Tatiana stood at the threshold of her home, unable to believe her eyes — her mother-in-law, Valentina Pavlovna, was holding the keys to her apartment.
“What does this mean?” Her voice trembled with outrage.
“It means exactly that, dear,” her mother-in-law said smugly, shaking the bunch of keys. “Now this house belongs to me by law. The notary processed everything properly.”
“What notary? What are you talking about?”
Valentina Pavlovna pulled some documents from her purse and handed them to her daughter-in-law.
“Here, read this. Your husband gave me this apartment six months ago. By a deed of gift. I just decided to surprise you and not tell you right away.”
Tatiana skimmed through the papers, her heart pounding wildly. Viktor’s signature. The notary’s stamp. Everything genuine.
“Viktor!” she shouted toward the bedroom. “Viktor, come out here immediately!”
Her husband appeared in the hallway, avoiding her gaze.
“What’s going on?” Tatiana asked, waving the documents. “You gave our apartment to your mother as a gift?”
“Tan, you know, Mom lives alone in a communal apartment,” Viktor started to justify himself. “I thought we’d move in with her, and we registered the apartment in her name for security…”
“For security?” Tatiana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you crazy? This is my apartment! I bought it before our wedding!”
“But we’re family,” Viktor mumbled. “Mom’s right, everything should be registered under the eldest in the family.”
Valentina Pavlovna smiled with satisfaction:
“See, Tanya, my son understands everything. And you’re the one upset. Now I’m the lady of the house, and things will be how I say.”
“Are you both out of your minds?” Tatiana grabbed her head. “Viktor, do you realize what you did? You gave away an apartment that wasn’t even yours!”
“How wasn’t it mine?” her husband was surprised. “We’re married, so everything is shared.”
“No!” Tatiana almost shouted. “The apartment was bought by me before the marriage! It remained my property! You had no right to gift it!”
But Valentina Pavlovna was already walking into the living room as if it were her own.
“Well, shall we start putting things in order?” she addressed her son. “Tanya, pack your things. You and Viktor go live with your parents for now, and I’ll settle in here. Later we’ll see, maybe find you a room in a communal apartment.”
At that moment, Tatiana realized — this was not just a misunderstanding. It was a premeditated operation.
“Where did you get the money for the notary?” she suddenly asked. “And who told you about the deed of gift?”
Valentina Pavlovna hesitated for a second but quickly composed herself:
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that everything’s legal.”
“Mom, maybe you shouldn’t…” Viktor started, but his mother sharply interrupted him:
“Vitenka, you agreed yourself. You said the apartment was too nice for a young family. That it should be passed to the elders.”
Tatiana looked at her husband in horror. Did he really say that?
“I didn’t mean that,” Viktor muttered confusedly. “I just said Mom could sometimes stay with us…”
“Exactly. Stay in her own apartment,” emphasized Valentina Pavlovna. “Now this is my home.”
Tatiana grabbed her phone and started dialing.
“Who are you calling?” the mother-in-law grew wary.
“A lawyer. We’ll find out if this is legal or not.”
“Call away,” Valentina Pavlovna smirked. “The documents are all in order. The notary checked everything.”
But as Tatiana explained the situation to the lawyer she knew, the mother-in-law’s face gradually went pale.
“Yes,” Tatiana said into the phone. “The apartment was registered to me before marriage… Husband gifted it without my knowledge… I see… Yes, of course, please come.”
She hung up and looked at her mother-in-law:
“Valentina Pavlovna, I have bad news for you. The deed of gift is invalid. Viktor could not give away what was not his.”
“How isn’t it his?” Viktor paled. “We’re married!”
“Property acquired before marriage remains personal,” Tatiana calmly explained. “You could only gift your share if you had one. But you don’t.”
Valentina Pavlovna abruptly sat down on the couch:
“That can’t be. The notary processed it…”
“The notary processed what you brought him. But he didn’t check if Viktor had the right to dispose of the apartment.”
There was a knock at the door. It was the lawyer, Mikhail Sergeyevich, a gray-haired man about fifty years old.
“Show me the documents,” he asked after assessing the situation.
After reviewing the deed of gift and the apartment papers, the lawyer shook his head:
“The transaction is invalid. Your husband was not the owner of the apartment and couldn’t have gifted it.”
“So what do we do now?” Viktor asked confused.
“File a lawsuit to declare the transaction invalid. It will take time, but the result is predictable.”
Valentina Pavlovna suddenly started crying:
“Vitenka, how could this happen? You promised Mom would have her own home!”
“Mom, I didn’t think… I thought everything was fine…”
“Valentina Pavlovna,” Tatiana interrupted. “May I ask who suggested this deed of gift scheme to you?”
Her mother-in-law sobbed:
“Neighbor Zinaida Ivanovna. She said this is often done. They transfer property to parents so the young ones don’t misuse it.”
“And she gave you money for the notary?”
“No,” the mother-in-law reluctantly admitted. “Your aunt Klavdiya gave the money.”
