Vera looked confusedly at Alexey.
«Alex, do you realize that you’re making a mistake?»
Alexey waved his hand, showing his irritation.
«Let’s skip the drama. I’m tired of your perpetually dissatisfied expression. It’s always the same. Milana—she’s entirely different. She’s like a breath of fresh air to me. And you… I’m still being too kind to you, giving you time to pack your things and find yourself a place to live. You realize you have no right to demand anything? You’ve never worked, so don’t lay claim to my money.»
«Alex, but you’re the one who didn’t allow me to work. You said that for a wife of someone of your status, work was inappropriate.»
«Yes, I said it because then you were my wife. But now Milana will take your place, so you’ll have the opportunity to earn a living on your own.»
Vera remembered all these words as she stood at the cemetery in front of a fresh grave. Alexey’s happiness with his new wife was short-lived—only three years. Moreover, Vera knew the last year had been unhappy. Alexey’s illness also left many questions.
She knew Alexey suspected Milana of adding something to his food or drinks. He even started his own investigation and told Vera about it, but he never completed it…
A month before his death, he came to Vera, apologized, and shared details of his life. He looked unwell, and Vera’s heart ached to see his suffering. Now she shifted her gaze to the grieving widow—elegantly dressed Milana with a dark veil over her face and a young companion supporting her by the arm.
Vera heard the whispers of those at the funeral, condemning Milana for her lack of conscience. Vera understood—the investigation needed to continue. Although Alexey had betrayed her, she still loved him. Yes, he acted like a scoundrel, but he did not deserve to die. Vera sighed and headed to the cemetery exit. At the gates, someone touched her shoulder. She turned around and saw Milana.
«I hope you realize that you won’t get anything from my husband’s will,» she said coldly.
Her face was filled with malice, though Vera had given no reason to think otherwise. They stood silently for a few moments, like two opponents ready to battle. Then Vera turned and continued on her way, hearing Milana hiss through her teeth:
«Don’t even dare try to achieve anything!»
Alexey was treated at a clinic chosen by Milana, but Vera knew that wasn’t all. It turns out, Alexey was secretly seen elsewhere, almost no one knew. Everything was shrouded in secrecy, and it seemed he realized it should not be disclosed.
«Hello? Vera Nikolaevna, you need to be present at the reading of the will.»
«The will?» Vera smiled bitterly. «Did my ex really leave me something?»
«Sorry, Vera Nikolaevna, but I can’t discuss this over the phone. Can you come?»
«Yes, of course, I’ll come,» she answered.
Vera thought with a smile: she didn’t need his money, but she was very eager to see Milana’s reaction at the reading of the will.
Milana was in a great mood. The same young man who had been supporting her smugly looked at Vera and smirked. As Vera had guessed, all the property, including real estate, went to Milana. However, at the end, the notary announced that there was one more item—a house located in a remote village a hundred kilometers from the city.
Milana laughed heartily:
«The old wife gets the old junk. But don’t worry, Vera, I won’t take that hovel from you. You have nowhere else to live, you’re renting. Now you have your own ‘apartments’!»
Vera didn’t respond, silently took the documents, and left the office. «Well, this looks like the start of a little adventure,» she thought. Getting into her car, she took another look at the address.
«I have the day off; I might as well go take a look,» Vera decided, especially since she didn’t know Alexey had a house in such a backwater.
The drive took almost three hours, she got lost twice and even started to get annoyed:
«How can the road be so poorly marked? No signs, just turns.»
Finally, she saw the needed sign:
«Finally!»
The village was odd. Just a few kilometers back, there was something resembling civilization, but here—old wooden houses, most of them abandoned. «I wonder which house is now mine?» Vera thought, checking the photo. The house was at the very end of the village. She sighed—there was no road in the village, only trampled grass and car tracks.
She drove slowly on the grass, her small car catching on bumps and roots. Stopping at the house, Vera didn’t immediately get out of the car, looking around. The house looked abandoned, except for a path leading to the porch. The grass was trampled, as if people regularly walked here, and there were tire tracks at the gates—cars sometimes came here.
«Did Alexey leave me a house with tenants?» she thought. Decisively turning off the car, Vera got out and approached the gate, which emitted a piercing creak. The unexpected sound made her jump. She stepped onto the porch. The door was unlocked, which made her smirk:
Of course, it’s a village. The house seemed empty, so the locals come in, taking whatever isn’t nailed down.
«The door isn’t locked. They took whatever they could,» Vera muttered to herself.
She pulled the door and entered the house. Then she was struck with surprise—the room smelled of freshly brewed coffee, though such a scent seemed impossible in an abandoned house. She looked around: inside, it was clean and cozy, a laptop stood on the table, the house was clearly inhabited.
«Don’t be afraid,» a familiar voice said.
Vera spun around, and… everything went dark before her eyes.
«Vera, wake up! Please forgive me for scaring you like that, but I had no other choice.»
She struggled to open her eyes. In front of her sat Alexey, and Vera herself was lying on a sofa. She raised her hand, touching him—he was alive, warm. And he looked much better than at their last meeting.
«Alex… am I dead?» she managed to say.
He smiled:
«Of course not. Nobody died.»
«Then who did we bury?» she asked, shocked.
