My employer's cousin had another attack and needed her medication. I went straight to the door and bolted every lock, refusing to let her in until she knelt.

Galen Benedict, my employer, pointed at me in fury. "If I hadn't taken you in years ago, you would've starved to death on the street!

"And when your kidneys failed, it was Jan who gave you hers. Now she just wants to come in for her medicine, and you won't even allow that?!"

People passing by stopped to watch, gossiping and muttering that I was a squatter, threatening to call the police.

I gave a cold, dismissive laugh. "Go ahead. Call them right now!"

***

The crowd glared at me, pointing fingers, their voices thick with outrage.

"Living in this big villa for so long, you've forgotten where you came from. The family was good to you, and now you really think you're the owner?"

"Shame on you! They took you in, saved your life, and now your benefactor is sick and needs her medicine, but you won't even open the door. That's murder, you know!"

"See? That's why people say no good deed goes unpunished—it's just like the scorpion and the frog."

"Get out of the way! This isn't even your house. How can you stand there blocking the door?"

Janet Hartley, dressed in designer clothes, smirked at me.

She was well-preserved, looking more like a 20-year-old girl than a woman her age.

Meanwhile, years of chores and poor nutrition had left my skin dull and my body frail. If it weren't for my genes, I'd probably look even older.

Thinking about it only made my anger burn hotter.

Just then, Janet clutched her chest and said, "Gale, maybe we should just forget it?

"Maybe I've been too good to Judith. She really thinks she owns this place now."

"I just never expected that the person we saved without hesitation back then would leave me to die now. But it's okay—even if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate."

Her pitiful expression and selfless words made everyone around us even angrier at me.

"Jan, are you okay? Are you alright?" Galen asked.

Then he turned to me, shouting, "Get out of the way right now! Or something terrible's going to happen!"

"This is a matter of life and death—we're going in to get her medicine!" one of the onlookers chimed in.

Then the crowd surged forward as if ready to break down the door. I pulled a machete from my bag and brought it down hard on the cabinet by the entrance, snapping, "Stop right there!"

My fury stunned them all. In their eyes, I was a madwoman now—someone who might actually hurt them.

And honestly, who wouldn't lose their mind in a situation like this?

At the edge of the crowd, Gracie Kilmer, a woman from my hometown, craned her neck to see what was happening. She froze when she spotted me, then strode over.

"What's with all the commotion?" she asked.

Before I could answer, the others jumped in. "This crazy woman's taken over the house! That lady saved the madwoman's life at the cost of her own health, and now she can't even get inside to take her medicine!"

"Even if it were a stranger, she shouldn't have just stood there and let them die—much less the lady who saved her life!"

Before I could defend myself, Gracie Kilmer said, her tone firm, "Impossible! Judith would never do something like that!

"She's too kind to even harm a fly. And besides, she's always been close with this family. They haven't paid her in years, citing financial distress, but she has never complained.

"She even took odd jobs to help cover expenses, making sure they ate well while she survived on bread and peanut butter."

Galen shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "She really was like that when she first arrived, but it was all just an act so she could stay here!

"Afterward, she became cold and ungrateful. I kept her around out of loyalty, but now she's actually trying to let Jan die!"

Janet chimed in, playing her part perfectly. "Gale, don't say that. It's all our fault. If we hadn't owed her those wages, maybe she wouldn't resent us so much."

Gracie started to panic, turning to me in a rush. "Is there some kind of misunderstanding here? You need to explain yourself, quick!"

I said nothing, just stared coldly at Galen and Janet.

Gracie slapped her thigh in frustration. "What are you doing? Didn't you always say you enjoyed working here?

"If you don't explain, and something bad happens to this girl, forget about your job—you'll end up in jail!"

"This is between me and them. You don't need to get involved. Don't worry, nothing's going to happen."

Galen was losing his patience. "Nothing's going to happen? Jan can't even breathe, and you're saying nothing's wrong?!"

He took a deep breath, like he was steeling himself for something big.

"I was fooled by your act—pretending to be obedient and sensible. That's why I let you stay in this house for ten years!"

"Here's 15,000 dollars. Consider it your severance. I'm telling you right now—you're fired!"

Galen tossed the bank card on the floor in front of me. "Take your money and get out. Don't stand in the way of saving her!"

Galen's move drew admiration from the crowd.

"This employer's really gone above and beyond. She's hurting his family, and he's still trying to treat her with dignity!"

"15,000 dollars! A housekeeper barely makes 3,000 a month—this is more than generous!"

"Just take the money and go. 15,000 dollars is more than your life's worth!"

I sneered, glancing at the card on the floor, but didn't budge.

