Chapter 4

Ansel and I were jostled by the crowd, barely keeping our footing.

In my previous life, Neville hadn't used the school upgrade as bait. It was a lie, spun to force my hand.

The clock was ticking. Less than a month remained until the catastrophe.

Watching the crowd, so easily deceived, I felt a cold irony, but I knew I couldn't stay any longer. While they swarmed around Neville, I grabbed Ansel's hand and edged toward the back door. "Come on, stay close."

Hannah's voice sliced through the noise. "Hey! Sherry is sneaking off!"

Every head turned, and Neville's face darkened with fury. "Sherry, don't push your luck!"

Anger surged through me. I stopped and stepped in front of Ansel, shielding him.

"Watch your tone, Neville," I shot back. "I made it clear: for my son's health, we're opting out. The agreement says voluntary. Is that just for show?"

"Who are you to opt out?" he screeched. "This is about the community's interests. The school upgrade benefits every child. Your son is average at best, and now there's a golden opportunity. Instead of taking it, you're dragging us down. What's your agenda? Stirring up trouble?"

Hannah jabbed a finger at me. "Sign the agreement, pay up, and stop embarrassing yourself!"

The crowd's voices rose, a chorus of accusations.

"So selfish! I've never seen anything like it!"

"For $50,000, you'd throw away your kid's future?"

Ansel, frightened by the uproar, started to cry. I tried to push through the crowd, but they closed in, trapping us.

"Move! Let us through!" I demanded, shoving back.

In the chaos, Hannah's foot lashed out, striking my calf. Pain seared through me, and I collapsed to the floor.

"Mom, are you okay?" Ansel cried out, rushing to help me.

I gritted my teeth and looked up. Neville and the others stared down, their faces icy. It was the same expressions they wore in my past life when they drove me to my end.

"Stop acting! A fall won't kill you!" Hannah sneered.

Neville's gaze was icy. "That's what selfish people get! I'll make this clear: you'll pay, whether you like it or not. If you refuse and jeopardize our kids' education, I'm not done with you. Neither you nor your son is leaving today!"

Ansel sobbed in my arms. "Mom, why don't we just..."

"No, Ansel," I said, wiping his tears. "We won't give in. We've done nothing wrong."

I raised my bleeding elbow, my eyes sweeping the room. "This is your idea of community spirit? Hurting people for the sake of your collective?"

I gave a bitter laugh. "If this is your community, we want no part of it."

Neville hadn't expected me to stand my ground. His face flushed with rage. "What kind of attitude is this?"

I stood up, my voice steady and deliberate. "I'll say it one more time: we won't sign or pay. I'm selling my apartment, effective immediately."

The room fell silent, broken by Hannah's mocking laughter.