Nora gripped Zayan's hand tightly.
Raphael stepped in, carrying the twins, with Liam trailing behind.
"Mama?" Liam's small hand reached for her.
"Li-li, Mama's sleeping, okay?" Zayan said gently.
Liam nodded, but Seraphina's eyes were bright with mischief.
"Five… four… three…"
"What are you counting down for, Lilly?" Zayan raised a brow.
"Two… one… and now!" Seraphina grinned.
Nora's eyes snapped open and she let out a piercing scream.
"It's baby time!" Seraphina announced triumphantly.
Zayan stared at her. "Tf!?"
Seraphina only giggled.
Outside the room, Liam's little voice trembled. "I'm worried about Mama…"
Lysander bent down and let him climb onto his back.
"It's fine, Li-li. Mama's fine, okay?"
Liam nodded. Seraphina kissed his cheek, hugging both her brothers.
Zayan waited tensely in the corridor. Catalina arrived with newborn clothes, ready for the baby.
Inside, Nora clutched the bed frame, her face contorted with pain.
"Alright—three… two… one… push!" Imara urged.
"AHHHHH!" Nora's scream filled the room.
Outside, Liam buried his face into Raphael's chest, tears streaming down.
"Mama…"
"It's fine, your mama's okay," Raphael reassured, holding his grandson close.
Inside, Nora was sobbing. Aveline suddenly entered.
"Tf are you doing here?" she demanded at Raphael.
"Grandma!" Lysander cried, hugging her.
"Grandma?" Raphael echoed in disbelief.
"Yeah—she's our mama's mother, and also our grandma," Lysander explained proudly.
"What?" Raphael blinked.
Aveline brushed past him into the room. "Hey, Nora."
"H…hi," Nora breathed weakly.
"Ready? Push!"
Nora used every ounce of strength left in her body. She screamed again.
Outside, Zayan paced. "Oh lord, oh lord, oh lord…"
Liam clasped his hands together, whispering a secret prayer for his mother.
Finally—a cry.
Nora's body slumped back, her breathing soft. She drifted into sleep almost immediately.
Zayan's chest loosened with relief. He peeked at his newborn daughter, then checked Nora. She was resting peacefully.
Liam, still in Raphael's arms, had also fallen asleep after his prayer.
Though Zayan still loathed his father, Raphael quietly wished to make amends.
Later, Zayan dressed the baby in the clothes Nora had bought.
Liam woke, yawning. "Mama?"
Lysander carried him over while Seraphina trailed beside them.
Nora opened her eyes, holding out her arms.
"Mama!" Liam hugged her tightly.
"Are you okay, Mama?"
"I'm fine, baby," she whispered, kissing each child.
"We are now four," Lysander grinned.
Nora nodded.
Raphael watched silently. Aveline joined him.
"When did you come back? And why?" she asked, arms folded.
"She's your first daughter?" he asked.
Aveline nodded. "From my ex-lover. He's gone now. Nora is Lilith—the last heiress of their empire. I left Poland with her, then abandoned her at the orphanage. Faith brought us back together."
Raphael glanced at Nora and her children.
"Zayan hates you. So why are you here?" Aveline pressed.
"I want my family back… my son," Raphael admitted quietly. "But he hates me, and I'm paying for my past mistakes. I accept that."
"Don't do anything dumb," Aveline warned. "He wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
He nodded grimly.
Zayan carried the baby to Nora.
"She's pretty," Lysander and Liam chorused.
Her husband smiled. "Her second name is Kim—after Grandma. I miss her a lot, Nora."
Nora cupped his face. "I know, baby." They kissed softly.
"Mama, what's her name?" Liam asked.
"Her name is Elowen," Nora smiled.
"Elowen Kim Zayan Kai," Zayan added.
"Baby Kim!" Liam cheered, hugging his mother.
Soon, The Lilith, the Black Scar Lords, Kenna Rose, their wives, the boys, and even Zayan's cousin arrived to see the newborn. Zayan gave them all a stern warning—especially Renna.
The baby was awake, kicking and waving her little arms.
"Awww, so cute!" Kaz said, after washing his hands before holding her.
Asher entered with Aaila, carrying their baby girl Naomi, with Hael beside them.
Asher sat by Nora's bed, kissed her cheek. "Congratulations, Mama."
Aaila squeezed his shoulder, smiling.
When Nora woke again, Elowen was in Zayan's arms. She grabbed her phone and ordered a mountain of food.
Liam burst in with Raphael. "Hi Mama!" He scrambled onto her bed, hugging her.
"How are you feeling?" Raphael asked.
"I'm fine, thank you."
He sat down. "Your husband hates me, and I failed him as a father. I made my family miserable… locked him away for four years… and yes, I chose another woman over them. I gave him nothing but anger, bitterness, and hatred. His mother—your wife—suffered depression. Yet she raised all four of them. Zayan's life was hell, but he built himself into the man he is today—a great husband and father. If you want to make up, start with his mother and sisters. Then him."
Raphael lowered his head. "You're right… thank you."
Zayan entered with the food. "Did you order the whole restaurant, darling?"
"Maybe," she giggled.
Raphael counted the bags. "Sixteen?!"
Catalina handed Elowen back to Zayan while the twins and Liam ate fried Japanese rice with beef, which Nora fed them herself.
Zofia arrived, hugging Nora before holding the baby. "She looks like you."
"Then who do I look like, Mama?" Liam asked with sauce on his cheeks.
"Like me, baby."
"So Lilly looks like Papa, and Larry too?" Liam said.
"They're twins," Zayan confirmed. "Seraphina Lilly Zayan Kai, Lysander Larry Zayan Kai, Liam Li-li Zayan Kai, Elowen Kim Zayan Kai."
The cousins exchanged glances. Renna finally accepted she'd never have Zayan—his loyalty to Nora was unshakable.
Catalina accidentally bumped into Raphael.
"Cat," he said—the nickname from long ago. "When we're done here… can I meet you in your room?"
She glanced at Zayan. "Don't let him see you there," she warned before walking off.
Later, in the car home, Liam sang softly to Elowen, making Seraphina coo, "Aww, Li-li's singing!"
At home, Zayan laid Nora in bed beside Elowen so she could nurse her.
"What?" Nora teased when she caught him staring. "She needs mama milk."
"Hmmm… that's gay," he muttered.
"What is gay? She's a baby—our child!" Nora laughed.
"Hmmm," he grumbled, looking like an angry bull.
She smirked. "You look like an angry bull."
"Haha, very funny."
They giggled, kissed, and Zayan whispered, "Thank you, my love."
"You're welcome, darling," she murmured, drifting to sleep with Elowen in her arms.