As the retired sergeant Miguel Mendoza stood outside the hospital room, his heart felt heavy with a mixture of betrayal and resolve. His own son, whom he had raised with the values of respect and kindness, had become a man he could hardly recognize. Miguel had heard troubling stories from neighbors and friends about Ricardo’s temper, but witnessing it firsthand was a different kind of devastation.
For a moment, Miguel was torn. He remembered Ricardo as a young boy, eager and bright, always looking to make his father proud. How had they ended up here? But the image of Camila’s swollen cheek and the fear in her eyes were etched deeply into his mind. He knew he could not remain a silent observer.
