“You Won’t Live in Our Apartment! I’ll Make Your Life a Living Hell!” — My Husband Screamed, and Behind Him, His Mother Backed Him Up
“What did you bring?”
Lidiya Ivanovna looked at the package of cottage cheese with disgust.
“Olga, can’t you buy something decent?”
“Decent?” Olga set the bags on the table.
“It’s the nine percent fat kind, just like you asked.”
“I said I wanted low-fat!” her mother-in-law’s voice grew sharper.
“My stomach is sensitive, and you bring me this?!”
“Lidiya Ivanovna, you said nine percent,” Olga replied, trying to stay calm.
“I even wrote it down.”
“You didn’t write anything!”
The mother-in-law grabbed the receipt.
“Look how much money you wasted! Expensive bread, the wrong sausage!”
“It’s the same bread we always get,” Olga said, patience thinning.
“And the sausage is additive-free, just like Andrey likes.”
“Don’t you dare contradict me!”
Lidiya Ivanovna threw her hands in the air.
“What kind of daughter-in-law are you? You don’t know how to save money, and you can’t cook!”
“What exactly did I cook wrong?” Olga’s cheeks flushed red.
“Yesterday’s soup was just water! The meat was tough, the potatoes raw!”
“The meat was fresh. I boiled it for two hours,” Olga said, holding back.
“The potatoes were soft.”
“Don’t argue!”
The mother-in-law placed her hands on her hips.
“I’ve been cooking for forty years, and you think you can teach me?”
Andrey stormed into the room. His shirt was unbuttoned, his tie loose, his face red with irritation.
“What is all this yelling?!” the husband barked.
“I just got back from work and it sounds like a fish market in here!”
“Son!”
Lidiya Ivanovna instantly softened her tone.
“Olga did the shopping wrong again. She wastes money and is good for nothing!”
“Mom’s right!” Andrey didn’t even wait for his wife’s explanation.
“How many times do I have to tell you to be frugal?”
“Andrey, I bought everything from the list,” Olga said, turning to her husband.
“Your mother asked for nine percent cottage cheese.”
“Don’t lie!” Andrey exploded.
“Mom’s right!”
“She asked for low-fat!” the mother-in-law interrupted.
“And she brought something else!”
“Lidiya Ivanovna, you yourself—” Olga began.
“What do you mean ‘you yourself’?”
Andrey stepped toward her.
“You think my mom’s a fool?”
“Don’t twist my words,” Olga’s voice trembled.
“I just want to clarify things.”
“There’s nothing to clarify!”
Andrey gestured wildly.
“If Mom said it, then that’s how it is!”
“‘Mom said, Mom’s always right’…” Olga shook her head.
“Did you forget Mom is living in our apartment?”
“What?!” Andrey looked stunned.
“What did you say?”
“What I said,” Olga stood up straight.
“The apartment is ours, and there are three people living here.”
“How dare you!” Lidiya Ivanovna huffed indignantly.
“Ungrateful! I help you and you speak to me like that!”
“Help?” Olga let out a bitter laugh.
“You spend all day criticizing everything!”
“Olga!” Andrey yelled.
“Apologize to my mom right now!”
“Apologize for what?” Olga looked at her husband.
“For telling the truth?”
“For what you said!” Andrey moved closer.
“Mom gave me life and raised me! Who are you?”
“Your wife!” Olga stood her ground.
“And the co-owner of this home!”
“You’re not the owner!” Andrey shouted.
“As long as Mom’s alive, she’s in charge here!”
“Don’t worry, son,” Lidiya Ivanovna stroked her son’s hand.
“Don’t let her upset you.”
“I am upset!”
Andrey turned to his wife.
“Pack your things and get out!”
“What?” Olga blinked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
“Get out of my house!” Andrey repeated.
“I’m sick of your whining!”
“Out of our house?”
Olga enunciated each word.
“The apartment is in both our names.”
“I’ll file for divorce!” Andrey waved her off.
“I’ll get everything, just watch!”
“That’s right, son!” the mother-in-law chimed in.
“There’s no reason for her to stay here!”
“Andrey, are you serious?” Olga’s voice softened.
“You’re throwing me out of my own home?”
“You must respect my mother!” Andrey pointed at her.
