The morning was quiet in the hospital room.
Seraphina and Liam lay curled beside Lysander, their tiny breaths in sync with his. For once, there was no rush, no fear—just the gentle rhythm of sleep.
Nora entered softly, her eyes misty but focused. She bent down and carefully scooped Liam into her arms, then leaned over to gently wake Seraphina.
"Lilly," she whispered.
Seraphina stirred, blinking the sleep away. She looked at her twin and pressed a soft kiss on his blanket before slipping out of the bed.
Outside, the nurses were preparing Lysander for the operating room.
Zayan stood nearby, tension in his jaw, eyes trained on his son. Kai and the Camorra had arrived silently in support—four men, four women, dressed sharply but respectfully. Zayan gave them a single nod.
As the doctors wheeled Lysander away, Seraphina stood still, her face frozen. Liam had gone quiet too, his thumb in his mouth.
Back at the villa, Nora bathed and dressed them both, her hands gentle but her heart heavy.
"Mama…" Seraphina finally spoke, voice small,
"Will Lysander be okay?"
Nora knelt and cupped her face.
"Yes, baby. He's very strong. He's going to be okay. But you need to pray, alright? Prayer is powerful."
Seraphina nodded slowly.
Nora carried Liam downstairs to eat, while Seraphina stayed behind. She went to her room, shut the door gently, then stood by the window.
She clapped her little hands together tightly, closed her eyes, and whispered:
"Dear Lord… my brother Lysander always prays. He's a very, very, very good boy. He's not naughty like me. He's… my second life. Please don't take him. It's not his time."
She sniffled, wiping her nose.
"He takes care of me. And Liam. We all love him so much. I promise, I'll share 50,000 cookies with every kid in the world—just please, please let the operation be safe. Let him get better."
"Amen."
Zayan had paused outside the door. He pressed a hand to the wood, closed his eyes, and whispered:
"Amen, my love… amen."
Then louder, gently:
"Lilly, come on. Let's go."
Seraphina opened the door and slipped her small hand into his.
Back at the hospital, the waiting was long.
The nurse came out, her voice low.
"Ma… ma'am… he almost died. But he stabilized. The transplant is nearly done."
Nora clutched Zayan's hand as relief threatened to drop her to her knees. Seraphina moved toward the glass wall where Lysander now lay, unconscious.
She stared hard.
"You wanted to leave us, huh?" she said, her voice sharp and deep beyond her years.
Zayan looked at her, watching as her small fists clenched.
"Now listen—" she continued, raising her voice at the sleeping boy,
"If you dare leave me, I will never forgive your soul. Never."
She sniffled, angry tears shining in her eyes.
"You said we are one. But you were about to leave me… and Liam. Alone."
Nora came beside her and rubbed her head gently. Liam, still in Zayan's arms, looked confused.
"Dada? Larry… Larry?"
Tears rolled down his chubby cheeks.
Zayan rocked him quietly.
"He'll be back soon, little man."
Two hours passed.
No one really moved. Seraphina hadn't eaten. Nora couldn't speak. Liam sat in Zayan's lap quietly… until he wriggled away.
"Liam?" Zayan called softly, but the toddler had already begun crawling toward Lysander's room.
Max followed close behind.
The door creaked open.
"Larry!" Liam called in his tiny voice.
Max nudged him up onto the bed, then climbed up beside him.
"Larry?" he said again, patting Lysander's arm.
Then…
Lysander's eyelids fluttered.
"Hey, Liam," he whispered hoarsely, slowly sitting up.
"LARRY!!!" Liam screamed joyfully, wrapping his arms around his brother.
From the hallway, Seraphina turned sharply.
She ran.
"YES SIR! Where do you think you're going, huh?!" she barked, storming into the room.
"The doctor said you were about to die! You were about to leave me—again—and the only reason you're still here is because the soul taker took one look and saw me. Your twin. Waiting."
"We. Are. ONE!" she shouted.
Lysander blinked… then started laughing. Loudly.
"Mama!" he said between laughs.
"Did you hear what Lilly said? She said she scared the soul taker!" He clapped his hands, still weak but amused.
Seraphina broke down. The anger melted into sobs as she jumped onto the bed and hugged him tight.
"Don't ever do that again. Please."
"I won't," Lysander whispered, holding her back.
"I'm right here."
Nora and Zayan stepped in, breath catching in their chests.
"My baby…" Nora said as she and Zayan wrapped their arms around him. Lysander pulled them close and kissed both their cheeks.
"Mehhhh… and soooo hungry!" he groaned with a grin.
"Mama, cinnamon rolls—please!"
Zayan ordered them on the spot.
Soon, Lysander was eating, laughing, and feeding both Seraphina and Liam. Liam bounced in his lap while Nora helped him into clean clothes.
She kissed his forehead.
"I love you so, so much. Don't ever leave me again, okay?"
"Yes, Mama. I love you too." He hugged her back tightly.
Later, Zayan sat beside him.
"Hey, Papa."
Zayan ruffled his hair gently.
"Hey, boy. You got me scared, you know that? But your mama… she was scared out of her mind."
"I'm sorry, Papa." Lysander whispered.
One week later…
Zayan wrapped up his business dealings. The Camorra gang delivered his payment—a generous £50 million for his share.
As always, he gave £30 million to Alex.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Zayan."
"You're welcome, Alex. You deserve it."
That same day, Lysander was discharged.
When they reached the villa, the kids ran out with squeals of joy.
"LARRYYYY!" Lyra, Luca, Winter, and Hael all screamed, hugging him tightly.
"Where'd you go, Larry?!"
Lysander laughed, his face bright and alive. Max barked, jumping on him and licking his face. He giggled as he hugged everyone back.
That night was quiet.
In the master bedroom, Nora, Liam, Seraphina, and Lysander lay tangled together in one warm nest of blankets and dreams.
Zayan stepped into the room and paused.
There they were.
His world.
His everything.
The storm had passed.
He bathed, changed, and slipped under the covers, wrapping his arms around Nora, one hand on each of his children.
Peace.
The kind only love—and survival—could bring.