The sun was high in the sky—1:45 PM—when Nora stirred gently from her sleep. A soft yawn escaped her lips as she stretched under the light sheets. Beside her, Max woke up too, shaking his furry body and wagging his tail. The house was unusually quiet.
"Where is everybody?" Nora asked aloud, her voice still soft from sleep.
Only Sachi and Salvius were home, seated in the living room, their conversation laced with shy smiles and growing affection. They looked up as Nora walked in, tousled and sleepy.
Sachi smiled warmly and handed Nora a beautifully wrapped dress. "Go take a bath and put this on," she said.
Nora obeyed, showering quickly and slipping into the elegant dress. Soon, she, Sachi, and Salvius got into a car and headed back to the mansion.
As they pulled into the driveway, Nora's eyes widened. There were cars everywhere—more than she'd ever seen at once. The front lawn buzzed with people.
Max barked excitedly beside her as she stepped out.
"Come on, boy. Let's go!" she called softly.
As Nora opened the front door and stepped in, everyone jumped out from behind the furniture and yelled:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORA!"
Nora gasped in surprise, her heart skipping a beat before she giggled at the joyful ambush. A chorus of voices began singing the birthday song. The twins toddled up to her, blabbering, "Happy Birthday, Mama!" in their tiny voices.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she bent to kiss them both on the cheeks.
From upstairs, Zayan stepped down. He had just finished something special. With a warm smile, he walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her, and whispered:
"Happy birthday, love."
He kissed her cheeks as Max sat comfortably beside the twins, watching the room fill with laughter and dancing.
Later in the evening, Zayan gently pulled Nora away from the crowd and led her upstairs.
"Close your eyes," he whispered.
She did.
"Now open, darling."
Nora opened her eyes to a breathtaking sight—the room was beautifully decorated with soft lights, her favorite colors, cherished items, and framed pictures of her and the twins on every corner of the walls. Her heart swelled with emotion.
Zayan knelt down on one knee behind her.
"My beautiful wife," he began, his voice thick with love. "You know I love you so much. You're my heart, my soul, my everything. The mother of my children. And forever, Mrs. Zayan Kai."
He stood up and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"I promise you, on your birthday, I will help you get your memories back. I, Zayan Kai, promise you that. Okay, baby?"
Overwhelmed, Nora leaned in and kissed him deeply. He lifted her into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as their passion ignited. He pulled off his shirt, and she cupped his face as they fell onto the bed, their moans mingling—making it a night of love, devotion, and unbreakable connection.
The Next Morning…
Nora woke slowly, her body sore from the night before. She blushed at the memory as she turned to see Zayan sleeping soundly beside her. Smiling, she kissed his cheek and got dressed, tiptoeing out to the twins' room.
The twins looked up and giggled at their mother. She laughed, scooping them into her arms and playing with them.
Just then, Aaila entered the room.
"Good morning, Mrs. Asher," Nora greeted.
"Morning, Nora," Aaila smiled.
"Hey… do you still have that… uh… pee-pee test?" Nora asked, a bit shy.
"You mean a pregnancy test?" Aaila clarified.
Nora nodded. "Yeah… I do," Aaila replied. "Why?"
"I'll take one tomorrow. Just want to check something," Nora said softly.
Aaila nodded, hiding her curiosity.
Meanwhile, Zayan was getting ready to leave for the office when Aaila stopped him.
"Zayan, Nora just asked me for a pregnancy test," she said, folding her arms. "She said she wants to do it tomorrow. So… did you?"
Zayan blinked, the memories of last night flashing vividly in his mind. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, uhmm… I kinda lost control. Sorry," he admitted. "You can tell the family."
Later that evening, the entire Kai and Lilith family—Zayan's sisters, Asher, his wives, Neal, Rex, Damian, and Melanie—gathered in the sitting room as Aaila shared the news.
"Nora just asked for a pregnancy test. She said she'll confirm it tomorrow."
"TF?" Neal blurted.
"HUH?" Rex said, blinking.
"WHAT!" echoed Damian and Melanie in shock.
"She looked happy," Aaila added. "So let's wait till tomorrow morning to confirm."
"Agreed," said Zofia, and everyone nodded in agreement.
As night fell again, hearts beat with anticipation, the mansion buzzing with quiet wonder.