Chapter 4 The next day I had to go clear out my office . I brought my daughter along , The moment we stepped into the hallway of our apartment building , the usual morning chatter died . Mrs. Johnson was waiting for the elevator . When she spotted us , she made a face like she'd just stepped in dog shit and quickly backed away . " Just my luck , living in the same building as these people ! Teaching her kid to fake injuries to scam the school - absolutely disgusting ! " The elevator arrived and she practically threw herself inside , shouting to the other passengers : " Close the doors ! Don't let them in ! " The doors slammed shut right in my face . We took the stairs instead . Down in the lobby , all the neighbors who used to chat and wave at us were dodging us like we had COVID . A group of women by the mailboxes stopped their morning gossip session the instant they saw us approaching . One of them made this loud " tsk " sound and stepped back . I kept my face blank and held my daughter's hand tighter as we walked past them . My daughter kept her head down , trying to make herself invisible . I stopped for a moment and looked up at the morning sky , then down at my daughter's hollow , defeated eyes . Standing there surrounded by all their judgment and whispers , something inside me snapped into place . I smiled . I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in six years . Someone picked up before the first ring finished . " Vanessa ? " The man's voice was tight with worry and hope . I closed my eyes , and when I opened them , they were ice cold . " Jaxon , " I said , my voice completely flat . " They hurt our daughter . " The second I hung up , Mrs. Johnson - the one who'd made that disgusted noise earlier - came walking over with her garbage bag . " Oh , you're still here ? " She looked me up and down like I was something nasty she'd found on her shoe . " Haven't made enough of a spectacle yet ? " 1.8 % Chapter 4 I pulled my daughter closer . She pressed her face against my chest , her whole body shaking , My silence just encouraged this old lady . She raised her voice so the whole complex could hear her performance . " Everyone come look ! This is the psycho mom who coached her kid to fake bruises and sue the school ! Lost her job , kid got expelled , and she's still hanging around like she's the victim ! " She was really warming up now , stepping closer and pointing at my daughter . " And this little liar here ! Already scamming people in elementary school - imagine what she'll be like as a teenager ! " " SHUT TF UP ! " I finally exploded . " I'll say whatever I want ! " She got right up in my space . " You can dish it out but can't take it ? Crazy bitch ! You and your little- " " Finish that sentence . " Someone suddenly cut her off . The voice came from behind her - low , cold , and absolutely dangerous . Mrs. Johnson's mouth snapped shut . A tall man in an expensive dark suit was standing by the complex entrance . He looked like he'd just stepped off a plane , all sharp edges and barely controlled fury . Every neighbor who'd been creeping closer suddenly found somewhere else to be . Jaxon Reid Sullivan . He actually came . Chapter 5 Chapter 5