Chapter 3A Brother's Vengeance

The house was quiet. It was already past ten at night, but Lily still refused to come out.

We guarded in front of Lily's bedroom door, no one willing to leave.

"Mom and Dad, you go to sleep first. I'll watch here," I said.

"How can I rest assured with Lily like this?" Dad said. Hearing this, Mom touched his back and leaned on his shoulder. Her tears had dried up long ago, eyes red and swollen.

"Maybe those guys will come again tomorrow, you need to rest well."

"Yeah," Mom said, "Listen to Julian, with him here, Lily will be fine."

Dad sighed heavily and left slowly.

In early years, he worked on construction sites and developed a disability when carrying sandbags. His spine hurt whenever it was cloudy and rainy. Now old, medicine was useless, could only endure with patches.

Looking at Dad's hunched back, my nose soured, feeling indescribably uncomfortable inside.

After parents turned off the lights, I knocked on the door with a rhythm of two long, two short.

This was our secret code.

Before, I often took her out for late-night snacks like this, secretly stuffing snacks for her, and taking her out to play crazily after parents fell asleep.

But this time, I didn't see Lily's cheerful look as I wished.

"Lily," I said softly, "Brother is coming in?"

I have the key to her room.

Still no movement inside.

I felt bad intuitively, found the key, and opened the door.

Such a heavy smell of blood!

Blood stained a large patch of the bed sheet red. Lily lay on her back, half of her body soaked in bloody water, several shocking wounds on her wrist.

"Lily!"

I picked her up and ran out crazily.

"Mom and Dad, Lily slit her wrists!"