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I was active but I couldn't upload because this Wattpad deleted my drafts and I didn't kept my chapters in any safe other apps so it made me to write again

Hey guys chapter three will be in two parts as the length is soo Big nearly 20k words. And here the flash back will be added to chapter one and two after few days. Sorry for inconvenience
.......................................

Author's pov :-

Twenty-Two Years Ago( this flashback will be shifted to chapter one , i will edits this one after two days , sorry for inconvenience)

Gunshots shattered the midnight calm.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom tore through the wet streets of Moscow, its sleek body riddled with bullet holes. The glass spider-webbed, metal screeched, and the smell of gunpowder thickened the air.

Inside, Naira Volkov, eight months pregnant, sat in the backseat-not cowering, not begging for mercy. Her eyes were sharp, her jaw steady. One hand clutched her lower abdomen as a sharp cramp twisted through her body, but the other held a silver pistol.

"Drive faster!" she barked.
"Ma'am, we're surrounded!" shouted her head guard from the front.

"Then kill them!" she snapped, pulling the door open.

" Stop shouting naira , you need to be calm now ", bhavya, her bestie, Said to naira,

The guards fired in bursts, shouting to cover her. Naira stepped halfway out of the car, her silk coat sweeping through the smoke.

Her gun rose, steady despite the tremor of pain tightening her belly.
She fired once, clean through a man's skull. Again, another dropped.

"You'll not touch me," she hissed, her Russian accent cutting through the chaos. "And definitely not my child."

From the distance, a coarse voice yelled through the smoke:

"You can't escape from us, Naira Volkov!" man shouted

"We'll kill you and that bastard child of Mikhail Volkov!"
"Our boss will f***ing take your husband's head and hang it on our gates!"

Naira's lips curved in a mirthless smirk. "Tell your boss he'll be dead before he finishes that sentence," she muttered and fired three rounds straight at the speaker. The man collapsed before he even finished laughing.

Around her, the remaining six bodyguards struggled to keep the perimeter.

One took a bullet in the neck; another fell screaming. The others shouted back, exchanging fire with the rival gang closing in fast, men bearing the mark of the Petrov Syndicate, Mikhail Volkov's oldest enemy.

"Petrovs," she spat. "Of course."

The fight moved out of the car , Naira crouched beside the open door, firing with ruthless precision. She didn't flinch when blood splashed her coat. Her expression remained calm, unreadable " i won't let you to touch my baby!!", she shouted

A bullet grazed her arm; she only blinked.
Another guard fell beside her.

"Fall back, ma'am!"
"No one tells me to fall back!" she growled shooting the man behind her guard. "You protect, I kill."

A heavy contraction ripped through her again. Her hand pressed against her belly; sweat beaded on her forehead. "Not now," she breathed through clenched teeth, "not here..."

One of the last guards was thrown backward by a blast.
Her pistol clicked empty.
A rival man approached, laughing cruelly, pointing his gun straight at her.

"End of the Volkov queen," he sneered. "Say hello to hell-"

Bang!

A bullet tore through his forehead before he could finish.
His body dropped lifelessly to her feet.

Behind him stood Imraan Shah, bhavya's husband and her , came out, in a long dark coat, Mikhail's men fanning out like shadows.

Their guns lit the night with flashes as they cleared the remaining enemies in seconds

" puppy....(imraan) ," bhavya breathed out, lowering her gun.

"Start hogyi indono ki amar Prem kahani. Here im dying with pain and here she is calling him puppyyyy , wahh kya dekhne ko mila Raha, please God save me from this " naira muttered

" Tumhari himmat kaise hui bhabhi ji ko huthake leke ane ki , huh? "

Imraan scolded Bhavya, shooting the other goons who were barely laying alive on ground

" Arey nahin pappy, tu galat samajh raha hai , mai tho isko car mein le kar ayi thi , wo itni bhaari hai, bhala meree jaisee maasoom se nanhee se ' bachi ' unhen kaise utha sakatee hai? tu kuchh soch kar nahin bolata kya? kuchh bhi bak (keh) deta " , bhavya dramatically said

[ " Oh no, Pappi, you're misunderstanding. I brought her in the car. She's so heavy, how could an innocent little girl like me lift her? Don't you think before you speak? You could say anything " ]

" Parrot, it's not funny!! You and naira bhabhi could have died!! Did you both planned to get me killed in her husband's hands (Mikhail)?" Imraan scolded

" Arey puppy, kya bolte ja raha hai re tu!! Koyi bhi aurat apne suhaag ko Kyun marna chahegi ?" Bhavya dramatically siad holding naira

