**Diary Entry**
My ex-mother-in-law showed up todaycompletely unaware that Archie and I had divorced.
Can you believe it? I whispered to Bella, my hands shaking as I put my phone down. Nina Pavlovna still thinks were married. And shes on her way here.
Bellas eyes widened. Youre joking! Here? To this flat?
Exactly, I muttered, rubbing my temples. Shes convinced Archie and I are still together. Says she misses the girls.
Why are you so scared? Shes nothing to you now. Youve got nothing to fear.
Easy for you to say. You dont know her. Shes formidablewell-connected, sharp. If she thinks Ive been hiding this from her, shell take it personally. Assume the worst. Shell make me pay.
Bella frowned. Has she really not called or seen you all this time?
We fell out. Last time she visited from Brighton, two years ago, we had a row.
Over Archie?
Not just him, I sighed. Everything. She didnt like how we hosted her, how we raised the kids, howwell, you name it.
And?
We argued. Words flew. She said she never wanted to see me again and left. Since then, shes only spoken to Archie.
And what did he do?
What do you think? Used it against me. Said if I didnt respect his mother, I didnt love him. Blamed me for his work troubles. Then he vanished for a week. When he finally called, he said hed met someone else and that we were through.
Bella tapped her nails on the table. So Archie never told her you divorced.
Apparently not.
Or that he took half the flat. Or that youre now crammed into this tiny place with the girls, the cat, and the dog?
Exactly. She thinks everythings fine. Said shes got urgent business in London and needs to stay with us for a week.
Wheres us? Bella glanced around the cramped room.
The doorbell rang.
My stomach dropped. Thats her. What do I do? How do I explain this?
Just tell her the truth.
Shell blame me. Shell shout. I cantmaybe we just dont answer?
Worse idea. Then shell definitely suspect something.
The bell rang again.
Bella squeezed my hand. Open it. And dont be afraid. Let her yell. Youve done nothing wrong. Im right here.
I took a breath and turned the knob.
Hello, Nina Pavlovna, I said softly.
She swept in, two suitcases in tow, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Why the delay? Hiding someone?
No, I was just talking with Bella. My friend.
What friend?
Bella stepped forward. Hello. Im Bella.
Nina Pavlovnas lip curled. Wheres Archie? At work?
Probably, I said.
Probably? You dont know where your own husband is?
I shrugged helplessly.
Hes not her husband! Bella cut in, chin raised.
Nina Pavlovna froze. What do you mean?
Exactly what I said. Bella crossed her arms. (I could almost hear her thinking, *I always wanted to say that to my ex-mother-in-law. At least I get to say it to this one.*)
Lydia and your precious son divorced a year ago, she continued, voice dripping with sarcasm. And the two-bed flat they bought together? He took half, sold his share, and vanished. Now shes stuck in this shoebox with two kids, a cat, and a dog. Any other questions?
Nina Pavlovna turned to me. Is this true?
Yes, I said. We divorced last autumn.
Not that. Did he really take the flat?
He had the right to. It was joint property. Besides, hes remarried now.
Her eyebrows shot up. Remarried?
Says his new wife is expecting. Asked me not to hassle him for child supportpromised hed pay up later. Claims works been rough.
Bella snorted. And you believed him? Naive. Hell never pay. Theres no baby, no wife, no job troubles. Just lies to guilt-trip you.
Nina Pavlovna frowned. Why didnt he tell me?
Maybe he didnt want to upset you? I offered weakly.
Perhaps, she mused. Perhaps.
But the real reason was simpler: Archie had played her.
*Let her think Lydia and I are still together,* hed schemed. *She hates Lydia but adores the girls. If she thinks theyre struggling, shell help me buy a bigger place.*
So, every month, hed called her, sighing about how cramped they were in their tiny flat. Sent photos of the girls, knowing shed melt. Dropped hints about how a four-bed near Regents Park would solve everything.
Sophie starts school soon, hed lamented. No room for a desk. Wed buy a bigger place if we could, but my salary wont stretch. The girls even wrote to Father Christmas, begging for a flat near Camden Town. Sweet, isnt it? They ask about you every day, by the way. Hows Granny? Is she alright? But dont worrywell manage. Nina Pavlovna stood very still, her face unreadable. Then, slowly, she unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a stack of envelopesbank statements, property listings, letters addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Archie Carter.
I paid for that flat, she said quietly. Both times. The deposit, the renovations. I thought I was helping my son build a life. Instead, he used me to bleed you dry.
She turned to me, her eyes sharp but no longer cold. Lydia, call your solicitor. Were getting that flat back. And Archie? Hes about to learn what it means to lie to the wrong woman.
Bella grinned. Took you long enough. Nina Pavlovna pulled out her phone and dialed with deliberate calm. «Archie,» she said when he answered, «you have thirty minutes to get here. And bring the deeds.» She hung up before he could speak. The room was quiet except for the ticking clock and the distant laughter of the girls playing in the next room. I looked at Bella, then at Nina Pavlovna, who stood like a general preparing for battle. For the first time in years, I felt itrelief, sharp and sweet, cutting through the fear. Justice, I realized, could have a face, and sometimes, it wore sensible shoes and carried two suitcases full of receipts.