“What aunt Klavdiya?” Tatiana was stunned.
“Your father’s aunt. She came to us a month ago. Said she wanted to help the family. Gave money and explained how to register the apartment.”
Tatiana felt dizzy. Aunt Klavdiya — her father’s sister — with whom the family hadn’t spoken for ten years after a scandal over grandfather’s inheritance.
“Viktor,” she said quietly, “do you understand what happened? We were tricked. Aunt Klavdiya used your mother to take my apartment.”
“Take it?” her husband didn’t understand.
“Very simple. While we sue and restore rights, the apartment is considered disputed. Aunt Klavdiya probably already found a buyer who will buy it from your mother for pennies, knowing about the troubles. Then she’ll litigate for years demanding compensation as a bona fide purchaser.”
Mikhail Sergeyevich nodded approvingly:
“A classic scheme. Very common lately.”
Valentina Pavlovna cried even harder:
“Vitenka, I didn’t mean harm! Klavdiya said it was for your own good!”
“Mom, how could you trust a stranger more than your son?” Viktor asked confused.
“She’s your relative! Said she cares about the family!”
Tatiana sat next to her mother-in-law:
“Valentina Pavlovna, Aunt Klavdiya didn’t care about the family. She wanted revenge because she didn’t get the grandfather’s inheritance. She used you as a tool.”
“But she gave the money for the notary…”
“Peanuts compared to the apartment’s value. She expected that after all the lawsuits and scandals, the apartment would end up with her for nothing.”
The lawyer took out his phone:
“We need to urgently file complaints with the court and prosecutor’s office. This is clear fraud.”
“What will happen to Mom?” Viktor worried.
“Nothing to your mother. She’s a victim, she was deceived. But Aunt Klavdiya will have to answer for her actions.”
Valentina Pavlovna wiped her tears:
“Tanya, forgive me. I really thought I was doing the right thing. Klavdiya was so convincing…”
“What exactly did she say?” Tatiana asked.
“That young people often divorce, and the apartment could end up with strangers. It’s better to register it under the elders so the property stays in the family. And that you wouldn’t mind, just shy to suggest it yourself.”
“And who came up with the communal apartment story?”
Valentina Pavlovna lowered her eyes embarrassed:
“That was me. I thought, since the apartment is mine, I’d set the rules here.”
Viktor sighed heavily:
“Mom, how could you think like that? We’re family!”
“And Klavdiya said daughters-in-law always try to distance sons from their mothers. That one must act decisively before it’s too late.”
Tatiana shook her head. Aunt Klavdiya turned out to be a real psychologist. She pinpointed the mother-in-law’s weak spots and played on them.
“Valentina Pavlovna,” Tatiana said, “I never tried to separate Viktor from you. On the contrary, I always invited you over, helped when you were sick.”
“That’s true,” Viktor nodded. “Tanya has always treated you well.”
“I know,” the mother-in-law sobbed. “But Klavdiya said… and that your apartment is too good for young people, it causes envy…”
“Mom, that’s nonsense!” Viktor protested. “What difference does it make what kind of apartment we have?”
Mikhail Sergeyevich gathered the documents:
“We must act quickly. If Aunt Klavdiya has already found a buyer, things will get more complicated.”
“May I ask,” Tatiana asked her mother-in-law, “has Aunt Klavdiya come by again? Asked how things were?”
“She came the day before yesterday. Asked if we registered the deed of gift. Was very happy when she found out we did. And said she’d soon have an offer to sell.”
“See,” said the lawyer. “Classic scheme. Now she’ll show up with a buyer who will ‘accidentally’ agree to buy the apartment at half the market price.”
“But that’s a crime!” Viktor was outraged.
“Of course. Large-scale fraud. Your aunt expected you’d stay silent to protect your mother.”
Tatiana thought for a moment and said:
“What if we set a trap for her?”
“What kind?” the lawyer was interested.
“Let Valentina Pavlovna call Aunt Klavdiya and say she’s ready to sell the apartment. We’ll record the conversation and then meet with the buyer in the presence of witnesses.”
“Excellent idea,” approved Mikhail Sergeyevich. “We’ll get all the evidence at once.”
Valentina Pavlovna hesitated:
“What if Klavdiya realizes something’s wrong?”
“She won’t,” Tatiana assured her. “She doesn’t know we’ve figured it all out. To her, you’re still a naive woman who’s easy to deceive.”
The call took place in the evening. Aunt Klavdiya was genuinely happy and said she had a buyer ready to buy the apartment at half price “considering the risks.”
“Meet tomorrow at two in the afternoon near the entrance,” she said. “Bring the documents and cash.”
The next day, a whole group gathered in the yard: Tatiana with Viktor, Valentina Pavlovna, lawyer Mikhail Sergeyevich, and two witnesses. Everyone hid in different places to observe what happened.
Aunt Klavdiya arrived with a man about forty in an expensive suit.
