This day seemed to stretch on endlessly. Klara simply couldn’t understand why Leonid had arranged this meeting on the Embankment—the very place where they had first met. What was he up to? In the past, her husband had rarely shown a romantic streak: the most he ever did was bring her a bouquet on a holiday or perfume on her birthday. And now he suddenly wanted to surprise her! Klara decided not to let the opportunity slip by and prepared thoroughly: she went to the hairdresser and chose an elegant outfit, as though getting ready for a first date, paying close attention to every detail.
Leonid was already waiting by the fountain with an arch, glancing at his watch from time to time. He wasn’t holding any flowers—apparently, this meeting wasn’t as festive as Klara had imagined.
“Hi!” she said, appearing suddenly, causing Leonid to flinch involuntarily.
“Hi,” he replied curtly, then added, clearly nervous, “We’re running late, Klar. Let’s hurry.”
Leonid didn’t even notice his wife’s transformation; he didn’t pay her a single compliment on her appearance. “Probably later,” Klara reassured herself.
“Where are we going?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. “Did something happen? Is this a surprise?”
“Something like that,” Leonid shrugged and pulled her along.
They crossed the Embankment Square, walked over a bridge, and headed toward a new high-rise building. During that time, countless guesses flitted through Klara’s mind. When Leonid stopped at the building entrance and punched in the door code, she decided not to ask any more questions—let it be a surprise. Still, her heart was pounding uneasily.
They took the spacious elevator to the thirteenth floor. Leonid let Klara go first, took a set of keys from his pocket, and walked to the door at the very end of the hallway.
“Whose apartment is this?” Klara couldn’t help but ask as she stepped into a stylish foyer.
“Do you like it?” was her husband’s response instead of an answer. He gestured toward the room. “Go have a look!”
Klara walked through the apartment: the wallpaper she’d always liked, a chandelier identical to the one she had recently wanted to install in their bedroom but Leonid had talked her out of. The balcony offered a magnificent view. Though the apartment was small, it felt incredibly cozy. Klara could already picture herself enjoying a cup of her favorite tea while admiring the balcony view.
“You could spend forever here,” she said in awe, turning back to Leonid. “Just imagine how magical the view will be at night when the river is lit up and the streetlamps are glowing!”
“I knew you’d like it here,” Leonid finally said, holding out the keys to her. “And don’t bother thanking me. It’s all for you!”
“What do you mean?” Klara asked in confusion.
“Exactly what I said,” he nodded, glancing at his watch again. “I have to go—I’ll send your things over later in a car.”
“Wait!” Klara placed a hand on her chest, sensing that something was terribly wrong. “What do you mean, ‘my things’? And why are you in such a rush?”
“Klara, stop pretending you don’t understand!” Leonid snapped, annoyed. “You know perfectly well that I’m leaving you—I’m starting a new life!”
Klara opened her mouth to reply but realized she had no words. Any questions would only bring more accusations, and she truly was in shock.
“Why, for heaven’s sake—explain what’s happening!” she finally managed to say.
“It means this apartment is yours now,” Leonid said coldly. “The paperwork is in the dresser, in your name. I used your power of attorney. And today my real love is flying in, so I need to get to the airport. Sorry, but I don’t have time for a long goodbye.”
“Lyona, you’re not joking?” Klara whispered, her voice trembling. “How is this possible? Everything was fine just yesterday…”
“Klara, I’ve been cheating on you for a long time!” Leonid exploded. “And don’t tell me you had no idea! I thought you were smarter—I assumed you were just turning a blind eye.”
Klara felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Had their marriage really been so flawless? They rarely fought. When their son was little, Leonid never came home late from work; it was only after their son moved to the capital that her husband started traveling on business more often. Still, they celebrated holidays together, spent weekends at home. Yes, in recent years the business trips had become more frequent, but he always called and brought back souvenirs from the same city. Now it was obvious where he had met his “beloved.” And Klara? All this time, she had been relegated to second place?
She wanted to ask a million questions, to voice every emotion. But the lump in her throat kept her silent. She looked at Leonid, tears streaming down her face, realizing that their world was collapsing before her eyes.
“Well, it’s all settled then,” Leonid said. “This apartment is yours now, and you’ll give up your share of our jointly owned property. I’ll arrange with Lina for a place to stay, and then we can sign all the paperwork with the notary. After that, we’ll handle the divorce.”
With a sudden slam, Leonid shut the door, leaving Klara standing in the foyer of her new apartment, clutching the keys tightly in her hand. His footsteps echoed down the hallway until they disappeared, leaving only silence. Klara felt as though she were sinking into a void—deep and bottomless. Slowly, she looked around the space that now belonged to her; instead of bringing joy, it filled her with the bitterness of betrayal. How could she have lived so long in an illusion, completely unaware of her husband’s other life?
