I overheard my mother-in-law talking to my husband and couldn’t believe my ears.
Everything I had lived for during my marriage turned out to be a deception. I trusted him so much, and yet he and his mother chose to act so despicably.
It’s decided. They will regret their actions!
Something strange is happening Just a month ago, I couldn’t have imagined that my life would change so abruptly. I was sitting in my cozy apartment, which I bought after several years of hard work, flipping through a magazine. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the kitchen. Maxim was on duty and was due back in a week.
I reached for my favorite cup in the cupboard, but it wasn’t there. Strange, I clearly remembered putting it here. Maybe I put it in the dishwasher? No, it wasn’t there either.
— What’s going on?
I began methodically searching the kitchen.
This wasn’t the first disappearance. First, my favorite sapphire earrings disappeared—a gift from my parents for my twenty-fifth birthday. Then, a silk scarf that I brought back from a trip to Italy disappeared. And now, the cup.
I took out my phone and called my husband.
— Honey, have you seen my white cup with the gold rim?
— Lerochka, did you lose something again? — he asked with a smile. — You probably moved it somewhere and forgot. You’re so scatterbrained.
— I’m not scatterbrained! — I protested. — And besides, a lot of things have been disappearing lately.
— By the way, I’ve been thinking about that business proposal. Remember, I told you? My friend is opening a chain of coffee shops and needs investors. If we mortgage the apartment…
— Max, we’ve already discussed this, — I interrupted him. — I don’t want to risk the apartment.
— Lera, it’s a great opportunity! How long can I disappear on duties? We invest, and we’ll receive passive income. We’ll live like kings!
Maxim had been talking about this for the third month. The idea was tempting—a loan secured by the apartment, investing in a promising business. But something held me back.
— Let’s not right now, okay? My vacation starts in three days, and I’m going to the sea. When I return — we’ll discuss it.
— Are you going alone?
— With whom else? You’re only coming back next week.
We talked a bit more and said goodbye.
To be sure I looked at the empty space in the cupboard where the cup should have been and resolutely headed to the bedroom.
I took a box out of my bag. These disappearances couldn’t be coincidental, so I bought a few small cameras before my vacation. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I want to know where my things are going.
I remembered how I met Maxim. It was like a fairy tale—a chance meeting in a café, his charming smile, the compliments.
He seemed perfect—attentive, caring, with a good job. Three months later, he proposed, and I, like a lovesick girl, agreed. Mom was surprised at the haste, but I was sure of my choice.
Having installed cameras in various corners of the apartment, I sat down to check the broadcast on my phone. Everything worked perfectly—good coverage, clear picture. Now I could go on vacation with peace of mind.
That evening, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. For some reason, our first conversation about finances came to mind when Maxim suggested selling my old car.
— Why do you need that clunker? — he said. — Let’s buy a new, modern one.
I agreed, although the car was in excellent condition. I just wanted to please my husband.
In the morning, I woke up with a bad feeling. I chalked it up to pre-vacation jitters and started packing my suitcase. Ahead of me were the sea, the sun, and two weeks of complete relaxation.
I had no idea that this vacation would change my entire life.
Before leaving, I checked the cameras and their connection to the server again. Everything worked perfectly. I could see what was happening in the apartment even from thousands of miles away.
On the beach I was lying on a sun lounger, enjoying the warm breeze and the sound of the surf. The atmosphere of carefree relaxation prevailed—children’s laughter, music from beach cafés, the cries of seagulls.
I took out my phone and opened the camera viewing app.
On the first recording, nothing interesting—a empty apartment. But then on Tuesday… I saw the front door open, and Valentina Petrovna entered the apartment.
Nothing surprising, my mother-in-law has a spare set of keys. But following her…
— Maxim? — I nearly dropped my phone.
He was supposed to be on duty. I turned on the sound.
— Well, son, when will you finally convince your wife about the loan? — Valentina Petrovna settled into the chair, crossing her legs.
— I’m working on it, Mom. She’s almost agreed.
— Almost? — my mother-in-law snorted. — You didn’t take this long with the last wife.
I gasped for air. The last wife?
— Mom, it’s different. Lera owns an apartment, a car. Everything needs to be done neatly.
— Neatly he will do it! — a female voice sounded, and a young brunette appeared in the frame. — You’ve been fussing with her too long, Maxik. Haven’t fallen in love, have you?
I watched the stranger as if spellbound. Slender, bright, confident in herself.
— Alina, don’t start, — Maxim grimaced. — I’m doing everything as we agreed.
— Dad! — two children, about five or six years old, burst into the room.
Maxim scooped them up in his arms, kissing them. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My husband had been deceiving me all this time.
— Max, we need money, — Alina continued. — The kids will be going to school soon, and you keep dragging this out with this simpleton.
— Indeed, — my mother-in-law agreed, — finding such a fool took some effort. Clearly a provincial. No style, no taste.
— But with an apartment and a car, — Maxim chuckled.
Alina approached my wardrobe, began rummaging through my clothes.
— Oh, nice blouse. Can I take it? It won’t be of use to her anymore.
— Take whatever you want, — Maxim waved his hand. — Soon all this will be irrelevant.
I turned off the recording. Everything fell into place—the missing items, my husband’s sudden business trips, his persistent persuasions to take out a loan.
I remembered our honeymoon. Maxim then said: «I can’t believe I met such a wonderful girl. It’s fate!» And I, foolishly, melted at his words.
Now I understood—he was a professional conman. He finds lonely girls with property, charms them, marries them, and then… What happened to that first wife? Left with nothing?