“And you’re rude and arrogant!”
“I’m defending myself!” Olga shouted.
“From constant attacks!”
“Well, you’re doing a poor job!” her husband mocked.
“Go cry to your mother!”
“Son,” Lidiya Ivanovna hugged him.
“Why do you need a wife like that?”
“I’m not going anywhere!” Olga crossed her arms.
“This apartment is half mine!”
“Yours?” Andrey scoffed.
“Did you forget who paid the mortgage?”
“We both did!” Olga lifted her chin.
“I worked too!”
“Worked?” he sneered.
“You brought home pocket change!”
“I paid more than half of the mortgage!” Olga’s voice grew strong.
“And I have the documents to prove it!”
“You won’t live in our apartment!”
Andrey screamed, waving his arms.
“I’ll make your life a living hell!”
“Our apartment,” Olga repeated calmly.
“No matter what you imagine.”
“I’ve got a lawyer friend!” Andrey pointed at her.
“He’ll put you in your place!”
“Let him try!” Olga remained unmoved.
“The law is on my side!”
“What do you know about the law?!” he laughed.
“My Sergey Nikolaevich will handle everything!”
“My son’s right!” the mother-in-law added.
“Why do we need a neighbor like her?”
“I’m not a neighbor!” Olga shouted.
“I’m the wife!”
“You were the wife,” Andrey corrected.
“Now you’re nothing!”
He grabbed Olga’s arm, pushing her toward the door. Lidiya Ivanovna helped from behind.
“Let me go!” Olga struggled.
“This is illegal!”
“Illegal?” Andrey dragged her to the door.
“Then live on the street!”
The door slammed shut.
Olga stood frozen in the hallway. She only had her purse in hand. Her keys were left inside.
A neighbor, Aunt Zina, peeked out from her apartment.
“Olenka, what happened?” the old woman adjusted her robe.
“They threw me out…” Olga could barely speak.
“Out of my own apartment…”
“They threw you out?” Aunt Zina was outraged.
“How dare they!”
“Apparently… they can,” Olga smiled bitterly.
“Come to my place!” Aunt Zina opened her door wide.
“We’ll have some tea and talk.”
The next morning, Olga stood outside the courthouse. In her hands were divorce papers. The second set was for property division.
“Your husband threw you out of the apartment?” the court clerk asked.
“Yes, with his mother’s help,” Olga nodded.
“By force.”
“Any witnesses?” the woman jotted it down.
“The neighbor saw it,” Olga gave the address.
“Zinaida Petrovna Morozova.”
The legal process lasted three months. Andrey showed up with a lawyer—a grim-looking man in an expensive suit.
“My client is entitled to half,” Olga’s lawyer declared.
“My client paid the mortgage alone!” Sergey Nikolaevich objected.
“We have proof,” Olga’s lawyer laid out the documents.
Lidiya Ivanovna sat in the courtroom, whispering to her son, making faces of disapproval.
“Your Honor,” Olga’s lawyer stood.
“The plaintiff made equal mortgage payments.”
The judge reviewed the bank records, employment certificates, and mortgage documents.
“This court recognizes the plaintiff’s right to half of the apartment,” the judge declared.
Andrey jumped up.
“This is unfair!” he shouted.
“I worked myself to the bone, alone!”
“The decision is final,” the judge said firmly.
“The apartment will be sold.”
A month later, the apartment went up for sale. Buyers came quickly—three-bedroom unit in a good location.
“Here’s your share,” the notary handed Olga a check.
Andrey received the same amount. His face was dark, lips tight.
“Happy now?” he asked as they exited.
“You destroyed everything.”
“You destroyed it,” Olga replied.
“When your mother became more important than your wife.”
Lidiya Ivanovna wept into a tissue.
“Where will we live now?” she moaned.
“You threw my son onto the street!”
“Don’t cry, Mom!” Andrey hugged her.
“We’ll figure something out.”
Olga didn’t hear their complaints. She walked to the bus stop. Her phone was in her pocket. Her mom was waiting for her call.
“Mom, I did it!” Olga said on the phone.
“We’ve got the money!”
“Bravo, sweetheart!” her mom’s voice trembled with emotion.
“I saved up some too!”
