Viktoria held Lilith's hand as they stood together.
"Who is that?" Aram said.
"Her husband," Grandma Gloria said.
"Husband!?" they all said at once.
"Shhhhhhhhh… it's a secret," she whispered. "Lilith is married and she has a two year old daughter."
"Oh my God," Owen asked in shock.
"I don't know much, but I got a call from him when the baby was kidnapped, though, and now she is awake," she said as she explained everything.
"Dear Lord…" Miori whispered.
Aram's group was called The Phoenix Circle.
"What brings you here?" Lilith asked while holding Viktoria's hand.
"Lily… I know that whatever happened was honestly wrong. Yes, we all are deeply sorry for everything. I am here for Nikolai. He has locked himself inside. He doesn't want to come out except to go to work. He hasn't eaten anything for days. In fact, he doesn't eat at all. He only drinks his protein shakes. He cries while holding your picture. He turned the whole of Russia upside down looking for you and Mila."
"Nikolai truly loves you. He made sure to get you better, to be normal again after years. I missed you, Lilith."
"All he wants is you and Mila back home. A home he built for you and him to grow together and make your family together."
"I understand that a lot of people have separated you both from each other. You and Nikolai need to be together, to build not just a family and love, but love, trust, respect… everything together."
"He yearns for his wife and his daughter, especially Mila. He wants to hold her, give her fatherly love, and be close to his daughter."
Viktoria spoke gently.
Lilith lowered her head as she rubbed the fabric of her skirt, silently listening to every word.
"Baby… look at me," Viktoria said.
Lilith slowly looked up at her.
"Come back home. Your family. Your husband. Everything. Your love. Nikolai yearns for you, Lily."
Lilith wiped away the tears running down her cheeks.
"I will, Grandma. I will come back home now. Mila needs her… F…F…Father… and I…"
"You need your husband too, love," Viktoria finished softly.
Lilith chuckled through her tears and nodded.
Viktoria looked toward one of the guards.
He stepped forward carrying a beautifully wrapped box and handed it to her.
"He wanted to see you in this. If you change your mind… we will be waiting for you."
She kissed Lilith's forehead.
Lilith gently helped Viktoria stand and guided her back to the car.
Before Viktoria entered, Lilith bent down, touched her feet respectfully, then kissed both of her hands.
"I will come home, Grandma… for Mila."
"Thank you. We will all be waiting."
She hugged Lilith tightly.
The car door closed.
The vehicle slowly drove away.
Lilith sighed deeply before taking out her phone.
She dialed Damian's number.
"Hello, Mihu?" Damian answered.
"Are you with Nikki?"
"No. Boss is in a meeting."
She explained several things to him and gave him some work to do.
"Okay. It will be done."
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Lilith, her friends, and The Phoenix Circle headed toward Lilith's apartment.
Everyone wore normal clothes.
Only Lilith was still wearing her academy uniform.
They arrived.
"Yoooo… you live in Silver Crest!" Toni exclaimed.
"Yeah. Why?" Lilith asked.
"This place costs ₽30 million for one apartment," Aram said.
"What!?" Lilith gasped.
"Wait… you live here and you don't know the price!?" Kesian asked.
"Nikki told me it was only ₽500,000."
"That old man… how dare he lie to me?" she complained.
"Nikki… your husband?" Gloria asked.
"Yeah."
"I am so going to yell at him."
Everyone laughed.
They entered the lift.
Fourth floor.
The doors opened.
They walked to her apartment.
Lilith unlocked the door.
"Welcome."
Everyone removed their shoes.
"Mil? Mil?" she called.
"Please sit."
They all sat down.
"Woah… this is beautiful," Tatiana said.
Four minutes later, Lilith returned after changing into comfortable clothes.
She placed drinks on the table.
"Where is Mila?" Wiktor asked.
"And Wiktoria."
"She's not home. Maybe she's with her uncles," Lilith answered as she sat down.
"This place is beautiful," Miori said.
"Thank you."
Suddenly…
The front door opened.
Everyone turned.
A tiny little girl stood there sucking happily on her pacifier.
A huge smile spread across her little face.
She removed the pacifier.
"M…Mama!"
It was Mila.
She quickly crawled toward Lilith.
"Hi, Sweetie!"
Lilith lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Hi, Mama."
"Hi, Mil."
Lilith kissed her forehead lovingly.
"Mihu, I'm here, and the men will start packing now," Damian said as he walked inside.
"Hi," the group greeted.
"Hello," Damian replied.
"Mila… look at them."
"H…Hi…"
She waved her tiny little hands.
"Aww… hello, Mila," Aram smiled.
"Hi."
Everyone melted.
Some of the men entered the apartment and bowed respectfully.
"Hi, boys. How are you?"
"We are fine, Mrs. Lily," they answered together.
She nodded.
"Nikolai went to Italy for business and will be coming back tomorrow."
"Mama…"
"Dada…"
"G…G…Go?"
"We're going back home, love," Lilith answered while preparing some food.
Mila happily continued babbling while everyone watched television.
The men carefully packed every item inside the apartment.
"You're going home?" Gloria asked.
Lilith nodded.
"It's the right choice, Lily."
She hugged her.
"How about your mom? Did she…"
"Yeah. She was mad."
"But I love Mom, and she understands."
"She also said I should tell Mila hi."
"Mama…"
"Miwk."
"That's so cute," Eric laughed.
