HONEY, I’M HOME! – the wife shouted from the doorway. But seeing a stranger in the kitchen wearing her slippers, she froze…

The presentation dragged on like an endless series of monotonous slides, and Diana was already barely holding back a yawn. She attended such events often, and each time she felt genuine dislike for them. But a sense of duty and professionalism kept her in place. As the CEO, Diana had to stay focused, maintain her image, demonstrate interest. Straight back, restrained movements, and absence of emotions—all spoke of her businesslike approach. However, the nervous squeezing of the pen in her fingers betrayed the woman’s desire to leave this event as soon as possible.

Although the business trip was scheduled for two days, Diana decided she would return home today. She simply couldn’t wait to see Kyle, her husband. Just imagining his face in the morning when she unexpectedly appeared beside him, Diana pondered how far her own feelings had gone. «Loving wife?»—the thought flashed, and she frowned, mechanically rubbing her forehead.

At 38 years old, Diana had achieved what many could only dream of. Of course, her path to success was paved by her parents’ efforts, but she had invested plenty of her own. Her father, the owner of a real estate company, never gave her privileges. On the contrary, he insisted that his daughter start from the lowest position—janitor. No one would believe that the owner’s daughter was mopping floors in the office herself, but George Thompson believed: only those who earn a penny with their own labor truly value it.

When Diana turned 16, she was officially hired part-time. The tasks were simple, but she had to work on par with everyone. The girl arrived at the office on time and left strictly according to schedule, not hoping for special privileges. Her father was adamant: he built the company from scratch, no one helped him with money or connections. And he believed his daughter should be able to handle difficulties to be ready for any challenges in the future.

— Your mom and I went through tough times when we didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. I want you to be ready for fate’s blows, to hold yourself with dignity,—he told Diana when it was hard for her.

And she was indeed a smart girl in the classic sense. Despite the work, she managed to study excellently and took lessons with tutors. When it came time to enter college, the girl did it on her own, on a full scholarship. Her father could have paid for any education, but Diana was proud that she achieved everything herself.

Personal life took a back seat. She had no time for friends; constant studying and work filled all 24 hours in a day. But Diana didn’t despair; her mom always reminded her:

— You’ll have time to meet a worthy man, the main thing is not to rush.

Already in her sophomore year, Diana started working as a clerk in her father’s company, but again—no leniency. Mistakes were not forgiven, and at meetings, she was scolded harder than others.

At first, she was offended, but then she understood: her father was teaching her to be the best, flawless. He wanted her to handle any task, because one day the entire company would be hers. And Diana accepted this truth. As she climbed the career ladder, she learned more and more. By the time she got her diploma, she was no longer just a graduate, but a real professional, and no one in the team doubted that she deserved her position.

Her path in business was earned. At 23, Diana became the head of a division, and no one whispered behind her back that she was just «the boss’s daughter.» She knew her job down to the details and knew how to be attentive to colleagues’ needs, like in the days when she cleaned the office herself. Her father was pleased: he did everything to raise a strong leader from his daughter. He believed that with his legacy, his daughter would handle it excellently.

But fate had other plans. Just a year after Diana finally took a leadership position, her parents died in the mountains, caught in an avalanche. For the family, skiing in the Rockies was a favorite hobby, and the trip to the mountains seemed routine. Diana stayed in the city because of an important contract—a decision that saved her life. Three days of searching for her parents’ bodies shattered her hope, and when the news of their death finally came, Diana felt everything collapse.

At 24, she was left an orphan and the sole heiress of a large company. For some, this is the age of independence, but the girl felt lost. Her parents were her support, an island of stability in this restless world. Losing both of them knocked the ground out from under her feet. But, taught discipline and perseverance, she found the strength to live on and continue her father’s work. It took six months to return to her usual rhythm of life and feel in control of her destiny again.

Over time, Diana got used to the idea that now her life was primarily work, but thoughts about personal life began to haunt her more often. Once, her main goal was her career, and every step was aimed at achieving success. But now, when emptiness surrounded her, she increasingly thought about having no one to share lonely evenings with. Before, the girl was completely immersed in business, and although during her studies she had short-term romances, none of her suitors matched the image of the ideal man she had drawn in her imagination.

Some were not ambitious enough, others—excessively vain, and the third immediately seemed like a typical egoist. Diana began to worry, because the years were passing, and she still hadn’t found someone who could become a true life companion. «The clock is ticking,»—the thought flashed. She didn’t know where to look for a suitable man to start a family.

