I smiled.

"That’s enough."

Uncle Zhou also walked over.

"Chloe, the homeowners' committee has been re-elected. The audit results will be posted next week. As for those projects of Mr. Henderson's, he’ll have to refund the money."

Julia chimed in from the side.

"Refunding is getting off easy; that wall plaster he put up could be peeled off by hand—he was cheating everyone."

Uncle Zhou coughed, unable to hide a smile.

Mr. Henderson heard this and turned back to glare at us.

Julia immediately glared back.

"What are you looking at? Do you want to try staying at the courthouse for a few days?"

People nearby laughed out loud.

Mr. Henderson took Mrs. Henderson and slunk away.

Liam was the last to come out.

His mother was supporting him.

She saw me, her lips moved, but she didn't curse.

She simply pulled Liam toward the other side.

Liam walked a few steps and looked back.

I didn't look at him.

Julia asked: "Does it feel good?"

I said: "Almost."

"Missing what?"

I looked at the steps leading up to the courthouse entrance.

"The verdict."

On the day the verdict was released, the neighborhood bulletin board was plastered with two documents.

One was the court judgment.

The Henderson family and Liam were jointly held liable to compensate for the damage to my home, my belongings, and the cleaning and restoration costs, and they were ordered to issue a public apology.

The issues of forgery, illegal entry into a residence, and theft of property were to be handled in separate proceedings.

The property management company was held liable as well and was ordered to issue a written apology to me.

The other was the notice of the homeowners' committee audit.

Director Liu had been removed from his position.

Mr. Henderson’s renovation crew was forced to return a portion of the unreasonable charges and had been blacklisted by the homeowners collectively.

The bulletin board was surrounded by people.

Someone pointed at the verdict and said:

"They really have to pay?"

Someone else said:

"They should have paid long ago. Otherwise, who’s to say whose house won't be occupied next while they're away?"

Chapter 26

Martha stood outside the crowd.

She had already been fired by the property management company.

Seeing me, she walked over.

"Ms. Lin."

Julia immediately became guarded.

Martha lowered her head.

"I’m here to apologize. Previously, I took favors from Mr. Henderson, and I thought Mr. Liam was going to marry you soon, so I didn't treat you as the true owner. I was wrong."

I said: "I accept the apology. But I do not forgive you."

Martha gave a bitter smile.

"I know."

After she left, Uncle Zhou handed me the new list for the homeowners' committee.

"Everyone wants you to be a supervisor."

I shook my head immediately.

"I don't have the time."

Uncle Zhou said: "You don't need to manage things; just help check the materials when there are large expenditures."

Julia laughed from the side.

"Uncle Zhou, it seems you’ve taken a liking to her auditing skills."

Uncle Zhou sighed.

"We’ve been burned too many times."

I thought for a moment.

"That’s fine. But all materials must be made public; do not give them to me privately."

Uncle Zhou nodded repeatedly.

"Of course."

Just then, crying was heard from outside the crowd.

Mrs. Henderson was supporting Mr. Henderson as they walked over.

Mr. Henderson’s white shirt was wrinkled like a rag.

He stood in front of the bulletin board, looking at the verdict, his face looking terrible.

Mrs. Henderson gave him a push.

"Say it."

Mr. Henderson gritted his teeth.

"Chloe, I’m sorry."

His voice was very low.

Julia immediately said: "I can’t hear you."

Mr. Henderson’s face turned the color of a pig’s liver.

The surrounding homeowners were all watching him.

He raised his voice.

"Chloe, I’m sorry. I shouldn't have moved into your home without your consent, I shouldn't have taken your belongings, and I shouldn't have forged an agreement to force you to sign it."

Mrs. Henderson followed suit:

"I’m sorry."

Sarah stood behind them, her eyes swollen.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn't have posted online, and I shouldn't have made videos to stir up trouble."

I looked at them.

A delayed apology is like expired medicine.

It can prove that the illness once existed.

But it cannot heal the wound.

I said: "The compensation must be executed according to the verdict. Send the public apology to the neighborhood group chat and keep it there for seven days."

Mr. Henderson’s face stiffened.

"I have to post it in the group, too?"

Julia smiled.

"You were quite fluent at spreading rumors there before, weren't you?"

Mr. Henderson had nothing more to say.

He took out his phone and, in front of everyone, posted the apology in the neighborhood group chat.

This time, no one in the group helped him.

Someone replied:

"Don't go eyeing other people’s houses in the future."

Someone replied:

"Chloe handled this beautifully."

Someone else posted:

"Just because someone is the loudest doesn't mean the house belongs to them."

I looked at that sentence.

It was like seeing a circle finally close.

In the afternoon, Liam also sent a letter of apology.

It wasn't a private message.

