“This house is mine now. Pack your things and get out,” my sister-in-law announced after the wedding

“This house is mine now. Pack your things and get out,” my sister-in-law announced after the wedding

Natalya was drying her hands with a kitchen towel when the doorbell rang. October evening had already swallowed the city in darkness, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. Her husband, Igor, was in the living room watching the news. On the doorstep stood Alina—Igor’s younger sister—smiling broadly, a box of pastries in her hands.

“Hi! Can I come in?” Alina said, stepping into the entryway without waiting for an answer.

“Hello, Alina. Sure, come in,” Natalya replied, closing the door behind her.

Igor stood up from the couch and hugged his sister. Alina headed straight to the kitchen and set the pastries on the table.

“I was nearby and thought I’d stop in. It’s been forever!”

“Sit down—want some tea?” Natalya offered.

Alina nodded. The women sat at the table, and Igor joined them. At first it was small talk—weather, work, a new series. Then Alina finally got to what she’d come for.

“Listen, I have a favor to ask,” she said, pushing her cup aside. “I’m getting married.”

“Congratulations!” Natalya said. “When’s the wedding?”

“In two months. But there’s a problem… We need a loan for the celebration. The bank requires registration in a good district. Maxim is registered in a dorm, and I’m registered at Mom’s tiny apartment. The bank keeps refusing us.”

Igor frowned.
“So what do you want?”

“To register at your address. Just temporarily. Only for the bank. I’ll deregister right after, I promise.”

Natalya hesitated. The house had been left to her by her parents, fully in her name. She didn’t want to register anyone else there.

“Alina, registration gives certain rights…” Natalya said carefully.

“Oh come on, Natash. I’m family. Please!”

Igor sighed. “Maybe we should help,” he said. “It’s her wedding.”

Reluctantly, Natalya agreed—on one condition: Alina would deregister as soon as the loan was approved.

A week later, the registration was done.

The wedding was lavish. Alina looked radiant, Maxim never left her side.
“See? It worked!” Igor said happily.

But after the wedding, weeks passed. Alina didn’t deregister. Then one winter evening, Alina and Maxim showed up with suitcases.

“Our landlord sold the apartment,” Alina said cheerfully. “Can we stay here for a bit?”

Igor agreed before Natalya could object.

Days turned into weeks. Alina unpacked, rearranged furniture, used appliances freely, invited friends over, and treated the house like her own. Igor kept defending her.

One day, Alina took Natalya’s new dress without asking. When confronted, she laughed it off.

That night, Natalya told Igor she wanted them out.

“This is my house,” she said.

“Our house,” Igor corrected. “And my sister has the right to stay.”

Later, Alina confronted Natalya directly.

“We’re registered here,” she said coldly. “That means we have the right to live here. Honestly, this house is ours now. Pack your things and leave.”

Natalya calmly retrieved the house documents. The ownership was clear: the house belonged to her alone.

“Registration is not ownership,” she said. “And I can cancel it through the court.”

She did exactly that.

The court ruled in Natalya’s favor. Alina and Maxim lost their registration and had to leave.

Afterward, Igor moved out too. Natalya filed for divorce. The marriage ended quietly.

In spring, Natalya renovated the house. It became bright, peaceful—hers.

One evening, Igor came by asking for another chance.

“No,” Natalya said calmly. “You made your choice. I made mine.”

She closed the door, sat by the fireplace, and smiled.
Her home—and her life—finally belonged to her alone.