" Haa per meri biwi chahegi!!! Stop pretending, parrot. Dont you have any hesitation, cracking jokes at this situation? " Imraan snapped softly

" Ayein! Hasi station? Puppy, hasi ki station mere pass kyun hoga . Mein comedian thodi hu . " Bhavya said

" Abeeyyy , pav dimag gyainki wo hasi ki station nahi !! Hesitation hai. Matalab sharam!! Sharam hai ! Jo ki tujhe mien hai hi nahi. Yaha pe mein mar rahi hu aur tu yaha standup comedy chala rahi hai !!! -- ahhhh- help mee " , naira shouted

Immediately Bhavya kneeled down beside naira holding her

" Arey meri jana , please control for few minutes we will go to the hospital" bhavya pacified naira

Naira's hand reached out for Bhavya hand, holding it " meri pav bhejha (dimag, brain ) wali , I'm sorry, i shouldn't have shouted at you now " naira rasped

"It's ok my mirchi, . Puppy puppy come fast we should take her to hospital " she shouted

"Stop using that word for him , Bhavi (bhavya) " naira muttered as she gets irritated with that' Nick name

" He is my husband na , why do you feel bad about him? Jisko keh rahi hu who tho chup chap bhaitha hai " Bhavya said

" What is your husband doing her huh? I said i want to stay away from Mikhail and every person related to him , even your husband ", naira questioned Bhavya

"Don't worry," he said, stepping toward her, eyes scanning the scene. "You're safe now."

Her tone was dry, emotionless. "Safe is a word you shouldn't use with me."

He gave a small, grim smile. "You're still the same."

She leaned against the car door, chest rising and falling, a sharp breath escaping her as another pain gripped her abdomen. "Tch - damn it..." she muttered.

Imraan's eyes widened. "You're in labor."

"Not yet," she bit out. "But close. Where's Mikhail?"

He hesitated. The name itself made something cold crawl down his spine.

"He... knows," Imraan said quietly. "He knows where you are. He's on his way."

Her eyes snapped up, a flicker of hatred flashing behind them.

"I don't want him here," she said sharply.

"Naira- "

"I said I don't want him!" she shouted, pushing his arm away. "He's not touching me or the baby! He's the reason this is happening!"

She pressed a hand to her stomach again, lowering her tone.

"They're regrouping!" one of Imraan's men shouted.
"Good," Naira whispered, sliding a new clip into her pistol. "Let them."

Imraan sighed under his breath. "You're impossible."

"I learned that from your friend," she shot back bitterly. "From Mikhail Volkov himself."

The name dropped like a curse between them.
Imraan flinched slightly, but his tone stayed even.

"He sent me to find you. The minute he heard you were - "
"Don't," she interrupted coldly, eyes narrowing. "Don't say he cares. He doesn't know what that word means."

Her voice cracked just slightly at the edges, though her face didn't.
She stepped forward, gun raised again as men appeared through the fog of gunfire.

"He's not getting this child," she muttered. "I'll die first."

"You really hate him that much?" he asked quietly.

Naira's laugh came low, bitter.

"Hate would mean I still feel something. What's between us now is colder than hate."

"Sir, more vehicles incoming! Two black SUVs---Volkov insignia!"

Naira froze.
Her expression changed -- not fear, but fury, pure and raw.

"No," she whispered. "No, no, n0.he's not coming here."
She looked at Imraan, her voice trembling for the first time. "You said you called your men, not his!"
"He tracked the signal, Naira. His tech is soo forwarded . he's on his way whether you like it or not."

Imraan turned sharply.

"Who the hell—?"

The roar of engines grew louder, and then,
dozens of armed men in tactical black poured out, guns raised with military precision. Their armbands bore a familiar insignia: a coiled silver serpent , the mark of Volkov Bratva.

Naira froze
"No..." she whispered

And then, from the lead SUV, a tall man in his late twenties stepped out — sharp jaw, icy blue eyes so much like Mikhail's but younger, calmer.

Emir Volkov.
Mikhail's brother. His shadow. His weapon.
He approached quickly, his voice calm but commanding.

"Lower your guns!" Emir shouted to his side.
"Imraan Shah," he called next, glancing at him, "stand down. This area's under our control now."

The room smelled of disinfectant and heartbreak.
The rhythmic hum of medical machines was the only sound until the heavy door swung open — Mikhail Volkov stepped in.

Tall, dangerous, yet trembling — the mafia king looked nothing like the ruthless legend the world feared.
His blue eyes searched every corner like a desperate man who'd finally found air after drowning.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his voice sharp, breathless.

