that whatever the dream meant, she did not have to face her fear alone.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"I missed this," she whispered.
Nikolai tightened his hold on her hand.
"Me too."
She turned toward him.
He kissed her.
The kiss was tender at first.
Then Lilith leaned closer, and Nikolai responded by drawing her gently into his arms.
He kissed her again, lingering over the familiar warmth of her lips.
She smiled against him.
He smiled too.
For a little while, they remained close, allowing the rest of the world to fade into the background.
Lilith rested against his shoulder.
Nikolai brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"My Bambi," he murmured.
She looked up at him.
"My Nikki."
He kissed her forehead.
Whatever waited for them in the future, he wanted her to remember one thing.
She would not face it alone.
ONE WEEK OF LOVE
Over the following week, Nikolai spent as much time as possible with his girls.
He rearranged his schedule whenever he could.
He stayed close to Lilith.
He played with the babies.
He listened to their little stories.
He carried them around the mansion and allowed them to steal his attention from whatever he was doing.
If one of the girls wanted to sit beside him, he made room.
If another wanted to be carried, he lifted her.
If they began babbling at him, he listened.
If they laughed, he laughed with them.
And if they fell asleep in his arms, he remained still for as long as possible rather than risk disturbing them.
The mansion became a place filled with laughter.
The days passed quickly.
Lilith continued balancing her responsibilities with her family life, while Nikolai made certain that his daughters knew how deeply they were loved.
There were ordinary moments.
There were playful moments.
There were moments when the girls created so much noise that neither parent could hear the other speaking.
And there were quiet moments when Nikolai watched Lilith holding their daughters and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
He had built many things in his life.
He had achieved things that others could only imagine.
But nothing compared to this.
Nothing compared to the sight of his wife smiling at him across a room while their daughters reached for them.
Nothing compared to the feeling of being home.
And for that week, Nikolai treasured every second.
He did not know that somewhere far away, another story was beginning.
A story that would eventually bring a small girl with lavender-gray eyes into his world.
A story that began in the rain.
THE DARKEST PLACE IN LILITH'S TERRITORY
Rain poured over the darkest and most dangerous part of Lilith's territory.
The streets were almost empty.
Water streamed along the road, gathering in the cracks between the pavement and splashing against the edges of buildings.
Thunder rolled overhead.
The entire area seemed swallowed by darkness.
Nolan walked through the rain.
His hair was soaked.
Water ran down his face and dripped from his clothes.
He did not seem to care.
Nolan had never smiled in his entire life.
Not once.
At least, not in a way anyone could remember.
He was a man who had learned to exist without displaying his emotions.
He did what needed to be done.
He made decisions without hesitation.
And when he had to act, he acted.
That night had been no different.
A man had fallen dead after Nolan shot him.
Nolan lowered his weapon.
He checked it carefully, cleaned it, and put it away.
Then he continued walking.
The rain grew heavier.
Thunder struck again.
He passed a narrow road where discarded objects lay near a large bin.
At first, he heard nothing unusual.
Then a sound cut through the storm.
A baby was crying.
Nolan stopped.
He turned his head toward the right.
The crying continued.
Loud.
Desperate.
Unmistakable.
He stood still for several seconds, listening.
Another thunderclap shook the sky.
The baby cried harder.
Nolan frowned.
"What the hell?"
He began walking toward the sound.
Near the bin sat a small basket.
A vehicle had just driven away from the area.
Nolan glanced toward the road, but the car was already gone.
He approached the basket slowly.
The crying came from inside it.
He looked down.
A baby girl lay in the basket.
She was tiny.
Her little face was wet with tears, and her body trembled beneath the thin covering around her.
She could not have been more than a month old.
Her white hair was soft and curly, still growing in delicate little strands around her head.
Her cries echoed through the empty street.
Nolan stared at her.
For a long moment, he did not move.
He had seen terrible things.
He had witnessed cruelty.
He had watched people make decisions that destroyed other lives without showing the slightest remorse.
But this was different.
