Chapter 1 · The Neighbor Who Destroyed Himself

My neighbor was going overseas for two years. Before he left, he gave me his keys.

He asked to keep an eye on his place.

For two years, I kept his keys, regularly airing out the place, watering the plants, and collecting his mail, never missing a single thing.

Last winter, I even paid out of my own pocket to install a security camera and a smart lock for his place.

Last month, he came back. I handed him the keys, and the very next day, I got a court summons.

I was charged with breaking and entering and unlawful trespass.

The judge asked if I had anything to say.

I shook my head, took out two keys and the handwritten note he had left me two years ago, and gently placed them on the table.

As soon as I walked out of the courthouse, the first thing I did was call the building management.

"Take down all the security equipment at the door of 305. Yes, every single piece. Do it right now," I said.

That night, my phone buzzed so hard it fell off my nightstand. The screen was flooded with calls from the same number.

I glanced at it and saw 99 missed calls. I turned it off and went back to sleep.

*****

The summons was dropped off by the delivery guy.

It was just a flimsy sheet of paper, but it felt like a red-hot branding iron, sending a tingling sensation through my fingers.

Printed in black letters on white paper, it bore the court's official seal.

Plaintiff: Franklin Reed.

Defendant: Leila Harvey.

Charge: breaking and entering, unlawful trespass.

I stood in the doorway for a long time, clutching that piece of paper.

The wind swept through the hallway, making the paper flutter and rustle.

It chilled me to the bone.

Franklin was my neighbor, living right across the hall.

Two years ago, he was heading overseas to chase new opportunities, leaving in a rush.

The night before he left, he showed up with his suitcase and pressed a set of keys into my hand.

He said, "Leila, you're the only friend I trust here.

"Just keep an eye on my place for me, okay?"

Franklin looked at me with genuine sincerity, and he sounded truly grateful.

I didn't think twice before nodding.

"Don't worry about it. It's no trouble at all," I said.

And for the past two years, I really did my part.

Every month, I'd go over to his place at least twice to open the windows and let some fresh air in.

I kept those finicky plants on his balcony so healthy and glossy.

All the mail and packages that wouldn't fit in his mailbox ended up piling up in my storage room.

Last winter, the local news reported a string of break-ins in some of the older neighborhoods.

Worried about his place, I spent 2.5 thousand dollars out of my own pocket to install smart security cameras and a keypad lock for him.

As soon as everything was set up, I sent him the dynamic password and the login info for the security app.

He just sent me a thumbs-up emoji in reply.

I always thought our neighborly relationship was the gold standard.

At least, that was what I believed until he came back last month.

The day he returned, I just happened to be taking out the trash.

I bumped into him at the elevator. He was in a trench coat, looking dapper and confident, with a stunning woman standing next to him.

He smiled at me and introduced her as his girlfriend, Katherine Cowper.

I gave him the spare keys and access card I'd been holding onto for him all this time.

"Welcome back," I said.

He took the keys and gave me a polite "thanks."

I thought my job was finally over.

The very next day, the summons arrived.

It felt like my throat was stuffed with a soggy ball of cotton.

It was so dry and raw, and I could barely breathe.

I headed back to the living room and sank into the couch.

On the coffee table, there was a package that had just arrived yesterday.

It was a perfume gift set from a well-known international brand.

It was addressed to Katherine.

The address was 305, Franklin's apartment.

I looked at the box and just let out a bitter laugh.

I laughed at myself for being a complete idiot these past two years.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through our conversation with Franklin.

Our chat history was still stuck on yesterday.

Me: [Franklin, the package you sent earlier. I left it at your door.]

Franklin: [Okay.]

There was just one word, straight to the point.

I scrolled up through message after message, with me updating him on every little chore I did around his place: watering the plants, airing out the rooms, picking up packages, and setting up the security system.

Sometimes he'd reply with a quick "okay" or a "thanks."

Most of the time, he just left it on read.

Turns out, all those little favors I thought were just being neighborly meant nothing to him, like it was just expected of me, not even worth a thank you.

And now, he turned them into "evidence" to use against me in court.

I turned off my phone.

I folded the summons and slipped it into my bag.

Tomorrow was the pre-trial mediation.

I had to go.

I just had to see for myself how far someone could go, acting heartless without even flinching.

The mediation room was warm, but I felt a chill run through me.