And then one day, fate brought her together with Kyle, the son of one of her father’s long-time business partners. They had often met at corporate events before, but in their youth, there could be no talk of romantic relationships. Kyle was always distant from her—a typical rich kid, passionate about expensive cars, luxury real estate, and overseas resorts. He didn’t hide his attitude toward work and directly said he wasn’t going to get his hands dirty and waste his father’s money on education just to one day occupy an office with a leather chair.

When Diana worked as a janitor in her father’s office, Kyle watched her with barely contained laughter. They hadn’t seen each other for three years, even at her parents’ funeral Kyle didn’t show up; only his father came to express condolences. So Diana was surprised when one day her secretary announced over the intercom that Kyle wanted to meet her. Without a prior appointment, he was waiting in the reception area.

Diana was even taken aback when she realized it was about that same Kyle. What could have made him suddenly appear at her office? However, there was nothing to do—she decided to accept him. When Kyle entered, his request turned out to be not just unusual, but truly shocking.

His father’s company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and he, unable to think of anything better, came to Diana with a proposal to buy the enterprise. The girl at first just silently looked at him, puzzled, but Kyle tried to be convincing, using all his eloquence.

— Better if the firm ends up in your hands,—he began, as if they had always been on first-name terms, although Diana didn’t remember when they had switched to that level of communication. — Your family has always helped us, and now you can save our business. You wouldn’t let it be sold for pennies to those who aren’t interested in its future.

Of course, his words had some logic, but Diana couldn’t understand why she should help them specifically. Why should she save an enterprise that had no direct relation to her? After all, her father would never have turned down a profitable deal, but he always acted in his own interests!

Her father was famous for his business acumen and ability to anticipate problems. He had an amazing sense for profitable deals and risky ventures. Therefore, when her work was compared to her father’s successes, Diana felt unpleasant pressure. She always feared that she hadn’t inherited this natural gift, but she desperately wanted to prove she was worthy of being his heir.

— Why are you so sure?

— It’s a profitable deal,— calmly explained Kyle. — Just calculate what you get, how much you invest, and you’ll see for yourself that you’ll come out ahead.

Diana thought about it and, to her surprise, had to agree with him. The logic was simple and convincing. She contacted Kyle’s father, Richard Alexander, and soon formalized the purchase of the company. As it turned out, it was one of her best decisions—she never regretted the deal. To celebrate the success, Kyle invited her to a restaurant. It was from that moment that their relationship began to develop rapidly.

Diana felt insecure because there were so few things in her life that she couldn’t control. But her own heart refused to obey. Kyle allowed her to love him, but he did it so beautifully that breaking this connection was beyond her strength. He was affectionate and caring with her, but always held himself somewhat aloof and confident. And although now he worked in her company, under her leadership, he showed neither by word nor gesture that it bothered him in any way.

When, after two years of their relationship, Kyle finally decided on a serious step and proposed to Diana, he immediately declared:

— If we get married, this will be a family business, and I’m not going to be henpecked.

Diana then just shrugged, not wanting to destroy the harmony between them. In principle, she was satisfied with her choice. Kyle seemed reliable, calm, and balanced, albeit demanding. But ideal people don’t exist.

Moreover, the girl was a realist—it seemed to her that at her age, it was hard to find a «prince on a white horse.» If you pick too long, you can miss all opportunities while more agile rivals snatch up all suitable men. So the proposal seemed like a gift from fate.

However, family life wasn’t all smooth. The financial situation of Kyle’s family had become shaky in recent years; his father had to move from the category of businessmen to hired workers. Diana understood that this was the result of bad decisions and that her father-in-law couldn’t come to terms with the loss of status. She had to create new positions for him and for Kyle. This caused discontent, especially from her mother-in-law, but Diana, with her diplomacy, managed to resolve the conflict.

— You don’t trust me so much that you can’t give a leadership position to me or Kyle?—her father-in-law once indignantly said. — You’re like crushing us and not letting us take a step. All this is the shadow of your father!

These words cut Diana painfully, but she tried to remain restrained. She gathered the whole family at the table and calmly but firmly stated:

— I manage the company, and that won’t change. Regardless of who my husband is and what family ties we have, the main chair in the company belongs to me. If that doesn’t suit you, perhaps it’s better for us not to work together at all.

Silence hung for a moment, and Diana saw Kyle glance at his father, suppressing his indignation. He bowed his head and softly said:

— Everything’s fine. We understand. You rightly believe you should control your own business.

