Nina put on her shoes at the doorway, exasperated. “I’ve gone home, Denis! I don’t want to listen to your mother’s complaints anymore!”

Denis blocked the exit. “Nin, she wasn’t being mean! Just pointing out your mistakes. You should listen and improve.”

Nina scoffed. “Oh, so I’m the problem? Maybe I made a mistake choosing my husband! You should support me, not her!” She tried to push past him.

Meanwhile, Denis’s mother, Tatyana Ivanovna, sat smugly sipping the wine Nina had bought her. She had spent the evening belittling Nina’s housekeeping skills, implying she was a terrible wife. When Nina could no longer take it, she left.

Later at home, Denis confronted her. “You hurt my mom, Nin. Educated people don’t behave like that.”

Nina laughed bitterly. “Educated? Hypocrites, more like! Your mom provokes and insults me, and I’m just supposed to take it?”

“Then why didn’t you speak up earlier?”

“Because I wasn’t at my own home. But here? If she tried, she’d be counting steps down to the first floor!” Nina crossed her arms. “And by the way, the TV I bought for your mom is coming back here tomorrow!”

Denis was shocked. “What?!”

“I didn’t spend forty thousand just to be insulted!”

“But it was a gift!”

“Then give me my money back.”

Denis hesitated. “I’ll lose interest if I withdraw it now!”

“I don’t care! Money now, or the TV comes back!”

Reluctantly, Denis transferred the amount.

“There. Happy?” he grumbled.

“Not quite. The day after tomorrow, your mom comes here and apologizes.”

Denis scoffed. “Maybe she should kneel too?”

“Why not?” Nina smirked.

Denis visited his mother the next day. Furious, she refused at first but relented when Denis said he’d be kicked out if she didn’t.

When Tatyana arrived, Nina made her wait outside before letting her in.

“You came to apologize. I’m listening.”

Through clenched teeth, Tatyana muttered an apology.

“Didn’t sound sincere,” Nina said.

“What else do you want? Should I kneel?” Tatyana snapped.

“Why not?” Nina smirked.

Humiliated but desperate, Tatyana knelt.

Nina sneered. “Satisfied!” She shoved her out the door.

That evening, Denis returned home to find his belongings packed.

“What is this? Mom apologized!”

“Yes, and you disgust me. You forced your own mother to kneel just to avoid being kicked out! I’m filing for divorce. Now, hand over the keys and leave.”

Denis grumbled but complied.

As he left, Nina poured herself a glass of the wine she had bought for Tatyana and savored her victory.