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.

"That dump? Are you serious? Who'd buy it?" Hannah cackled. "Everyone knows our complex's about to be renovated. Property values are about to skyrocket!"

"Don't come crying when the garage is built and prices soar," Neville sneered. "You won't get it back. And good luck selling. I can make sure no agent touches your listing."

...

Hannah chimed in, dripping with sarcasm, "What, you think selling a house is a game?"

I ignored them, my fingers moving across my phone screen. "Funny thing. I happen to know someone interested in buying my place. And look, I've got his number right here."

Neville and Hannah stared at me like I was delusional. Hannah laughed out loud. "Go on, make your call. Let's see how long you can keep up this charade."

She didn't believe someone like me, who couldn't even afford $50,000, could know anyone of importance.

Under their skeptical gazes, I dialed the number and put the call on speaker. A calm, steady voice answered, tinged with surprise, "Sherry?"

Neville froze, his eyes wide as he stared at my phone.

"Mr. Hill, it's me," I answered evenly. "I'm looking to sell my apartment. Room 1401, Unit 1, Building #8 at Blue Bay Peninsula. You mentioned you were interested before. Are you still?"

Joshua Hill's voice lit up with a warm laugh. "Of course. I've been waiting for this call forever. Why stay in that rundown place? I've wanted to get you and Ansel out of there for ages. Well, market price plus 20%. How is that? I'll have my legal team draft the contract now and be at your place in an hour. Full payment."

The residents stood dumbfounded, exchanging stunned glances.

Everyone in Arorpoint knew him as the chairman of Hill Real Estate, a man whose influence could shake the city's property market with a single move.

And here I was, casually negotiating a sale with him. Given his tone, it was clear we were close.

Hannah's face drained of color, her body trembling. Neville gripped the table for support, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Mom, is that Joshua?" Ansel asked excitedly. "Are we really moving? That's awesome!"

I ruffled his hair, then fixed my gaze on Neville and Hannah. "Do I still need to pay that $50,000? Can I sell my apartment now?"

I paused, letting the words sink in. "Now the school upgrade and property values don't concern me anymore, do they?"

I pushed through the stunned crowd and pulled open the conference room door.

Neville's head snapped up, and he roared, "You can't sell it!"