That was just how Rachael was—she caused trouble herself and then blamed others for it.
"I didn't, Rachael. My baby was fussing, so I had to move the stroller to calm him down. By the time I looked back, you were already fighting. I was afraid my baby would get scared, so I quickly went to get the security guard," I explained.
"You… but you still shouldn't have just watched me get beaten."
"I didn't, really. My son is here, so I was too scared to step in. I hurried to get help to drive her away. Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital? If you get scars, that wouldn't be good."
Rachael, though still angry, couldn't argue with my logic and hurried off to check her injuries.
Seeing her get a beating lifted my spirits. I took my son for a walk downstairs before heading back up.
After getting home and handing the baby to my mother-in-law, I went upstairs.
I was with Rachael when she fought with the mother. If the mother and her family went to check the surveillance footage, they would find out. I was worried that they might come looking for trouble because of this.
After all, in my previous life, Rachael went home after she made the rude comment about that child. When the neighbors came to me for an explanation, Rachael refused to show up again, which led to the neighbors taking revenge on me.
I knocked on the door of the upstairs neighbors.
The mother opened the door and looked at me with an unfriendly expression.
...
I smiled apologetically and said, "I'm your downstairs neighbor. I saw you having a dispute with a woman in the neighborhood today."
"You know that woman, don't you? I saw you talking together a long time ago," the mother said, glaring at me.
...
As I had expected, she had seen me and Rachael standing together.
I immediately put on a look of grievance.
"To be honest, she's a college classmate of mine, but she has a terrible temper and is very arrogant. She always gives unsolicited advice, and I can't seem to get rid of her. She's also been trying to steal my husband, wanting to ruin my marriage."
The mother remained unruffled.
"Did she say anything inappropriate about your child today? I also have a child, and she often criticizes my baby in front of me. As mothers, we can't stand people speaking ill of our own children. Our babies mean everything to us. But I'm quite timid and haven’t been able to confront her."
As I spoke, my eyes turned red.