— Got it. Galina Ivanovna and I are on our way too. The doctor will be on standby.
— Andrey… — Katya hesitated. — I’m really scared.
— I know. But you’re not alone. Remember that.
The autumn park was deserted and gloomy. The wind chased dry leaves along the paths, and the sky was covered with leaden clouds. The old gazebo stood secluded, hidden behind thick bushes of overgrown lilac.
Katya walked along the path, clutching the pepper spray Andrey had given her in her pocket. A car was visible near the gazebo. Leaning against the hood was Igor. Seeing Katya, her husband broke into a wide smile and stepped toward her, arms outstretched for an embrace.
— Katyusha!
She stopped two meters away from him.
— Don’t come any closer.
— What’s wrong? — Her husband froze. — I wanted to hug you. We came to make up.
— Where’s Zhanna? — Katya asked, ignoring his gesture.
— She left. Katya, let’s sit in the car. It’s warm there, and we can talk. I brought some documents. Just a formality, a deed of gift for the apartment.
— A deed of gift? — Katya scoffed. — What for?
— Well, to secure the property, — Igor began to speak quickly. — You understand, my illness. What if something happens? There will be court cases and division of property with relatives. This way, it’s all yours. You just sign that you accept it as a gift, and that’s it.
— You’re lying, — Katerina said calmly. — You want me to sign the apartment over to you or Zhanna, so you can sell it and pay off your debts?
Igor turned pale. His eyes darted around.
— What are you talking about? Katya, are you paranoid? It must be all those concoctions of yours…
— I didn’t drink them. I poured them into the geranium. And it almost died. Just like our love.
At that moment, the car door flew open. Zhanna got out. In her hands, her friend was holding a taser that crackled with electrical discharges.
— Enough talk! She knows everything. Grab her!
Igor instantly dropped the mask of a loving husband and lunged at Katya.
— Let go! — she screamed. But her husband was stronger. He was twisting her arm, dragging her toward the open car door.
— Zhanna, do it, stun her!
Her friend jumped forward and brought the taser to Katya’s neck. At that second, a shadow flew out of the bushes. With a short kick, Andrey knocked the taser out of Zhanna’s hand, then, grabbing Igor’s arm, he applied a pain hold that made him howl and fall to his knees in the mud.
— Freeze! — Andrey barked, pressing Igor’s face against the gazebo wall. — Move, and I’ll break your arm.
Zhanna jumped back to a tree, clutching her bruised wrist.
— Don’t come near me! Don’t you dare touch me! I’m pregnant!
Everyone froze. Igor, groaning under Andrey’s knee, raised his head, smudged with dirt.
— What? Zhanna, are you…?
— Yes, Igor. I’m carrying your child.
Igor jerked, trying to throw Andrey off.
— Hey, you, let go! She’s pregnant. This is… Katya, tell him!
Katya looked at Zhanna. She stood there, covering her stomach with her hands, playing the victim.
— Pregnant, are you? — Katerina asked.
— Four weeks! — Zhanna went on the offensive. — And you, you barren hen, you’re jealous, aren’t you? You could never give Igor what I have.
Her husband looked at Zhanna with adoration and hope.
— Bravo, bravo! — a calm voice came from the direction of the path. — The show is over, Zhanna Arkadievna.
From the shadow of the trees emerged Doctor Konstantin Vitalievich. Next to him stood Galina Ivanovna, holding a folder of documents. Zhanna backed away.
— Kostya, what are you doing here? You betrayed us?..