Imraan and Emir stood near the door, both tense, their eyes lowering.
. "Tell your brother to stay away from her and her baby! Haven't you all done enough?"

Emir's face remained unreadable. "With respect, Mrs. Shah, my brother gave one order, bring her home. The rest isn't for me to decide."

Imraan stepped closer, catching her as she swayed. "Enough talking. Emir, take her. Carefully."

Emir gave a nod, motioning to his men. "Get the medic team ready. We're moving now."
As Emir carried Naira toward the waiting car, she twisted her head weakly toward Imraan.
"Tell him... if he ever touches me again, I'll make sure the child never calls him father."

They reached the hospital like a war zone slipping into calm , Imraan and Emir running the perimeter outside, voices clipped as they briefed the men, engines idling, every entrance watched.

Naira was led into a delivery room

Suddenly, Emir's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered immediately.

"Mikhail?" he said, voice low.

A deep, tense, unmistakable tone came through the speaker:
"Emir, is she safe? My naira and my child...I want them to be safe . Don't let anything happen."

" Yes bro, they are safe , she is inside, your child will come into this world now . Come faster!!!" emir said , imagining how happy his brother would be after holding his baby

Later
Inside the room

A doctor leaned forward, smiling in that careful, professional way. He glanced up at Naira.

"its a baby girl."

Bhavya's face broke into a smile. "A girl,"

She turned, gently lifting the newborn from the nurse's blanket and cradling her, small and wailing, pink and perfect.

She went towards naira to keep the baby in her arms

For a moment, only a moment,Naira's whole face changed. Happiness came like a sunrise. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes.

" My nyla....... My daughter nyla"
She laughed, a sound that surprised everyone, and then, faster than the blink of an eye, something dark flashed through her expression.

"Say she's dead," Naira said, flat and final.

Bhavya froze. The blanket rustled. "What?" she breathed. "Naira- what are you saying? You can't mean that."

Naira's grip tightened around the infant, jaw hard. "Make the doctor say it. Do exactly what I say."

Bhavya voice trembled between anger and disbelief. "No. I- You can't ask me that. She's alive, your daughter.how could you even—"

Naira's voice never rose; it froze everyone. "If she's registered as dead here, they won't look for her. They'll stop. Most importantly if her death is faked, it means to save many people's lives, the whole family .......or else they will kill the whole family and destroy many lives ......so it's better to fake her death to make them believe "

" What are you talking about, why are you behaving so weird from the day you returned from India. What happened there? Why are you hurting Mikhail and your children? " Bhavya questioned her

" Nothing happened there -"

" No , don't think that I'm a fool. I have been observing you from the last few months, since you returned from India.

And when you returned to Russia, you suddenly told me to help you to escape from Your own house and hide from mikhail and the children .. What are you planning huh? "  Bhavya questions made Naira to shift uncomfortablely , her tears and raising heart beat threatened her to spill the truth she had been hiding since years

But
.. then she remembered her deal..her promise to her family.... Her hate for Mikhail

" No i can't lose , naira you can't flop you plan which you have been planning for years... noo...or else everything will get destroyed" naira siad to herself

" If you send her away..then she will be alive orlese i will kill her by myself... I will never hesitate " naira said flalty

"What?!! Abey pagal gayinki!! Do you even know what are you saying?! You will kill your own daughter?!!" Bhavya shouted

" Don't you even dare to to forget your place, bhavya shekhawat!! Don't you dare to forget that you and your family are bounded to  follow my orders.. my family's orders ...... Its ok i will call Mr. Shekwant himself, he will do my work without fail-", naira said

" No!! No.. I wil take this baby away..i will... Please don't do anything " , bhavya shouted, tears streaming down her face

" Just don't create drama here... Mikhail can be here at anytime. Just live now and i will distract everyone and here take your new Phone, it's in my bag . I will send you one person's number, he will help you to reach the location " naira said layed back on the pillows

And Bhavya kisses the baby's fingers
"She will live, Naira. I'll take her. I'll put her where they'll not find her. I promise." Her voice cracked, but the promise held.

Naira let out a single breath, half sob, half laugh. "Nyla," she repeated, voice small. " her name is nyla .Remember that name."

Bhavya lifted Nyla and, without another word, moved toward the door.  Before she stepped into the corridor, she looked back over her shoulder.

"You owe me an explanation later," she said, softer now.

Naira watched her go, Nyla's tiny shape receding from sight

She whispered to the empty room, to no one and to everyone, "Nyla." Then she closed her eyes and braced herself for what was coming next.

Mikhail Volkov.

