The Devil And The Maid.

It was 2:34 AM when Nora woke up from a deep sleep, her stomach growling in hunger and her throat dry with thirst. Zayan was curled up protectively around the twins, his arms shielding them while they slept peacefully. Careful not to disturb them, she gently peeled herself from the bed and padded downstairs in silence.

In the kitchen, Nora opened the fridge and smiled faintly when she spotted cinnamon rolls—her favorite. She hadn't eaten them in such a long time. As she ate quietly, her mind wandered to an important thought.

Zayan's birthday was in two days.

Her eyes lit up, and a gentle smile crossed her lips. What should I do for him this year? she wondered. Then an idea bloomed in her mind. Without hesitation, she tiptoed to the rooftop—their special place—and stared down at the garden below. She clapped her hands softly in delight, her eyes dancing with excitement as the plan took root in her heart.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Zayan stirred. His hand reached out for Nora in his half-sleep, but she wasn't there. He instantly sat up, covered the twins carefully, and checked the CCTV cameras on his tablet. There she was—on the rooftop, drawing and giggling like a child.

He rushed up, barefoot and quiet.

"Nora, darling," he said softly, kissing her lips. "What are you doing up here?"

She turned to him with a dreamy expression. "Z… do you like flowers? Like really, really big ones?"

Zayan blinked, then smiled with a small blush. "Yes, love, I really do. Why?"

Nora giggled and shook her head. "Nothing…"

The next morning, the chaos began.

"Asherrrr!" she whined, dragging his leg down the hallway. He stumbled, still half asleep.

"Nora! Let go!"

"No! I need help!"

One by one, she dragged her six brothers—Asher, Rex, Neal, Arion, Maverick, and Damian—out of their beds with the same wild energy.

Damian groaned, "Nora, stop dragging me—me—"

She plopped them all in the living room with a book and pen. "Pretty pretty please—Nora needs help, okie?"

They all sighed but nodded.

Together, they listed out flower colors, arrangements, black paint, lighting plans—everything she needed. She had only one day to pull it off, and she worked like a whirlwind, too busy to even eat properly.

Meanwhile, Zayan was at his office in a tense meeting with Mr. Arians, the father of the notorious Lane.

After it ended, Zayan looked him dead in the eye.

"Please make sure your daughter never causes another traffic jam. I almost lost my wife. Understood?"

Mr. Arians swallowed and nodded.

But before he could leave, Lane herself strolled into Zayan's office and perched on his desk, crossing her legs seductively.

Zayan didn't even let her speak. He texted Alex.

"Bring her father. Now."

When Mr. Arians saw Lane there, his face went pale.

"Are you mad?!"

Lane rolled her eyes.

Just then, baby Lysander toddled in, brought by Neal. Zayan immediately scooped him up. "Hey, my boy!"

Lysander giggled and pointed toward the window. "Bah!"

Alex and Zayan watched the little boy clap his tiny hands at the city view.

Back at the mansion, Nora worked tirelessly in her art room—Zayan's special gift to her. She painted, designed, coughed, cleaned her mouth silently, and kept going.

That night, just before midnight, she baked a cake, covered everything in the garden, and walked into the bedroom holding the cake. Zayan was yawning, just waking up.

"Z!"

He blinked. "Yes, wifey?"

"Happy Birthday, Z!" she beamed, sitting beside him with the cake.

Zayan smiled, a deep warmth filling his chest. She did this every year. And every year, he loved her more.

He kissed her, cut the cake, and fed her a bite. She fed him too.

"Where have you been all day, love?"

"Nora made a special gift for Z!" she said in her tired tone, before falling asleep in his arms.

In the morning, the twins ran to their daddy. Seraphina pointed at a "Happy Birthday" card. Zayan kissed their cheeks. "Thank you, loves."

Nora, with help from the boys, set up everything. But she started coughing badly again. Asher caught her as she coughed blood into a cloth.

"Nora…" he whispered worriedly. She only smiled.

Zayan's sisters came to the office. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY BRO!" they all shouted, hugging him.

He smiled, "Thank you."

Later, Lane arrived at the mansion with her father. She walked around, eyeing everything—Nora, the sleeping twins, the family pictures.

"I want all this," she muttered. "And I will get it."

What she didn't know was that Zayan and his sisters were watching on the security feeds. Zayan's jaw clenched. Melanie hissed, "If that bitch touches the kids, I'll kill her."

Meira smirked. "Way ahead of you, sis."

Creise folded her arms. "Let's end this."

Zayan called Sora and Frya.

"On our way," Sora replied.

Lane walked up to sleeping Nora and whispered, "He's mine now. Today's your last day."

But Shaw had heard everything. He stepped from the shadows. He picked up the twins, handed them to Zira, and carried Nora out to safety—back to the orphanage, now under full lockdown.

By noon, Shaw returned and told Zayan everything. Lane and her father were still talking when Damian arrived.

"Happy Birthday, Devil!" he grinned.

"Thanks, mate," Zayan said. "Where's my sissy?"

Damian smirked. "Got the thing she asked for…"

"What thing?"

"Nothing," Damian said innocently.

Melanie spotted Damian and whispered, "Who is the hot Polish guy?"

Zayan laughed. "That's Nora's brother—the sixth."

Lane's men searched the mansion, but Nora wasn't there. One by one, they were quietly taken down. Aaila, Kyomi, Maia, Zira—all rushed to the orphanage and found Nora sleeping with the twins. They guarded her like warriors.

Back at the mansion, Lane sneaked into Zayan's room and picked up a framed photo of Nora from Bora.

"Put it down," Zayan's cold voice came.

She turned, fake sweetness dripping. "Hello, handsome. I could take care of your kids… Your wife isn't even in her senses."

Melanie stepped in, eyes blazing. "Back the fuck up."

Then—SMACK!

One hit sent Lane crashing to the ground.

She was dragged away, tied up with her men.

At 8:06 PM, Nora woke up.

"Please… let me go… I want to show Z my gift," she whispered.

Sora kissed Issca, "I love you."

"I love you too," Issca replied.

Nora tugged Zayan's hand. "Come on, come on!"

He followed her to the rooftop. She clapped three times.

The garden lit up.

In massive flower letters:

"Happy Birthday to the Best Daddy and Husband. Nora Loves Zayan!"

Below it:

"Made with Love and Affection"

Zayan's mouth fell open.

"N… Nora… You made this? F…For me?"

She nodded proudly. "Yep. It was supposed to take three days, but I did it in one."

She led him to a room filled with photos—precious moments with their kids, their time together, laughter, joy, and pain.

Zayan held back tears.

He read a scroll:

Dear Z,

I, Nora, promise to be here for you till death.

Z is the best father and greatest husband ever.

Nora loves Z so much. Always. Now and forever.

—Nora Zayan Kai

Zayan's lips trembled. "I am a man… I am a man…" he whispered, trying not to cry.

Nora rubbed his back gently. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm so sorry, love…" he whispered, hugging her tightly.

Then came the sound of giggles.

The twins waddled in, laughing.

Zayan held them, held Nora too, and they all smiled as the camera clicked—capturing a family frozen in love.

Nora, always thoughtful, wiped Zayan's tears with her hand as the twins snuggled in and giggled louder.