Chapter 112

• Alyssa
• After bathing Zuri, Niko helps me put her down for the night, gently planting a kiss on her head as he tucks her into her crib. The sight makes my heart clench. These moments—quiet, peaceful, filled with love—feel stolen, fleeting, like sand slipping through my fingers.
• Downstairs, Niko and I curl up on the couch, his arm draped around me as I nestle against his chest. His fingers trace lazy patterns along my back, and Encanto plays on the screen as we feed each other popcorn.