Zayan stirred awake at 2:30 a.m. — an email notification from Alex lit up his screen. Careful not to disturb Nora, he pressed a kiss against her forehead and slipped out of bed. The soft glow from his study filled the dark hall as he powered on his laptop. Fingers danced over the keyboard, printers whirred, and by 3:45 a.m. his online meeting had ended.
He rose from his chair and checked on his children. First, Liam's room—empty. His chest tightened. He hurried to the twins' room and found Seraphina and Lysander still awake.
"Have you seen Li-Li?" Zayan asked.
"No, Papa," they replied.
Descending the stairs together, they found Liam curled by the glass window, crying softly.
Zayan bent down and gathered him into his arms.
"Why are you crying, Li-Li?" Lysander asked, worried.
"Everyone is angry with me… and I've got a cold," Liam whispered, sniffling.
Zayan touched his forehead—hot. Fever.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Li-Li," Seraphina said, hugging her brother tightly.
He sneezed, tiny and pitiful.
Nora's footsteps came down the stairs. "What's wrong?"
"Li-Li's got a cold, Mama," Lysander answered.
Nora swiftly carried him into the kitchen, boiling water for steam. Zayan removed Liam's clothes to cool his fever, while the twins ran back upstairs. Nora poured cough syrup into a spoon.
"Open up, Liam," she coaxed.
He wrinkled his nose. "Yucky!"
Zayan chuckled, holding his hand. "Baby, it'll make your cold go away quickly."
With his nose pinched shut, Liam gulped it down. "Yucky, yucky!" he cried again.
Nora kissed his hair. "Sorry, my baby."
By morning, Zayan's cousins were already in the kitchen.
"Where's Li-Li?" Kaz asked, sleeves rolled.
"He's got a cold," Seraphina replied, grabbing milk. "He was up at two."
"Aww, poor Li-Li," Cahir said.
Nora left for the university to teach, while Zayan headed to the office with two-month-old Elowen in his arms. He brushed her tiny hair into a soft puff and clipped a flower scrunchie on top. She sucked on her yellow pacifier, calm as ever.
Alex rocked his own baby girl, Polina Dabria, while Xandria held her son Zeren. Roya, Russo, Azara, Atreus, and others filled the office.
"Are we having a reunion here?" Russo teased.
"They called Nora on me," Zayan muttered, and everyone laughed.
Between paperwork, calls came through—Rose, heavily pregnant again, demanded candy. Azara groaned. "Pregnancy cravings… last night Levi caught her putting ice cream on pizza!"
The office echoed with laughter before closing early to prepare for the reunion.
At home, Nora laid out Zayan's clothes. He emerged from the shower, towel around his waist, hair damp.
"All done?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied in a husky voice, catching her stare. His smirk grew.
"What's wrong, baby girl?"
"N–nothing! Wear clothes," she stammered, turning away.
He pulled her close, lifting her easily. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he trailed kisses down her neck.
"Zayan…" she gasped, eyes rolling back.
They fell into bed, his slow, consuming kisses deepening. For an hour, the world was just the two of them.
By evening, 46 old college students arrived. They stopped in the hallway, staring at portraits of Zayan and Nora.
"Isn't that Zayan Kai?!"
"Woahh, it really is!"
Liam ran around, giggling as Kaz tried to catch him.
"Who's the kid?" someone asked.
"That's his third child, Liam Kai Finwick."
In the main hall, guests chatted until Zayan entered with Nora at his side. Liam tugged her hand.
"Mamaaaa!" he said, snuggling against her.
"My Li-Li is okay now," Nora soothed, kissing his head.
The twins painted near the glass window, Elowen watching from her chair. Nora sat with them, her laughter mixing with theirs.
When Zayan appeared again, his presence silenced the room. His old bullies—Torin, Dorian, Leif, and Eirik—stiffened.
"Zayan… long time," Torin muttered.
He ignored them, speaking to Milo instead.
Leif sneered. "I wonder who your wife is. Someone who loves you—not your money."
"Shut it, mate," Eirik snapped.
Alex appeared at Zayan's side. "Mr. Zayan, tomorrow you have a meeting with Marks Corporate."
Isn't that your company Leif? Torin said until Alex added, "Kai Industries is his company."
Shock rippled through the group.
Nora was chasing Liam trying to get him No i wanna show papa! Liam said
Just then, Liam dashed in holding a drawing. "Papa! Mama! Look!"
Nora followed, breathless. "Sorry, he wanted to show you."
Zayan lifted him onto his lap. Liam pointed. "Papa, Mama, Lilly, Larry, Kim, me!"
"Aww, Li-Li, that's beautiful," Roya praised.
"Onto the fridge it goes," Zayan promised.
When Nora left with Liam in her arms, whispers broke out.
"My God, your wife is gorgeous," Torin admitted.
"I agree," Eirik added.
"Yeah, she is," Leif said, smirking.
"Don't get any dumb ideas," Milo growled. "She'll kill you."
"Yeah—don't," Zayan's warning tone chilled them all.
After the party, the children filled the living room with laughter. Leif's gaze lingered too long on Nora as she fed Elowen.
"Keep staring, and I'll shoot your eyes out," Nora said flatly, not even turning.
Zayan's lips curved into a proud smile. Leif looked away.
The next day, Zayan pushed Nora playfully into his office closet. "My officeeeeee," he teased, making her wear his shirt. Lysander studied with his private tutor, blood from a small cut dripping on his hand.
"Juice boxes and drawing supplies, Mama. Mine are finished," he said calmly.
Nora kissed his head and promised to fetch more.
At the company, she gossiped with employees while Zayan watched through the glass, shaking with laughter.
By afternoon, the Marks Corporate deal closed successfully—£8 billion paid.
Leif, restless, tried snapping a photo of Nora.
The sound of a gunshot froze the room. His phone shattered.
Nora stood on the table, eyes blazing, gun pressed to Leif's mouth.
"Listen carefully," she hissed. "If you ever look at me again, I'll put bullets in your body, tear out your eyes, and feed them to wolves. Understood?" Nora said
Tomorrow is the twins birthday Lilly was new training suit while Larry is the latest Artist iPad so they both want a mini friendly family dinner party Nora said and zayan nodded.
Leif trembled and nodded.
"Good." She shoved him back and strode out with Elowen in her arms.
Even Zayan's hands shook at the fire in her.
Later that night, Raphael and Catalina returned home.
"Li-Li!" Catalina called.
"Grandmaaaa!" Liam screamed, leaping into her arms.
"I missed you so much," he said.
"I missed you too, my love," Catalina cooed.
"Hi, Grandpa!" Liam hugged Raphael, who lifted him high with a laugh.
The twins wrapped their grandparents in hugs as Zayan and Nora finally rested upstairs, asleep in each other's arms.