Chapter 28

Sophia's hand trembled slightly as she reached for her phone, her heart racing with anxiety after hanging up on Natalie.

She placed the ice block on the table as she dialed Maria's number. The phone rang several times, but there was no answer.

Sophia's nerves were frayed, and she felt a knot forming in her stomach. She dropped the phone on the table and paced back and forth, her mind racing with worry.

The phone rang several times, but there was no response. Sophia's anxiety grew with each passing second.

She dropped the phone on the table, frustration and fear washing over her in waves. Just then, it rang again. Her stepmother called back, and Sophia picked it up, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Hey Mom," she said, her heart still racing. "Why does Natalie want to come over?"

"Is anything wrong with that?" her stepmother replied, sounding puzzled.

Sophia bit her lip, feeling guilty for even asking. "Mom, she just can't," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her stepmother's