The tender rays of the setting sun gilded the rooftops of the cottage village. Xenia, leaning on the terrace railing, watched Artem, who was intently fanning the coals in the grill. Four-year-old Lera, proudly calling herself «the main assistant,» brought her father tongs and spices, while eight-year-old Maxim energetically kicked a football into the makeshift goals made of garden stones.
«Ksyu, join us!» her husband’s voice called from below. «A couple more minutes, and the juicy steak will be ready!»
The girl smiled, catching sight of this idyll. It seemed that fate had finally turned their way: Artem’s startup, launched a year ago to produce eco-materials, had begun to turn a profit. For his dream, Xenia had left her third year of law school, taking over the document flow of the company. «I’ll return to the diploma later,» she stubbornly insisted, flipping through textbooks at night.
«Mom, look-look!» Lera, standing on tiptoes, stretched out a silicone spatula, as though it were an Olympic torch.
«My clever girl!» Xenia descended the steps, adjusting the hem of her dress with a vintage print.
Artem wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist, touching his lips to her temple:
«You are my talisman. Without you, this project would have remained sketches in a notebook.»
«We always support each other,» she whispered, pressing against his chest.
Years flashed by like a moment. The garage workshop with three employees turned into a company with an office in a glass tower of the business district. But the higher the floors in their business empire, the less often Artem’s laughter rang through the home rooms. His leather briefcase now constantly smelled of airplane cabins and foreign boardrooms.
«Dad, will you be at my concert on Saturday?» Maxim, carefully packing his guitar into its case, looked hopefully at his father. «I’ll be playing that song from your playlist!»
«Absolutely, champ!» The man automatically ruffled his son’s hair while dictating orders to managers on the phone.
Xenia, setting out salad bowls on the table, merely pursed her lips. Over the last six months, he had «forgotten» about Lera’s performance in the kindergarten play, missed their anniversary, and postponed their long-awaited vacation to Bali three times.
When the children fell asleep, she gathered the courage:
«Art, let’s discuss…»
«Tomorrow, darling,» he didn’t look up from the monitor, where supply charts flickered. «Chinese partners are joining a video conference in an hour.»
«You’ve said that for the 47th day in a row. Maxim asked yesterday if we had stopped loving each other.»
«Don’t dramatize!» slamming the laptop shut, Artem jumped up. «I’m slaving away so you all have everything! Look, we bought Lera a bicycle for half a million, and you peek into ‘Lux-boutique’ more often than into the kitchen!»
«Our son would trade ten bicycles for one evening with you!» Xenia’s voice trembled. «Yesterday he rehearsed his speech for your greeting for an hour. And you didn’t even open the door.»
But her husband was already staring at the screen, demonstratively dialing his secretary’s number. The dialogue was exhausted.
Three weeks later, Victoria entered his life. A slender brunette with an MBA and a habit of wearing shirts that matched the shade of his eyes. New «Bleu de Chanel» perfume, weekly «meetings» at a countryside SPA, and 27 missed calls from the children were Xenia’s answers to her silent questions.
«Mom, does dad now live in the phone?» Lera, perched on a kitchen stool, smeared tears across her cheeks. «He promised to take me to a pony farm…»
«Dad has an important project, little fish,» Xenia closed her eyes so her daughter wouldn’t see the bitterness in them. «It will end soon…»
That night, Artem returned at dawn. His coat smelled of another woman’s perfume, and in his jacket pocket lay two tickets to Paris — for the date when Lera was to perform at a reading competition.
«We need to talk,» he entered the living room, not taking off his outerwear. «Has something serious happened?» chills ran down her skin. «I’ve decided to file for divorce.»
These words tore through the house’s silence like a gunshot. Xenia slowly sank into the chair, disbelieving what she heard. «What?.. Why?.. — It’s right for everyone. I met a woman who truly understands me and shares my aspirations.» — Vika?» Xenia whispered. Artem silently nodded. «I need to move on. The family only holds me back. Tired of being the perfect husband.» — Perfect husband?» her voice trembled. — «Fifteen years of our union—was it all pretense?» «I want you to vacate the house by the end of the week. It belongs to me, as does all other property.» — What about the children? Did you think of them?» «I will pay alimony. Furthermore, I’ll temporarily rent a place for you.»
Xenia looked at the stranger in front of her and did not recognize the Artem with whom she had linked her life fifteen years ago.
At the door appeared a disheveled Maxim: «Mom? What’s happening?»
Artem sharply turned and left the room, slamming the door. Xenia embraced her son. How to explain to him that their world would never be the same again?
Soon Xenia and the children moved to a modest apartment on the outskirts. Artem left the family without means of subsistence.
Lera cried, not understanding why they couldn’t return to their home. Maxim became withdrawn, stopped communicating with friends, and began ignoring lessons at the music school.
Xenia looked at the sleeping children and whispered: «I need to find a job. I must become strong for them.»
The first days in the new place were the hardest. Xenia looked for jobs all over the city. But everywhere experience was required, which she did not have – the last fifteen years she had dedicated to the family.
Finally, she was lucky to get a job as a waitress in a small cafe. The owner, Nina Petrovna, understood and accepted Xenia despite her lack of experience. In the evenings, after putting the children to bed, she took up textbooks – she decided to continue her education in law school remotely.
Years went by. One day, Xenia accidentally learned about problems in her ex-husband’s business. Artem, according to rumors, was on the brink of bankruptcy.
«Imagine, Vika managed to squander almost all his fortune,» a former colleague of Artem, visiting the cafe, told her. «They say she acquired luxury real estate, opened boutiques, but all the ventures failed.»