Kyle’s words brought relief. Yes, he understood her, and despite all the difficulties, stability finally appeared in her life, albeit not without effort on her part.

Sometimes Diana felt like she was leading a double life. At home, she turned into a tender, caring wife, ready to surround her husband with warmth, support, and cook his favorite dish, playing the role of the ideal homemaker. But at work, she was completely different—strict and decisive business lady who managed the company with an iron grip, not allowing herself weakness. The girl knew how to hide true emotions and maintain calm in any situation, even when her soul was heavy.

— Let’s head somewhere to the beach?—Kyle suggested, tenderly hugging her waist. — Enough sitting in this stuffy city when there’s so much beauty and sun around. You’re fixated on work.

— Darling, just let me finish the deal on this new development,—Diana replied, pointing to the laptop screen,—and we’ll fly right away. I promise.

— No, that’s not an answer,—her husband began to get irritated. — Normal people know how to relax and switch off. And I’m married to a workaholic who can’t even look at the sky. I want a normal wife, not a robot who just performs wife functions.

To avoid provoking conflict, she compromised again, and after some time, they did go on vacation. Kyle relaxed fully—unwound, enjoyed nature and freedom, while Diana constantly checked her phone, worrying about how things were going at the company.

— Look what a wonderful house I found!—Kyle joyfully declared one evening. — And it’s not expensive. Let’s buy it and go there on weekends. It’ll be great!

Diana glanced at the photos her husband showed her on the tablet and immediately began evaluating the house by professional criteria: distance from the city, infrastructure availability, building condition.

— No need to calculate all this now,—Kyle interrupted, noticing the habitual analysis in her gaze. — Look at the house like an ordinary girl, not like a realtor. Forest around, lake nearby. It’s just a fairy tale!

And again, Diana yielded, although she personally didn’t particularly need the house. Sometimes she asked herself if she was happy in marriage. The answer to this question depended on her mood. On one hand, she wasn’t alone. But on the other hand, her husband often reminded her of an expensive purebred pet that needed care, feeding, and attention, without forgetting to solve its problems in time. He didn’t become her equal partner; rather, he didn’t even strive for it. The role of a passive companion suited him perfectly.

Somehow unnoticed, a child appeared in their life. Eva was born when Diana was already heading the company, and she couldn’t afford a long maternity leave. The girl was left with a nanny from six months old. Diana, of course, was drawn to her daughter, but she realized that her place was in the company. No one else could manage the business like she could.

— You’re guarding your workplace as if I’m going to take it from you,—Kyle once said with offense in his voice. The nanny got sick, and Diana asked her husband to stay with Eva while she was at an important meeting. — If we had a normal family,—he continued,—you’d stay home with the child like a real mother. And I’d go sign the documents. But no, you have to be in the center of everything, control every step. You can’t let go of anything.

Diana understood that his words were dictated by resentment. Kyle had already tried more than once to take over the company’s management, but each time he faced her resolute refusal.

Her husband acted unobtrusively but persistently, as if hoping that over time his wife would give in. He constantly offered himself for negotiations or signing important contracts, and when Diana invariably refused, he made an offended face and could not talk to her for several days. And now the situation repeated.

— You don’t consider me a man at all!—Kyle flared up, seriously angry. — How is it for a guy to sit with a baby and change diapers? Why can’t you give me power of attorney? You keep me under your heel, and then ask why you need me!

Diana wearily sank into the chair, watching their daughter Eva, sitting in the playpen, enthusiastically playing with a rattle.

— Kyle, this is my father’s corporation, and only I should…

— Your father has been dead for a long time, if you’ve forgotten,—Kyle sharply interrupted with a sarcastic smirk. — And you’re sitting like a dog in the manger! I won’t even mention that in a normal family, everything should be shared. And you…

— What about «you»?—Diana raised her eyebrows challengingly, staring at her husband.

— You only care about your company,—he continued, shifting his gaze to the daughter. — You don’t even care about the child! You leave her with the nanny or with me, who has no idea how to handle her. Just to run out of the house with painted lips and feigned importance. I didn’t expect this from you…

He said it with such confidence that Diana realized: everything he had just said had been brewing in his head for a long time. And now it all burst out. But she managed to resolve the conflict. However, she drew conclusions for herself: soon they had not one, but two nannies, as well as additional help from an agency. Diana understood—she could never trust anyone with managing her company; intuition wouldn’t allow it.

