We sold our pristine downtown condo, home to our tidy cats, with no mess left behind. Three weeks later, the new owner, Gordon, demanded $10,000, claiming a “cat smell.” Our realtor, Petra, said we owed nothing. My wife, Mira, retaliated by manipulating the condo’s smart system—flashing lights, tweaking the thermostat. Gordon texted angrily, threatening to sue. Mira uncovered his history of evictions and frivolous lawsuits against sellers for nonexistent odors. Petra confirmed he was a serial extortionist, flipping properties for profit.
Mira escalated, setting off alarms at 3 a.m. and changing the WiFi password. When Gordon listed the condo with false “renovated” claims, Mira reported him, and the listing was pulled. She played a looped recording through the smart speaker, calling out his lies. Gordon’s threats intensified, but we documented everything. When he offered a $2,000 settlement, Mira countered with a defamation threat. Our lawyer friend found Gordon’s fraud case in another state and sent a cease-and-desist letter. Gordon backed down, signing a retraction.
He later lost financing and sold the condo at a loss to a cat-loving couple, vouched for by Petra. Over dinner, we laughed about justice served. The ordeal strengthened our bond and taught us to stand firm against bullies with evidence and support.