"Here, love," Kesian said while carrying Mila.
Mila leaned forward and kissed Kesian's nose.
Kesian gasped dramatically.
"You kissed me!"
"Ohhhh… that's adorable," Toni squealed.
Mila opened both arms.
"Yay!" Tatiana laughed before hugging her.
Lilith smiled as she watched everyone shower Mila with love.
"The food was amazing. You absolutely need to open that dream restaurant, Lilith," Osyth praised.
"T…T…Thank you," Lilith replied shyly.
"Mrs. Lilith, everything has been sent. Boss will be coming tomorrow morning," one of the guards reported.
"Boss?" Toni repeated.
"Is it like a mansion or a penthouse?" Aram asked.
"No."
"It's a hidden mansion."
"Nobody knows about it."
"If Boss sends an invitation or personally calls someone, then they are allowed to enter on Boss's command."
"Who is your husband?" Aram asked.
Lilith was about to answer.
The guard immediately interrupted.
"Boss's identity is top secret, if you all don't mind."
"Hmmmmmm…"
"Sorry, Lily. Boss's orders."
"It's fine. We respect that," Gloria smiled.
"Thank you."
Mila hugged everyone one last time.
"Ba…Ba…"
She waved her little hand.
"Bye, Mila!"
Everyone waved back.
Lilith smiled at her baby.
"That was cute," Aram laughed.
"I miss her already," Owen admitted.
"Us too," everyone agreed.
Morning arrived.
Lilith's bags were completely packed.
She wore the saree Viktoria had given her.
It was a luxurious satin silk saree in a rich mauve infused cherry wine shade with a soft flowing drape and a subtle luminous sheen.
It was paired with a matching sleeveless strap blouse and finished with an embellished border that added a delicate sparkle.
She completed the look with a silver choker, matching earrings, and sleek straight hair flowing gracefully over one shoulder, creating a simple, elegant, and romantic appearance.
She finished her makeup before dressing Mila.
"Let's go home to Dada, Mila."
"Dada."
"Yes. Dada."
Lilith looked around the apartment one final time.
Damian entered.
"The car is ready."
She nodded.
She handed him the apartment keys.
Together…
They left.
The car slowly stopped.
A guard opened the door.
Mila clapped happily while babbling nonstop.
Lilith stepped out.
She looked at her home.
Her family.
Her eyes turned red with emotion.
Everyone came outside.
Viktoria held a decorated prayer plate.
She performed the welcoming ritual.
She gently placed a red dot on both Lilith's and Mila's foreheads.
Zhanna placed a rice pot before the entrance.
Lilith gently kicked it.
Rice spilled across the floor.
Farhan prepared the Alta/Kumkum footprints.
Lilith dipped both feet into the red liquid.
Then…
She stepped inside with her right foot.
There had been no electricity throughout the mansion since the previous night.
She continued walking.
On her fifth step…
Suddenly…
Every single light throughout the hidden mansion switched on at the exact same moment.
"Oh Lord!" Meghan gasped.
"THE LIGHT OF THE HOUSE IS BACK!" Yulian shouted.
Everyone jumped with excitement.
They clapped loudly.
Lilith giggled.
"Boss's plane will land in twenty minutes," Damian informed her.
She nodded.
She walked into the kitchen.
Immediately…
She began cooking.
Two hours later…
Nikolai's plane landed.
"Should I go to her?" he wondered.
"But Grandma said it's an emergency."
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
The car drove through the sixth gate.
It stopped.
Nikolai stepped out.
The very first thing he noticed…
Was a familiar white bike.
His entire face lit up.
"Lily's bike…"
His family walked outside.
Both Bratva and The Dominion Apex had gathered.
Then…
He heard loud giggles coming from the garden.
Without another second…
He ran.
He reached the garden.
His eyes softened instantly.
Standing there…
Were the two people he had yearned for every single day.
The two people he loved more than life itself.
His darling wife.
Lilith.
And his precious little girl.
Mila.
Lilith looked up.
She smiled warmly.
"Mil… look."
"Dada is home."
Nikolai's eyes filled with tears.
He slowly walked toward them.
Mila turned around.
She saw her father.
"Dada!"
She crawled toward him.
Then…
She suddenly stopped.
She placed both tiny hands firmly on the ground.
Slowly…
She lifted herself up.
"Lily gasped."
"Oh my goodness…"
"She's standing!" Diya cried.
Mila balanced herself carefully.
She wobbled slightly.
But she did not fall.
She was standing all by herself.
Nikolai immediately bent down and opened his arms.
Mila lifted one tiny foot.
Then another.
She took one small step.
Then another.
"Mila… you're walking!" Lilith cried joyfully.
Mila giggled proudly.
"Dada!"
She continued waddling forward.
Nikolai's tears streamed freely.
His arms remained wide open.
Finally…
She reached him.
He wrapped both arms around his daughter.
"H…Hi, Dada."
"Hi, Baby."
He cried openly while hugging her tightly.
Lilith slowly walked toward them.
"Welcome home, Nikki."
Still holding Mila securely in one arm…
Nikolai leaned forward.
He kissed Lilith lovingly.
Lilith gently cupped his face.
Mila clapped happily between her parents.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Bambi…"
Nikolai whispered emotionally.
The three of them embraced one another tightly.
Together again.
As a family.
With Mila safe in the loving arms of both her parents.