Chapter 1 - The First Impression
The manicured lawns of the Oakhaven Estates were silent,
save for the rhythmic thwack of Sarah’s moving boxes hitting the pavement.
As a single mother,
every penny Sarah had was poured into this house—
a modest cottage at the very edge of the sprawling,
ultra-luxurious development.
She was struggling to carry a heavy crate of kitchenware,
when a sleek,
silver SUV swerved onto her curb,
tires screeching.
Out stepped Brenda Montgomery,
the self-appointed President of the Homeowners Association,
draped in designer silk,
and smelling of expensive resentment.
"Excuse me,"
Brenda snapped,
her voice cutting through the humid afternoon air.
"Do you have any idea how much this neighborhood costs?"
"We have strict regulations regarding moving hours,"
"and,
quite frankly,"
"that eyesore of a box is blocking the aesthetic flow of the street."
Sarah wiped sweat from her forehead,
trying to remain polite.
"I’m sorry,"
"I just moved in."
"I’ll clear it away in a minute."
"You shouldn't have moved in at all,"
Brenda sneered,
eyeing Sarah’s worn-out jeans.
"There was a reason the HOA was trying to block the sale of this property."
"We prefer..."
"a certain caliber of resident."
As Brenda stepped closer,
she gestured dismissively,
knocking Sarah’s arm.
The crate tilted,
sending glass jars shattering onto the sidewalk.
Sarah instinctively reached out to steady it,
but Brenda shoved her shoulder hard,
sending Sarah stumbling back into the jagged remains of a broken jar.
A sharp shard sliced across Sarah's forearm,
blood immediately seeping through her sleeve.
"Look at this mess!"
Brenda shrieked,
not at the blood,
but at the broken glass.
"You are already costing the association money in potential property devaluation!"
"I’m fining you five thousand dollars for this display of incompetence and littering."
"And don't bother appealing;"
"I own the board."
Sarah stood up,
her arm throbbing,
and blood dripping onto the pristine pavement.
She looked at the woman with cold,
dangerous clarity.
"You think you own this board,
Brenda?"
"You have no idea what you've just done."
Brenda scoffed,
pulling out her phone to record a video for the neighborhood group chat.
"Welcome to Oakhaven,
May you like
honey."
"You’re going to be evicted before the month is out."