“Valentina Pavlovna,” she cheerfully greeted her mother-in-law. “Meet Igor Petrovich, our buyer.”
“Nice to meet you,” the man smiled. “The apartment is good, but you know, there are certain risks…”
“What risks?” Valentina Pavlovna naively asked.
“Well, who knows,” Igor Petrovich waved vaguely. “The daughter-in-law might sue, cause trouble. So the price is adjusted accordingly.”
“Don’t worry,” Aunt Klavdiya reassured. “The daughter-in-law doesn’t know and won’t find out. And if she does, it’ll be too late to prove anything.”
At that moment, Mikhail Sergeyevich stepped out from around the corner with a recorder in his hand:
“Very interesting conversation, Klavdiya Stepanovna.”
Aunt Klavdiya went pale, and her companion tried to leave, but witnesses surrounded him.
“What’s going on here?” Klavdiya tried to keep her composure.
“A fraud arrest is happening,” the lawyer calmly replied. “All your conversations are recorded, there are witnesses. I think the prosecutor’s office will be very interested in your scheme.”
“What scheme?” Klavdiya tried to bluff. “I was just helping relatives!”
Tatiana and Viktor appeared.
“Hello, Aunt Klavdiya,” Tatiana greeted coldly. “Long time no see. Since the grandfather’s inheritance scandal.”
“Tatyana!” Klavdiya was confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Protecting my property from fraudulent relatives.”
Igor Petrovich tried to intervene:
“Listen, I know nothing about your family quarrels. I was just offered to buy the apartment…”
“At half the market price?” Mikhail Sergeyevich asked. “Didn’t that bother you?”
“Well… there were explanations…”
“What explanations?” The lawyer turned on the recorder. “Here are your words: ‘The daughter-in-law might sue, cause trouble. So the price is adjusted.’ That sounds like conscious participation in fraud.”
The man realized he was caught and began blaming Aunt Klavdiya:
“She made it all up! Said the apartment legally belongs to an elderly woman who wants to sell quickly!”
“And who told you about the daughter-in-law who might ‘cause trouble’?” the lawyer pressed.
Klavdiya realized the game was over.
“Fine,” she said. “Suppose I wanted to buy the apartment cheaply. So what? It’s not a crime.”
“Organizing a false deal using forged documents is a crime,” Mikhail Sergeyevich explained. “Also, inducing an elderly person to commit fraud.”
“Valentina Pavlovna acted voluntarily!”
“After you lied to her about Tatiana’s consent and the need to protect family property.”
An hour later, the police arrived. Aunt Klavdiya and her accomplice were arrested. The deed of gift was declared invalid through an expedited process.
That evening, Tatiana, Viktor, and Valentina Pavlovna sat at home drinking tea.
“Tanya,” said the mother-in-law. “Forgive me for everything. I really wanted what was best.”
“Valentina Pavlovna, it’s not your fault. You were deceived by a very clever person.”
“But I believed you agreed to give the apartment…”
“Didn’t you think to ask me directly?”
The mother-in-law lowered her eyes embarrassed:
“Klavdiya said you were too shy to suggest it yourself. That young wives shouldn’t initiate such conversations.”
Viktor shook his head:
“Mom, how could you believe such nonsense?”
“Vitenka, I wanted the best for you! I thought if Mom had her own apartment, it would be easier for you…”
“Mom,” Viktor said, “everything is fine between Tanya and me. We don’t need extra housing. And if we did, we’d solve it together, openly.”
“Valentina Pavlovna,” Tatiana added, “if you ever have housing problems, we will definitely help. But honestly, openly, without any schemes or deception.”
“Thank you, dear,” the mother-in-law sobbed. “I understand my mistake. I’ll never listen to outsiders about family matters again.”
Viktor hugged his mother:
“And forgive me too, Mom. I’m also to blame. I shouldn’t have signed documents without understanding the situation.”
“The main thing is that everything ended well,” Tatiana said. “And we all learned a lesson.”
A month later, Aunt Klavdiya was convicted of fraud. Her accomplice received a suspended sentence for agreeing to testify.
Tatiana, Viktor, and Valentina Pavlovna grew much closer. The mother-in-law realized the daughter-in-law really cared about the family and wasn’t trying to take her son away. Viktor learned not to make important decisions without discussing them with his wife. And Tatiana was convinced that in difficult times, family truly unites against external threats.
Valentina Pavlovna continued living in her communal apartment but now regularly visited the children. And no one ever suggested dubious schemes to rearrange family property again.
“You know,” Tatiana said to her husband once, “it’s good this happened. We realized how important it is to trust each other and not listen to outside advisors.”
“I agree,” Viktor nodded. “And now Mom knows for sure that we love her and won’t abandon her, no matter what.”
“And most importantly,” Tatiana added, “family happiness isn’t in apartments or money, but in being together and trusting each other.”
And it was true. Their family became stronger precisely because it went through the trial and stood firm. Aunt Klavdiya never managed to destroy what had been built for years on honesty and mutual respect.
