That evening, Polina was climbing the stairs to her apartment. Her heart felt light and joyful – the renovation had finally been completed. Three months of hard work – endless trips to the stores and quarrels with the workers – were now behind her. Now, in the apartment she inherited from her grandmother, everything exuded coziness and warmth.
“Now, we can finally live,” Polina whispered, running her hand along the freshly painted walls. Although the paint had long dried, she still couldn’t help the gesture.
The apartment had transformed beyond recognition. Gone were the old wallpapers, replaced by light walls; the creaky parquet was swapped for modern laminate; and in the kitchen, there was a brand-new set in the color of milk chocolate – something Polina had long dreamed of.
Polina went into the kitchen and turned on the kettle. Today, she had purposely come home early from work – she wanted to enjoy the fruits of her labor in silence. Nikolay, her husband, was delayed at the office, which gave her time to quietly consider where to place the remaining little touches.
She retrieved from a cupboard a cup adorned with an ornate pattern – a housewarming gift from a friend. The kettle had just begun to boil when the doorbell rang.
“Who is it?” Polina asked as she approached the door.
“Hello, I’m your neighbor, Marina,” came an unfamiliar female voice. “I really need to talk to you.”
Polina opened the door. Standing on the threshold was a woman of about thirty-five, with a tired face and an anxious look. Her hands nervously fiddled with the strap of her bag.
“Sorry for the disturbance,” began Marina, “but this is very important. I know your mother-in-law, Oksana Ivanovna, and her son.”
Polina tensed. Ever since the wedding, her relationship with her mother-in-law had been difficult. Oksana Ivanovna – a dominant and headstrong woman – constantly tried to interfere in her life with Nikolay.
“Please, come in,” Polina said, opening the door wider to let the stranger into the apartment.
“No, no, it’s better if we talk here,” Marina shook her head. “Listen to me carefully. I rent an apartment one floor below, and a few years ago I also got to know your mother-in-law – back when I still lived in my own apartment in the city center.”
Polina leaned against the doorframe, listening intently.
“Oksana Ivanovna seemed so kind and caring,” Marina continued, her voice trembling. “She often came to visit me, brought pies, asked about my life. And then she introduced me to her son.”
“To Nikolay?” Polina clarified, feeling a chill run down her spine.
“Yes. We started dating. It was like a fairy tale – flowers, restaurants, sweet words. And then…” Marina paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Then they proposed that I invest money in a joint business. They persuaded me to re-register the apartment as collateral.”
Polina felt the ground give way beneath her feet. She remembered how, just last week, Oksana Ivanovna had mentioned that it might be a good idea to merge their properties with Nikolay’s so that it would be easier to help out.
“I lost everything,” Marina said in a hollow tone. “They pulled off some kind of scam with the documents. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late – the apartment had been sold, and I was left out on the street.”
“But how…? Why didn’t you go to the police?” Polina’s throat suddenly felt dry.
“I did. But all the documents were legally in order. I signed everything myself – even though I didn’t understand what I was signing,” Marina bitterly smiled. “They are very persuasive. Especially Oksana Ivanovna – she speaks so sweetly, so convincingly. And Nikolay… he’s a master at creating the image of the perfect man.”
Polina felt a wave of nausea. She remembered how she had met Nikolay – at a café where Oksana Ivanovna had invited her for a cup of coffee. How his son had coincidentally been there, and how quickly their romance had ignited…
“Why are you telling me this now?” Polina asked, though she already knew the answer.
“Because yesterday I saw Oksana Ivanovna talking with a realtor by your building’s entrance. I recognized him – he’s the same person who helped them with my apartment.”
At that moment, Polina’s phone vibrated in her pocket. A message from her mother-in-law appeared on the screen: “Dear, I’ll come by tomorrow with some documents. We need to discuss something about your apartment with Kolya.”
Polina’s hands trembled as she recalled all the oddities of recent weeks: how Nikolay had started staying later at work, how the visits from her mother-in-law had increased, how her husband had grown increasingly interested in the apartment’s documents…
“Thank you,” Polina said quietly, looking at Marina. “I have a lot to think about. Let’s exchange contacts.”
After jotting down her phone number, Marina nodded and, giving one last sympathetic look, headed for the stairs. Polina closed the door and leaned against it. Memories of a recent conversation with Oksana Ivanovna resurfaced.
“Dear, you and Kolya should be thinking about the future,” her mother-in-law had said while arranging the pies she’d brought on the table. “Why do you need that old apartment? Sell it and buy a big family house. We could all live together and raise grandchildren.”
At that time, Polina had merely waved off those words. But now every phrase from her mother-in-law took on a new, ominous meaning.
The doorbell rang again, shattering the silence. On the threshold stood Oksana Ivanovna holding a thick folder of documents.
“Polinushka, how nice that you’re home!” her mother-in-law exclaimed as she stepped into the apartment without waiting for an invitation. “I brought some documents; we need to discuss something.”
Polina felt a chill inside.
“Oksana Ivanovna, maybe we can talk another time,” Polina tried to protest. “I’m busy right now.”
