"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!"