“Hush, Martina,” Patricia said, her tone gentle but carrying a sharp undercurrent of warning. “Let the adults speak now.”

I tightened my grip on my sister.

“Do not speak to her like that,” I said, looking directly at my father. “Dad, she is lying.”

My father stood perfectly still in the center of the room.

The overhead spotlights caught the gray hair at his temples, making him look older than his fifty years.

He looked at me, his dark eyes intense and searching.

“Daniela,” he said quietly. “Tell me what happened.”

Patricia opened her mouth to interrupt, but my father raised a single finger, silencing her without looking at her.

The gesture was small, but it made Patricia’s jaw tighten.

“Rosa was packing her things because Patricia threatened her,” I said, keeping my voice as steady as possible.

“She told Rosa that if she didn’t leave tonight, she would make sure she ended up in prison,” I continued.

“That is an absolute lie!” Patricia gasped, her voice rising slightly. “Emiliano, you cannot seriously believe this.”

“I am listening to my daughter, Patricia,” my father said, his voice flat.