Amelia froze when she heard Sergio's voice. Panic seized her as she realized he had witnessed her outburst against Manuela. Her eyes met Sergio's, which looked at her with a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

"Sergio, I..." Amelia began, but the words caught in her throat. How could she explain years of pain and trauma in just a few seconds?

Manuela, for her part, seized the opportunity to play the victim in front of Sergio. She rose slowly, feigning pain and shock.

"I don't know what's w