Over time, Kyle seemed to reconcile and stopped demanding a place in the business for himself, but Diana connected this with the fact that their relationship improved after the daughter grew up. The question of whether she truly loved her husband arose before her often. Sometimes it seemed to her that their marriage was just a compromise, and her husband more resembled a capricious pet that needed constant care. But she couldn’t allow herself to remain alone, and thoughts of divorce caused internal protest in her. And Eva—their shared child, and leaving her without a father was wrong.

Relations with Kyle’s parents also remained complicated. If her mother-in-law tried to stay out and not interfere in their affairs, then his father, the former owner of the company, constantly tried to influence the firm’s matters. This led to a major conflict. Kyle was beside himself when his wife threatened to fire Richard for trying to close a deal behind her back.

— How could you do that to him?—Kyle raged. — He built this company from scratch, and now you want to throw him out like a puppy!

— He sold the company,—Diana calmly replied. — And he knew perfectly well that without my consent, no one can do anything. He violated that rule, and I can’t turn a blind eye.

— He didn’t do anything like that!—Kyle objected, but Diana had already made a decision.

— In my company,—she enunciated,—I make the decisions. If your father wants to close deals, he should have warned me.

Since then, relations with her father-in-law practically ceased. Any meeting with him ended in insults toward her. Diana’s work required a lot of strength and time, especially during business trips, like now.

The young woman had to travel often across the country, and sometimes even fly abroad, to always stay informed of new trends and not miss opportunities for profitable deals. The real estate market was changing rapidly, and to stay afloat, it required almost round-the-clock analysis of the situation. And now, sitting at another business conference, she was already dreaming of when the last speaker would finish his, in her opinion, endless and boring lecture, so she could head to the station sooner.

She had been away from home for the second week and missed her husband terribly. She missed their cozy home, quiet evenings.

— Excuse me, is this seat taken?—a voice suddenly sounded right above her ear. The chairs nearby rustled as the stranger settled in. Diana looked up in surprise and saw a tall man about thirty-five, with a strong build and a characteristic «fighter’s» face—either a former boxer or wrestler.

— Sorry to disturb you,—he said, sitting down. — I missed most of the event, but I need to check in, so I decided to sit next to you if you don’t mind.

Diana smiled slightly with a polite but routine smile, then glanced at her watch again. She couldn’t wait for it all to end soon. The speaker seemed to be just getting into the swing, flipping slides and drawing diagrams, while the audience was clearly losing interest.

The man next to her continued to fidget in his chair, trying to get comfortable, which slightly irritated her. She glanced at him sideways, and catching her gaze, the stranger immediately apologized:

— Sorry, please, it’ll be fine now. I didn’t have time to prepare here.

He pulled out an expensive pen, a planner, and a recorder from his bag, which immediately told Diana: her new neighbor was clearly not poor. The items betrayed a well-off person in him.

Silence settled in the auditorium again, broken only by the rustle of pages and the monotonous voice of the speaker.

— Sorry, were there no booklets handed out?—the man addressed her again. Diana flinched slightly, not expecting the question. She wanted to react irritably, but quickly calmed down. After all, he hadn’t asked anything terrible.

— Booklets are at the entrance, you can pick them up when it’s over,—she replied restrainedly, trying not to attract the speaker’s attention.

Unexpectedly for herself, half an hour later, Diana discovered that she and her neighbor, whose name was Andrew, had already switched to first names and engaged in a lively conversation. Andrew turned out to be an interesting and versatile interlocutor.

— They just sent me here at the last minute,—he explained in an apologetic tone, looking at her. — Sorry if I distracted you, I see you’re in a hurry yourself.

— Yes, planning to leave today,—Diana confirmed, noticing that Andrew was attentively following her frequent glances at the watch.

— To your husband?

— Yes, to my husband,—Diana confirmed, seeing his face change. Andrew leaned back slightly, and the woman immediately guessed that he might have wanted to try flirting with her, but the news about her husband quickly changed his plans.

— Let me drive you to the station, no need to call a taxi,—Andrew offered, quickly figuring it out. The speaker had just finished his speech, and now they were descending in the elevator to the underground parking. While driving to the station, the conversation between them continued surprisingly easily and naturally.

It turned out they had a lot in common with Andrew. Both lived for work, built careers, and shared similar views on life. Diana felt as if she had known this man for many years, although the meeting was accidental. Andrew, despite his somewhat stern appearance, was charming and charismatic, drawing attention to himself.

