Alejandro felt the air escape his lungs. His eyes narrowed, studying the woman before him with a mixture of incredulity and rising anger.

"Your daughter?" he repeated, his voice laced with contempt. "You dare call her your daughter after abandoning her?"

Amelia took a step forward, her posture defiant despite the trembling in her hands.

"I did not abandon her," she declared, her voice cracking.

Alejandro let out a bitter laugh, his face a mask of disdain.

"Really? Then tell me how she came to b