"How dare you speak to me that way!" Nichole snapped, her voice harsh. "I'm an adult, and you're just a child. You don't know anything about what's going on!"

Hannah's eyes filled with tears, and she turned and ran back to her brother. "It's not true," she sobbed. "My mom didn't do anything wrong."

Carmela put her arm around Hannah, pulling her close. "It's all right, sweetie," she said, her voice soothing.

Pedro walked into the room, his eyes taking in the scene before him. He looked from ...