"Wow, big talk," Bianca said. "I'm so scared."

She curled her lip. "I almost forgot you're some hotshot lawyer who crawls out of a different man's bed every morning, then struts around bullying regular people like us."

A flicker of panic crossed Maverick's eyes. He tugged at the hem of her shirt. "There are so many people here. Let's not embarrass her."

Bianca jerked her arm away, her voice rising in displeasure. "What, you feel sorry for her? Am I wrong? She snuck into our place today because she wanted to seduce you, didn't she?"

Bianca's mother chimed in. "Exactly. One look at that face and you can tell she's a shameless little homewrecker who sleeps her way to the top."

The others joined in, each comment more vicious than the last. What I couldn't stand most was Bianca repeatedly calling this place her home.

The anger in my chest kept building. I glared at them. "Under criminal law, defamation and trespassing carry a combined sentence of one to five years in prison."

If it weren't for the fact that Maverick's mother and my parents were colleagues with a close relationship, and our families had been neighbors for years, I wouldn't have wasted another word on them. I would have called the police immediately.

"Maverick, I don't care what reason you had for bringing these people into my house. Apologize and get out now while you still can."

Bianca laughed like it was the funniest thing she'd heard. "Your house? Keep dreaming.

"It's one thing to play the mistress, but now you want to steal my boyfriend and take over his property? Let me make this clear—he would never marry a slut like you. Not in this lifetime."

I nearly lost control and sprayed her with pepper spray, but from a legal standpoint, the person who struck first would lose the advantage.

I could only shout back. "I've always conducted myself properly, unlike you and your long list of men! Only someone as rotten as Maverick would suit you!"

I continued, "I'll say it one more time. I bought this apartment for 1.5 million. You have no right to be here."

I pulled out my phone to call the police. But Maverick, who'd been avoiding eye contact this whole time, suddenly lunged forward like a madman.

He snatched my phone and smashed it on the floor, then roared at me. "Chloe, don't push your luck! What do you mean your house? You gave it to me last month to settle a debt. Don't even think about going back on that now."

Bianca's eyes went wide. "What? This apartment was payment for a debt?"

Her face twisted in disgust. "I don't want some dump where this slut lived. Who knows how many men she brought back here. It's revolting."

Bianca's mother and the others piled on. "The marital home is secondhand? You better come up with another 500 grand in cash, or you're not marrying her."

Maverick's face went pale. He apologized frantically. "Mom, everyone, I didn't explain it clearly. This is brand new, definitely not secondhand. You can check online or even ask the property management. I just got the keys last month."

When he turned to look at me, hatred surged in his eyes. Every word dripped with poison. "Chloe, making a scene won't help. I could never like damaged goods like you. Not in this lifetime.

"If you're that desperate for a man, Bianca's uncle happens to be single. Since we go way back, I'll set you up with him."

Bianca's uncle's eyes lit up, a lewd grin spreading across his face. "Sounds good to me. I don't mind that she sleeps around."

He reached out to grab me. "Come on, let's find somewhere private so we can have some fun."

His words drew another round of raucous laughter.

Watching Maverick join in their jeering with that disgusting smirk on his face, the fury in my chest finally erupted. I rushed forward and slapped him hard across the face.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can just take over my house and slander me. Get ready for a lawsuit!"

Maverick clutched his face, staring at me in disbelief. "You actually hit me?"

I was shaking with rage, but I forced myself to stay calm as I argued back. "You brought over a dozen people into my home and refused to leave. You led them in verbally attacking me and deliberately let someone try to grope me. I had no choice but to defend myself."

At that, Bianca's face twisted with fury. She lashed out with a kick. "Chloe, you dare lay a hand on my man? You're asking for it—ah!"

Because I dodged quickly, she hit nothing but air. She crashed hard to the floor, screaming in pain.

That set everything off. Bianca's mother charged at me with her pack of relatives. "You little bitch! We're not leaving until you're dead!"

To avoid getting hurt, I bolted down the stairs all the way to the lobby, screaming in terror. "Fire! Someone help!"

It worked. Soon, people who'd been out for evening walks in the neighborhood came running over.

I immediately changed my story in a panic. "No—wait! Murder! Someone's trying to kill me to steal my apartment!"

At that moment, Bianca's mother and the others came charging down, holding kitchen knives and mops. When they saw me hiding behind a group of neighbors, they were furious.

"You little bitch, you've already latched onto other men to protect you? Come out here if you've got the guts!"

The neighbors, both men and women, were immediately offended. They started arguing back.

"Please call the police," I said quietly. "They smashed my phone."

Just then, Maverick came downstairs with Bianca leaning against him. When he saw what was happening, he immediately played the victim and started spinning his story.

"Everyone, the truth is she owes me two million dollars. She used this apartment, worth 1.5 million, to settle the debt. Now she's shamelessly trying to take it back. I have a written transfer agreement. Her name, Chloe Wilder, is right there on it."

He pulled out a stack of documents and held them up for everyone to see.

The neighbors crowded in to look. After reading the content, they turned to me. "Are you Chloe Wilder?"

