It was 4:56 a.m. when Nora opened her eyes. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since dinner. She quietly slipped out of bed, brushed her teeth, and then turned with a mischievous smile. In one bold leap, she landed on top of Zayan.
He blinked, still half-asleep, then smiled as his arms found her waist.
"My princess needs something?" he asked in his raspy morning voice.
"Yummies," she whispered, cuddling into him.
He chuckled softly. "Alright, love."
"Z?" she said again, her voice unusually soft.
"Yeah?" he responded, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Will you ever get tired of me… and leave me?"
Zayan's face stilled. His thumb brushed along her jawline. "Look, baby. All these years… have I ever left you?"
She shook her head silently.
"I will always be here for you. Just like you're always here with me, my darling princess." He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently.
"Promise?"
"I promise," he said firmly. And he meant every word.
They walked together into the kitchen, where Zayan made her breakfast—cinnamon rolls, crisp chicken, and eggs. Nora danced around him as he cooked, her oversized shirt swaying like she was five again.
Moments later, Asher burst in. "There's my birthday sis!"
He hugged her tight and kissed her cheek.
"Happy Birthday, Nora!"
"Thank youuuu," she giggled in her usual childish voice.
Guards and maids lined up near the hallway, bowing respectfully.
"Happy Birthday, Mrs. Nora," they all greeted in unison.
Nora bowed back humbly. "Thank you so much." She always respected them deeply—and they loved her for it.
As the day unfolded, more guests arrived—some for business, some for the party. The mansion was full of warmth and laughter. The painting session began as people picked canvases, laughing and splashing color. Nora returned to her room, where Lisa and the girls dressed her.
When she came out, she was stunning.
"Wowwwww, Nora! You look drop-dead gorgeous," Darba gasped.
"Awwwwwwwwww Nora, you look really pretty," Aaila added.
Nora hugged them both with a big smile.
Meanwhile, in the great hall, Zayan stood with Miska and a few business associates. One of them was Rune—a spoiled, ill-mannered man. From the moment Nora entered, holding her toy in one hand and Lisa's hand in the other, Rune couldn't keep his eyes off her. His obsession was instant and dangerous.
He approached her during the gift-giving and handed her a box, letting his hand brush against hers far too slowly. Nora stiffened. Uncomfortable, she quietly tapped Neal's arm.
"Yes, sis? What's wrong?"
She whispered what had happened, and Neal's eyes darkened.
"You need to tell Zayan, okay?"
"Z is busy…" she said softly.
He nodded, "Alright. But if he touches you again—you tell Zayan. Understood?"
She nodded with her toy still clutched tightly.
Neal gathered Asher and the others. "Rune touched Nora."
Asher's face twisted with fury.
"I'll kill him."
"Not now," Rex warned. "Let's see if he dares try again. If he does… he will face Zayan's wrath."
Later, Nora slipped into the kitchen for another round of cinnamon rolls and chicken. As she munched, Rune entered silently.
"Hi, pretty girl."
Nora froze. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm—hard. She yelped as he pulled her close, trying to kiss her.
Before he could succeed, Kyomi stormed in.
"GET OUT!" she shouted, pushing Rune away.
Kasir appeared behind her.
"Are you okay?" he asked Nora.
Nora's face turned pale. She swayed and almost passed out. Kyomi caught her.
Back in the hall, Zayan and Miska were mid-conversation when a maid ran in, whispering urgently.
"Mr. Zayan… it's Nora. She's hurt and crying badly."
Zayan moved like a raging wind.
He burst into the room, finding Nora trembling, crying on the floor. She looked up at him.
"Z…" she whispered with tears in her eyes.
His demon awakened instantly.
He knelt beside her.
"Hey, my darling princess. What happened? Tell me—Daddy's all ears."
Nora choked through tears. "He tried to kiss me… he touched my hand when he gave me the gift earlier."
Zayan pulled her tightly into his arms, patting her head and rubbing her hair down gently. She calmed in his embrace, eventually dozing off in his arms.
She awoke later, just in time to cut her cake. Her smile returned slowly as she cut the cake, feeding the first slice to Zayan, then to Asher, Neal, and even the maids and guards.
As the party ended, Nora pointed toward Rune.
"It was him," she said firmly. "He touched me."
Rune froze.
Zayan took Nora back to the room. Doctors checked on her while Darba and Lisa helped her unwrap her gifts. She was safe.
But Rune… Rune wasn't.
As Rune tried to leave, the guards blocked him. Neal, Asher, Rex, Maverick, and Shaw stepped forward.
Asher grinned darkly. "Now the real party begins."
He punched Rune hard. Neal followed with a brutal kick. Shaw and Maverick delivered double blows that made Rune bleed from the nose.
"Please… stop," Rune begged.
Zayan stepped out, wearing only a vest, dragon stick in hand. Calm and cold.
With one swift move, he used the stick to break Rune's bones, limb by limb—messily, painfully. Rune screamed.
The guards dumped his bloodied body at his family's mansion. When his father saw him, he turned to Zayan and said, "My deepest apologies, Mr. Kai."
Then he looked at his son.
"Serves you right."
Back at the mansion, Nora sat on the floor surrounded by gifts, her mouth covered in icing, giggling from the sugar rush.
Zayan found her there, smiling softly.
"You look like a cake monster," he teased.
He gently wiped her mouth and kissed her forehead.
Later that night, he entered his study, eyes serious now. He opened her medical file, reading it again and again, preparing for what was next—her operation. Her safety. Her future.
For his princess, he would burn the world.