Chapter 1

Ever since I moved into my new place, the neighbors kept stealing my food deliveries and packages.

I went over to have it out with them, and they flat-out denied it. Even after I caught them in the act, they turned it around and picked a screaming fight with me.

The whole family surrounded me and cursed me out, and then they slapped me across the face.

I called 911 on the spot, and their faces changed instantly. They groveled and apologized.

I thought it was over. Instead, they killed me and stole everything I owned worth anything.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the fight.

I took out my phone and immediately ordered a package of rat poison.

……

Slap!

A heavy blow landed across my face.

Before I could react, Clive Lambert already had a fistful of my hair, hitting me from both sides, hard.

Josephine James stood beside him and sneered. "You've still got the nerve to fight with me?"

"A little girl living all alone, and instead of keeping your head down, you dare bare your teeth at me? I have two sons!"

She kicked me savagely and turned to Leonard Lambert. "What are you standing there for? Help your brother beat her!"

Leonard grunted his answer, and his fists came down on me like rain.

I struggled with everything I had, screaming for help.

I knew this family was vicious. If it kept up, they might well beat me to death.

Luckily neighbors from the other floors heard the noise and came running to break it up.

I used the chance to tear myself free, ducked behind them, and called 911.

When Clive saw me calling, he shoved through the crowd, snatched my phone, and smashed it hard against the floor.

Josephine pointed at me and let loose with the filthiest names.

Thankfully there were plenty of neighbors around, so they didn't dare keep hitting me.

The officer arrived soon after.

Clive and the others changed their expressions in an instant.

Josephine stepped forward. "I'm the one who hit the girl. If you're going to arrest someone, arrest me. I'm old anyway. I'm not afraid."

I pointed at Clive and Leonard. "It was the two of them."

Clive rolled his eyes, unbothered. "You got proof? Don't go throwing wild accusations around."

Josephine suddenly covered her face and started sobbing. "I didn't want to hit her. It's just she cursed at me so horribly."

"She called me a thief, said I stole her things."

"I'm an old woman, and she talks to me like that. I couldn't hold it in, so I hit her."

The officer looked at me, caught in the middle. "She is elderly, after all, and you did misunderstand her first. Maybe you could just…"

I shook my head. "There's no misunderstanding. They really did steal my deliveries and packages. I have proof."

I pulled up the videos I'd recorded on my phone.

From the first time I caught them taking my food, I'd recorded every single instance as evidence, precisely to stop them from denying it.

But once Clive saw the video, he said at once, "We happened to order delivery too. My mom thought it was ours."

"We're all neighbors. She grabbed the wrong order, that's all. And you had to go calling my mom a thief?"

"My mom was wrong to hit you, but you were wrong to curse at her. If you ask me, you brought it on yourself with that mouth of yours."

I swallowed the anger burning in my chest and didn't argue with him. I just pulled up more videos.

"Grabbing the wrong order once is a mistake. Grabbing it wrong every single time, what's that about?" I asked coldly.

Clive had nothing to say.

Josephine's voice cracked with tears. "I thought you didn't want it, that's why I took it."

"I'm sorry, I apologize, I'll get down on my knees for you."

She actually meant to kneel to me.

The people around us rushed to stop her and started coaxing me. "Come on, dear, let it go, leave a little room for mercy."

I kept my face cold and said nothing.

It was exactly like this in my past life. After the police arrived, the whole family put on their pitiful act, as if I were the one who'd bullied them.

Then Josephine suddenly turned and went back inside, coming out with a bowl of braised pork.

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she said to me, "Dear, I made this myself."

"It's healthier than your delivery, more nourishing than your delivery. Why don't I make it up to you with braised pork?"

I didn't take it.

Josephine cried again. "Take it, please. If you take it, it means you've forgiven me, and my heart can rest. Otherwise I won't be able to sleep, I won't have the face to go on living."

The other neighbors chimed in. "Dear, look how pitiful the old woman is."

"Just let it go. A near neighbor is better than a distant relative."

"She's giving you braised pork, so take it. Give each other a way out of this."

Even the officer coaxed me. "You are neighbors, after all. You'll be seeing each other every day. It's no good letting it turn this ugly."

Reluctantly I reached out to take the bowl of meat.

But the instant my fingers touched the bowl, a jolt of dread went through me, and I snatched my hand back.