All this time, while Diana tried to get the truth from her husband, his girl smirked insolently and inserted caustic remarks into the conversation. The woman went to the hallway, sat on the pouf, and called the nanny to make sure the baby was okay.
— Kylesy, kick her out of the apartment! Why are you silent?—the girl whined. — Why did she come here at all? Let her pack her rags and get out. Enough pitying her.
Diana got through to the nanny and asked how the daughter was.
— Kyle brought little Eva to me a few days ago and said he was going on an urgent business trip. He told me not to call you because you’re busy too.—the nanny justified herself.
— Everything’s fine, don’t worry. I’ll come for my daughter today.—Diana hung up with relief. — And now listen to me—she turned to Kyle. — You have 10 minutes. Go collect your things, take this misunderstanding by the arm—she pointed at the girl. — And get out of my apartment. I hope that’s clear to you?
— Yeah right, dream on!—the girl jumped out from behind Kyle’s back. Diana lowered her eyes and saw that this person had put on her favorite house slippers. Clenching her fists, the woman hissed at this insolent person:
— What surprises you now? The apartment is mine; I’m the sole owner. What, Kylesy didn’t tell you about that?—she smirked. — You probably already imagined yourself running the place? You didn’t even hesitate to put on someone else’s slippers. What a bummer. Come on, get ready and out of my apartment! Otherwise…—she looked expressively at the security call panel on the wall.
— Well, what are you standing there like a statue?—the girl snapped at Kyle irritably. — Can’t you even now tell her the truth? You’re silent everywhere like a mute! What a man you are—just trouble!
Diana didn’t even need to argue with these words. The girl was expressing what had been spinning in her head for a long time. Kyle really wasn’t the man she once wanted to see by her side. For some reason, at that moment, Andrew’s image flashed before her eyes. With him, Diana would never find herself in such a pathetic position.
— I… well, in general…—Kyle hesitated again, as always avoiding a direct answer.
At that moment, Diana couldn’t suppress the surging contempt.
— This apartment is so conveniently located,—Kyle finally began, struggling to find words,—I decided it would stay with me… after you and I…
— What, Kylesy, are you out of your mind? This apartment came to me from my parents. And it’s not subject to any division, no matter what happens between us. Isn’t that clear to you? Or are you as much a «lawyer» as a businessman?
Kyle straightened up, trying to create an appearance of confidence, clearly playing to the audience in front of his companion, who was still holding his hand.
— If you give me the apartment,—he continued, already with visible tension in his voice,—I’ll renounce rights to the child and won’t divide our other acquisitions. You can take the little house in the woods and everything else we bought. And this apartment… well, that is, we…—he looked hunted at his companion, who picked up:
— Yes, we’ll keep this apartment as compensation. And no compromises. If you don’t agree, we’ll just take the daughter from you,—the girl declared challengingly. — The law is on our side. You’re always traveling, and the girl is used to this house, her room. So choose, but decide quickly.
Kyle, though not as aggressive as his lover, also tried to persuade his wife:
— You manage a large corporation, deal with real estate. Finding a new apartment for you is a piece of cake. I’m not even claiming your money. I won’t divide the accounts.
— How noble you are,—Diana smirked, feeling anger rising inside. — But you forgot to mention that all the funds in the accounts are long accounted for. We, as if by chance, have a prenup. And according to it, you have no right to profits from my company. Everything in our family budget is my modest salary. And profits, dividends, and everything else—are only mine.
Kyle was confused, and the girl, apparently not understanding the full seriousness of the words, continued to insist on her rightness.
— Kitty, what is she even talking about?—the girl addressed him discontentedly, clearly thrown off. — What dividends? What nonsense?
But Diana had already fully taken control of herself. As a person used to managing situations, she didn’t let emotions take over and calmly moved to solving the arisen problem. Her thoughts were clear—the most important thing was that her daughter was okay. Now it was time to deal once and for all with the unexpected «guests.»