- The pakhan of the volkov bratva

-6.5 feet tall man

His dark coat swung with each stride, boots echoing sharply on the tiles. His eyes , a piercing icy blue, scanned every corner of the hallway.

Every nurse, every attendant stopped for a second to look at him — there was something magnetic about him, something too commanding, too beautiful, too dangerous to ignore.

his hand was pressed tightly against his stomach, blood seeping through his fingers, staining his shirt dark.

His face was pale. Jaw clenched. Breathing uneven.

Yet his eyes

Restless. Searching.

"Move," he snapped hoarsely at the staff.
"Out of my way."

Before anyone could stop him "Brother !"
Emir ran to him., catching Mikhail and checking the wound

"brother , what the hell happened?"
"You're bleeding, how bad is it? Who did this? When----"

"NAIRA." Mikhail cut him off sharply.

Emir stopped dead."What?" he asked, stunned.

"how is Naira?, how is my wife and my baby " Mikhail demanded, gripping his stomach harder as pain ripped through him.
"Is she alright? Did she get hurt ?"

Emir stared at him, shocked beyond words.

Naira's jaw tightened.

"She's dead."

The words dropped flat. Heavy.

Mikhail froze.his ear didn't work. The room fell silent.

Naira's gaze hardened , her voice calm but cold."She's gone, Mikhail."

He blinked ,  frozen.

"What?"

"The babys are dead."

He laughed ,  a dry, disbelieving sound.

"Don't... don't joke like that."
"Naira... that's not funny- "

But she stared at him without blinking.

"I said----she's dead, Mikhail."

His smile faded completely. His face drained of color.

"No... Naira, no... that can't be. You're lying. Please---" he moved closer again, desperate, voice breaking.
"Please tell me it's not true."

She finally looked at him.
Her eyes were empty -- stripped of love, stripped of softness.

"I told them to bury her."Every word fell like ice.
"There's no baby left to meet, Mikhail."

He turned to  Emir, desperate.

"Tell her she's lying. Tell her she's wrong, Emir!"

Emir tried to speak, his throat tight.

"Bhai... she- "

Before he could finish, Mikhail grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back hard.

"No! You're lying too! All of you! Where is she?" he roared.
"WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER!"

His voice cracked the air like thunder.
The nurses froze outside the door.

Naira's own tears finally fell, but her tone stayed firm — almost cruel.

"MIKHAIL ZOYA VOLKOV!" she shouted, breaking his rage for a moment.

His body stiffened at the sound of his full name from her lips.

"Nyla is gone," she said again, her voice trembling but resolute.
"Our daughter is no more."

And just like that ---the man who'd never bent before bullets, fell.
Not to his knees, not to the world  but inside.

His lips quivered, his eyes blanked out, and a choked sound escaped him in  half sob, half breath.
He stumbled backward, gripping the wall for balance.

"No no , my daughter can't be dead.."

The silence stretched painfully  then snapped.He suddenly pulled out his gun.
Everyone froze.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

He fired three shots into the ceiling, roaring at the heavens.

"WHY!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the corridor.
"WHY WOULD YOU TAKE My BABY GiIRL FROM ME!"

His hand shook violently, his eyes wild with tears.

"I didn't even see her once! Not once, GOD! What sin did my daughter do! She was just a baby..."

He fired again, his roar deeper, his soul breaking.
BANG!

Emir stepped forward, trying to calm him -  but Mikhail shoved him away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he bellowed.

He turned to Emir and Imraan, eyes wild, voice shaking with command and pain.
"Take her home," he ordered hoarsely. "Now. Get her away from here before I destroy everything left standing in this city"

Imraan hesitated.
"Mikhail—"

"I SAID TAKE HER!"

Another shot rang out as Emir and Imraan quickly moved to Naira's side, lifting her carefully. She didn't look back.

A scream tearing from his throat, raw and broken.

"My Nyla..." he whispered, collapsing to his knees as the gun fell from his hand " my daughter... My baby girl... My mother..."

"I didn't even get to hold you once..."

"I hate you!" he shouted upward. "I HATE YOU!"
"You took my daughter! You took my world!"
"My baby girl!"
"I lost my baby without even seeing her!"

Next day :-

Inside the vip room sat Naira, wrapped in a shawl, staring out of the window without blinking.

That morning, a single message had appeared on her phone.

Take your medicine.
Eat something.
You're weak.

The room was large, dimly lit, untouched by warmth. Fresh sheets. A glass of water on the side table. Medicines arranged neatly , exactly the way Mikhail always insisted.

