But it wasn't a new shock.
It was routine.
That's what froze Emiliano.
Daniela closed her book immediately. Martina lowered her gaze.
Patricia snatched the rabbit and threw it onto the couch.
"I'm tired of telling you, brats. When Emiliano isn't here, you do what I say."
Martina started trembling.
Daniela took her sister's hand.
Then Rosa came in from the hallway.
She didn't yell.
She didn't scold.
She just stood between Patricia and the girls.
"Miss Patricia," she said gently, "they didn't do anything wrong."
Patricia turned around as if she'd been slapped.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" Rosa stood still.
"No, ma'am."
"Then get a grip. You clean floors. You don't raise my future daughters."
In the monitoring room, Emiliano stopped breathing.
Because his daughters weren't looking at Patricia like scolded children.
They were looking at her like children who already knew what was coming.
