0 :0 81 Finished Between crushing an eyesore of a pest and hurrying home to feed his Rosebud , Sterling chose the latter without hesitation . He'd never dated , but he'd heard the saying - sometimes a dead crush could wound worse than a living rival . Not that he intended to " date " Claudia . But he couldn't abide the thought of his pet secretly yearning for someone else . Far better than killing him outright would be to peel back his polished mask layer by layer , revealing the rotten , fickle core beneath - until just the memory of him made Claudia recoil in disgust . Sterling entertained himself with a hundred and eight different scenarios for driving them apart . Down by the hedge , Jasper suddenly shivered . A cold prickle ran up his neck , an inexplicable sense of danger . When he looked up , he saw only a car whipping past , far too close . Probably just a resident , but the speed was reckless . Nearly clipping him , no apology - utterly uncivilized . Jasper frowned . Once he and Claudia made up , he'd get her out of this neighborhood . He couldn't rest easy with such people around . Still ... he thought back to the face he'd glimpsed behind the wheel . He shook his head . Impossible . That man couldn't be here . Wasn't he supposed to be missing ? This wasn't the kind of place the golden boy would stoop to . Even if it had been him , what connection could he possibly have to Claudia ? Jasper lifted his head again , staring longingly up at her window - never noticing how more and more residents were casting him suspicious looks . Sterling parked in the garage and strode home , plastic bags from the supermarket weighing 9:43 Tue , Oct 7 Chapter 24 The Perfect Smear down his hands . Claudia had already threatened to order takeout if he didn't show . In the elevator , he ran into an elderly couple from downstairs . 1 Finished With his recovery nearly complete , Sterling no longer needed to hide so carefully . On nights when Claudia overate , she sometimes dragged him out for a walk . The pair looked too well matched , too close . Neighbors had naturally assumed they were newlyweds . The community had even dubbed them the complex's " model couple ." The man's air was forbidding , but the kindly grandmother offered a warning anyway . " Young man , did you see that Mercedes downstairs ? Do you know the owner ? You should keep an eye on your wife . We've all seen him knocking at your door again and again . Once , when your wife went to take out the trash , he cornered her until someone called security . He's still lurking around every day ." They said " your wife " without hesitation . Sterling not only let the misunderstanding stand - he savored it . After listening , he smiled wickedly and piled on . " I know him . That man's a shameless homewrecker , obsessed with Claudia's looks . Even after I told him we were married , he swore he'd steal her away . Not even the police could chase him off . And he's already married - his wife's lying in the hospital ." The couple gasped . " He looked so decent , but to be that rotten ! " They quickly reassured Sterling . " Don't worry , young man . We'll all keep watch . We'll help you drive him out . " Sterling's smile turned gentle . " Thank you . Living here among you is our good fortune . " Tall , handsome , and polite - the couple instantly felt guilty for ever thinking he was unapproachable . Their resolve to defend the " young couple " only deepened . The grandmother wasted no time . She typed into the community group chat : " Confirmed - the man downstairs is a shameless homewrecker . His wife's in the hospital , yet he still tries to steal our Claudia . They've already rejected him , but he keeps lurking . We need to keep an eye out . " " What ? He looked so polished , who knew he was rotten to the core ? He must be deranged . " 2/3 9:43 Tue , Oct 7 Chapter 24 The Perfect Smear " People like that are the best at pretending . His poor wife - maybe he's the reason she's hospitalized . " " What ? So he's a wife - beater too ? " " What ? There's a stalker in our complex ? A killer , maybe ? " 81 Finished Each retelling grew more twisted . Soon , righteous residents swarmed Jasper . " Catch him ! " " Where's security ? Call them ! " " Don't bother - call the police . He's been stalking here for days . We're all witnesses ! " Lost in bittersweet memories , Jasper never saw it coming . Suddenly he was pinned against his own hood by several burly men , women darting in to kick him for good measure . He had never suffered such humiliation . His face turned an ugly shade of blue . What was wrong with these people ?! Unluckily for him , though he had been Claudia's boyfriend for three years , no one in the complex knew him . She had only managed to buy this apartment earlier this year . She hadn't lived here long . Send Gifts 10 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!