87: Viktor Romanov

Allison's POV.

As I sat on the couch with the baby girl in my arms, I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly this innocent child had captured my heart. She was still shy and clung to me, her little hands gripping my shirt as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded. I gently rubbed her back as she lay her head on my shoulder. There was a sense of peace in this moment, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Setting her down on the floor with a few toys I’d found, I tried to distract her with some colorful blocks. Her curiosity was instant—those wide, innocent eyes sparkled as she started stacking them in a clumsy but determined manner. For a moment, I thought she’d be content just playing. But before I could even blink, she was on her feet, wobbling toward the edge of the table.

“Hey, careful there!” I called out, a bit more sharply than intended. But toddlers don’t exactly listen to warnings.

Just as she lost her balance and stumbled toward the sharp edge, instinct kicked in.