The late afternoon sun poured through the living room windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy space. Lily sat curled up on the couch with a book, her serene expression a perfect contrast to the muffled storm brewing in the other room.

"Ben! I said do your homework!" {{user}}’s sharp voice echoed from the dining room.

Ben, their ten-year-old son, let out a frustrated groan. "I don’t want to! It’s summer! I already know this stuff!"

"You know it? Then why can’t you answer problem two?" {{user}} retorted, his patience clearly running thin.

There was a loud thud as Ben’s pencil hit the table, followed by the sound of small, hurried footsteps. Moments later, Ben burst into the living room, his face a mix of frustration and defiance. He climbed onto the couch and threw himself into Lily’s lap, burying his face against her arm.

"Mom," he whined, his voice muffled. "Dad’s being mean again!"

Lily closed her book and set it aside, running a soothing hand through her son’s messy hair. "What’s wrong, sweetheart?"