My Brother Wasn’t a Man

At the Carter family's charity gala, my husband's childhood friend, Eleanor, burst in, her dress disheveled:

Grandpa Carter, you must uphold justice for me! Luke Smith's brother forced himself on me, I can't live like this!

My innocence is ruined, and I have no face left to marry the Carter family's young master!

Guests around murmured, cursing my brother as a horny dog, blaming me for his lack of upbringing.

My husband, James Howard, looked heartbroken, shielding Eleanor with his body:

"Lily, you know how important Eleanor is to the Carter family, yet you indulged your brother in such a despicable act."

"We can't cross the Carters. If your brother is a man, he should come forward and take responsibility. Even if Mr. Carter cripples him, I'll take care of him for life."

Watching Mr. Carter glare at me with murderous intent, I just smiled.

Because my brother, he really wasn't a man.

Mr. Carter looked at me and spoke in a deep voice:

"Miss Smith, I need an explanation."

I remained completely unfazed:

"Mr. Carter, actually, my brother"

Before I could finish, James shoved me aside:

"Lily, any excuses are useless now. Hand over your brother, Luke, immediately!"

"Let him confess his sins by severing his own hands in front of Mr. Carter, otherwise, don't blame me for abandoning our marriage!"

Everyone attending the gala today was a prominent figure in Boston.

Now they looked at me, full of disdain.

"The Smiths are a reputable family, both parents are university professors. How could they raise such a shameless beast?"

"Young Master Carter has a cognitive disability and is only attached to Eleanor, his caregiver. Mr. Carter just announced Eleanor would marry into the family, and this happens."

"I think the Smith family is doomed. With her brother involved in such a scandal, how could the Carters let him off?"

Eleanor cried even harder, trembling in Jamess arms:

"James, my innocence is gone. How can I ever face Young Master Oliver now"

She cried while glancing at Mr. Carter.

Mr. Carters face immediately darkened:

"Miss Smith, your brother committed such an outrageous act in my home, you must give me an explanation!"

James, with an air of righteous indignation, quickly interjected on my behalf:

"Sir, rest assured, I, James Howard, will never cover up for him!"

"Though Luke is my brother-in-law, for committing such an unforgivable crime, I will have his hands broken and that vile thing that caused the harm chopped off as atonement!"

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Eleanor:

"Eleanor, are you sure it was my brother who forced you?"

Eleanors body stiffened, her voice suddenly rising:

"Lily, what do you mean? Would I really use my own innocence to frame him?"

"He was so strong, I couldn't escape no matter how hard I struggled. This was my first time, it was meant for Young Master Oliver!"

Saying this, she yanked open her collar.

Ambiguous red marks on her neck, and purple bruises, were shockingly visible.

"Im sorry for the Carter family's kindness, but Luke is worse than an animal!"

James immediately took off his jacket and wrapped it around her:

"Lily, that's enough! Eleanor has already been ruined by your brother, what more are you doubting?"

"I'll say it one last time, hand Luke over! Otherwise, we're done!"

The crowd also began to murmur:

"What does she mean? Would Eleanor really frame her own brother?"

"I think she's just trying to deny it! Quickly, bring that beast out! Such scum deserves to be torn to pieces!"

But I actually smiled, under everyones gaze.

I called my brother directly and put it on speaker.

"Since you're so certain, let my brother come here in person. We'll confront each other face to face."

"I'd like to see how he was such a beast to you."

But the phone rang for a long time without connecting, which puzzled me.

With all this commotion, everyone was in the main hall. Where had that kid gone?

James immediately spoke up:

"Did your brother know about his atrocious acts and run away in fear of punishment?"

"Lily, do you and your brother have no shame!"

Watching Jamess desperate attempt to distance himself, my heart turned to ice.

Married for three years, he always harbored feelings for Eleanor, his childhood friend. I wasn't unaware.

But Eleanor was the Carter family's chosen one, and my marriage to James was also supposed to be a love match.