"After ten years, you really think 15,000 dollars is enough to throw me out?"

I stepped right into the doorway, blocking it completely. "Like I said—let's wait for the police."

Galen stared at me in disbelief, unable to understand my actions.

"Judith, I know I was late paying your wages sometimes, but I always made it up to you, didn't I?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He pressed on. "When your kidneys failed, wasn't it Jan who donated hers? Didn't we pay for your medical bills?"

I nodded again. "Yes."

Galen couldn't believe my calm, his composure starting to crack. "And Jan's illness—isn't it because she saved you? Isn't this her aftereffect?"

I lifted my eyes to meet his. "Yes. So what?"

Galen completely broke down. "She's having an attack now—why won't you help her? If it weren't for you, she wouldn't be like this!"

I laughed. "So why are you saying all this to me? She's sick—she needs a doctor! Instead of wasting time arguing with me, you should be calling 911 and getting an ambulance!"

My detached attitude only made the crowd angrier.

Even Gracie, who had been on my side, tugged at my arm in disbelief. "Judith, what's going on with you?

"She saved your life and treated you like family! Are you really going to let her die?"

Suddenly, Galen's panicked shout cut through the crowd. He laid Janet, pale as a ghost, flat on the ground and gripped her hand tightly.

"Jan, wake up! Hold on—the ambulance will be here any minute..."

Janet clutched her chest, her eyelids fluttering upward, looking for all the world like she was seconds from death.

Galen was frantic. In desperation, he actually dropped to his knees in front of me.

"Judith, I'm begging you, okay? It was my decision to keep you here—everything is my fault.

"If there's anything over these ten years that made you resent me, then take it out on me. But Jan is innocent!

"She's only like this because she tried to save you. Please, I'm begging you—let us in to get her medication!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He bowed his head to the ground again and again, the sound echoing, and soon blood began to trickle down his forehead. The crowd watched, their anger about to boil over.

I remained unmoved. "I said no. Wait for the police."

He screamed, voice raw, "Wait for the police? By the time they get here, she'll be dead! What are you waiting for?!

"Judith, you're a monster! For ten years, I treated you well—gave you food, clothes, a place to live, just like my own family. Are you really going to drive me to despair?"

I couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Janet lying on the ground. "Seems like the one dying right now... isn't me."

A life was on the line, yet I was still cracking jokes. The onlookers looked ready to tear me apart.

Just then, the neighborhood security guard arrived, and everyone started pointing at me.

"That's her! She's just a housekeeper, yet she dares to lock her employer out! You have to protect the homeowner's rights!"

"She's been fired, but she still won't let them in for the meds. Maybe she wants them dead so she can inherit this whole villa!"

"Honestly, it's possible. She's got no education—doesn't she realize that if someone dies, she won't get the house, she'll get charged with a crime!"

"What are you waiting for, security? Kick her out already!"

The security guard, piecing together the story from the shouting crowd, glared at me in anger.

"Miss, you no longer have an employment relationship with the owner. Please leave the community immediately!"

I glanced at him coolly. "I'm not leaving."

"Please cooperate, or don't blame me for what happens next."

I didn't move an inch.

The guard stepped forward to grab me, but I raised the machete again. "Open your eyes and see who you're dealing with!"

"She's gone too far—she's even threatening security now! She's not even from here, just causing trouble. I don't care who she is; she's in the wrong!"

"This is insane. Where are the police? Someone get this crazy woman out of here!"

"Murder, inciting a riot, trespassing—any one of those charges is enough to put her away!"

I lowered the machete. "I'm more anxious than you are—where are the police?"

Janet lay motionless on the ground as Galen began performing CPR, tears streaming down his face.

"Jan, don't scare me! Wake up! What am I supposed to do if something happens to you?"

The crowd grew somber, wanting to help but powerless.

"Is she really gone?"

"What's happening? Doesn't she fear she'll be haunted for letting someone die? Isn't she afraid of being haunted by a restless spirit?"

Gracie, desperate, grabbed my arm. "Judith, please stop—just open the door! If someone dies, you'll never get over it for the rest of your life!"

I shot Janet a glance and leaned lazily against the door. "No. Even if God himself shows up today, I'm not letting them in.

"Where are the police? Why aren't they here yet?"

And just as I said, the police arrived in a rush, the crowd waving their arms and eagerly recounting everything that had happened.

The officers looked troubled, but did their best to remain calm as they asked, "Is what they're saying true?"

"Yes."

"You'll need to come with us. You're suspected of attempted murder, trespassing, and inciting a riot."

"Talk to my lawyer," I replied, pointing to the man striding toward us. "He'll prove my innocence."