Someone had left a baby in the rain.
Someone had placed a helpless child beside a bin and driven away.
The baby had done nothing.
She had no way of understanding what was happening.
She could not protect herself.
She could only cry.
Nolan slowly bent over the basket.
"Shhh," he whispered.
The baby continued crying.
He looked around.
No one was there.
Only the rain.
Only the darkness.
Only the sound of a child who had been abandoned.
Nolan's expression hardened.
"Who would leave a precious girl here, hmm?"
He reached down carefully.
The baby moved her little hands, her fingers curling and uncurling as she cried.
Nolan hesitated for a moment.
Then he lifted her into his arms.
She was cold.
Much colder than he expected.
His jaw tightened.
Without wasting another second, he removed his coat and wrapped it around her tiny body.
He covered her carefully, ensuring that her head was protected from the rain.
The baby continued whimpering against him.
Nolan looked down at her.
"You're all right," he murmured.
He did not know whether she could understand him.
He did not know whether she could even hear his voice properly.
But he continued speaking.
"You're all right now."
He adjusted the coat around her and held her closer to his chest.
The rain poured over his shoulders.
His clothes were soaked.
His hair clung to his forehead.
But the baby was covered.
That was what mattered.
Nolan turned away from the bin.
He began walking down the road, carrying the little girl in his arms.
For the first time in a very long while, he was not thinking about the work he had left unfinished.
He was not thinking about the man who had fallen dead.
He was not thinking about the darkness surrounding him.
He was thinking about the tiny child in his arms.
A child who had been left alone in the cold.
A child who needed someone.
And for reasons he could not explain, Nolan could not bring himself to leave her behind.
THE HIDDEN MANSION
At the hidden mansion, everyone had gathered for dinner.
The enormous dining room was filled with conversation.
Olivia stood beside the table, serving her husband while the others settled into their seats.
The storm outside was becoming increasingly violent.
Rain struck the windows.
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Every now and then, the lights seemed to flicker beneath the force of the storm.
Olivia glanced toward the entrance.
"Where is Nolan?"
David looked up from his meal.
"He went out."
Olivia frowned.
"In this weather?"
David shrugged slightly.
"You know Nolan."
That was true.
Nolan rarely explained himself.
He came and went as he pleased, and the others had learned not to expect him to provide a detailed account of every decision he made.
Still, Olivia looked toward the windows.
The storm was getting worse.
Before anyone could say anything else, another thunderclap shook the mansion.
Then a shadow appeared at the door.
A tall figure stood in the entrance.
His clothes were soaked.
His hair was dripping.
And something small was held against his chest.
Enzo looked up.
"Nolan?"
The entire room began turning toward the entrance.
Nolan stepped inside.
Water dripped from his clothes onto the floor.
He looked like he had walked through the entire storm without stopping.
But it was the tiny bundle in his arms that captured everyone's attention.
The baby was crying.
Her little voice echoed through the room.
Enzo stood up.
"What happened?"
Nolan looked toward the medical team.
"Dr. Liv, can you help me with this baby I found?"
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Dr. Liv immediately rose from her seat.
She hurried toward him.
"Give her to me."
Nolan carefully adjusted the coat around the child.
Dr. Liv examined the baby as gently as possible.
"She's freezing."
Her expression grew serious.
"Come with me."
Dr. Violet, who was four months pregnant, also stood up.
She followed Dr. Liv toward the medical room.
"Let's get her checked immediately."
The two doctors disappeared down the corridor with the baby.
Nolan remained in the dining room.
Jaxon stared at him.
"What the hell happened?"
Nolan looked at him.
"I found her near the trash."
The room fell silent.
Jaxon blinked.
"Near the trash?"
"Yes."
Nolan's voice was flat, but his expression was hard.
"There was a basket beside the bin. Someone left her there."
He reached into the pocket of his wet clothing and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this with her."
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the writing.
Then he read the date aloud.
"Third of February."
He stared at the paper for a moment before folding it again.
"03 February."
His jaw tightened.