When they arrived at the station, Andrew immediately pulled Diana’s things out of the trunk and offered to escort her to the train.

Andrew looked at the schedule board and, smiling, suggested:

— You have forty minutes until the train. Maybe pop into a cafe? There’s a good little restaurant nearby, my friend owns it. We could have a cup of coffee if you don’t mind.

Diana hesitated. She actually objected to this proposal, but she had to spend the time until departure somehow, and unexpectedly for herself, she agreed. A few minutes later, they were already sitting at a cozy table in the restaurant, together, as if it wasn’t an accidental meeting but a long-planned dinner.

When the young woman returned to the train and it started moving, she couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. Andrew, although practically a stranger, left a strong impression. He was different—interesting, relaxed, and Diana felt a strange attraction to him, despite having a husband waiting at home. But she forced herself to switch to Kyle. After all, he was her family, her real one.

She remembered how he wrote that he missed her. And she planned to surprise him—arrive early and tell him she agreed to have a second child. This thought had been spinning in her head for a long time, but now it finally turned into a decision. Diana thought a new baby could strengthen their marriage.

She had barely started dozing to the rhythmic clatter of wheels when her phone came to life. The screen lit up, and she saw a short message: «How’s the trip? Settled comfortably? Not cold?» It was from Andrew. Kyle never wrote such messages, and Diana felt awkward at how much this simple attention from an unfamiliar man touched her.

She didn’t immediately decide whether to reply. After all, she was married, and this was just an accidental meeting, nothing more. But her fingers already typed the response: «Yes, everything’s fine, traveling comfortably.» When the message was read, Diana blocked the contact. She decided she would remain faithful to her family and never tell anyone that her heart trembled for a moment. Let it remain her secret only. Time will pass—she’ll forget this man. Arriving in her hometown, the woman called a taxi and headed home.

It was early; Diana was sure her husband was still asleep. And she wanted to wake him with a hot kiss. With a smile, she imagined meeting her daughter. When Diana was at work or on business trips, the girl was in the care of the nanny. While the elevator was going up, Diana looked at herself in the mirrored walls and, to her surprise, found that she looked very good. Even though she was no longer a young girl, her appearance had only become brighter with the years. Diana remembered her new acquaintance again and immediately felt ashamed of her thoughts.

Stepping out of the elevator, the woman took out her keys and quietly opened the front door. The hallway greeted her with dimness. Foreign high-heeled shoes caught her eye, carelessly lying near the shoe rack. This was definitely not the nanny’s shoes; Mary Stephens was an elderly woman who never wore such shoes. Diana’s thoughts were interrupted by Kyle, who came out into the corridor from the bedroom. Seeing his wife, he was very surprised; his eyes darted.

— And why are you here?—he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

— Indeed, what am I doing here, in my own apartment,—Diana smirked.

— I… I didn’t mean that.

Kyle hesitated, instinctively blocking the bedroom door with his body. Further events developed quickly. Diana was just about to ask her husband what was going on when the bedroom door opened noisily, and a very young half-naked girl appeared on the threshold.

— Kylesy,—she said in a thin voice,—but you said your hag would arrive only in two days.

Diana couldn’t stay silent anymore:

— Kyle, bother to explain what’s happening?—it was hard for her to restrain her emotions.

Kyle mumbled something, and Diana repeated her question, only louder. And then she suddenly remembered her daughter. Without taking off her shoes, the woman rushed to the nursery, but the crib and playpen were empty.

— Where is my child?—the woman growled. — Answer, where is Eva?

— Kylesy, and you didn’t say your wife is such a hysteric.—the annoying voice of the girl sounded nearby.

Kyle silently watched as his wife turned into a real fury. And he had already opened his mouth to say something, but his young mistress boldly told Diana:

— You still don’t understand that Kylesy has a new love now? Young and beautiful. We’ve been dating for a long time, we love each other. He just couldn’t bring himself to tell you. And he only needed money from you. Well, since it turned out you saw me, know that he’s mine! Now go, get out of the apartment and don’t forget to take your stuff! I don’t need someone else’s junk here!

Diana even blinked several times from what she heard; it seemed to her that it was all an illusion. Pushing the uninvited guest aside, she approached her still-husband closely and said:

— Where is my child? Where did you put Eva? Answer right now!

She barely restrained herself from giving him several slaps. And only thanks to her father’s teachings, she managed to hold back this impulse.

