The afternoon sunlight streamed through the master bedroom windows, casting golden rays across the hardwood floor. Kimi stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the small figure before her.
Four-year-old Brian kept his chin tucked against his chest, his dark hair falling across his forehead. Despite his defiant posture, the little boy's resemblance to his father was unmistakable. The same sharp jawline, the same piercing eyes, even the same stubborn set to his shoulders.
"Brian, look at me when I'm talking to you," Kimi said, her voice firm but gentle. "What possessed you to say those things to Mrs. Henderson?"
The boy lifted his head slightly, his lower lip jutting out in a pout that would have been adorable under different circumstances. "She was being mean to me, Mommy. She yelled at me in front of everyone."
