The Devil And The Maid.

The wedding dinner was held in the grandest hall in the city. Nearly every seat was filled—mafias, CEOs, dignitaries, high-ranking families. Nora and Zayan entered, Nora holding Seraphina, while little Lysander babbled endlessly in Zayan's arms.

From the crowd, Issca and the orphanage children arrived. As they ran to greet her, one familiar voice made Nora freeze.

"Hi Mama Nora," Rose called out.

Nora gasped. "Rosieeeeeessss!!!" she cried, running toward her.

They hugged tightly.

"Where have you been?" Nora said, eyes brimming with tears.

"I went to school. I'm done now," Rose smiled. "I missed you so much."

Azara, who stood nearby, spotted Rose and raised an eyebrow. The air between them shifted like an unseen spark had caught fire. Issca nudged Rose.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I… I think I'm gay," she whispered.

Issca blinked. "Huh?!"

Rose subtly pointed at Azara, standing across the room in a sleek suit, sipping her drink while holding her baby boy.

"You think she's…?" Rose asked.

Issca chuckled. "Why don't you ask her?"

The air shifted. Their eyes met again. Neither looked away.

—

Couples swayed to the music on the dance floor. Zayan had one hand around Nora's waist, the other holding hers. The twins danced with Melanin, their tiny feet stomping with joy.

Then something shifted.

Lysander, who had been drowsy, was suddenly lifted by a stranger. Zofia spotted the goon and immediately gave Boris a signal to attack. Shaw took Seraphina and rushed her to the secure mansion, with Zira trailing closely.

Nora, her head on Zayan's chest, sensed it.

She turned. "Z… Z, LOOK!"

Masked men held a bleeding Lysander.

"HEY!" Nora screamed, tearing the bottom of her dress and sprinting after them, grabbing a gun. Sachi was faster, bolting after her. The goons opened fire. Nora didn't flinch. The gang covered her, gunfire echoing across the garden.

Zofia stood upstairs, calm and steady. She fired twice—leg and shoulder. One man dropped. Another tried to escape with Lysander. Zofia shot the car, causing it to explode in flames.

Nora reached the fallen goon, kicked him aside, and dropped to her knees.

"Hey hey baby… Mama's here. Please open your eyes," she cried, cradling Lysander's small body, blood soaking his shirt.

Zayan arrived, face dark as death. "WHO SENT YOU?" he roared at a pinned goon.

"I—It was Miss Lane and a man named Adam! They paid us! Please—!"

Nora froze, flashes of Nana's death and burning fire swarming her mind. She let out a scream so powerful the sky seemed to tremble.

Lysander was rushed to the hospital.

Zayan and the gang, without hesitation, headed for war.

—

At Lane's mansion, tension built.

"I want that child NOW!" Lane hissed. Adam, lounging, replied smugly, "Zayan's weak now. We'll get him."

They were wrong.

Sachi and Azara slipped inside first, silent and deadly. Zayan's men followed, storming the mansion. Gunfire erupted. One by one, Lane's men fell.

Zayan spotted Adam.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Adam's eyes widened in disbelief before he dropped.

Lane screamed. Sachi crashed through the door and kicked her hard.

Her parents arrived, aghast.

"What is wrong with you, Lane?!" Mrs. Iris cried.

"He's mine! MINE!" Lane shrieked.

But then…

Nora entered, calm and quiet.

She dragged Lane out by the hair, tied her to a metal flagpole, and poured fuel over her. With a flick of a lighter—

Flames roared.

She walked away silently, face emotionless.

—

Back at the mansion, Nora locked herself in a room. Zayan and Asher tried pleading with her.

"Nora, please… open the door…"

But nothing.

Zofia stepped forward. "Move. All of you."

She knocked. "Hey, girl. Open up. Let's talk, okay?"

Nora unlocked the door. Zofia stepped in.

"You're scaring everyone. Why?"

Nora broke down. "I… I almost lost Lysander. Like Nana. I can't remember anything. She died in the fire… I couldn't save her…"

Zofia placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know I don't like you," she began. "But I also don't hate you. You're a damn good mother. And we're all here, helping you remember who you are. You will remember."

"I was the one who shot that bastard trying to take Lysander," she added with a smug grin.

Nora smiled through her tears.

Just then, Seraphina stood up. She felt something—her brother. She ran out.

And then…

Arion walked in, holding bandaged, sleepy Lysander.

"Ba…ba…ba," he babbled.

"BUBU!!!" Seraphina screamed, running to him.

She raised her chubby arms, and he giggled as she hugged him tightly.

In the other room, Zayan lifted his head.

"Dada! Dada! Bubu!" Seraphina cried, carrying her brother into the room.

Zayan's eyes softened as he saw his son wobbling toward him. He scooped him up gently, examining his arms, now cleaned and wrapped.

"Your mama was worried sick, little man," he whispered.

Zayan carried Lysander back into the room. Nora was lying peacefully on Zofia's lap. She looked up slowly.

"Mama!" Lysander shouted, lunging into her arms.

She hugged him, tears streaming down her face, kissing him again and again.

—

That night, Nora held her children tightly, wrapped in her arms.

Zayan wrapped his arms around the three of them, placing a kiss on Nora's head.

Tomorrow was the mafia engagement day—followed by many more battles.

But for now, in that fragile moment of peace…

They were whole.