Sofía’s cheek stung from the slap, her eyes welling up with tears. She clutched her brothers tighter, feeling the weight of despair settling in her young heart. As Sandra and Ricardo turned away, leaving her on the cold pavement, Sofía whispered to her brothers, “I won’t let you go hungry. I promise.”
The luxury car that had stopped nearby gleamed under the streetlights. A man, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, stepped out, his presence commanding attention. He was Jonathan Bennett, a well-known millionaire in Pasadena, renowned for his business acumen and philanthropic efforts. He had been driving by when the distressing scene caught his eye.
“What’s going on here?” Jonathan’s voice was firm, yet there was a gentleness in his eyes as he approached the trembling trio.