Yes didn't come out of the nursery room but he had arranged everything for naira. Giving instructions to the whole hospital staff

The nurse finished adjusting the IV and stepped back.

"You should rest, ma'am."

Naira didn't answer.

She grabs the glass bottle and smashed it

" What does your boss thinking huh?? He didn't even came her to check on me and sending you all here to show off that he cares!! " Naira shouted

" Mam sir locked himself in that baby's nursery room. He didn't even touch water since he got to know about baby's death. He is injured and he needs rest but sir isn't even interested to come out of that room" nurse said ,

Mikhail locked him in the nursery room which he made for his daughter. He sat beside the crib and clutching the baby's clothes to his chest

From last 13 hour's he barely got up from that position

He Just sat there and tears silently flowing down from his eyes. He barely talked with anyone

He opened his mouth only for one time and that too to give instructions to Emir to take care of naira

" What injury? " Naira asked in confusion

" Yes mam sir got shot but when he reached to hospital..the first thing he did is to ask about you ..he didn't even ask about baby..he refused to get treatment before meeting you or the baby " nurse said

And it didn't melt naira . She Just laughed bitterly

" He was Just concerned about the baby. Not for me!! If he was concerned about me, he  would have atleast come to my room and ask about my condition " naira whispered

But she didn't know that mikhail is outside of her room , arrived with her medicines

Yes

Outside, unseen, Mikhail stood in the corridor's shadow, having arrived quietly, refusing to enter. He heard nothing  but he didn't need to.

He already knew.

He turned away, jaw tight, giving one last order to the guard beside him.

He handed over the medicine to guard

"Make sure she has these and she sleeps," he said quietly. "And don't let her see me."

The guard nodded.

Mikhail walked away into the night carrying his grief, his guilt, and a love that had nowhere to go.
..................................
Night :- Inside the Moving Car

The city lights blurred past the tinted windows.

Naira sat rigid in the back seat, the phone clenched in her hand. After a moment's hesitation, she texted

"Bhavya," she texted ". Is the baby-"

Her fingers stopped for the briefest second. She inhaled sharply.

"Is everything... done?"

waiting for her reply

Before Bhavya could reply back , the driver's phone rang. He answered instinctively, eyes widening.

"What?" His voice sharpened, urgent.
"What , fire? What do you mean attack?"

Naira's head snapped toward him.
. "What happened?" she demanded.

The guard's knuckles turned white on the steering wheel.

"Madam..." His voice shook. "Volkov house is on fire. Enemy attack. The west wing is completely burning."

Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.

"And Mikhail?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

The guard swallowed hard. "Mikhail sir is still inside. He locked himself in the nursery room. He's not coming out."

The words hit her like a physical blow.
"What?" she shouted. "Why would he—"

"TURN THE CAR AROUND! NOW!" she screamed.
"Take me to mikhail! Right now!"

"Ma'am, I have orders- "

" GO TO HELL WITH ORDERS!" she shouted, slamming her palm against the seat.
Where is Tahir? Where is Isra?"

The driver's voice shook.
"Mikhail sir sent Tahir and Isra out earlier... to a safe location."

Her chest tightened.

"That stupid man always risks himself ..." she hissed, tears burning her eyes

Outside the Volkov House:-

The car screeched to a halt.

Flames clawed into the night sky.
The Volkov house was burning windows shattered, smoke pouring out like a living thing. Sirens wailed in the distance. Guards shouted orders, trying to control the chaos.

Naira stepped out — and froze.

"No..." she whispered.

Then she ran.

She grabbed the nearest guard by the collar.
"Where is he? Where is Mikhail? Where are my children?"

The guard shouted over the noise, panic clear.
"The children are safe, ma'am! They're out!"

Her breath came fast. "And Mikhail?"

The guard hesitated.

"Mikhail sir..." he said carefully, "he's inside."

Her blood ran cold.

"He's locked himself in the nursery," the guard continued. "We're trying, but he's not opening the door."

For a second, the world tilted.

Then Naira screamed " Mikhail!!" She turned and ran.

"You idiots!" she shouted, shoving past them.
"MOVE!"

She didn't notice the tears streaming down her face. She didn't notice her hands shaking.

She only knew one thing.
He was inside.

She ran inside, coughing, choking on smoke , ignoring the pain tearing through her body.

"Mikhail!" she screamed, her voice raw.
"Mikhail!"

Guards tried to block her path again.

She turned on them like fire itself.

"If he dies in there," she shouted, voice cracking, "I will burn this world with him."

Inside the Burning House

The heat was unbearable.

Smoke curled around her as she stumbled through the hallway, calling his name over and over.

"Mikhail!"
"MIKHAIL!"

