Robert Lancaster poured himself another cup of sake, lowered his eyelids and continued, "You were still young then. We shared a room, and in the middle of the night, I was awakened by the sound of sobbing. Being curious and barefoot, I ran down the bed, following the sound of the crying... At that time, the door to Mom and Dad's room wasn't locked, and little me turned the doorknob and pushed it open a crack..."
"What did you see?" Evander Lancaster tightened his grip on the table corner.
"I saw..." Robert stopped after saying just three words, picked up the cup again and looked at it, the corners of his lips trying hard to smile, reflecting how a son sees his mother being bullied yet is powerless to protect her, mocking himself.
"Mom was naked on the carpet, Dad had a whip in his hand, and every time he struck, he'd say something nasty to Mom, while she, worrying about waking us two up, would…"
Robert bit his lip, his voice somewhat strained, "She bit down on her hand tightly."