"Some fucker has been throwing kids away like they're nothing."
The anger in his voice was unmistakable.
He had seen cruelty before.
He knew the world was not always kind.
But the idea that someone could abandon a helpless baby in the rain made something inside him turn cold.
Nolan put the paper away.
Then he began walking toward the corridor.
Sergei called after him.
"But you'll take her to the orphanage later, won't you?"
Nolan stopped.
Everyone looked at him.
He remained still for a moment before slowly turning his head.
"Hm?"
Sergei repeated the question.
"The baby. You'll take her to the orphanage later, right?"
Nolan stared at him.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Nolan turned away.
He continued walking.
He did not answer.
He reached his room, entered, and shut the door behind him.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the corridor.
Inside, Nolan stood motionless for a moment.
Rainwater continued dripping from his clothes.
He looked down at his hands.
He could still remember the baby in his arms.
The warmth of her tiny body beneath his coat.
The way she had cried.
The way she had moved her little hands.
He exhaled.
Then he headed toward the bathroom.
He took a cold bath, washing away the rain and the grime of the night.
Afterward, he changed into dry clothes and sat at his desk.
He opened his laptop.
For a few moments, he stared at the screen.
Then he began ordering baby supplies.
Clothes.
Blankets.
Bottles.
Baby care products.
Everything he thought the little girl might need.
He did not know her name.
He did not know who her parents were.
He did not know why she had been abandoned.
But he knew she needed things.
And he was going to make sure she had them.
THE BABY WITH LAVENDER-GRAY EYES
In the medical room, Dr. Liv carefully examined the baby.
Dr. Violet stood beside her, assisting where necessary.
The little girl had finally been wrapped in a warm blanket.
Her crying had softened, although she still made small, distressed noises whenever someone moved her.
Dr. Liv examined her carefully.
Her expression changed as she completed the assessment.
"She's deaf in her right ear," she explained.
Arina, who had come to check on the baby, looked stricken.
"Poor baby."
She stared at the little girl.
"Is that why they left her?"
The question hung in the air.
Nobody answered immediately.
Because the truth was that they did not know.
They did not know what had happened to the child's parents.
They did not know whether the person who abandoned her had been frightened, desperate, cruel, or simply unwilling to care for her.
But whatever the reason, the child had not deserved it.
Dr. Liv adjusted the blanket.
"I've already fitted her with a hearing aid for her right ear," she explained. "We'll need to continue monitoring her hearing and make sure she receives appropriate care."
She looked toward the others.
"I'll arrange for a nurse to take her to the orphanage, and—"
"Give her to me."
The voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
Nolan stood there.
His expression was unreadable.
Dr. Liv blinked.
"Huh?"
"Give me the baby."
She looked from Nolan to the little girl.
"Nolan, I was just saying that we should arrange for her to go to the orphanage."
"I heard you."
He held out his arms.
"Give her to me."
Dr. Liv hesitated.
She had never expected Nolan to return to the medical room so quickly.
More importantly, she had never expected him to ask to hold the child.
Nolan was not known for his tenderness.
He was not the kind of man who volunteered to take care of babies.
He barely smiled.
He rarely showed affection.
And he certainly did not usually involve himself in matters that did not concern him directly.
Yet here he was.
Waiting.
Dr. Liv slowly placed the baby into his arms.
Nolan adjusted his hold, supporting her head carefully.
The little girl moved.
Her eyes opened.
For the first time, Nolan saw them clearly.
Lavender-gray.
Soft.
Unusually beautiful.
Her white curls were still growing, forming delicate little loops around her head.
She looked up at him.
Nolan stared back.
He did not speak.
He did not move.
The baby studied his face with innocent curiosity.
Then her tiny lips curved.
She gave him a gummy smile.
Nolan froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
He looked up at the others.
"She's smiling at me…"
His voice sounded almost disbelieving.
Adrian watched him with amusement.
"Maybe she wants you."
Nolan looked down again.
The baby made a small sound.
Then she smiled once more.
He stared at her.