— First, you’re both in my apartment,—she began calmly, crossing her arms over her chest. — Dear, you’re not even registered here, and you, Kyle, will lose your registration in the next couple of hours. So I advise you to pack up and leave nicely while I’m still in a peaceful mood. I’ll handle all the documents today.
— Who are you to talk like that?—Kyle, apparently deciding to play brave, stepped forward, trying to scare his still-wife, shielding his companion. — Have you forgotten you have a child? Do you think I’ll let you just take everything? I won’t leave the company or Eva alone if you try to put spokes in my wheels. I’ll take the daughter through court, and you won’t see her anymore!
— And do you really think you can pull that off?—Diana looked at him with obvious contempt, not believing that this person was once dear to her. She began to realize that perhaps she never truly loved him, but just used him to fill the emptiness in her heart.
— Why not?—Kyle answered with a smug grin. — My parents are ready to confirm that you’re mentally unstable. You’re on antidepressants, went to psychologists. And in general, it’s dangerous to entrust child-rearing to you! So here’s your choice: give me the apartment and keep the right to see your daughter, or I call child services, and that’s the end of your parenting story.
Diana just smirked.
— Do you even realize how stupid that sounds?—she said with undisguised sarcasm. Her patience was running out. She knew arguing with Kyle further was pointless. For him, everything was already decided: in his head, she was a problem that needed to be eliminated.
Without delay, the woman went to the hallway and, without extra words, pressed the security call button. Kyle and his girl exchanged panicked glances. They both knew well that in case of professionals’ intervention, things would turn out not in their favor.
It didn’t take several minutes for the pair, nervously pulling on clothes, to leave the apartment.
Diana understood she had won only one battle. It was just a small victory in a prolonged war for her own peace and rights to life with her daughter. Kyle had gone too far in his attempts to get the apartment. He was supported by this girl, who seemed more interested in a luxurious life than in him.
Diana couldn’t believe she once allowed this person to be part of her life. Now she had to solve more important issues—make sure her daughter was okay. She immediately called the nanny, asking her to lock herself in the apartment and not open to anyone, especially her husband.
Diana explained the situation to the nanny, asking her to stay with Eva and not open the door to anyone, especially Kyle. She assured that she would come for her daughter as soon as she could. But while Diana tried to take control of the situation, Kyle wasn’t sitting idle either. He calculated that he could break his wife psychologically, playing on her fears and weaknesses.
The man’s initial plan collapsed—he hoped his wife wouldn’t arrive so early and wouldn’t catch him with Vicky. Now, when she saw everything, a thought flashed in his head: «A frightened and offended woman will be an easy target.» He calculated that Diana, weakened by the surprise, would make concessions and leave him the apartment in exchange for not claiming their daughter. This cunning plan, involving blackmail through the child, was suggested to Kyle by his father.
Richard had long harbored grudge against his daughter-in-law. Since Diana deprived him of control over the company, he considered himself entitled to revenge. It was Richard who introduced his son to Vicky. When she came to apply as a secretary, he immediately realized the girl could be useful not only in office matters but also in his revenge. He gladly watched as a romance sparked between Vicky and his son, seeing in it an opportunity to regain what was lost.
Financially, Diana was impregnable—her business stood on a solid foundation; she built it from scratch, knowing all the intricacies of management. But Richard was sure he could strike her in the most painful place—through her daughter. In his view, no mother could live peacefully if her child ended up in the hands of people who don’t love or care for her. Therefore, he advised his son: when it’s time to «show the cards,» threats to take Eva would be the best weapon.
Richard considered his daughter-in-law far from the ideal mother—she spent too much time at work, traveled on business trips. Let her experience stress, cry, and get nervous. In the first stage, according to his plan, she would transfer her apartment to Kyle—and that would already be an important victory. Financially, she wouldn’t lose much, but morally, it would break her.