Klara sank onto the sofa, covering her face with her hands. Her thoughts darted back and forth, trying to pinpoint the moment everything started to fall apart. Yet no matter how hard she tried to remember, there were no obvious warning signs. They had been an ordinary family—neither especially passionate nor particularly quarrelsome. Any fleeting sense of distance she had attributed to routine or fatigue. Meanwhile, the gulf between them had been widening day by day.
She spent a sleepless night, going over the years of their life together, searching for clues as to when and why it had all changed. Leonid had always been reserved and laconic, but she had loved him for that—his reliability and predictability. As for him, when did he stop loving her? The questions circled in her mind, but the answers remained out of reach.
Early the next morning, as the first rays of dawn tinged the sky a pale pink, Klara called a taxi and returned to their old apartment. Leonid met her at the door, his arms crossed in a gesture of irritation.
“What do you want here?” he asked coldly, blocking her way.
“I live here,” Klara replied calmly—much to her own surprise—and stepped forward, intending to enter.
But Leonid refused to let her pass, standing like an immovable barrier.
“You understand you’re putting me in a very awkward position? I bought you an apartment! You should be grateful I made sure you weren’t out on the street.”
Klara gave a small, bitter laugh without raising her eyes.
“Grateful? For the cheating? For the lies? No, Leonid, I’m staying here. This apartment belongs to both of us, and I’m not leaving.”
His face twisted with tension.
“You don’t understand what I’ve done for you. I could have divided this property through the courts. After the sale, your share wouldn’t have even been enough for a room in a dormitory! But I took care of you—I ensured you’d have a decent place to live! You should be happy!”
“Thank you, of course,” Klara answered evenly, “but I’ve decided to rent out the second apartment. I’m staying here. Until we’re officially divorced, this apartment is still mine. If you want, you can try taking it back, but remember—the documents are in my name,” she added, knowing she had every right to remain.
Leonid’s face reddened with anger.
“You have no right to do this! I counted on your decency! I was sure you’d agree to my terms!”
Klara looked him straight in the eyes, no longer feeling fear or regret.
“I’m staying here. If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.”
He froze, at a loss for words. Before him stood a completely different woman—strong and self-assured. The Klara he had known was gone.
Days began to drag on endlessly. They found themselves in a bizarre situation: three of them under one roof. Every day, Klara asserted her presence in the apartment—occupying her usual spot at the dining table, cooking in the shared kitchen, and continuing her daily routines that had shaped this home for years.
When Leonid tried to stage “family” evenings with Lina, Klara was always there, reminding them who the real mistress of the house was. Occasionally, she allowed herself pointed but subtle remarks directed at his new partner, watching Leonid tense up and Lina lower her gaze.
Leonid tried various tactics to make Klara leave, first pleading with her, then resorting to threats, but all were in vain. She stood her ground.
After a few weeks, Lina couldn’t stand it any longer. One morning, she quietly packed her things and left without a word. Leonid blamed Klara, yelling that she was at fault for destroying his relationship. Yet Klara remained calm, looking at him with icy determination. Their marriage no longer existed for her, but she refused to let him walk away without consequences.
Over time, Leonid began to change. His stubborn determination to get a divorce and start a new life gradually faded. One evening, after returning from work, he found Klara in the kitchen as usual, preparing dinner and lost in thought. Approaching her, Leonid spoke with unexpected heaviness in his voice:
“I’ve changed my mind about the divorce.”
Klara looked up, clearly surprised.
“Changed your mind?” she repeated slowly, as though testing the words. “And what do you propose?”
“Let’s just leave things the way they are,” he said, sitting down on the edge of the table. “I realize now I made a mistake. We can go back to the way things were.”
“The way they were?” Klara gave a small, humorless laugh, but there was no longer any pain in her eyes. “You really think we can just erase everything that’s happened? Forget the betrayal? No. Now I’m the one insisting on the divorce. And here’s my proposal: you relinquish your share of this apartment, and I’ll transfer the new one to you. That’s the only way we both come out even.”
Leonid thought for a moment. He didn’t like the condition, but he knew he had no other choice. Selling their shared apartment would leave him with barely enough for anything decent, especially after his savings had gone toward buying Klara’s new place. And that new place, though modest, was still his best option. In the end, he agreed—on one condition: both transactions had to be concluded at the same time, to rule out any risk of deception.
The paperwork was signed, and each party got what they deserved. Leonid, finally free, realized that his new life wasn’t as bright as he had imagined. Klara, however, walked out of the notary’s office feeling lighter, certain that this freedom was the start of a new, brighter chapter in her life.
