"Get out of my house!" my mother-in-law yelled, forgetting that the apartment was actually a gift from my parents. What I did next plunged her and her son into deep regret.

"I'm not leaving," I replied calmly, to the point of surprising myself. "This apartment is mine. And it will remain so."

"We'll see," she said scornfully. "Thomas will tell the truth."

For the first time, I smile.

"Truth doesn't need to be summoned," I said. "It always arrives on its own."

When the front door opened, Marta jumped to her feet. Thomas rushed in, tense and pale.

"What's going on?" he asked, avoiding my gaze.

"Tell him!" Marta demanded. "Tell him that this apartment is yours!"

Thomas swallowed with difficulty.

"Mom... that's not true," he said in a low voice. "The apartment belongs to Sophie. Her parents bought it. I didn't pay anything."