If he was unwilling, he should have said so earlier. Why would he try to ruin my brother's life?

"James, you seem even more eager to condemn my brother than a judge."

"He's a grown man, where could he possibly run off to on Carter family property?"

I paused, then changed my tone, my voice turning cold:

"Or, are you hoping my brother ran away?"

James was momentarily stunned by my words, then his veins bulged:

"Lily! You're still talking tough even at death's door! This is the Carter family estate, not a place for you to make a scene!"

"Since you can't reach that beast, don't blame me for being unmerciful!"

He turned to Mr. Carter and knelt down directly:

"Sir, it is my Howard family's misfortune to have married such an ignorant woman, and to have such a scandal occur."

"To give Eleanor justice, and to provide the Carter family an explanation, I request to use the Carter family's security team to search the entire city for Luke!"

"Once he's caught, break his limbs and throw him into the sea to feed the fish!"

Eleanor, hearing this, cried even more frantically:

"James, but Luke had a knife, he threatened me with it!"

Bruises on her wrist were exposed, along with bloodstains from a knife cut.

Immediately, a chorus of accusations erupted:

"He even used a knife? The Smiths look respectable, but secretly they've raised a psychopath with antisocial tendencies."

"Mr. Howard is unlucky to have such a brother-in-law, but disowning a relative for justice, that's a true man!"

Mr. Carter immediately waved to the security guards at the door:

"Lock down the ballroom, gather all personnel, and find that animal Luke for me!"

Dozens of guards immediately acknowledged the order.

James stood up from the floor, looking at me with triumph:

"Lily, when your beast of a brother is caught, I will personally cripple him, and make him pay for touching Eleanor!"

I watched James's distorted face and slowly walked to a sofa, sitting down.

I picked up a glass of red wine, swirling it gently:

"Alright, then I'll wait here."

"But James, how about we make a bet?"

James frowned:

"What new trick are you trying to pull now?"

I took a sip of wine:

"If my brother is innocent, I want you to kneel and kowtow 100 times in front of everyone, and then leave our home with nothing!"

James immediately scoffed:

"How could your brother be innocent? Are Eleanor's injuries fake? Is her humiliation fake?"

Eleanor also sniffled and chimed in:

"Lily, I know you care for your brother, but the facts are right in front of us, you can't deny them."

"Or are you just jealous that I'm marrying into the Carter family, and purposely sent your brother to ruin my purity?"

James's eyes grew colder after hearing Eleanor's words:

"Fine! I'll take that bet!"

"If Luke is innocent, I, James Howard, will leave with nothing and kowtow in apology!"

"But if Luke indeed forced Eleanor, I want your brother to break his own limbs and get out of Boston!"

I put down my wine glass and clapped my hands:

"It's a deal."

"I hope, Mr. Howard, your knees will be as tough as your mouth later."

Just then, a lazy voice came from the doorway:

"Whoa, quite a party, huh? Heard someone wants to cripple me?"

Everyone's eyes snapped towards the doorway.

A silver-haired handsome guy walked in.

Jamess eyes immediately flared with rage upon seeing him:

"Luke, you beast, you dare show your face again! Get him!"

Several security guards immediately moved to pounce.

"Wait!"

I shouted, standing up:

"Now that he's here, and the matter isn't clear, who dares lay a hand on him?"

Mr. Carter also raised a hand, signaling the guards to pause.

My brother casually tossed his hair.

Many socialites in the room stared, discussing amongst themselves:

"Lily's brother is that handsome? Eleanor got lucky, if it were me, I'd have volunteered"

"Bah! He's a rapist, what good is looks! Worse than an animal!"

My brother ignored James's murderous gaze and walked to my side:

"Sis, I just went to get you that cheesecake you love, the line was a bit long."

"And now I'm back, why does everyone look like they want to eat someone?"

My heart warmed, and I looked at Eleanor:

"Eleanor, look closely again, was the person who forced you really my brother?"

