Lily called my dad, but since he was on a business trip out of town and couldn’t get back immediately, the two of them could only call the police to force open the door.
By the time they finally got out of the house, they were both drenched in sweat and nearly collapsed from the heat.
Because they had made such a commotion, all the residents in the community came to watch. Seeing it was our house, everyone started speaking up for me.
“Serves them right! They beat Ava like that yesterday, and today they’re locked in the house. They deserve it!”
“They really have no conscience, abusing the child when no one’s home.”
3:25 PM
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Seeing that everyone was criticizing them, Zoe screamed, “It was Ava who locked us in the house! She wanted to roast us to death! And you’re all taking her side! Do you have any sympathy at all?”
Mrs. Brown sneered, “Locking you in the house is nothing police and thrown in jail!”
what you did. You beat her up like that, you should be reported to the
“That’s right, so what if it’s a bit hot? Back in the day, we used to work in the fields under the scorching sun! You’re living in her house and you drove her out. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” another neighbor chimed in.
Other neighbors also started criticizing them.
Knowing they were in the wrong, Lily could only slink away with Zoe.
For the next few days, they didn’t dare to go out. Whenever they encountered anyone, they would be scolded.
Lily had it slightly better as she had to go to work during the day, and in the evenings, she would wait until everyone in the community had gone home before returning.
Zoe, on the other hand, became a shut–in for several days. Whenever she went out, people would say that she was so vicious at such a young age, and that she definitely wouldn’t turn out to be a good person when she grew up.
When my dad returned from his business trip, the neighbors were also pointing fingers at him, leaving him bewildered.
It was Mrs. Johnson who pulled him aside and said, “Jack, what kind of viper have you brought home? Your own daughter has been driven out
of the house.”
My dad asked in confusion, “What do you mean? Ava was driven out? Didn’t she run away from home?”
Lily had already called my dad to complain, saying that I had beaten Zoe over a necklace, run away from home, and taken all the remote controls, locking them in the house to get revenge.
“You’re really clueless. You should have seen how pitiful Ava looked when she came downstairs with her suitcase a few days ago. Her clothes were torn, her hair was a mess, and her neck was covered in bloody scratches,” Mrs. Johnson said, her face wrinkled with concern. Other neighbors also chimed in about what they had seen that morning.
The security guard found the surveillance footage from that day on his phone and showed it to my dad.
In the video, I was dragging my suitcase, crying and calling out that I missed my dad. This scene struck my dad’s heart hard.
Although he was easily swayed and indecisive, he truly loved and cared for me.
Lily had always given my dad the impression of being gentle and considerate. While she wasn’t particularly good to me, they seemed to coexist peacefully. That’s why he felt comfortable going on business trips. He never expected such a thing to happen in just a few days.
Back at home, Lily put on an act of being deeply wronged, telling my dad, “The kids are grown up now, and I can’t control them. But she actually raised her hand against me, showing no respect for her elders.”
Zoe quickly chimed in, “I just borrowed my sister’s clothes to wear, and she hit me. It seems like she really doesn’t like me.”
My dad sat across from them with a cold expression and asked Zoe, “Did you ask Ava before taking her clothes? Did she agree?”
“I…” Zoe was caught off guard by this sudden question from Jack, who had always been quite fond of her, and was at a loss for words.
Then my dad turned to Lily, “When the children have a conflict, you, as an adult, should mediate, not get physical with them. Ava is my daughter, and if she needs to be disciplined, I’ll do it myself. It’s not your place. Have you even properly educated your own daughter?”
Being scolded like this by my dad, Lily’s tears started flowing.
“Go apologize to Ava now and ask her to come home. Otherwise, you can move out,” my dad said without giving them a chance to explain, and went downstairs to get a taxi.
Lily really didn’t want to leave this big house and return to their old, run–down apartment, so she had to drag Zoe along.
When they arrived. I was playing cards with my grandparents. Seeing Lily, I immediately hid behind my grandfather.
3:25 PM
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When they arrived, I was playing cards with my grandparents. Seeing Lily, I immediately hid behind my grandfather.
