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.

“How could you?” the man said, his voice stern and unwavering. “These children deserve care, not cruelty.”

Sandra opened her mouth to retort, but the man raised a hand to stop her. “I don’t want to hear it. This is beyond unacceptable.”

He then turned back to Sofía, his expression softening once more. “You don’t have to live like this. You and your brothers deserve a chance, a real chance.”