— Everything’s fine with your Eva!—Kyle finally answered. — You’re always only caring about her! So I had to seek comfort on the side; you don’t spoil me with your affection!—he still had the audacity to accuse his wife of something. — She’s with the nanny! I couldn’t leave her here! We definitely weren’t up to her and her constant whims. You spoiled the girl; nothing suits her! Better if you cared about your husband like that!

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.

And the second stage of revenge, as Richard thought, would return him control over the company. He would become the owner of the business he once foolishly lost again. After all, in the years Diana managed the corporation, its assets had grown significantly. Once his daughter-in-law was humiliated and he restored his rights, Richard could finally enjoy life peacefully. And what would happen next with Vicky and his son—no longer mattered. The main thing was that he would be the company owner again.

The young woman couldn’t even imagine that everything happening around was a carefully planned game by her father-in-law, but her intuition clearly suggested: this morning wouldn’t bring anything good. Of course, they couldn’t just take little Eva from her, but what if… Kyle could be very persistent, especially feeling support from his new mistress. Diana glanced at the phone, carelessly thrown on the hallway table.

After calling a locksmith to change the locks, Diana passed by the phone several times, as if undecided to pick it up. But suddenly, as if finding resolve in herself, she grabbed the device and dialed the number she remembered with surprising ease. Andrew’s number, the same man who sent her a message the day before.

She didn’t build special illusions. Andrew was probably busy with his affairs, and the most she could count on was polite sympathy. After all, they hardly knew each other. He wasn’t obligated to solve her problems. Diana had a whole army of lawyers who could help. But despite that, she so wanted someone nearby who cared about her. Someone who wouldn’t just do their job but sincerely care for her.

To her great surprise, Andrew answered immediately, as if waiting for this call. His voice was calm, warm, as if they had known each other for an eternity.

— Is everything okay with you?—he asked with such concern that Diana was momentarily taken aback.

— No, not everything,—she admitted. It seemed wrong to dump her problems on a person she had met so recently. But Andrew’s voice was insistent.

— Tell me,—he demanded, and Diana was sure: if she stayed silent now, Andrew would be here in a couple of hours. That was his nature—active, ready to help without extra questions. She didn’t hesitate and in brief, concise words described everything that happened that morning.

Her husband, who sent their daughter to the nanny, convincing the elderly woman not to bother Diana. The young mistress who boldly strutted around the house in her things. And finally, the threats. Threats and blackmail: her parents’ apartment in exchange for the opportunity to stay with her daughter. Diana didn’t hide a single detail, knowing she could trust this person, despite barely knowing him.

For some reason, Diana was sure Andrew would understand her. She didn’t have time to fully realize she was telling him everything when she suddenly heard:

— Give me the address, I’ll come right now.

In his voice, there wasn’t a shred of doubt. From the background noises, Diana guessed Andrew was already getting ready to leave.

— Don’t do anything until I arrive, okay? Where is Eva now? Is she safe?—Andrew bombarded her with questions. Diana briefly answered that the girl was with the nanny.

— Diana, please, trust me,—said Andrew. — I’m glad you called and told everything. That’s it, I’m on my way.

For some reason, after these words, she felt better. Not because the lawyers were already working on the situation, but because Andrew would be here. He promised to help, and Diana felt she could believe him. Smiling warmly, she put the phone on the table and finally allowed herself to cry. All this chaos of the last hours had hit her too hard.

Later, looking back, Diana understood that all her self-control and strength of spirit were the result of the harsh school of life she went through thanks to her father. After the conversation with Andrew, there was a panicked and excited call from the nanny: some people in the building were threatening to take Eva and were going to call the police if the child wasn’t given to the father.

Fortunately, Diana was already on her way there, accompanied by her lawyers and security personnel. They insisted that the nanny and the baby lock themselves in the apartment and not go out. This incident made the woman understand that Kyle was ready to go all out. At the same time, alarming messages came from the company’s central office.

Richard, that same father-in-law and head of one of the key departments of the company, had initiated a series of deals that Diana would never approve. These steps could lead the firm to serious financial losses and undermine its reputation. When Diana managed to stop the deals, her team reported that false rumors about her company had begun spreading online.

This was another blow. From an unnamed employee, accusations were spreading: that the company keeps «black books,» hides from tax authorities, and is involved in shady schemes. Comments under these posts quickly filled with support from anonymous users with fake profiles. Diana realized—this wasn’t a random attack, but a planned campaign aimed at undermining her business. But she knew how to respond to such blows. And her response clearly wouldn’t please those who started this game.

