Having received a slap from her mother-in-law in front of the guests for a poorly set table, Margaret began pulling some things out of the cabinet, and the guests were STUNNED by what they saw…

— And do you know how you differ from her? She helps her husband, but you only drag him down. To where you wallow yourself. She, by the way, managed to turn dumb Victor into a big boss, director of a large company.

— And what have you done? You put Nick under your heel, ruining his career forever. Margaret jumped up like scalded, not knowing what to reply to her mother-in-law. More than anything, she wanted to hit her insolent face with something heavy.

And just then, the front door creaked. Following that, a languid scent of women’s perfume spread through the apartment. Women’s laughter was heard.

It turned out Nicholas had come home with Lena. — Greetings everyone, we’re here, — Nicholas bellowed from the hallway so the whole apartment heard. With great effort, bypassing the wide Zelda Patterson, the enraged Margaret headed to the entryway to meet her husband and guests.

However, Victor wasn’t among the arrivals for some reason. On the threshold, Nicholas was taking off his shoes, and by the mirror, his ex-wife was primping, refreshing a layer of bright red lipstick on her lips. — Victor will be late today, talking to clients, and Lena’s car is at the shop, timing belt repair, so I brought her from work.

— Margo, please, sunshine, make me and Lena some coffee right now, be a dear, our eyes are closing. Lena greeted Margaret with a barely noticeable nod and, taking Nicholas by the hand, swaying her hips, dragged him to the living room. Towards them from the kitchen purposefully strode the smiling Zelda Patterson.

— Lena dear, hello, berry! You look so gorgeous today, like a star from the runway! — she gave a juicy compliment to her former daughter-in-law. — Your lipstick is so bright! It suits you so well! — Thanks, Zelda Patterson, — Lena beamed in a satisfied smile. — Lena dear, what did you gift Nicky for his birthday? — Zelda Patterson addressed her again.

Lena rolled her eyes for a couple seconds, then started vividly describing the merits of the laptop she presented to Nicholas as a birthday gift. Zelda Patterson listened very attentively, and when it came to the gift’s cost, she gasped in surprise. As for Margaret, she stood aside, feeling completely out of place…

She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the extra one here today. Lingering a bit in these unpleasant thoughts, Margaret got lost when she heard her husband’s indignant-capricious voice, repeating the order to brew coffee for him and his ex-wife. — Margo, why are you standing there? I asked you five minutes ago.

— Make us coffee. Sleepy. On our feet all day.

— Deadly tired. Come on, get to it. — Okay, — she said, pushing aside her husband who blocked the kitchen passage with his body.

— Come here, dear. Margaret grabbed Nicholas by the sleeve and led him to the kitchen, closing the door behind her. — Want coffee, huh, Nick? You could’ve stopped at a coffee shop with your Lena and had some there.

— I’m not done with the salads yet. And your mom is messing with my head, won’t let me relax. — Margo, don’t be mad, — Nicholas got his wife’s hint.

— Make the coffee, please, and we’ll help you with the table now. Nicholas vanished from the kitchen, and after putting the coffeepot on the stove, Margaret started laying out ham rolls on a large platter. And just then, an indignant-disdainful voice of Lena reached her ears from the living room…