I thought she was just putting on an act.

But Helen looked genuinely furious, not like she was faking it.

Were they deliberately trying to keep us awake by coming here?

But was it worth it to harm themselves just to hurt me?

At that moment, several neighbors from downstairs came up as well.

With a face full of grievance, she pointed at me.

"My son and her daughter are classmates. Today, my son accidentally drew on her daughter's school uniform, and she had her husband find me about it.

"Kids don't do these things on purpose, you know? I think she's just taking advantage of the fact that I'm a widow with no one to rely on."

As she spoke, she dabbed at her tears, looking pitiful and helpless.

"It's not a big deal."

"But she was just talking, she didn't really bully you or anything."

"Besides, even if you're upset, you can just say a few words. Scolding your child at this hour is disturbing everyone."

She wasn't satisfied that no one was criticizing me, so she continued to sob.

Finally, a burly guy couldn't take it anymore and said impatiently, "Listen, stop making noise. I have to get up early tomorrow. If you keep it up, I'm calling the police."

Helen, seeing the guy's imposing figure, seemed to get scared.

She wiped away her tears and stopped crying.

She glared at Troy, then grabbed Kaelan from his arms and went back inside.

I thought that was the end of it.

But I was wrong.

The next day, when I opened my door, it was stuck.

I pushed to create a small gap and looked down.

Great, the doorway was covered in trash.

Rotten vegetable leaves and leftover food are scattered everywhere.

The carpet was stained with oil.

And the garbage bag I had tied up and placed at the door the day before.

Now, lay beside it, empty.

Amanda, out for her morning walk, also held her nose and complained upon seeing the mess.

"What a mess! Why isn't this trash bag tied up tighter?

"Elodie Anderson, you should really take more care in what you do."

Mumbling to herself, she tiptoed around the mess at the door and stepped into the elevator, still muttering about me under her breath.

I ignored her words.

Something just didn't seem right.

I was worried about spills yesterday, so I deliberately tied two extra knots.

It was a hallway, not outside. There was no wind or rain.

How could it have gotten like this?

It had to be someone's doing.