Chapter 3

Suzanne wasted no time. Seeing that I wouldn't budge, she called the police on the third day.

Then, the police sent a notice to my phone. I had to go to the community mediation center as a family member and cooperate with the investigation.

The night before the mediation, Suzanne held a public gathering of sorts in the courtyard. Somehow, she had gotten her hands on a megaphone, but she and Rita took turns using it and screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Listen up, everyone! That little bitch from the Calhoun family refuses to pay us and still won't admit she's wrong!

"I've already called the police! Tomorrow, they'll be arresting that old pervert! That old man worked hard to earn that money, and this heartless bitch would rather see her own dad rot in prison than give up a cent! She's inhumane!

"Look at the way she dresses! She always flaunts herself! She's out early and home late. Who knows what she's doing behind everyone's back? Her dad was a filthy old pervert, so his daughter must also be a whore! They are a disgrace to our neighborhood!"

Over a hundred people had gathered in the plaza. The crowd shouted furiously, fueled by Suzanne and Rita's words.

"Drag that old pervert out and shame him!"

"Get that bitch out of our complex! She can't disgrace our community!"

I stood on the balcony, watching the farce unfold below. I stared at the twisted delight on Suzanne's face.

Just then, a few young men in the crowd, who had been worked up, suddenly lashed out at me. "Go to hell, you bitch!"

Amidst a volley of crude curses, several rotten vegetables and eggs came flying toward my balcony. The foul-smelling eggs and rancid slop splattered across my window.

A wave of gleeful laughter and cheers erupted from the crowd below.

Suzanne was practically giddy as she grabbed the megaphone and shouted, "Good! Don't show mercy to shameless bitches like her! If you're still angry, splash red paint across her door and stuff dead rats through it!"

She was so wrapped up in her own act that she actually believed those shabby tactics would force me to hand over the money.

Just then, I got a call from an unknown caller. "Hello, is this Joanne Calhoun, Josiah Calhoun's daughter?"

It was a woman's voice on the other end of the line, dripping with undisguised contempt.

"I am Isla Paxton, Ms. Weston's attorney. On behalf of my client, I'm giving you one last chance before tomorrow's mediation. If you hand over the 500,000 dollars now and publicly apologize to everyone in the complex, we'll consider dropping the case.

"You should know this is a serious assault case involving a large sum of money and major public attention. Your dad is already an old man. Once he's arrested, he may never get out.

"As for you, everyone in the complex already hates you. With your ruined reputation, you may never show your face in society again. I strongly advise you not to be stingy with that money. You'll end up risking your father's life and ruining your own reputation."

As I listened to her, I couldn't help but smile. "Isla, right? You seem so confident about this case. Have you actually examined the evidence?"

She laughed coldly over the phone. "The photo is crystal clear, and we have both witnesses and physical evidence. I've also looked into all the trouble your family has caused in the complex. No matter how you try to deny it, it won't do you any good."

I took a deep breath. "Just a word of advice. Meet my dad before tomorrow's mediation. Or else, you might face charges of perjury tomorrow."

Isla went silent for a few moments. Then, she said disdainfully, "Still pulling tricks when you're guaranteed to lose? See you at the mediation tomorrow!"

The call ended with a harsh click.

I tossed my phone onto the couch, fighting back the stench of garbage filling the room. Then, I turned toward the table. I took out a piece of black cloth and carefully wrapped Dad's portrait in it. Then, I slipped the urn containing his ashes into a black backpack.

"Dad, you haven't been out in a year. I'll take you out for a walk tomorrow. Let's see what kind of people they really are," I thought.