Then she called the security agency, arranged a meeting for tomorrow morning. Katya stood up, went to the mirror in the hallway. Looked at her reflection. Pale face, eyes red from crying, hair disheveled. She washed her face with cold water, tidied herself up. Combed her hair, put on clean clothes. Took her bag, the apartment documents, her phone. She left the house.
On her way to the lawyer, Katya forced herself not to think about the pain. Not to think about the betrayal. Only about actions. Step by step. The law firm’s office was in a business center a ten-minute walk from her home. Katya went up to the third floor, entered the reception area. The secretary, a young woman in a strict suit, smiled at her.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Yes, for three o’clock. Katerina.”
“Please, come in. Office number five, at the end of the hall.”
Katya walked down the hall, knocked on the correct door.
“Come in,” a voice said from inside.
She entered. A man in his fifties, with glasses and graying hair, sat at the desk.
“Good afternoon. Please, have a seat,” he gestured to the chair opposite him. “My name is Viktor Petrovich. I’m listening.”
Katya sat down, placed the documents on the table.
“I need to evict my husband from my apartment. And file for divorce.”
The lawyer nodded, took the documents, began to study them.
“Tell me the situation in more detail.”
Katya told him. Briefly, without emotion. About the apartment inherited from her grandmother. About Andrey being only registered there, not an owner. About him cheating on her with her sister, and their plan to kick her out of her own apartment.
Viktor Petrovich listened attentively, nodding. When Katya finished, he set the documents aside and looked at her over his glasses.
“The situation is unpleasant, but solvable. Since the apartment is registered only in your name and was acquired by inheritance before the marriage, it is not joint marital property. Your husband has no rights to it. After the divorce, you can have him evicted through the court. The procedure will take from one to three months, depending on the circumstances.”
“Three months is a long time,” Katya said. “During that time, they will try to carry out their plan.”
“And what is their plan?”
“My sister wants to move in with me with the baby, get registered, and then sue for a part of the apartment, claiming she has nowhere to go with a newborn.”
Viktor Petrovich smirked.
“A naive plan. Registration does not grant ownership rights. Even if they register, they can be evicted through the court. It will take time, but the outcome is predictable: the apartment is yours and will remain yours.”
“But I don’t want to wait for months while they live in my apartment,” Katya clenched her fists. “I want them gone now.”
The lawyer thought for a moment, tapping his pen on the desk.
“I understand. There is an option. You can change the locks and not let your husband into the apartment. Formally, this is not entirely legal, but if you immediately file for divorce and initiate the eviction procedure, the court will be on your side. Especially given the circumstances: infidelity, an attempt to seize your property. Do you have proof?”
“I do. A text conversation on my husband’s phone. I can take screenshots.”
“Excellent. Make copies of all the evidence. The more, the better. Photos and text messages, if there are any recordings of conversations. It will all be useful.”
“And what about my sister? She will try to come, say she has nowhere to go with the baby.”
“Don’t let her in. It’s your apartment, you decide who to let in. She is not registered there, she doesn’t have keys. If she tries to force her way in, call the police.”
Katya nodded, writing everything down in her notebook.
“When can we start the divorce proceedings?”
“As early as tomorrow. I will prepare the documents, you will sign them, and we will file a lawsuit. At the same time, we will file a petition to evict your husband from the apartment. Given the circumstances, the process should be quick.”
“Good. Please prepare everything. I will come tomorrow morning.”
“Agreed. Any more questions?”
“No. Thank you.”
Katya paid for the consultation, took the lawyer’s business card, and left the office. It had gotten dark outside. She looked at her watch—six in the evening. Andrey would be home soon. She walked slowly, thinking about her next steps. Today, she wouldn’t do anything. She would act as usual. Ask how work was. Make dinner. Go to bed next to him as if nothing had happened. And tomorrow, she would start to act.
Katya returned home, opened the door. The lights were on in the apartment, Andrey had already arrived. She heard the sound of the TV from the living room.
“Is that you?” he called out.
“Yes,” Katya took off her jacket, hung it on the rack. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was calm, almost indifferent. Good.
She went into the living room. Andrey was sitting on the sofa, watching some action movie. He turned and looked at her.
“So, how’s your sister? How’s the baby?”
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