"Don't get comfortable," he muttered.
The little girl responded with a delighted giggle.
Everyone in the room looked at one another.
Arina pressed a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Daria shook her head.
"She's already ignoring your warnings."
Nolan gave them a cold look.
"Nobody asked you."
But he continued holding the baby.
He did not hand her back.
He did not move toward the door.
He simply stood there, looking down at the little girl who had somehow managed to make him forget what he was supposed to do next.
Daria brought over a bottle of milk.
Nolan glanced at it.
Then he looked at the baby.
"How do you all do this?"
Dr. Clara, who had joined them, laughed softly.
"Very carefully."
Hammed sat beside Nolan.
"Put the bottle in her mouth gently."
Nolan looked at him.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Dr. Clara demonstrated the proper way to support the baby and position the bottle.
Nolan watched closely.
Then he followed her instructions.
He carefully brought the bottle toward the baby's mouth.
The little girl began drinking.
Nolan stared at her.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain about what to do with his free hand.
Then he gently brushed his fingers over her soft white curls.
They were delicate beneath his touch.
He had never imagined himself doing something like this.
He had never imagined standing in a medical room, holding an abandoned baby and worrying about whether she was comfortable.
He had never imagined that a tiny smile could leave him completely speechless.
Yet here he was.
The baby drank peacefully.
Her little fingers moved against the blanket.
Nolan watched every movement.
"She's so small," he murmured.
"She's only about a month old," Dr. Liv reminded him.
He nodded.
The baby finished drinking and made a soft sound.
Nolan adjusted her against his chest.
She settled comfortably into his arms.
Her eyes began to close.
He looked down at her.
"You're going to sleep now?"
She did not answer.
Of course, she couldn't.
She was a baby.
Still, Nolan waited for a moment, as though expecting her to say something.
Adrian chuckled.
"Congratulations. You've been chosen."
Nolan glared at him.
"Shut up."
But the baby smiled again.
And Nolan, who had never smiled in his entire life, found himself staring at her with an expression that was no longer quite as cold as before.
A NIGHT OF UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY
By nightfall, the mansion had grown quiet.
The storm had eased, although rain still fell intermittently against the windows.
Nolan sat on his bed with the baby in his arms.
She had fallen asleep.
Her tiny face rested against him, and her white curls were spread softly across the blanket.
Nolan barely moved.
He was afraid that if he shifted too suddenly, she might wake up and begin crying again.
He looked down at her.
The room was silent.
For once, he did not feel the need to fill the silence with work.
He did not reach for his phone.
He did not open his laptop.
He simply watched the baby sleep.
After a while, he carefully lowered her onto the bed.
He arranged the bedding so she would remain warm and comfortable, then stayed beside her, watching her little chest rise and fall.
He patted her gently until she settled.
Only then did he reach for his phone.
He called his assistant.
"Hello, sir."
"I ordered some things earlier."
"Yes, sir."
"Bring them to my office in the morning."
"Of course, sir. What kind of items?"
"Baby things."
There was a pause.
"Baby things, sir?"
Nolan closed his eyes briefly.
"Did I stutter?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Bring everything."
"Understood, sir."
He ended the call.
Then he placed the phone aside.
He looked toward the baby again.
Her eyes remained closed.
Her little hands were tucked near her face.
Nolan stared at her for a long time.
He wondered who she was.
He wondered what kind of person could abandon her.
He wondered whether someone somewhere was searching for her.
He wondered whether she had a family who loved her but could not protect her.
He had no answers.
All he had was a date written on a piece of paper.
Third of February.
He repeated the date silently.
Then he looked at the baby.
"You need a name," he murmured.
The little girl slept on.
He leaned back against the pillows, keeping her close enough that he could check on her.
He had intended to return to his ordinary life.
He had intended to leave the baby in the care of others and continue with his responsibilities.
That had been the sensible decision.
The practical decision.
The decision that made the most sense.
Yet when Sergei had mentioned the orphanage, Nolan had found himself stopping.
