Morales stood his ground. “We need to talk. There are concerns about the well-being of the children in this house.”

The man’s eyes flickered with recognition, then narrowed, anger seeping into his gaze. “That little brat brought you here, didn’t she?” he spat, his voice venomous.

Morales remained calm, his resolve unshaken. “We need to discuss the situation. But first, you need to come downstairs.”

Reluctantly, the man swung his legs over the side of the bed, grumbling under his breath. Morales kept a vigilant eye on him as they descended the stairs.