---- advise you to avoid the following streets."" Tom was ashen -faced when he saw the message from Mr. Zeller that contained a long list of street names. Nearly every single street that was suitable for business in Riverton was named. "y-You..." Tom's lips were shaking as he eyed me in disbelief. "Cassandra, d-do all of these places belong to your family? Since you're so rich, can't you have mercy on common folks like us? My mom is old and a bit conservative, so she misunderstood you somewhat. All of this can be resolved with an apology. Why must you be so petty as to hold it against us?" Isighed. Dad had initially planned on teaming up with some of his friends to drive the Paynes out of Riverton, but I thought there was no reason to be so harsh on them. I didn't want to back them into a corner. Yet, even now, they were still trying to lecture me. ---- Kindness wasn't always repaid in kindness. People were right when they said even small acts of favors or grievances could escalate to grossly disproportionate outcomes. After waving at the police car parked at the entrance of the neighborhood, I said curtly, "What's the point of having police officers if everything can be resolved with an apology?"