He had not liked the thought of handing her over.
He had not liked the thought of walking away.
And he had not been able to explain why.
Nolan looked at her one last time.
"Don't get comfortable," he whispered again.
The baby slept peacefully.
He sighed.
Then, without realizing it, he reached over and adjusted her blanket.
He stayed awake longer than he intended.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with him.
His eyes closed.
And for the first time in a long while, Nolan fell asleep with the knowledge that someone small and fragile was resting nearby.
Someone who had arrived in his life without warning.
Someone who had already begun changing it.
THE MOTHER WHO COULD NOT FORGIVE HERSELF
Meanwhile, on the other side of Russia, a woman sat alone in her room.
Her white hair fell around her shoulders.
A cigarette rested between her fingers.
Her eyes were red from crying.
She stared at the wall without really seeing it.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
On a nearby surface lay the remains of a life that had fallen apart.
Her husband had betrayed her.
He had cheated on her with her own sister.
The discovery had destroyed something inside her.
The man she had trusted had humiliated her.
The woman she had believed she could rely on had participated in the betrayal.
Anger had consumed her.
Grief had followed.
And then she had done something she could not undo.
She had killed her husband.
Her sister was now in intensive care.
Everything had changed.
Her marriage was gone.
Her family had fractured.
And the child she had carried had become entangled in the consequences of her decisions.
She had abandoned her baby near a bin.
She had left her there.
In the rain.
Alone.
The memory returned again and again.
The tiny face.
The soft white curls.
The little hands.
The sound of crying.
The woman shut her eyes.
She took another drag from her cigarette.
A knock sounded at the door.
She did not respond.
The door opened anyway.
Her father entered.
He carried a file.
He looked at his daughter for a long moment before speaking.
"Here."
He placed the file on the table.
"The company is now in your name."
She glanced at it.
He continued.
"Everything has been arranged."
The woman exhaled smoke.
Her father watched her.
"The boys didn't see the baby."
She remained silent.
He shook his head.
"What you did was wrong."
Her fingers tightened around the cigarette.
He looked directly at her.
"The baby had no hand in any of this."
She turned her face away.
"You abandoned her."
The words settled heavily between them.
Her father did not raise his voice.
He did not need to.
The truth was painful enough.
"You may hate your husband. You may hate your sister. You may hate what happened to you. But that child did nothing to deserve being left alone."
The woman stared at the cigarette.
She could not answer him.
Perhaps because she had no answer.
Perhaps because she knew he was right.
Her father sighed.
"I hope you understand that one day."
He turned toward the door.
"Goodnight."
Then he left.
The door closed behind him.
The woman remained motionless.
For several minutes, she did nothing.
Then she reached for the file.
She opened it and began reading through the documents.
The company was hers now.
Her father had transferred it into her name.
She had something to occupy her time.
Something to distract her from the memories.
Something she could use to convince herself that she still had control over her life.
But none of it erased what she had done.
She placed the file down.
Then she reached for a tiny pair of baby socks.
They had belonged to her daughter.
She held them between her fingers.
Her eyes filled with tears again.
The cigarette burned slowly.
She looked down at the socks.
"Forgive me," she whispered.
Her voice broke.
"One day, we will reunite."
She pressed the little socks against her chest.
"I will get you back someday."
The words sounded desperate even to her own ears.
She wanted to believe them.
She wanted to believe that there would be a day when she could find her daughter, hold her, and explain everything.
But she did not know where the baby was.
She did not know who had found her.
She did not know whether the child was safe.
She did not even know whether she would ever be able to face her daughter without remembering the night she had abandoned her.
The woman continued smoking.
Eventually, she lowered herself onto the floor.
The file remained on the table.
The tiny socks stayed in her hands.
She stared into the darkness.
And somewhere far away, her daughter was sleeping in the room of a man who had found her in the rain.
A man who did not yet know that the little girl in his care had a mother who was alive.
A mother who regretted what she had done.
A mother who believed that someday, somehow, she would find her again.
But that day had not arrived.