She was so immersed in solving urgent problems that when Andrew called and said he was standing at her house, it both surprised and delighted her. Diana remembered her father’s words: «Coincidences are not coincidental—only what should happen happens.» Perhaps their acquaintance with Andrew was something predetermined.

Together with Eva, they returned home in Andrew’s car. His imposing appearance, clearly reminiscent of a fighter, immediately deterred any attempts by anyone to interfere or take the girl. When they finally got home, Andrew looked like a real giant, awkwardly holding a cup of coffee and clearly feeling a bit out of place. Little Eva was babbling something cheerfully, and Diana fussed at the stove, trying to cook something delicious for the unexpected guest.

— I don’t even know how to thank you for your help,—Diana admitted, trying to hide her excitement.

— Come on, no need to thank,—Andrew replied. — When I saw you at the conference… Well, you didn’t look like an ordinary person. You seemed to me, how to say it, like magical.

He paused for a moment before continuing:

— I looked at you in profile, and you were like from another world. I immediately wanted to become part of that world, part of your life.

These words touched Diana to the depths of her soul. No one had ever given her such sincere compliments. To hide her tears, she pretended to be engrossed in cooking.

But Andrew obviously wasn’t going to stop at compliments:

— And why did your husband do that? I thought everything was normal with you. What made him snap like that?

Diana, carefully choosing her words, told Andrew how she once acquired the company belonging to Kyle’s father, and how everything went downhill from there.

She bought the company not because it was her goal, but because otherwise it faced complete bankruptcy.

— That’s how they thanked you for saving them from financial collapse,—Andrew finished for her with a slight smirk. — Well thought out, nothing to say.

Diana just shrugged slightly and ran her hand over her forehead—a headache was starting. All these events were too overwhelming for one day. She wasn’t ready for such revelations.

— You know,—Andrew began cautiously, as if choosing words,—after I split with my ex and have been living alone for almost four years, I didn’t want anyone near me. But with you, it’s completely different. I feel I want to stay close and help. I told work I’m taking vacation. I have plenty of days accumulated, so I can stay as long as needed. It seems to me without support it’ll be hard for you to cope. Especially if those two,—he paused, choosing words,—continue to harm from inside.

Diana didn’t look for excuses or formulate an answer. She simply approached closer and gently placed her slender palm on his strong hand. It was a sign of agreement, a sign of trust. Andrew understood everything without words.

As it turned out, he had many ideas. He asked Diana about all the details happening in the company. It turned out that Kyle’s father, using various tricks, had long tried to take a leadership position and establish full control over the corporation. After all the discussions, Andrew made an unexpected conclusion.

— Seven troubles—one answer. I think I know how to handle this,—he said confidently, but immediately warned — Only you and little Eva should stay here. Don’t leave the apartment, and don’t open to anyone except me. Everything will definitely be fine.

— But where are you going?—Diana asked anxiously. — You understand they won’t just listen to you. Richard and Kyle are clearly set to see it through.

Andrew straightened his shoulders a bit and replied with a smirk:

— I wasn’t always a clerk in a real estate agency. Once I stepped into the ring…

— What, are you going to beat them?—Diana felt her cheeks flush. — They’ll just call the police and lock you up for a couple of days at least.

— No, no, of course,—Andrew laughed. — Although, I admit, after what your Kyle arranged, there would be a desire.

— No, I’ll just talk to them frankly. I think my experience will make it clear there won’t be any disagreements.

That night, Diana settled her unexpected guest in the living room, trying to provide him maximum comfort. It was strange for her to realize that a person who was completely stranger recently was spending the night nearby. But Andrew behaved so restrained and simply that she felt no discomfort. «My knight,»—the thought flashed in Diana’s mind. — «I never thought I’d live to the moment when a real protector appears by my side.»

«It’s just a pity it happened under such difficult circumstances,»—she added to herself sadly. It would be wonderful if they had met earlier, under different conditions. But life decided otherwise.

Neither Kyle nor his father expected Diana to suddenly gain a protector. Richard was sure he had calculated everything flawlessly. He knew well how attached Diana was to her daughter and how important it was for her to maintain the illusion of a strong, happy family. It was this sense of stability he tried to destroy by involving Kyle in infidelity. In his plans, it was to force Diana to offer them part of the company herself, just to keep the right to raise her daughter.

