"Don't misunderstand. Aunt Winnie and I were just playing a game!"
"Dad, you're not sick?
"If you're not sick, why did you make mom bring the medication? Mom, she..."
Lily didn't want to delve into adult matters; she just wanted to tell Brian about my death.
But Brian interrupted her harshly, pushing her out the door in disgust.
"Your mom sent you, didn't she? Tell her she can die wherever she wants, but stay out of my business.
"Do you know how embarrassing it was for me when your mom showed up looking like that at the office?"
Hearing his words, I felt a deep sense of irony.
I had overstepped my bounds, making him lose face.
I had risked a fever and braved a torrential downpour, to bring him his medication.
He held Winnie, yet blamed me for embarrassing him.
If I could, I'd really like to slap him hard.
Unexpectedly, Lily and I were on the same wavelength.
She stood on tiptoe and delivered a fierce slap to Brian's face.
"Dad, you're a jerk. Mom..."
I was shocked! Brian was even more incredulous.
A daughter slapping her father was considered extremely disrespectful and unfilial.
"Lily, are you crazy? Do you know what you're doing?
"It must be your mom who put you up to this!"
Brian shoved Lily to the ground.
"Go back and tell your mom that I'll divorce her as soon as I get home."
I hadn't done anything, yet in Brian's eyes, I was always the unreasonable one.
Winnie, not expecting things to escalate, hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
"Lily, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked your mom to bring the medication.
"We were just playing a game. I didn't expect your mom to actually come.
"But, this is all grown-up stuff. It's wrong of your mom to drag you into this."
As she spoke, she pretended to gently stroke Lily's head.
Her pretentious words made me sick.
This wasn't a game; it was clearly a move to declare her dominance, eager to take my place.
Lily only knew that the person responsible for her mother's death was a woman named Winnie.
So, she bit Winnie hard on the hand.
"That hurts, Brian..."
Brian, already furious, saw Lily biting and became even more enraged.
A loud slap sent Lily sprawling on the ground.
Her face bore five bright red finger marks.
"Are you crazy? Just as insane as your mom."
I felt heartbroken for Lily!
I wanted to avenge Lily, but my hand passed right through Brian's face.
What did Lily do wrong?