It was Wednesday—just one day before Nora's 22nd birthday.
Zayan had gathered everyone for a trip to the mall. The goal? Get everything Nora wanted for her birthday. Simple enough—or so he thought.
Before leaving, Zayan pulled the manager of the mall aside. His voice was calm but carried weight.
"Absolutely nothing should go wrong today," he said.
The manager paled. "Y-Yes, sir. N-Nothing will go wrong. We'll make sure of it."
Inside the mall, the group split into smaller clusters. Nora strolled with Asher, Aaila, Neal, Darba, and Maverick while Zayan, Shaw, Rex, and the others fanned out to handle various other preparations.
Nora skipped happily into her favorite paint shop, her eyes lighting up like stars.
"Ah! Mrs. Kai! How are you today?" Miss Layla, the store manager, greeted warmly.
Nora rushed in and hugged her, giggling. Aaila observed quietly. Nora was gentle, sweet, and kind to everyone—but Aaila knew better than anyone: don't get on her bad side. Nora's wrath, though rare, was unforgettable.
Nora moved through the store, selecting brushes, canvases, and paints like a professional artist preparing for a masterpiece. She touched and smelled the colors, rejecting any that didn't feel "right."
Asher handed her a soft, blue tube of paint. "What about this one?"
Nora sniffed it, frowned, and shook her head. "No… Take it back."
He blinked. "Come on, it's the same thing."
"No, it's not," she said with a small pout, her eyes narrowing.
"Okay, okay—fine," he surrendered, raising his hands.
"Is she always like this?" Aaila whispered to him.
"Yep," Asher replied. "Don't ever mess with her art stuff."
Aaila chuckled and nodded in understanding.
Once Nora had all her supplies, she and Aaila sat on a nearby bench, waiting for the others. Meanwhile, Zayan was… well, doing Zayan things.
"Good Lord," Rex muttered as he saw Zayan surrounded by bags, boxes, and packages. "You literally bought the mall."
People passing by gawked at the mountain of items surrounding Zayan Kai.
"If Nora sees this, she'll kill you," Shaw said, barely containing his laughter.
"She only wanted painting supplies," Maverick added.
Unfazed, Zayan made a few calls, instructing his guards to load everything into the cars and send them to the mansion—before Nora could see any of it.
Back with the group, they met up to grab food. As they walked past a bridal boutique, Nora stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes locked onto something in the display window.
A black wedding dress.
Elegant, shimmering, and hauntingly beautiful—it was unlike anything she'd ever seen.
She didn't move. Her gaze stayed fixed.
"Nora?" Zayan called gently. "Nora?"
Kyomi followed his line of sight. "Oh… there she is."
She walked up to Nora. "Hey, what's up?"
Nora didn't answer. Kyomi turned her head—and saw the dress.
"It's beautiful, right?" Kyomi said softly.
Nora nodded, her eyes wide and glassy. Zayan stepped beside her, reading her face like a page.
"Z?" she whispered.
"Yes, love?"
"Do you think… I could wear something like that on my wedding day?"
He smiled warmly. "Yes, love. You absolutely can."
Nora smiled back… but there was sadness in her eyes. "Someone else will probably get it first." She gave him a small shrug and said, "Up, please."
He lifted her into his arms, but she never once looked away from that dress.
They ate together, laughing, joking, but Zayan noticed Nora didn't touch her food—just slowly sipped her milkshake with her head resting on his shoulder.
He said nothing.
But he noted everything.
As the group prepared to head home, Zayan buckled Nora into her seat.
"I'm right behind you," he whispered, stealing a kiss.
She smiled softly and nodded.
The moment they drove off, Zayan turned and walked with purpose.
Back to the boutique.
The manager almost fell over himself. "A-A-A pleasure to have you here, Mr. Kai!"
Zayan pointed. "That dress. How much?"
"It's… quite expensive, sir…"
A woman suddenly entered, confidently walking up. "Excuse me. I need that dress. Now."
The manager stammered. "Ma'am, Mr. Kai already—"
"I don't care who he is," she snapped. "I'll pay. How much?"
"The dress is ten million dollars," the manager replied nervously.
"I'll take it," she said arrogantly. "My wedding is next week."
Zayan smirked.
The woman had no idea who he was.
He pulled out his checkbook, scribbled a number, and handed it over.
The manager's eyes nearly popped out. "E-Eighty million dollars?!"
"Dress. Now," Zayan ordered.
The woman's mouth dropped open. Just then, her fiancé arrived—and instantly recognized Zayan.
"M-Mr. Kai! It's an honor, sir. What brings you—"
Zayan smiled faintly. "Just making my wife happy."
When asked how Nora was doing, he simply replied, "She will be. Soon."
Later that evening, Zayan returned to chaos.
Nora was sitting on top of Neal while Asher lay groaning on the floor. Rex, Darba, and two guards were watching the disaster unfold.
"What the hell is going on here?" Zayan asked, confused.
Nora turned to him with a bright grin. "We're playing!"
"No, we're not!" Asher and Neal shouted in unison.
"Alright, alright—everyone get up. But—wait. What did you hit them with?"
She pointed at Zayan's dragon staff—the same one she had watched him train with for years.
"You used that?"
She twirled it casually. "Just a little spin."
Everyone scattered.
Her moves… were identical to Zayan's.
He stared, stunned—until she suddenly smacked the staff against his most delicate area.
"Ouch! Nora!"
He crumpled to his knees.
She laughed—sweet and wicked. "Not funny, love," he groaned.
Everyone burst out laughing.
At 11:57 PM, just minutes before her birthday, Nora was curled in Zayan's arms. The house was quiet. Peaceful.
"Z?" she whispered.
"Yes, love?"
"I know my wish."
"What's your wish, my princess?"
She looked at him, her eyes shining. "I wish to get better. To remember everything. And… to marry you."
Zayan's heart clenched. "I will wait for that day. No matter what."
"I'll never forget these memories," she whispered, her eyes fluttering.
He leaned in. "Happy birthday, my darling, beautiful princess."
"Thank you, Z," she murmured, already drifting into sleep.
As he held her close, he looked out the window at the moonlight.
"I swear on you, Nora… everything will be fine. I promise."