Not yet.
THREE WEEKS LATER — APRIL 2
Three weeks passed.
Life continued moving forward.
At the mansion, the girls grew more curious and playful with every passing day.
Nikolai remained devoted to his family, while Lilith continued managing her responsibilities.
Her examinations were underway.
Books, notes, and study materials occupied much of her time.
She had to focus on her academic responsibilities while keeping up with the demands of her personal life.
But April 2 was a special day.
It was Nikolai's birthday.
And Lilith had no intention of allowing the occasion to pass unnoticed.
Early that morning, Nikolai was still asleep.
He lay comfortably in bed, unaware of the preparations taking place beyond the bedroom door.
The room was peaceful.
The curtains allowed only a soft amount of sunlight to enter.
For once, there was no urgent phone call demanding his attention.
No meeting.
No interruption.
He was sleeping deeply.
Then a series of giggles sounded from the hallway.
Lilith immediately turned toward the girls.
"Shhhhh!"
She held a finger to her lips.
The girls looked at her.
For approximately two seconds, they appeared to understand.
Then another little giggle escaped.
Lilith pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Girls!"
They looked delighted with themselves.
Some were crawling across the floor.
Others were being guided toward the bedroom.
Mila was there, too, determined to participate in the surprise.
The girls had been waiting for this moment.
Their father was about to wake up.
And they wanted to be the first people he saw on his birthday.
Lilith carefully opened the bedroom door.
She glanced toward Nikolai.
Still asleep.
Perfect.
She led the girls inside.
The room was quiet except for their little movements.
Lilith gestured for everyone to approach the bed carefully.
The girls began crawling toward their father.
Mila moved beside the mattress, smiling with excitement.
Lilith sat on the bed next to Nikolai.
She looked at his sleeping face.
Then she leaned closer.
"Baby?"
He did not respond.
She smiled.
"Baby."
Still nothing.
One of the little girls reached out and tapped his face.
It was Giselle.
Her tiny hand touched his cheek.
Nikolai shifted slightly.
Another baby, Nyxara, reached toward him and tapped his face, too.
He made a sleepy sound.
"Hmm?"
Lilith bit back a laugh.
Nikolai slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he looked confused.
Then he saw Lilith.
"Bambi?"
She smiled.
"Good morning, birthday boy."
He blinked.
Then his attention shifted to the little faces gathered around him.
All his girls were there.
Some were clapping.
Some were giggling.
Others were making excited baby sounds.
Mila sat nearby, practically glowing with happiness.
Nikolai stared at them.
Then his face broke into a smile.
Lilith began singing.
"Happy birthday to you…"
Mila joined her.
"Happy birthday to you…"
The girls clapped enthusiastically.
"Happy birthday, Nikki!"
Lily's little voice joined the others.
The bedroom filled with the birthday song.
Nikolai sat up slowly.
He looked around at his wife and daughters.
For a moment, he could not speak.
He had been surprised by many things throughout his life.
He had received extravagant gifts.
He had attended celebrations that others could only dream of.
He had experienced moments of luxury that seemed almost impossible.
But none of them compared to waking up surrounded by the people he loved most.
Lilith sat beside him, smiling.
Mila looked delighted.
The babies continued clapping and giggling.
Nikolai looked at them one by one.
His daughters.
His family.
His entire world.
He reached out and pulled Lilith closer.
"You planned this?"
She nodded proudly.
"Of course."
He laughed.
"You all woke me up."
Mila giggled.
"Happy birthday, Papa!"
Nikolai immediately turned toward her.
He opened his arms.
Mila leaned into him, and he kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, princess."
Then he looked at the other girls.
"Come here, all of you."
They gathered around him as much as their little bodies and the bed allowed.
He kissed each daughter gently.
One by one.
He held their tiny hands.
He touched their cheeks.
He listened to their excited sounds.
And every time another little face turned toward him, he found another reason to smile.
NIKOLAI'S BIRTHDAY WISH
A birthday cake had been prepared.
