CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT – TRAGEDY STRIKES

Walking down the street, she winced at the throbbing pain in her ankle. Today had been a disaster, a cruel reminder of the high school bullies that seemed to linger in adulthood. Yet, amidst the disappointment, there was a glimmer of hope. Miguelito's belief in her, his willingness to see through Jana's lies, rekindled her spirit. There were good people out there, people who valued kindness and fairness. And she, Karina, wouldn't give up on finding her place amongst them. Maybe the Purrfect Cup wasn't the right fit, but there were other cafes, other opportunities waiting to be explored. As she reached the corner, she bumped into someone walking the other way. Looking up, she met Marie's surprised gaze. "Karina? What are you doing here? And what happened to your ankle?" Marie exclaimed, concern etching lines on her forehead. Taking a deep breath, Karina recounted the day's events, the initial excitement, the horrifying encounter with Jana, and Miguelito's reluctant dismissal. Reli