— She never stayed faithful to you! What if the baby isn’t even yours? — his sister shot back with arrogance, trying to tarnish Liza’s reputation.
Liza walked into the kitchen and saw her husband working on his laptop.
— Another night of work? When are you going to start taking care of yourself?
— I’m doing this for us, — Maxim replied softly, gently touching her belly. She had an ultrasound scheduled for the day, and she hoped he would go with her.
— I can’t, — he sighed. — My father asked me to stop by. — Then at least spend the evening with me? — Liza, my sister is coming over. Dad insisted.
Liza tensed. Things had been difficult with Marina for a long time. She remembered their first meeting: the cold stare, the ignoring at dinner, the insults behind her back.
Then came a message from Marina to Maxim: «Are you sure the baby is yours?» Since then, Liza couldn’t stand her. After the ultrasound, Liza found out it would be a girl.
She wanted to surprise Maxim, so she bought his favorite cake. That evening, the doorbell rang. On the doorstep stood Marina with a suitcase, accompanied by Maxim.
— I’m going to live here now, — Marina declared. Liza pulled her husband aside: — Are you out of your mind? We’re expecting a baby, and you want to bring your sister here?
— Dad left, and there’s no one to look after her, — Maxim explained, defensive. That evening, Liza told Maxim they were having a girl. He was thrilled, but immediately called Marina over.
She responded with a sly remark: — I hope you won’t teach her to cook and dress like you do. A week passed, and Marina hadn’t left.
Liza carefully brought up the topic, but Maxim kept asking her to wait — «until Dad returns.» There was no end in sight to this «wait.»
Over time, Marina began to act more and more like she owned the place. The apartment descended into chaos, and Liza became her unpaid housekeeper.
Marina was rude, yelled, left a mess, and ignored Liza’s requests. Maxim, meanwhile, defended his sister, not wanting to upset her.
— I can’t take this anymore! — Liza said in desperation. — You promised she’d leave in a week!
— Hang in there, it’s just temporary, — he grumbled and went to bed.
Maxim spent all his free time with Marina, and arguments with Liza became a constant. When he was sent on a business trip, Liza was left alone with Marina.
Unable to handle the pressure, she went to her mother’s house. Her mother suggested kicking Marina out, but Liza couldn’t bring herself to do it — she feared her husband’s reaction.
One day, Liza came home to find a loud party, a mess, and Marina acting aggressively. She turned off the music and asked the guests to leave.
A week later, Maxim returned, and Marina immediately launched accusations: that Liza had hit her and was cheating. Maxim believed his sister.
— Then I’ll leave with her, — he said, even doubting if the baby was his.
— Are you serious?! — Liza was in shock. — You believe her over me?
Maxim left — and never came back. Liza realized he would always take Marina’s side.
Later, she gave birth to a girl. Her mother helped with the baby. Maxim tried to come back, but Liza couldn’t forgive the betrayal. The only thing she regretted was not kicking Marina out sooner.