I got up from the sun lounger and walked along the shore. I needed to clear my head, gather my thoughts, and make a decision. Inside, everything boiled with anger and hurt. Half a year of pretense, lies, manipulations.
In the evening, there was a party on the beach.
I sat at the bar when a handsome man sat down next to me.
— Can I buy you a cocktail?
— Why not, — I smiled. — Today is a special day.
— Really? What’s so special about it?
— Today I start a new life, — I saluted with my glass. — You know, sometimes you need to lose everything to realize how strong you are.
— You speak philosophically, — the stranger noted.
— Oh no, I’m very practically minded, — my laugh sounded unexpectedly harsh. — I just realized one simple truth: if you’re betrayed, revenge must be… elegant.
The man raised an eyebrow in confusion, but I was already getting ready to leave.
— Thanks for the cocktail. I’m going to prepare to return home.
Back in my room, I opened my laptop and started making a plan. No, I wasn’t going to throw a tantrum or cause a scandal. I had a better idea.
First, I called my lawyer friend.
— Hello, Pash. I need a consultation. Just let’s skip the unnecessary questions…
Then I sent a message to all my friends and acquaintances that I was urgently selling my apartment. Unexpectedly, my classmate responded. I hadn’t seen him since school.
The last days of the month flew by like one day. I acted precisely according to plan, like an actress in a well-directed play.
— Mommy, I’ve decided to move to another city, — I said during a phone call.
— Lerochka, but why? — I could hear worry in my mom’s voice. — What does Maxim say?
— You could say it’s his idea, — I smiled ruefully. — Don’t worry, everything will be fine.
— Honey, you’ve been acting strange lately. What happened?
— No, Mom. Just… sometimes life throws surprises. And you need to respond in kind.
Meeting Semyon went exactly as I expected.
He had changed little since school—still the same bully with a heavy gaze. I remember how in tenth grade he put two seniors in their place who were bothering the girls. After that, the whole school feared him.
— So, you’re selling the apartment? — he rumbled, surveying the rooms.
— Yes, I’m moving. Though, there’s one nuance—I need a month to move my stuff out.
— No problem, — Semyon shrugged. — Mainly, the price is right.
When all the documents were signed, I called Maxim.
— Honey, I need to go to a friend’s for a couple of days, — I purred into the phone. — But I left you a surprise.
— Really? — genuine curiosity sounded in his voice. — What kind?
— You’ll find out, — I answered mysteriously. — By the way, I’ve missed you so much. Can’t wait for you to come back.
— I’ve missed you too, babe. You know, I still can’t believe fate gave me such a wonderful wife.
I closed my eyes, clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. It was disgusting to hear those false confessions.
— Yes, fate is quite the joker, — I gritted through my teeth, but then quickly recovered and added in a honeyed voice: — Love you, bye!
The last call was to my mother-in-law.
— Valentina Petrovna, I washed your clothes. You can pick them up.
— Oh, Lerochka, thank you! You’re such a caring daughter-in-law.
— Oh, it’s just little things, — I smiled, imagining her hypocritical smile. — The main thing is family.
D-Day I knew Maxim would return in the evening—he always came home at the same time. I left his favorite roast on the stove, a note on the table: «Dear, love you! There’s a new shampoo in the bathroom, you’ll like it. But that’s not all the surprise. Get ready!»
I myself sat on a train going to another city. The compartment was stuffy, but I felt wonderful. I could just imagine how events were unfolding in the apartment.
Maxim returned home at the usual time. Catching the aroma of the roast, he smiled contentedly and pulled out his phone.
— Alin, everything is going according to plan. The naive one is preparing surprises for me, can you believe it?
— And what kind of surprises? — Alina chuckled.
— Who cares! Soon everything will be resolved. I’ll divorce her, take the money for the apartment, and even claim the car during the property division.
— Are you sure about the car?
— Why not? Bought during marriage—means jointly acquired property.
— Just don’t mess up!
— Everything will be fine, — Maxim assured. — I’m going to take a shower, try the new shampoo she left. Then I’ll call you back.
He went to the bathroom, turned on the water, and started lathering his hair, humming some song. At that moment, the front door opened.
— What the—? — Semyon growled.
The door flung open. Maxim jolted, frantically trying to cover himself with the curtain.
— Who are you? — Semyon roared. — What are you doing in my apartment?
— This is my apartment!
— Get out of here! — Semyon grabbed him by the shoulder. — Fast!
— Wait, there’s some mistake…
— The only mistake is that you’re still here! — Semyon pushed Maxim into the hallway.
At that moment, Valentina Petrovna was coming up the stairs.
— Son, what’s happening? — she froze with her mouth open. — God, what’s with your hair?
Maxim began touching his hair, not understanding the problem.
— You’re redheaded… — Valentina Petrovna said in astonishment. — Why are my clothes lying in the trash? — she exclaimed indignantly. — I just came from there! Can you imagine, some bum was trying on my favorite dress!
— What clothes? What does this have to do with clothes? — Maxim grabbed his head, causing the towel to nearly fall. — She sold the apartment!
— What do you mean sold? — Valentina Petrovna’s eyes widened in horror.
— That means, — Semyon rumbled, coming out of the apartment. — I bought it. By all the rules, with documents. And you’re here illegally. So I advise you to clear out quickly before I call the police.
Lera smiled and ordered coffee in the dining car. She took a sip from her cup and, for the first time in a long time, laughed heartily.
She took out her phone, opened the chat with her mom.
— Mom, I’ll come to you as soon as I settle down. No, Maxim won’t come. I’ll explain everything later.
