Zayan dressed simply today—black shirt, white pants—looking like any regular man rather than the cold, powerful figure the world knew. Alone, he walked toward a place far from the world of suits and secrets. The orphanage gates loomed ahead, the rusted sign swinging slightly in the breeze: Hope for Survival.
As he stepped through the gates, he saw Nana in the garden, watering the flowers with gentle care. She turned when she heard footsteps.
"Good morning, Nana. Remember me?" Zayan asked softly.
Nana squinted for a moment before her face lit up. "Ahh, yes. You're the kind gentleman who helped Asher and Nora… and you're also the Zayan. Quite the popular man these days," she said with a smile.
In Zayan's thoughts: A devil… a kind gentleman?
He chuckled lightly. "I want to ask you something… about Nora. But first—where's Asher?"
"Oh, he's inside," Nana said, leading him toward the house. "Still asleep. He cried a bit this morning—the pain…"
As they entered, the laughter and quiet chatter of other children filled the air. Some were writing, some painting, while others swept the floor or organized books. Zayan scanned the warm, busy room before Nana showed him to a small bed tucked in a quiet corner. There, Asher slept, small and fragile, wrapped in clean bandages.
Zayan knelt beside him and gently patted the boy's head, then turned to Nana.
"I want to ask you something. Where did you find Nora?"
Nana walked over to the window, looking out as memories played across her eyes.
"It was a rainy night… I saw a woman, cloaked, holding something. I grabbed my umbrella and rushed out. But I didn't reach her in time. All I heard was a baby crying near the bushes. I opened the leaves and found a tiny baby girl—crying, soaked, alone." She paused. "I tried to follow the woman… but she ran."
She looked back at Zayan. "I took the baby in and named her Nora. In the basket, there was a piece of paper with just one name: Lilith."
Zayan's brow lifted. "Lilith?"
"Yes… that's all it said—just her last name. She grew up here. Never went to school, but I taught her myself. She's smart. Kind. Takes care of everyone here like a little mother."
Nana pointed to a photo on the wall—Nora resting her head on Nana's shoulder, Asher curled up beside them as a baby.
Zayan studied the photo, his heart aching with a strange softness.
"Did the woman have any… tattoos or marks?" he asked quietly.
Nana paused, frowning in thought. "Yes. An eagle… on her right arm."
Zayan's breath hitched. A flash crossed his memory—Miss Aveline, standing near the window in the mansion. That same eagle inked on her skin.
He exhaled slowly. "Nora's mother is in the mansion," he said.
Nana's eyes widened.
Zayan explained everything: Shaw Lilith, Aveline, the lies, the secrets.
Tears welled in Nana's eyes as she grabbed his hand. "Please… don't let them harm her. She's my child. I raised her… Please protect her."
Zayan nodded, his voice firm and steady. "I promise. She'll be safe."
A soft yawn broke the moment. Asher stirred, blinking up at them.
"Nana…" he whispered, reaching out weakly.
She rushed to him, hugging him gently. Zayan bent down.
"How do you feel, little man?"
Asher's face crumpled. "My body hurts…"
Zayan hugged him. "You're strong. You'll feel better soon."
"He's going to the hospital next week," Nana added.
Zayan helped change Asher's bandages and gave him his medicine before tucking him back into bed. He whispered a quiet "thank you" to Nana and stepped outside.
Not far from the mansion now, he spotted Nora outside, throwing out the trash.
She turned in surprise as he approached. Before she could speak, he pulled her close.
"Zayan—stop," she whispered. "We're outside. Someone might see us. And your mother's been looking for you all morning—"
He kissed her, silencing her instantly. Then, pulling back just enough, he held her tightly.
"I don't care who sees," he whispered. "You're mine."