Her voice echoed, desperate, terrified.

She reached the corridor near the nursery — flames licking the walls, debris scattered across the floor.

She banged on the closed door with all her strength.

"MIKHAIL!" she cried, her voice breaking completely now. "Open the door! You idiot, open it!"

Her throat burned, tears mixing with soot.

"Mr. Naira!" she shouted desperately the name tearing itself from her chest.
" Please Open the door Mikhail" she cried, calling him softly which she haven't did since their marriage

"MIKHAIL ZOYA VOLKOV, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR! "

Her hands trembled as she pounded
again and again.

'mikhail !! It's me your naira! It's my command for you , come out now!!!" She screamed

" Ahhhh" she stumbles in pain , clutching her abdomen and coughing

Her chest burned more than the smoke in the air.
"No... no... no..." she whispered, breath coming in broken gasps.

The man she hated most in this world was inside.

Suddenly, she screamed again — louder, desperate, reckless.

"THE BABY IS ALIVE!"

The words flew out of her mouth without thought.

"She's crying!" Naira sobbed.
"Do you hear her, Mikhail?! She's CRYING!"

"She's crying for you! You daughter is crying for you !" she shouted, tears spilling freely now.
"DON'T YOU DARE DIE IN THERE!"

Her phone slipped from her trembling fingers once—
she caught it again.

With a broken breath, she unlocked the screen.

Her thumb hovered for a second.
Then she pressed play.
A video opened.

A tiny bundle on a hospital bed.
A newborn's face.
And then—

A soft, fragile cry filled the air.

MIKHAIL!" she screamed, crying openly.
"COME OUT! PLEASE—LOOK! SHE'S ALIVE!"

The cry echoed again from the phone.
For a second, nothing happened.

Then
The burning doorway moved.Smoke poured out like a storm.

And then
Mikhail stumbled out of the flames..

His clothes were torn and burnt.
Blood streaked down his temple.
Burn marks covered his hands and neck.

Yet---
He stood tall.
Powerful.

Like fire itself had failed to bend him.

The moment his gaze locked onto Naira. He stopped breathing. He saw somthing which he thought it couldn't happen in his life:- his wife crying for him

Now
She was crying.
For him. His wife who hates him to death' is crying for him

The moment his eyes fell on the phone
On the sound
His breath collapsed.

He took a step forward.
Then another.

"Nyla..." he whispered.

His knees almost gave out, but he forced himself to stand, walking toward Naira as if the world no longer existed.

She held the phone out with shaking hands.

Mikhail grabbed it.
The sound of the baby crying filled the air again.

His hands started trembling violently.

"My daughter....." he broke down, voice shattering.
"My daughter ....my nyla..."

He clutched the phone to his chest like it was her.

"My heart..." he sobbed openly now, tears pouring down

He kissed the screen, again and again.

"My daughter... my Nyla..."
"Daddy is here... daddy is here..."

For the first time, the Volkov lion cried without restraint.

Raw. Helpless. A father.
Slowly...very slowly, he lowered the phone.

His crying stopped.
Silence fell.

Mikhail lifted his head and turned toward Naira.
His eyes were still wet.

But his voice:- Low. Bitter. Dangerous.

"You lied," he whispered.
"You lied about our daughter."

Naira's chest convulsed.

"Yes!" she cried out, collapsing inward.
"Yes, I lied!"

Her shoulders shook violently.

"I lied!" she screamed.
"I had to!"

Mikhail placed the phone carefully on the hood of the car.

Then, He straightened, Slowly and Deliberately.
The pain vanished from his posture.

The firelight reflected in his blue eyes as he stood tall again the man the world feared.

"I know," he said quietly.

Naira froze.Her sobbing stopped.

"What...?" she whispered.

"I knew," Mikhail repeated, stepping closer.
"The moment you said she was dead... I knew you were lying."

Naira's breath hitched."What... what do you mean?" she whispered.

Mikhail let out a broken, humorless laugh. His eyes stayed on the dark screen, thumb brushing over it like it was sacred.

"The night Imraan called me," he said quietly, every word weighted,
"he forgot to end the call."

Naira's face drained.

Mikhail lifted his gaze to her—sharp, intelligent, terrifyingly aware.

"I heard it, our daughter's cry ..." he continued, voice low.
"A cry. Faint... but real."His eyes burned.

" I Heard My daughter's voice."

Naira staggered a step back, shock written all over her face.

"You... heard her?" she breathed.

Mikhail nodded once.

His hand curled into a fist over his heart.