“Nonsense! It’ll only take a couple of minutes,” Oksana Ivanovna insisted as she began laying out the papers on the kitchen table. “Look, Kolya and I have thought everything through. We’ll sell your apartment, add our savings, and get a wonderful house outside the city. There’ll be enough space for everyone.”
“I’m not going to sign anything,” Polina stated firmly.
For a moment, Oksana Ivanovna’s smile faltered, only to return immediately.
“Don’t be foolish, girl. It’s all for your own good. Kolya has already agreed.”
That evening, the conversation with her husband turned tense.
“Why are you refusing?” Nikolay nervously paced around the room. “Mother is trying, organizing everything, and you’re making a fuss. Think about it – a big house, all together. Is that so bad?”
“And what about my opinion? Doesn’t it matter?” Polina tried to speak calmly. “This is my grandmother’s apartment. I’m not going to sell it.”
“You’re too attached to the past!” Nikolay’s tone turned harsh and unfamiliar. “You need to think about the future.”
From that day on, the pressure only grew. Oksana Ivanovna began appearing almost every day, always with new arguments – sometimes talking about real estate contacts, sometimes about lucrative offers, sometimes about how difficult it was for Nikolay to commute from that neighborhood.
Polina held her ground, but each day became harder. Nikolay increasingly disappeared to his mother’s, returning home irritated and cold.
One evening, having left work earlier than usual, Polina heard her mother-in-law’s voice near the building entrance.
“Yes, there’s a slight delay with the documents,” Oksana Ivanovna was saying on the phone. “Polina will come around, but it’s temporary. Kolya knows what to do. Everything will be ready by next week.”
Polina’s heart pounded faster. She barely waited until her mother-in-law left before climbing the stairs to her apartment. An hour later, Nikolay arrived – unusually animated, carrying a folder of documents.
“Let’s settle everything today,” he said, spreading the papers out on the table. “I’ve prepared everything; all I need is your signature. And then we can start a new life.”
Polina looked at her husband’s face and no longer recognized him. Where had the caring, attentive man she married gone? Before her stood a stranger with cold eyes that showed nothing but impatience.
“I’m not signing anything. I’m done with this. I want you out. Here are your things. And leave the keys.”
The next day, Polina went to work earlier than usual. Throughout the day, she couldn’t sit still, constantly checking her phone. Around three o’clock, a call came from Marina.
“Polina, they’re trying to get into your apartment!” Marina’s voice trembled with worry.
“This can’t be! I kicked my husband out yesterday and took the keys,” Polina insisted.
“Come quickly. Oksana Ivanovna and Nikolay – they have keys. I’ve already called the police!”
Polina sprang from her desk, grabbing her bag. She remembered that the apartment contained many valuable antiques and paintings.
“I’ll be right there! Please make sure they don’t take anything!”
When Polina arrived at the entrance, a police car was already parked there. Marina met her at the door.
“They managed to open the door, but I didn’t let them in,” Marina recounted. “I started shouting that I would call the police. Oksana Ivanovna tried to convince me that this was just a family matter, but I didn’t give in.”
Nikolay stood by the wall, pale and confused. In the officer’s hand, a bunch of keys glistened.
“Ma’am, do you confirm that these are duplicates made without your knowledge?” the officer asked.
Polina nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m filing a report. Against everyone – for attempted illegal entry and fraud,” Polina’s voice trembled with tension.
“What are you saying?!” Nikolay finally snapped back. “I’m your husband! What fraud?”
“Ex-husband,” Polina said firmly. “From this moment on – ex-husband.”
The following weeks turned into a whirlwind. Polina filed for divorce while simultaneously making a police report. Marina helped gather evidence – it turned out there were other victims of Oksana Ivanovna’s and Nikolay’s scams.
“You know,” Marina once said while making tea in Polina’s kitchen, “when I lost my apartment, I thought my life was over. But now I see – it was a lesson. You can’t blindly trust and rely solely on feelings. It was hard, but necessary; I learned to understand people. I’m glad I was able to save you from this.”
Polina nodded in agreement. After the incident with the keys, she seemed to have awakened from a long sleep. Each day brought new revelations – she realized it was possible to live without constant control, to plan her day without being weighed down by others’ expectations, to meet friends without guilt.
The divorce proceeded quickly – Nikolay didn’t drag out the process, fearing an investigation into his past schemes. Oksana Ivanovna tried to cause a scandal in court, but the bailiffs quickly subdued her.
Polina kept her apartment and regained her confidence. Now, as she prepared breakfast in her cozy kitchen, she often reflected on how important it is to learn to say “no” and trust your feelings.
“You’ve become a completely different person,” Marina remarked one day, noticing the sparkle in her eyes and her buoyant walk.
“I finally feel at home,” Polina smiled as she looked around her apartment. “Everything here is mine – every item, every inch of space. And I will never let anyone take that away from me again.”
Gradually, life settled. Polina received a promotion at work, started attending yoga classes, and even got a cat. The fluffy friend greeted her after work and adored her for a bowl of milk.
Every evening, as she returned home, Polina thanked fate for that chance visit from Marina. One conversation had changed her entire life and saved her from a terrible mistake. And now, whenever she meets new men, she tells them that she lives in a rented apartment, choosing to remain silent about her career successes.