Lilith brought it closer, and the girls immediately became fascinated by it.
The cake was decorated beautifully.
Candles stood on top, their little flames flickering in the air.
Nikolai looked at the cake.
Then he looked at his wife.
"You did all this?"
Lilith nodded.
"Happy birthday, Nikki."
He smiled.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Make a wish."
Nikolai looked at the candles.
For a moment, he said nothing.
He had many things he could wish for.
Success.
Power.
More time.
More opportunities.
A future in which his family would remain safe.
But when he looked at the faces surrounding him, he realized that his wish had already taken shape in his heart.
He wanted his girls to remain with him through everything.
He wanted them to grow up knowing that they were loved.
He wanted his daughters to have lives filled with happiness, security, and opportunities.
He wanted Lilith to remain beside him.
He wanted their love to grow stronger with every passing year.
He wanted the family they had built to survive every challenge that came their way.
He lowered his head slightly.
I pray that all my girls stay with me through everything.
May our love grow stronger than ever.
Now and forever, until the afterlife.
He closed his eyes.
For a brief moment, he allowed himself to feel the full weight of the wish.
Then he opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
The girls immediately erupted into excited sounds.
Mila clapped.
Lilith laughed.
Nikolai smiled at all of them.
"Thank you."
He cut the cake.
First, he fed Lilith a piece.
She accepted it with a smile.
"Happy birthday, my love," she whispered.
He kissed her cheek.
Then he fed Mila.
She opened her mouth eagerly, took the bite, and giggled.
"Thank you, Papa!"
"You're welcome, princess."
Nikolai then turned his attention to the babies.
He carefully offered them small tastes of the icing, making sure each little girl received her own share.
Their reactions were priceless.
One girl opened her mouth eagerly.
Another seemed uncertain at first.
A third became excited the moment she tasted the sweetness.
Nyxara made a delighted sound.
Nikolai laughed.
"You like it?"
She answered with another little burst of baby babbling.
He grinned.
"I thought so."
Lilith watched him with affection.
He looked happier than she had seen him in days.
Perhaps because it was his birthday.
Perhaps because he was surrounded by everyone he loved.
Perhaps because he had everything that mattered to him gathered in one place.
Whatever the reason, she wanted to remember the moment.
She wanted to remember the laughter.
The cake.
The excited little faces.
The way Nikolai smiled whenever one of his daughters reached for him.
She wanted to remember the man who had built an extraordinary life but still treasured the simplest moments.
After the cake had been shared, Nikolai opened his arms.
"Come here, my girls."
Mila moved toward him first.
The babies followed as best they could.
Lilith leaned in, and Nikolai wrapped his arms around all of them.
They gathered together on the bed.
Some were laughing.
Some were making little noises.
Some were simply enjoying being held.
Nikolai kissed their heads.
He looked at Lilith.
She smiled at him.
He kissed her forehead.
Then he looked at his daughters again.
His girls.
His beautiful, precious girls.
The people he wanted beside him through every birthday that followed.
The people he wanted to protect through every storm.
The people who had turned his life into something he could never have imagined before meeting them.
He held them closer.
For a while, nobody needed to say anything.
They were together.
That was enough.
Outside, the morning continued.
The world remained complicated.
There were secrets still waiting to be uncovered.
There were lives moving toward one another without knowing it.
There was a little girl with white curls and lavender-gray eyes who had entered Nolan's life under the darkest circumstances.
There was a mother who regretted abandoning her.
There was a future that Lilith had seen in her dreams, a golden throne surrounded by millions of people who bowed before her.
And there were questions that had not yet been answered.
But on that morning, Nikolai did not think about any of them.
He did not think about the future.
He did not think about the secrets hidden beyond the walls of his home.
He simply held his wife and daughters.
He listened to their laughter.
He looked at the faces he loved.
And he silently prayed that whatever came next, he would never lose the privilege of having them beside him.
His birthday wish had been made.
His candles had been extinguished.
His family was in his arms.
And for that moment, Nikolai Devereaux was the happiest man alive.