"A father doesn't confuse with that, my heart' knows that my daughter is alive. ," he said firmly.
"I've killed men for lying to me... but this- "

He looked straight at her now.
He took a slow step toward her.

"You hid her," he added, not accusing her
"You did it to protect her. Or to hurt me." he asked her simply

Naira's eyes filled again.

"I did both," she whispered.

He looked up at the burning house then back at her.

"I walked into that nursery because I thought I had already lost her," he admitted.
"But even then... something in me kept saying—"

He touched his chest.

"She's alive."

His voice dropped to a whisper, raw and aching.

"My Nyla is alive."

The calm shattered.

In a blink, Mikhail's restraint snapped.

He turned sharply, grabbed the nearby metal table—and smashed it against the ground.

The sound rang like a gunshot.

"HOW DARE YOU?" he roared.

Naira flinched.

"How dare you keep my daughter away from me?" he shouted, storming toward her.
"How dare you lie to me that she is dead?!"

His chest heaved. His eyes burned blue with fury and pain.

"You hate me, don't you?" he yelled bitterly.
"You want to hurt me, fine!"
He struck his own chest with his fist.

"But why are you punishing my daughter?!"

His voice cracked violently.

"she was just an innocent pure baby girl, who just entered into this world!!!!!!" he shouted.
"She's just a baby!"

Tears spilled freely now—uncontrolled, furious.

"She doesn't know anything!"
"She hasn't done anything!"

He pointed toward her, shaking.

"What wrong did she do to you, huh?!"
"WHAT DID MY DAUGHTER DO TO YOU?!"

Naira's eyes filled instantly.

"You took your hatred for me," he continued, voice breaking apart,
"and you poured it on an innocent child!"

He laughed once, which was hollow, broken.

"You wanted to punish me," he said bitterly.
"So you chose the cruelest way possible."

His voice dropped, trembling with agony.

"You stole my right to hold her," he whispered.
"To see her."
"To hold her "
His knees almost gave out, but he forced himself upright.

"I can survive your hate," Mikhail said, tears streaking down his face.
"But don't you ever—"

He looked straight into her eyes.

"Don't you ever hurt my daughter to hurt me."

The room fell silent.
Mikhail's rage didn't cool.

It rose.

He turned back to Naira, eyes blazing.

"What did you think, huh?" he shouted.
"That I wouldn't know?"

He laughed sharply, bitter and furious.

"That you could just send my daughter away by lying that she's dead—and I'd believe it?!" he roarded

"I am her father!" he thundered.
"You can fool the world, Naira—but not me!"

Before anyone could react, he shouted " imraan!!"

"IMRAAN," Mikhail barked, voice lethal.
"Call your wife. NOW."

Imraan stiffened.

"Mikhail—" he began.

"CALL HER," Mikhail snapped, turning toward him slowly, dangerously.
"Ask her where she took my daughter."

Imraan swallowed hard and nodded, hands trembling as he dialed.

One ring.
Two.

Nothing.
He tried again.
The call failed.

"It's... it's not working," he said tensely.
"Her number is not working"

Mikhail's jaw clenched.

Imraan stepped forward quickly, panic in his voice.

"I'll find Bhavya," he pleaded.
"I swear I'll bring the baby back—just....please—"

He stopped, voice breaking."Please don't hurt her."

Mikhail turned slowly.

"If my daughter is not standing in front of me----alive by Tommorow I will forget,that you were my best friend."

His blue eyes locked onto Imraan's.

Imraan's breath hitched.

"And I will forget that Bhavya is your wife. You will not even be alive to do her final rites.""

The threat hung heavy.
Deadly.
Real.
Naira snapped.

"ENOUGH!" she screamed, stepping between them.

"Bhavya has nothing to do with this!" she shouted, tears streaming.
"Leave her out of it!"

Mikhail turned to her sharply.

"You made this choice," he said harshly.
"You involved everyone the moment you touched my daughter."

"I'll find her, Naira. Even if I have to burn the world you hide in , .. I'll find my daughter."

His voice dropped to a whisper, dangerous and trembling.
"And God help whoever lied to me tonight."

Mikhail didn't wait.

He turned away from everyone, pulled out his phone, and dialed.

"Victor," he said coldly.
"Gather all the men."

Everyone froze.

" Lock down the Every city in Russia. Every border, every airport" Mikhail continued, voice like steel.
"My daughter must be in front of me by tomorrow."

Imraan's breath caught.
Emir stiffened.

"If anyone hides her, just kill them, " Mikhail added, eyes dark,
"If you want to just burn down the whole city.. do anything , but I want my daughter in front of me "

Before he could say more—

Naira rushed forward, grabbed the phone, and smashed it against the floor.

she screamed.
"No—stop this!"