It was posted in the group chat of both sides' relatives and friends, as required by the verdict.

He stated that he had forged my signature, brought people into my home without permission, deceived friends and family, and caused harm to me and my mother’s keepsakes.

Liam’s mother didn't curse again.

She left the group.

The wedding hotel refunded a portion of the payment.

The bridal photography contract was canceled.

I returned the money that belonged to Liam’s family.

Everything that belonged to me, I took back.

Julia accompanied me to collect the refunds.

She stood at the hotel entrance and stretched.

"This wedding cancellation was more lively than the wedding itself."

I said: "I’ll treat you to a meal later."

"It has to be a big feast."

"Hot pot?"

She waved her hand immediately.

"Don't mention hot pot. Every time I think of that pot of chili in your living room, I want to toss Mr. Henderson into it to blanch."

I finally laughed out loud.

After I finished laughing, my eyes felt a bit sore.

Julia saw it but didn't point it out.

She simply tucked her arm into mine.

"Let’s go, let’s go home."

I said: "Yes, let's go home."

This time, the word "home" no longer felt like it had been trampled on.

Chapter 27

A month later, I had the house completely cleaned up.

The sofa covers were replaced with new ones.

The walls were repainted.

My mother’s photo frame was placed back in the brightest spot of the living room.

The jewelry box was repaired, though a slight mark remained on the corner.

I didn't sand it down.

It served as a reminder.

Not everyone is fit to enter my door.

Director Gu came over for dinner.

He brought a box of pastries from the old factory.

He sat in the living room, looking at my mother’s photo for a long time.

"When your mother was young, she was very much like your grandfather. Stubborn."

I poured him some tea.

"She said I was like her."

Director Gu laughed.

"You’re both."

He placed a set of documents on the table.

"The paperwork for your grandfather’s old share of dividends has been completed. I won't state the amount here; you can look at it yourself. If you want to do something in the future, you can come to me."

I didn't open it immediately.

"Uncle Gu, I am still working at my current job."

"I know," he said, taking a sip of tea. "I’m not telling you to quit. Only when a person has resources do they no longer fear others threatening them with their livelihood."

I nodded.

I remembered those words.

In the evening, Julia came over to freeload a meal.

She checked the slippers as soon as she entered the door.

"Are these new?"

"New."

"What about the pajamas?"

"Threw them out."

"And the curtains?"

"Washed them, I don't want to replace them. My mother picked them."

Julia nodded.

"Fine, the old people are gone, the old items stay."

The doorbell rang.

Julia and I exchanged a glance.

Chen Hao was standing on the screen.

He was carrying a paper bag.

Julia frowned.

"What is this kid doing here again?"

I opened the door, but didn't let him in.

Chen Hao handed over the paper bag.

"This is an album my mother took before. I only found it today while tidying up."

I took it.

The album contained photos of my mother when she was young.

I flipped through two pages, and my hand stopped.

Chen Hao said in a low voice: "My parents are preparing to move away. Sarah has also left the county to find work elsewhere. Our family, we’ve fallen apart."

Julia crossed her arms.

"Don't make yourself sound like a victim."

Chen Hao nodded.

"I know I’m not."

He looked at me.

"Ms. Lin, I’ve thought about it afterward—if you hadn't called the police that day, we might have truly forced you to sign. I’m sorry."

I said: "Don't remain silent while standing next to bad people in the future."

He replied in a low voice: "I won't."

After he left, Julia flipped through the album.

"At least it was found."

I looked at my mother in the photos.

She was standing at the entrance of the old factory with a group of young workers.

My grandfather was sitting in the middle, smiling heartily.

A sentence was written on the back of the photo.

"Open the door for guests, not for jackals."

I put the photo back into the album.

Julia asked: "What about the future? Still going on blind dates?"

I said: "Not for now."

"Aren't you afraid of being alone?"

I looked around the living room.

This apartment was quiet, clean, and the light shone on my mother’s photo frame.

"I’m not afraid of being alone."

I said: "What I’m afraid of is treating wolves like family."

Julia raised her chopsticks.

"To the new lock."

I picked up my cup and clinked it against hers.

"To not making concessions."

Outside the window, the lights of the neighborhood flickered on one by one.

In the group chat, the new homeowners' committee was posting the accounts.

Uncle Zhou sent a message.

"Chloe, we are recruiting new workers for the hallway renovations. The materials are all public; if you have time, please help take a look."

I replied: "I'll look tomorrow."

Julia leaned over.

"You’re really going to supervise?"

I said: "I don't want anyone else to be bullied by people who just happen to be the loudest."

She smiled.

"Fine, Supervisor Lin."

I put the phone down.

The door lock glowed quietly in the dark.

This time, no matter how noisy it gets outside, they won't be able to get in.

My home, at last, belongs only to me.

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