Chapter 2

It was Carter Hughes, the neighbor from downstairs, coming to complain. He had moved in recently, and I had borrowed his cart a couple of times to help carry packages.

He seemed a little surprised when Dolores answered the door, but politely asked her to keep the noise down.

To my shock, Dolores snapped, “This is my son’s house! We’ll do whatever we want. Who do you think you are to tell us otherwise?”

Carter didn’t back down. “It might be your son’s house, but this building is shared by everyone. If you’re disturbing your neighbors, that’s your problem.”

“If you think I’m in the wrong, why don’t you call the cops? Let’s see if they care about your petty complaints,” she shot back. “We can do whatever we want in our own home. Who are you to say otherwise?”

The more I listened, the angrier I got.

Not only had they moved into my home without asking, but now they were acting like they owned the place. And on top of that, this house wasn’t even Ethan’s — it was a wedding gift from my parents!

I couldn’t take it anymore. If they got into a fight with the neighbors, it would be me who had to live with the awkwardness.

So I stormed out of my room.

Dolores immediately plastered on a sweet smile and pulled me toward Carter, claiming he was being rude and unreasonable.

Carter, shaking his head in frustration, explained, “I just wanted to let you know that I didn’t sleep well last night, and I finally managed to take a nap when all that noise started. I was hoping you could keep it down, especially with the kid running around.”

I opened my mouth to apologize, but Dolores yanked me back.

“Seriously? You young people stay up all night and then expect the world to tiptoe around you during the day. You’re the one causing problems and blaming others,” she said, her voice full of disdain.

“You think we should all rearrange our lives around your nap schedule? It’s the middle of the day! And what, should we stop a growing child from playing just so you can get some sleep? What’s he supposed to do, not grow taller because of you?”

Carter’s face was turning darker with every word she said, and even I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

I stepped forward to try and defuse the situation, but once again, Dolores pushed me aside and continued, “Look at you — grown man, no respect for your elders or the young. Did your parents raise you like this?”

She had crossed the line, bringing his family into it.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I moved in to intervene, but Dolores gave me another shove.

I staggered back a few steps before dramatically collapsing to the floor with a loud “thud.”

And suddenly, the whole world went quiet.