The man’s eyes softened as they landed on Sofía and her brothers. He approached her with a concerned expression, crouching down to meet her gaze. “What happened here?” he asked gently, a stark contrast to the harsh words she had become accustomed to hearing.

Sofía’s eyes welled with tears as she tried to speak, the words tangled in her throat. “They were hungry… and sick. I just… I just wanted to give them some milk,” she managed to say between sobs.

The man nodded, understanding more than just the words she spoke. He saw the fear in her eyes, the weight of responsibility on her tiny shoulders. He turned to Ricardo and Sandra, who were watching with a mix of disdain and indifference.