?


    Christine''s annoyance bubbled up to a near-boiling point the moment she caught sight of Primo through the video doorbell again, prompting her to curse under her breath. She had zero intention of dealing with him, yet the doorbell insisted, its chimes echoing persistently.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Reluctantly, she dialed security to inquire about the situation, only to be met with a shocking revtion.


    "He moved into my neighborhood?" she asked incredulously.


    "Yes, Ms. Jackson," came the reply, stirring a surge of frustration that shot straight to her temples, aggravating a throbbing headache she thought she had under control.


    "He''s living right across from me?!" Christine couldn''t hide her disbelief.


    The security team, equally taken aback by the unfolding events, sympathized with her plight. "Ms. Jackson, I''m sorry, but now that he''s a homeowner, we can''t just force him out. If he keeps bothering you, I''d suggest calling the police, or I can call them for you if you''d prefer."


    "No, I''ll handle it myself," she decided, ending the call and opening her door to confront Primo directly. "Where''s Dailey?" were the first words she fired off as she made her way across to confront another.


    Her impatience was palpable, marked by her brisk, unhesitating approach to Dailey''s door, which she knocked on with such force it nearly resulted in an idental p to the face when he answered.


    Without a hint of apology, Christine cut straight to the chase, "Why on earth are you living across from me?"


    Dailey, d in a bathrobe, adjusted its tie with a calm that belied the tension beneath. "I don''t see why I should report my whereabouts to Ms. Jackson, especially since we''ve gone our separate ways."


    Christine eyed his dark robe, noting his dry hair and the effort he put into appearing nonchnt. "Mr. rkson, let''s not cling to what''s over. Your being here only makes me want to distance myself further."


    Unruffled on the surface, Dailey''s grip on the robe''s tie betrayed his inner turmoil. "Is Ms. Jackson truly over me? Your reaction to my proximity seems to suggest otherwise."


    Admitting to herself that she wasn''t entirely indifferent to him, Christine knew all too well theplications of living so close to a former lover The thought of constantly running into him was unbearable, not to mention the risk of a drunken mistake rekindling their failed rtionship.


    Deciding she had no control over Dailey''s actions, Christine resolved to find a new ce to live, away from the remnants of their shared past in her current home. "Perhaps Mr. rkson should consider seeing a psychiatrist. Delusions of this nature are a serious matter," she quipped before making a swift exit back to her apartment.


    She didn''t dismiss her masseuse immediately after their session but instead invited him to stay for a movie. Later, they left together, Christine carrying


    a ck backpack filled with essentials, careful to avoid giving Dailey any hint of her departure.


    Primo, having witnessed their exit, rushed to inform Dailey, who attempted to follow but was called back home for an urgent matter.


    Christine, after dropping off the


    masseuse, noticed a car tailing her and decided to head to Elmwood Vis, where she knew she could


    find refuge with Be, who was


    watching the kids in another apartment there. This


    spare her the daily a move would


    of


    encountering Dailey.


    However, as she waited at a traffic light, contemting her next move, her phone rang. It was Merritt on the other end.