“Hold on a second, Sarah! Someone’s ringing the doorbell. I’ll call you back after I find out who it is and what they want,” said Laura reluctantly, ending her phone conversation with her old friend. Sarah had been recounting her mother-in-law’s birthday party in vivid detail, complete with humor, leaving Laura laughing nonstop, as though she were watching a comedy show on TV.
Laura walked to the door, looked through the peephole, and was quite surprised. She had expected to see a neighbor, as strangers couldn’t easily enter their secure apartment building. But standing there was a peculiar-looking young woman Laura had never seen before.
Deciding not to open the door—after all, it was better to avoid engaging with strangers, especially with so many scammers around these days—Laura stepped away. She had a strict principle: no interactions with unknown people. Scammers preyed on the gullible, and Laura wasn’t one of them.
She picked up her phone to resume her chat with Sarah, but the doorbell rang again. The woman outside was persistent, clearly convinced someone was home and determined to get a response.
Laura was alone in the apartment; her husband, Mark, had gone to a friend’s house to help with some fencing work. She walked back to the door and peered through the peephole again, observing the stranger more closely.
Something about the woman was odd and pitiful at the same time, but Laura didn’t sense any danger.
“What’s the worst that could happen if I open the door and tell her to leave? Then I can enjoy the rest of my weekend in peace,” Laura thought to herself. “She’s probably lost or here to peddle some nonsense.”
Deciding quickly, Laura opened the door. The woman standing in the hallway immediately straightened up, smoothing her hair nervously before speaking.
“Hello! Are you Laura?” she asked, fiddling with the scarf around her neck. “Well, of course, you are—why am I even asking?”
“Now, this is interesting,” Laura thought. “Scammers are getting more sophisticated these days. She even knows my name.”
“Who are you, and what do you want? You’ve been ringing for five minutes. I didn’t invite you, so either say what you came for or leave!” Laura demanded firmly.
“Is Mark home?” the stranger asked, catching Laura off guard.
“Well, this is something!” Laura thought, her suspicion growing. “She knows my husband’s name too. Definitely a prepared scammer.”
“Are you here for Mark?” Laura asked, though she had planned to say something entirely different.
“No, I came to talk to you. But if Mark is here, it’ll make things harder for me,” the stranger replied casually.
“Harder for you? What’s going on?” Laura thought, growing more curious by the second.
“He’s not home. What do you want?”
“Maybe we should step inside. It’s awkward to talk about such things in the hallway,” the woman suggested, growing bolder.
“Not a chance! I don’t know you, and I don’t let strangers into my home. Say what you came to say and be quick about it,” Laura snapped.
“Do you really want me to discuss the intimate details of my relationship with Mark here, in front of your neighbors?” the woman said, smirking.
“What? What relationship?” Laura exclaimed, her voice louder than intended.
“Laura, is everything okay? Why are you shouting?” asked Mrs. Henderson, Laura’s neighbor, who had just stepped out of the elevator.
“Oh, hi, Mrs. Henderson! Everything’s fine. How’s the weather outside?” Laura asked, trying to redirect the neighbor’s attention.
“Looks like it’s about to rain,” the neighbor replied, though she didn’t move toward her own door, clearly curious about what was happening.
“Come in,” Laura said begrudgingly, gesturing for the stranger to enter.
Once inside, the woman looked around the apartment with interest, her eyes lingering on various items.
“You’ve got five minutes. Speak,” Laura said, blocking her from moving further into the living room. “This isn’t a museum.”
“My name is Jessica,” the woman began, removing her scarf and coat. “Mark and I are in love.”
“Oh, how cliché! Couldn’t you come up with something more original?” Laura interrupted with a sarcastic smile.
“What’s cliché about it? People fall in love—it happens. You’re not the first wife whose husband has moved on,” Jessica replied confidently, trying to push past Laura.
“And you’re sure he’s fallen out of love with me and in love with you?” Laura asked, still smiling.
“Absolutely! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here,” Jessica replied boldly.
“Well, the thing is, my husband doesn’t love anyone. He doesn’t know how. So, you’re quite mistaken, dear,” Laura said with calm certainty.
“You’re wrong! We work together, and from the moment I joined his team, Mark—oh, sorry, Mr. Mark Harris—couldn’t take his eyes off me. He even confessed his feelings,” Jessica argued.
“Really? That’s odd. It doesn’t sound like him at all. So, what do you want from me, Jessica?”
“I want you to divorce him and let him be happy,” Jessica declared, standing her ground.
“Let me get this straight: you’re asking me to let my husband go when he hasn’t even mentioned a divorce himself? Are you sure you’ve got the right man?” Laura said, amused.
“You’re just mocking me now! I’m serious—stop holding onto a man who doesn’t love you anymore. You’re still young; you can find someone else,” Jessica pressed on.
“And why would I do that?” Laura asked, genuinely curious.
“Because you’ll need a place to live. Mark and I will move in here, and, well, you’ll have to move out,” Jessica said bluntly.
“You’re planning to live here? That’s hilarious!” Laura burst out laughing, leaving Jessica speechless.
Just then, the door opened, and Mark walked in, looking surprised to find a stranger in their hallway.
“Jessica? What are you doing here on a Saturday? Is this about work?” Mark asked, confused.
“No, she’s here for you,” Laura said, relishing the unfolding drama.
“For me? What do you mean? Did something happen at work?” Mark asked, still bewildered.
“No, darling. She’s here to take you away from me. Completely,” Laura said with a grin.
Jessica, flustered, quickly put on her coat and started backing toward the door.
“Leaving already? But what about Mark? Aren’t you here for him? I’m more than happy to hand him over to you,” Laura teased.
But Jessica was already out the door.
“What was that all about?” Mark asked, utterly confused.
“You tell me! Why did this bold woman show up, demanding a divorce and claiming you’re moving in with her?” Laura asked, crossing her arms.
“Are you serious?” Mark replied, looking genuinely shocked. “I have no idea what’s going on. She’s been acting weird at work, but I haven’t encouraged anything. I’m done with all that nonsense. I promised you, remember?”
“Good. Because you know me, Mark—I don’t mess around. But seriously, women these days will do anything to fix their messy lives,” Laura said, shaking her head.