The phone shattered.

Mikhail turned slowly.His eyes met hers.
"Then tell me Where is my daughter is." he said dangerously calm,

He took a step closer.
"Tell me," he repeated, voice rising,
"and I will stop the war."

Another step.

"Hundreds of people will live,"Men. Families. Children."he said sharply.

He leaned in."All you have to do," he whispered,
"is say the place name."

Naira shook her head violently.

"No... no..." she cried.
"I won't!"

Something snapped.

Mikhail roared and smashed a heavy wooden cabinet with his fist.

The furniture cracked violently.
Naira flinched, stumbling back, breath shaking.

His chest heaved.
His rage was uncontrollable now.

He pulled out his gun.Every man froze.

Imraan whispered, "Mikhail—"
Naira lifted her head.

Her voice, shaking, but firm.
"I know you won't shoot me," she said. She said with confidence

Everyone turned to her.

"You love me, Mikhail," she continued, tears in her eyes but confidence intact.

"You can commit the bloodiest sins... but you won't hurt me."Her voice softened.
"You love me madly."

For a second, The world stopped.

Mikhail stared at her.

Then-----He laughed.

A dark, broken, almost devilish laugh.

"You're right," he said quietly.
"I would never even think of hurting you."

Naira exhaled.Relief flickered.
Then—

He raised the gun upward, pressing it hard against his Temple , finger tightening on the trigger.

"Tell me where my daughter is," he shouted, voice raw,
"or I pull this trigger !"

Naira's breath hitched.
"Mikhail—stop!" she cried, stepping forward.

He laughed.A hollow, unhinged laugh.
"Why are you crying, Naira?" he mocked bitterly.
"You wanted me destroyed, didn't you?"

You wanted me to die," he continued, laughing darkly.
"And look—here I am, fulfilling your wish."

"Mikhail!" Naira screamed.
"STOP IT, YOU IDIOT!"

Her hands shook violently.
He raised the gun again.

"One word," he said calmly.
"One place."

Naira broke.Tears streamed freely now.
"No," she sobbed. "No, don't do this."

"Only I have the right to kill you," she screamed desperately.
"Even you don't have the right to destroy yourself!"

She rushed toward him, fear overtaking hatred.
"Please," she begged.
"Stop it, Mikhail. Please."

Mikhail still stood with the gun in his hand, chest heaving."Naira," he warned darkly, "this ends now."

Suddenly—

Naira bent down and grabbed a sharp shard of glass.She pressed it dangerously close to her throat, just enough to make every man freeze.

Mikhail's face changed instantly.

Pure panic.

"NAIRA!" he shouted.
"DROP IT!"

For the first time tonight—
his voice trembled.

She laughed bitterly.
"Naira—" his voice changed instantly.
Raw. Alarmed.

"DROP IT," he shouted, fear cutting through his rage.

Naira lifted the shard—not to her skin, but between them, shaking.

"I will," she said hoarsely,
"only when you stop."

Mikhail stepped forward."Drop it!" he shouted again. It was his fear of losing her
"Naira, please—drop it!" He begged

The glass scraped her skin lightly—not enough to injure, but enough to terrify him.

Mikhail's breath collapsed.

"DON'T!" he roared.
He threw the gun away.It clattered across the floor.
He rushed toward her

"Stay back," Naira warned, lifting the shard again.

Mikhail stopped instantly.

"Choose , nyla or me ," Naira said, voice shaking but firm.The word hit him like a bullet.
Her eyes locked on his.

"Me," she said, pressing the shard closer,
"or your daughter."

"You will get only one," she continued, tears falling now.
"If you choose her—you lose me forever."

His lips parted.

"And if you choose me," she whispered cruelly,"you stop searching for her."

Mikhail shook his head violently.

"No," he breathed."That's impossible.
You are my breath," he said hoarsely.
"And she... she is my heart."

His voice shattered.

"I can't live without either.I will die without both." he cried

" No Mikhail!! You should choose" naira shouted

"Listen to me," he pleaded.
"I love you more than my life."

"I married you knowing you could destroy me," he whispered.
"I stayed loving you even when you hated me."

He moved closer, eyes shining with helpless devotion.

"But a father doesn't stop being a father," he said softly.
"And a man doesn't stop loving the woman who owns his soul."

Naira screamed"YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE!" she cut pressed the shard too tight on her neck

" No no naira stopp" he shouted

Mikhail stood there:-
A king.
A husband.
A father.

Completely destroyed.And for the first time in his life
:- power meant nothing.