Alexey shrugged:
«A mannequin. Very expensive and carefully made.»
Vera shook her head:
«I don’t understand. What’s going on here?»
Alexey leaned back in his chair and began to explain. Vera already guessed much of it. Milana’s lover had interned in India, and, according to Alexey, it was from there he brought the slow poison with which the doctor, chosen by Milana, gradually poisoned him.
Initially, Alexey couldn’t imagine anything was wrong. Suspicions that his wife was poisoning him appeared later, when much of his property had already been transferred to Milana.
«You understand, I had to do something to stop this. I discussed everything with Misha. Remember, he has a clinic on Vasilievsky? We decided that I needed to ‘die.’ There was a risk that at any moment Milana might decide to use the last dose of poison. Basically, everything worked out. There are just a few details left. I realize I hurt you very much and don’t deserve your help, but only you can help me.»
They talked until late at night. Alexey detailed his plan, and Vera immediately agreed. How could she refuse, with her living husband sitting in front of her, whom she had mourned almost every night?
They spent that night together. Vera approached her husband, and he silently pressed his nose into her hair. The only thing he said was:
«Forgive me.»
In the morning, Alexey was about to leave. Holding his hand, she quietly said:
«I forgive you.»
Vera watched with a slight smirk as Milana’s face turned red with rage:
«What new will? This is absurd! What gifts? Everything you’re listing has long belonged to me!»
«There’s a suspicion that Alexey was given some drugs. How else to explain that he transferred property to you that had already been gifted?» Vera said calmly.
Milana jumped up:
«What nonsense? What drugs? All of this is mine, and I will sell it all tomorrow!»
The notary coughed:
«Sorry, but the sale will have to be postponed. All this requires thorough investigation, and at the moment all documentation is frozen.»
Milana glared at Vera:
«You’ll pay dearly for this, and very soon!» she hissed and, grabbing her lover by the hand, suggested:
«Shall we talk?»
«Of course, let’s talk,» Vera calmly replied.
Milana smirked:
«Do you think I’ll give you anything? You’re gravely mistaken. I didn’t spend so much time on your Alexey for nothing. You’ll end up where he was.»
Vera, smirking, responded:
«Will you slowly poison me, just like him?»
Milana looked at her with interest:
«You’re smarter than I thought. Yes, I slowly poisoned Alexey to get as much as possible. But you’re of no use to me. The faster you die, the better. There are poisons in India that act instantly and leave no trace in the body. Our doctors will never detect them.»
She laughed loudly, but suddenly Alexey appeared in the room. The moment Milana’s lover almost reached Vera, Alexey struck him, knocking him out. Milana screamed in horror, seeing the one she thought was dead, and tried to escape. But she was immediately caught by people in uniform.
Vera began to tremble, and Alexey took her hand:
«Thank you. But now we have one more unfinished business.»
They went back to the notary. Judging by his reaction, he was aware of all events because he wasn’t at all surprised. Alexey transferred half of his property to Vera, which he had, then stood up and quietly said:
«Forgive me. It’s the least I could do for you. Perhaps I’ll go to the village. I don’t want to be in your sight.»
Vera aimlessly wandered around the apartment. «But why?» she thought. She should be happy: Alexey was alive, she was now very wealthy and, most importantly, an independent woman. But a void reigned in her soul. Something was wrong. And suddenly she realized: she needed Alexey, her Alex. Even if it brought pain, she still loved him.
Vera rushed out of the house, got into the car, and sped off. Now she knew exactly what she needed to do. Driving into the village, she noticed that lights were beginning to turn on in the houses. She stopped at a small elevation, caught her breath. She saw the light turn on in Alexey’s house and smiled:
«That’s good. Everything is going as it should.»
A few minutes later, she parked at the gate, turned off the engine, and got out. Her movements were mechanical, as if she was operating on autopilot. Suddenly, a thought came to her:
«What if I’m not needed? What if he doesn’t love me?»
But she immediately decided that everything would become clear now. Opening the gate, she saw him—Alexey was already coming down the steps to meet her. He approached and looked at her intently.
«Are you sure? I hurt you deeply. Such things aren’t forgiven.»
«You’re right, they’re not forgiven,» Vera replied. «But I’m willing to try.»
Alexey hugged her tightly and sighed quietly:
«Perhaps I had to go through all this to realize how much I need you. To understand that we are one whole. If you can forgive me, I promise never to let you down again.»
Vera also sighed:
«Alex, let’s try to forget all this. As if it never happened. We’re only 40 years old; we have a chance to start over.»
Three months later, Milana and her lover were tried. Vera couldn’t attend—she felt unwell. Alexey was very nervous, and as soon as they began to announce the verdict, he rushed home. Vera greeted him with a new, glowing smile.
«Vera, how are you?»
«Not ‘you,’ but ‘we,'» she replied with a mysterious smile.
«We? What do you mean? Did someone come?»
«Not yet, but in about seven months.»
Alexey stared at her for a long time, then, overwhelmed, asked:
«Is this a joke?»
«No, it’s serious.»
Alexey, unable to believe his fortune, lifted her into the air, spinning her around as if she were the lightest feather. Finally, putting her down, he said:
«You know, every day with you brings me more and more happiness. I thought it was impossible to be happier. But now I understand I was wrong.»