Franklin and Katherine sat across from me.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looking every bit the part of someone who thought he was above it all.

Chapter 1

My neighbor was going overseas for two years. Before he left, he gave me his keys.

He asked to keep an eye on his place.

For two years, I kept his keys, regularly airing out the place, watering the plants, and collecting his mail, never missing a single thing.

Last winter, I even paid out of my own pocket to install a security camera and a smart lock for his place.

Last month, he came back. I handed him the keys, and the very next day, I got a court summons.

I was charged with breaking and entering and unlawful trespass.

The judge asked if I had anything to say.

I shook my head, took out two keys and the handwritten note he had left me two years ago, and gently placed them on the table.

As soon as I walked out of the courthouse, the first thing I did was call the building management.

"Take down all the security equipment at the door of 305. Yes, every single piece. Do it right now," I said.

That night, my phone buzzed so hard it fell off my nightstand. The screen was flooded with calls from the same number.

I glanced at it and saw 99 missed calls. I turned it off and went back to sleep.

*****

The summons was dropped off by the delivery guy.

It was just a flimsy sheet of paper, but it felt like a red-hot branding iron, sending a tingling sensation through my fingers.

Printed in black letters on white paper, it bore the court's official seal.

Plaintiff: Franklin Reed.

Defendant: Leila Harvey.

Charge: breaking and entering, unlawful trespass.

I stood in the doorway for a long time, clutching that piece of paper.

The wind swept through the hallway, making the paper flutter and rustle.

It chilled me to the bone.

Franklin was my neighbor, living right across the hall.

Two years ago, he was heading overseas to chase new opportunities, leaving in a rush.

The night before he left, he showed up with his suitcase and pressed a set of keys into my hand.

He said, "Leila, you're the only friend I trust here.

"Just keep an eye on my place for me, okay?"

Franklin looked at me with genuine sincerity, and he sounded truly grateful.

I didn't think twice before nodding.

"Don't worry about it. It's no trouble at all," I said.

And for the past two years, I really did my part.

Every month, I'd go over to his place at least twice to open the windows and let some fresh air in.

I kept those finicky plants on his balcony so healthy and glossy.

All the mail and packages that wouldn't fit in his mailbox ended up piling up in my storage room.

Last winter, the local news reported a string of break-ins in some of the older neighborhoods.

Worried about his place, I spent 2.5 thousand dollars out of my own pocket to install smart security cameras and a keypad lock for him.

As soon as everything was set up, I sent him the dynamic password and the login info for the security app.

He just sent me a thumbs-up emoji in reply.

I always thought our neighborly relationship was the gold standard.

At least, that was what I believed until he came back last month.

The day he returned, I just happened to be taking out the trash.

I bumped into him at the elevator. He was in a trench coat, looking dapper and confident, with a stunning woman standing next to him.

He smiled at me and introduced her as his girlfriend, Katherine Cowper.

I gave him the spare keys and access card I'd been holding onto for him all this time.

"Welcome back," I said.

He took the keys and gave me a polite "thanks."

I thought my job was finally over.

The very next day, the summons arrived.

It felt like my throat was stuffed with a soggy ball of cotton.

It was so dry and raw, and I could barely breathe.

I headed back to the living room and sank into the couch.

On the coffee table, there was a package that had just arrived yesterday.

It was a perfume gift set from a well-known international brand.

It was addressed to Katherine.

The address was 305, Franklin's apartment.

I looked at the box and just let out a bitter laugh.

I laughed at myself for being a complete idiot these past two years.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through our conversation with Franklin.

Our chat history was still stuck on yesterday.

Me: [Franklin, the package you sent earlier. I left it at your door.]

Franklin: [Okay.]

There was just one word, straight to the point.

Sometimes he'd reply with a quick "okay" or a "thanks."

Most of the time, he just left it on read.

Turns out, all those little favors I thought were just being neighborly meant nothing to him, like it was just expected of me, not even worth a thank you.

And now, he turned them into "evidence" to use against me in court.

I turned off my phone.

I folded the summons and slipped it into my bag.

Tomorrow was the pre-trial mediation.

I had to go.

I just had to see for myself how far someone could go, acting heartless without even flinching.

The mediation room was warm, but I felt a chill run through me.

Franklin and Katherine sat across from me.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looking every bit the part of someone who thought he was above it all.