After dinner, Alexander stood up to clean up and gestured to Thomas. "Tommy, take your mom to sit and relax over there."

"Okay."

Thomas got up to hold his mom's hand, calling out in his childish voice, "Mom, let's go rest over there."

"I'll help clean up..." Sophia started to get up to clear the table, but Alexander quickly stopped her, his eyes determined.

"Please, go rest. I can handle this."

Sophia felt too embarrassed to look at him and had no choice but to ...