Eleanor immediately pointed at my brother and shrieked:

"It was him! He dragged me into the lounge, tore my clothes, and said even if he killed me no one would dare do anything to him!"

"Grandpa Carter, you must stand up for me! Look at Luke, how arrogant he is, he shows no remorse at all!"

My brother blinked, looking innocently at me:

"Sis, what is she saying? I don't understand."

Just then, a man was pushed in by the butler.

It was Oliver, the Carter family's young master with a cognitive disability.

"Eleanor, baby in tummy"

His words were slurred and unclear.

Everyone was confused, wanting to ask questions, and Mr. Carter also stepped forward anxiously.

But upon seeing Young Master Oliver, Eleanors face immediately hardened with determination:

"Luke, you ruined my innocence! My belly might even be carrying your illegitimate child because of this!"

"I have no face to see Young Master Oliver anymore! I won't live!"

Eleanor finished speaking and slammed her head into a nearby pillar.

With a dull thud, blood streamed down.

The entire ballroom erupted into chaos.

"First ruining someone's purity, now forcing Eleanor to her death, these Smith siblings are too cruel!"

Mr. Carter gave a command, and the security guards immediately pinned my brother to the ground.

James, spurred by Eleanor's blood, had bloodshot eyes.

He abruptly stood up, grabbing a baseball bat, and rushed over:

"Luke, you've done this to Eleanor, today I'll make you pay with your life!"

He raised the baseball bat.

Aiming directly for my brother's groin, he swung it down!

In that critical moment, I lunged forward without hesitation.

The baseball bat struck my back, and I uncontrollably coughed up a mouthful of blood.

James's voice was vicious:

"Lily, what are you doing! Originally, if this beast broke his own hands to atone to the Carters, I would have taken care of him for life out of respect for you!"

"But now you're as stubborn as him, so don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Eleanor, supported by others, clutched her head and stood up:

"James, forget it. It's my fault for being impure and unworthy of Young Master Oliver, it's me who should die"

The surrounding crowd began to criticize:

"Still protecting her brother, Lily is hopeless!"

"Mr. Howard has been more than generous, I say just kill that beast!"

My brother broke free, supporting me, his voice trembling:

"Sis, are you okay? Don't scare me!"

I wiped my mouth, straightening up:

"James, you're so eager to silence him, could it be that you were the one messing around with Eleanor?"

James immediately panicked:

"Lily, what nonsense are you spewing!"

"To clear your brother, you dare to throw dirt on me!"

Saying this, he raised a hand to slap my face!

My brother stepped in front of me, kicking him.

"Brother-in-law, are you implying I forced Eleanor?"

"Even if I were blind, I wouldn't go for someone like that."

Eleanors face turned ashen, and she shrieked, her voice trembling:

"Grandpa Carter, he not only ruined my purity, but he publicly humiliated me! How can I live like this!"

James, ignoring the pain, hugged Eleanor tightly:

"Eleanor, don't do anything foolish again! It's not worth it for scum like him!"

"Mr. Carter, please preside over justice! I want him to pay with his life right now!"

Young Master Oliver nearby trembled incessantly, clearly frightened.

Mr. Carter's face also darkened:

"Miss Smith, facts are facts. You've broken my Carter family's rules, and you should know the consequences."

"Guards, break Luke's limbs and throw him to the dogs!"

As the security guards surrounded us again.

I looked at Eleanor:

"You keep saying my brother forced you, right?"

Eleanors face was filled with indignation:

"Yes! He's an animal, a pervert! He tortured me for a whole hour in that room!"

"My injuries are proof! Lily, don't even think about denying it!"

I nodded, looking at everyone present:

"Did everyone hear that? Eleanor admitted herself that my brother forced her."

People exchanged glances, confused:

"Isn't that obvious? What does Lily mean, is she scared senseless?"

I smiled, then turned and walked over to my brother.

He looked at me in horror, shaking his head and backing away frantically.

But I ignored him, and ripped open his shirt.

Everyone looked over, puzzled, and then froze.