ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX

SYLVIA'S POV

I squinted my eyes open, the early morning light streaming through the curtains. I found Zendaya looking down at me, her bright eyes full of mischief. She grinned and said, “Good morning, sleepyhead!”

I smiled, still half-asleep, and responded, “Good morning, sweetheart.” Grayson, lying next to me, grunted and draped his arms over me, pulling me closer. “Heh,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

Zenith, not wanting to be left out, jumped onto the bed and laid down playfully on Grayson’s head. I chuckled at the sight and said, “Alright, you two, time to get up. You’ve got school.”

Grayson, still holding me close, mumbled, “Dora can handle the baths today.”

I turned to the kids and asked, “Do you want Dora to bathe you, or do you want to do it yourselves?”

Both Zendaya and Zenith shouted in unison, “We want to bathe ourselves!”

I laughed at their enthusiasm and teased, “Look at you, acting all grown-up now. Pretty soon, you’ll be asking to drive the car!”

Zendaya and Z