Chapter 102

Alyssa POV

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.

“I know it sounds fucked up,” Niko says, chuckling, “but I kinda wish someone would beat this old lady’s ass.”

I snort. “You’re not wrong, I hate her so much. Yeah, she went through something extremely traumatic, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior. She literally had her son living in the wall for years, and really didn’t even apologize to him. And how she treated Mirabel was completely fucked. I bet her ‘change of heart’ only lasts for like a week.”

Niko hums i