Xenia silently cleaned the tables, but every word was etched in her memory. Returning home in the evening, she took out old documents. Somewhere here, the papers on the creation of Artem’s first company must have been stored.
«Mom, what are you doing?» Maxim peered into the room. «Just looking for old papers, son. Nothing important.» «I met dad today. He was selecting goods at special prices in the supermarket.»
Xenia froze. So the rumors were confirmed – Artem indeed had serious financial difficulties. Otherwise, he would never have noticed such products. However, according to the latest data, the real estate and cars still belonged to him. Likely, he maintained the appearance of prosperity, hiding the real situation. He preserved assets until the last, spending funds to cover debts.
The next day, Igor – a longtime family friend working at a major credit organization – appeared at the cafe.
«I’ve wanted to meet with you for a long time,» he said when her shift ended. «Are you aware of the situation with Artem?» «Only heard conversations.» «In fact, it’s much worse. He committed tax fraud, concealed income. I have documentation that confirms this.»
Xenia listened attentively to his words. Each of them helped her form a plan of action.
A week later, she filed for a review of the divorce terms. The collected evidence was irrefutable – Artem had understated his earnings for years to minimize alimony payments.
«You were entitled to a significantly larger amount of compensation,» noted the lawyer. «Considering your role in developing his business and the fact that you dedicated yourself entirely to raising the children, allowing him to build his career.»
The process lasted several months. Xenia did not miss a single court session, methodically defending her position. Artem looked exhausted – his suit hung on him like on a hanger, dark circles lay under his eyes.
When the judge announced the decision, complete silence reigned in the courtroom. Artem was required to transfer a significant portion of his fortune to Xenia and the children.
«Are you satisfied?» Artem caught up with his ex-wife at the exit from the building. «Do you understand that I’m almost bankrupt!» «Were you pleased when you kicked us out of the house?» Xenia calmly replied. «When our children asked why they could no longer live in their mansion?» «I’m ready to discuss terms,» he lowered his voice, offering. «Perhaps we can find a peaceful solution?» «That time has passed,» Xenia coldly stated. «Now it’s too late.»
«Is this revenge? For leaving? But it’s just business, Ksyusha! I can fix the situation, return everything…»
Xenia stopped and looked at him: «No, Artem. This isn’t revenge. This is justice. And it’s not about another woman. It’s about how you treated us, your family. You betrayed not only me – you betrayed your children.»
«They remain my children!» Artem’s voice had hysterical notes. «You can’t…»
«I can,» Xenia firmly stated. «And I will. Because someone has to take care of their future.»
Artem grabbed her hand: «Listen, I have an offer. We can start over. Vika… she’s not who she claimed to be. And you… you were always there, supporting me…»
Xenia calmly, but firmly freed her hand: «Goodbye, Artem. I’ve created my life, my path. And I’m no longer that naive girl who believed every one of your promises.»
A month after this conversation, the whole town discussed the collapse of Artem’s business empire. Vika had managed to transfer significant funds to her accounts before disappearing. Luxury real estate and other assets had to be sold for a pittance to cover debts. Artem tried to maintain appearances until the end, but all efforts were in vain.
Xenia watched this without malice. The won court cases allowed her to buy spacious housing in a prestigious area. The children finally had their own rooms, and Maxim even organized a home music studio.
Years went by, and the family’s situation improved every day.
«Mom, look!» Lera burst into the room, waving an envelope. «I’ve been admitted on a budget!»
Xenia embraced her daughter, feeling tears of joy fill her eyes. Getting into a well-known economic university had been Lera’s long-held dream.
One spring day, Artem appeared at Xenia’s office. Worn out, in a tattered coat, he looked quite pitiful. «I’ve realized everything, Ksyusha,» he said quietly, not raising his eyes. «Money and power blinded me. I thought they would bring happiness.»
«Why are you here?»
«I want to correct mistakes. Return the family. I miss the children, I miss you…»
Xenia shook her head: «The children grew up without you, Artem. That was your choice.»
At that moment, Maxim drove up to the office in a new car. The son had become a serious entrepreneur, founding an IT company. Music remained just a hobby.
«Ready?» Maxim deliberately ignored his father. «We have a meeting with investors in an hour.»
«Yes, son,» Xenia replied, grabbing her purse. «Sorry, Artem, we’re running late.»
At a charity event, their paths crossed again. Artem, now an ordinary manager, tried to speak to his ex-wife.
«Xenia Vladimirovna, a couple of minutes of your time?» he called out loudly, catching up with her in the foyer.
Xenia turned, surrounded by colleagues and partners: «Yes, Artem?»
«I wanted to publicly acknowledge my mistakes…» he began.
«Don’t bother,» Xenia gently interrupted him. «All that is in the past. I’ve long forgiven the offenses and wish you only good.»
In the evening, settled in her favorite chair with a cup of tea, Xenia sifted through family photos. Here Lera receives her diploma, here Maxim opens his first office.
Her phone vibrated — Maxim sent a snapshot: they were with his sister in a new restaurant.
«Mom, join us!» the son wrote. «Celebrating Lera’s successful first session.»
Xenia smiled. Life had taught her a harsh lesson, but she had coped successfully. Now no one could destroy her world, built on love for her children and faith in herself.
In the mirror, a confident, elegant woman was reflected. Xenia adjusted her hair and took the car keys. Her children were waiting for her at the restaurant, and that meant much more than all the previous grievances and disappointments.
As she left the house, Xenia paused, inhaling the fresh evening air. Life continued, and there was so much beauty in it — the love of children, the respect of colleagues, a dignified career. And most importantly, the freedom to be oneself, not looking back at the past and not fearing the future.