In the best case, according to Richard’s calculations, Diana should beg Kyle to return, ready to concede significant privileges in exchange for continuing the previous life. Kyle, of course, would demand greater influence in the company and cancellation of the prenup, which closed his access to Diana’s main financial resources.

Richard’s plans seemed flawless to him, and he was sure Diana wouldn’t think long. After all, in our time, taking a child from a mother who doesn’t abuse alcohol, drugs, and cares for her child is practically impossible. All he managed was to bribe a couple of employees in the local child services to visit Diana with him and scare her. Of course, there could be no serious consequences from this, but Richard hoped that fear and suddenness would make his daughter-in-law yield to pressure.

However, Diana didn’t get scared, and this slightly threw Richard off. He still calculated that she would give in sooner or later. After all, she had nowhere to run—in panic and under pressure, she should break and do what’s required. However, his surprise was boundless when instead of a frightened Diana, a tall man with a serious face promising nothing good appeared on his office threshold.

— Who are you here for?—Richard threw rudely, frowning. — I didn’t invite you. Or are you here about a job? Then go to HR.

The man said nothing. With a cold, motionless gaze, he crossed the office and silently placed a phone with a recorder on on the table.

— Listen here,—he said shortly,—either we talk here, or somewhere else, but believe me, none of the options will please you. Stop pursuing Diana and her child.

— What makes you think I’m involved with them in any way?—Richard had already calmed down and began to understand why this person came. — Why did you decide I’m doing something toward them?

Andrew, barely noticeably wincing as if from an unpleasant smell, replied:

— You seem like a business person, but you behave as if everyone around is idiots. The campaign to discredit Diana online—is that your doing? What do you think? And by the way, I was a journalist for 15 years. I found all the threads that led me to the author of that post. What a coincidence, he was paid for the commissioned material. Amazing, right?

Richard frowned, realizing what this person was hinting at. Modern technologies were always a dark forest for him. He entrusted some random person to write a libel, slightly embellishing reality. But how could this stranger learn about it so quickly?

— And my old friends from law enforcement are very interested in your actions, especially how you tried through proxies to pressure Diana and her daughter,—Andrew continued. — Standing at doors and demanding to give up the child—is that normal to you? Doesn’t it seem like abuse?

— What are you allowing yourself? Out of my office!—Richard shouted, realizing the situation was getting out of control. — Who are you, on what grounds did you come here? If you’re a lawyer, see you in court.

— I’m Diana’s fiance and really don’t want my bride to have skin problems before the wedding.

Kyle froze on the office threshold, entering at the most inopportune moment and hearing Andrew’s confession.

— Who are you? Diana’s fiance?—Kyle asked, not believing his ears.

— Yes, exactly,—Andrew confirmed with a slight smirk, turning to the entrant. — What, does that surprise you? Or did you think the right to love is only for you while your wife slaves at work? Well, life brought us together, and we decided why not. But I hope you understand I won’t just leave you alone? Better to act nicely. Here, by the way, I have something for you.

Andrew pulled several sheets of paper and ordinary office pens from a black folder.

— The options are simple: either you write resignation letters right now, or we’ll meet in conditions you definitely won’t like.

His confidence and imposing figure left no room for doubt. Richard and Kyle exchanged glances, understanding they now had a serious opponent. The appearance of this «fiance» completely threw them off. Richard only now realized why Diana didn’t give in and didn’t return to his son with repentance.

— You can’t force us! There are laws!—Kyle tried to object, but meeting Andrew’s icy gaze, he immediately fell silent.

— Of course I can’t,—Andrew replied with a good-natured smile. — But if not here, then in court, I definitely will.

— And I warn you: the consequences will be much heavier. Your actions already warrant restriction of parental rights. And considering your online bullying, it’s the end of your reputation in business.

Fifteen minutes later, Andrew left the office with a sense of victory. He was pleased with the conversation’s result and knew Diana would appreciate the recording he prepared for her. The resignation letters were signed; all that remained was to hand them to Diana.

As for Andrew, he wasn’t exaggerating when speaking of his diverse experience. Over the years, he had been a journalist, worked in the police, and tried himself in many fields. But now he met a woman who eclipsed everyone—Diana. Andrew decided he would definitely win her favor. Why not start dating? He saw that Diana worried about possibly remaining alone. He felt it during their conversation in the cafe.

Now she would never be alone. Andrew promised himself he would never leave Diana in solitude. And he himself would no longer be that «tumbleweed» he was when he entered that conference hall.