My stomach dropped. "That transfer agreement is absolutely fake. I never signed it."

The moment I said that, the neighbors' expressions changed, and they appeared more wary.

"She's a compulsive liar!" Bianca shouted with righteous indignation. "You should stay away from her, or she'll seduce your husbands next.

"If I hadn't been home today, she would've stripped naked and thrown herself at my boyfriend. She's absolutely shameless.

"When that didn't work, she threatened to burn down the apartment. Tell me—doesn't someone like that deserve a beating?"

With her slandering me, my neighbors instantly turned on me. They started cursing me out.

"You almost tricked us into wrongly accusing innocent people. You're disgusting!"

One of Bianca's relatives blended into the crowd and shouted, "Exactly! Someone like her needs a good beating to teach her a lesson so she won't seduce other people's men again."

That one statement made everyone clench their fists, ready to take a swing at me.

I tried to explain, but Bianca suddenly ambushed me from behind and kicked me hard.

"That's for threatening to set a fire earlier! What if it actually caught? Think of all the property damage! You don't care because it's not yours, right?"

Her angry tone sounded convincing enough that people who didn't know better believed her, but I could see the smug satisfaction in her eyes.

Maverick chimed in, "My girlfriend is right. This woman and I grew up together. Not only is she a compulsive liar, but she's also a gambling addict.

"Who knows how many men she's been with for money? Everyone needs to watch out for rotten people like her."

After he finished, he put on an expression of deep sorrow and regret. It was revolting.

I was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out across my forehead. I clutched my stomach and struggled to my feet. "Maverick, every word you just said carries legal consequences," I said.

After a moment, I continued, "Could someone please call property management? I never transferred ownership. One check will prove it."

Maverick smirked. "Go ahead and call them. I've got nothing to hide. You're the one who should be nervous."

Property management arrived quickly. When they saw over 30 people surrounding me in a tight circle, they immediately realized the severity of the situation and rushed over to find out what was going on.

"According to our records, the registered owner is Mr. Maverick Kirk."

The property manager looked me up and down. "You… I think I've seen you more than once coming and going with different male residents."

That single comment caused an instant uproar. The neighbors especially, egged on by the constant embellishments from Bianca's relatives, unanimously branded me as a homewrecker who deserved to be run out of town.

"Shameless whore! No wonder when she ran here she went straight for the men. Turns out she's a repeat offender."

"Exactly! She's got some nerve. Us residents need to band together against trash like her."

As the insults and abuse came in waves, the crowd's emotions became more and more volatile. The scene was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

No matter how I tried to explain, they refused to listen.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the property manager and Maverick exchanging knowing smirks. That was when it clicked.

When I first bought the apartment, Maverick had pushed hard for me to choose this complex. He must have been planning to steal my property all along. That man was absolutely shameless.

"Everyone!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Please listen to me—"

However, an old woman cut me off with a string of curses. "You homewrecker, what else do you have to say? Stop with your tricks. We're not falling for it!"

A foul smell suddenly hit me in the face. I nearly gagged and stumbled back, right into Bianca's uncle, who immediately took the chance to grope me.

"That's right! This little bitch is good at playing the victim to scam people. A few days ago, she said she had no money for food and would spend two hours with me for just 20 bucks. Disgusting."

He pretended to be an outraged resident and kept shoving me around, but took the opportunity to grope me all over.

I was furious. I swung my hand and slapped him across the face. "You're making things up! I'm going to sue you for—"

Before I could finish, his face contorted with rage as he swung his hand at me. I tried to dodge, but two of Bianca's relatives grabbed me and pinned my arms behind my back so I couldn't move.

He slapped me twice, once on each cheek. My lip split open, and I tasted blood.

Maverick clapped his hands in approval. "Well done! Trash like her needs to be taught a lesson. Everyone, line up and take your turn slapping her."

At his words, Bianca's mother and her relatives were the first to move. The sound of slap after slap echoed in the air.

Bianca stood to the side, covering her mouth to hide her laughter, then shouted, "Bitch! This is what you get for going after someone else's boyfriend!"

Maverick pulled her in and kissed her in front of everyone. "'I'm so lucky to have you on my side."

My face throbbed with pain, swelling with each hit. I kept struggling to explain that the property transfer was fake, but no one would listen.

"Maverick, I have the deed to this apartment. Do you?"

When I shouted that, Maverick immediately told them to stop. "Everyone, hold on a second. This woman still won't give up. She insists on showing her deed to prove me wrong. What do you all think? Should we give her one last chance?"

Bianca and her group clearly didn't want to, but with me insisting and a few neighbors pushing for it, Maverick relented and helped me call my parents.

After waiting about half an hour, my parents arrived with Maverick's mother, Sarah Yates. Before they could even say a word to me, they pulled out the property deed.

When everyone opened it and read the information, they immediately erupted. "Let's see you talk your way out of this one!"

Maverick and Bianca exchanged glances, both wearing smug, victorious smiles.

"Chloe, we've been more than fair," Maverick said. "We gave you chance after chance. Your own parents brought the deed. What do you have to say for yourself now?"