Lifestyle Travel Celebrity Vacations Kathy Hilton Suspects Kyle Richards Was Considering Separation from Mauricio Umansky for '3 or 4 Years' The mother of Paris and Nicky Hilton claimed her younger sister was not a "compulsive person" and probably had separation on her mind for a while By Esther Kang Esther Kang Esther Kang is a writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023 and has previously worked for publications like TMZ and TooFab. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 7, 2024 02:59PM EST Comments Close Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty; Andrew Eccles/ABC via Getty Kathy Hilton has her theories about her sister Kyle Richards' complicated relationship with Mauricio Umansky. On Wednesday's second installment of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 13 reunion, Kathy made an unexpected return to the Bravo stage. While getting ready for her close up in her trailer, the mother of Paris and Nicky Hilton ruminated about her sister's separation. "[Kyle's] not a compulsive person," she said. "She didn't decide this in three months. For sure, I bet she had been thinking — in my feeling — probably in the last three, four years." Kathy Hilton Says Sister Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky's Separation 'Broke My Heart' Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky. Michael Kovac/Getty In July 2023, a source close to the estranged couple told PEOPLE that Kyle and Mauricio "have been separated for a while now but are still living under the same roof. They remain amicable as they figure out what’s next for them and their family." Shortly after the news went public, the pair denied rumors they were headed towards divorce but confessed to having a "rough year" in a joint statement shared to Instagram. Buying Beverly Hills: Mauricio and Kyle's Daughters Break Down After Learning Parents Are Separated and Dating (Exclusive) Kyle and Mauricio have been married since January 1996. The pair, who first met at a nightclub in 1994, share daughters Alexia, Sophia, and Portia as well as Kyle's eldest daughter Farrah Brittany (née Aldjufrie) from her first marriage to ex Guraish Aldjufrie. Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky with their daughters. Kyle Richards/Instagram RHOBH: Kyle Refuses to Be Punished for Keeping Her 'Painful' Separation from Mauricio a Secret: 'I Wasn't Ready' When the other Housewives confronted her for being secretive about her problems at the reunion, Kyle defended herself and her right to keep things private. "Oh, I'm so sorry ... you didn't think it was enough information," she said in a sarcastic tone. "It just had started. I was just figuring it out myself, and what makes you so entitled to think that you are owed an explanation about everything that's going on in my bedroom?" Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty RHOBH: Kyle Doesn't Owe Anyone an 'Explanation' About What's Going on in Her 'Bedroom': 'What Makes You So Entitled?' After Dorit Kemsley admitted she felt "really hurt" by her decision to keep things under wraps considering their years-long friendship, Kyle opened up about how hard life had been while navigating her separation. "My entire adult life, I have been married," she explained. "And it's really, really difficult and it's really painful and, you know, we were trying to keep a brave face still for our kids at home. I wasn't ready and I don't want to feel like I should be in trouble for that." She added, "I'm figuring it out every day." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.