Victoria stared at yet another unpaid bill spread out on the kitchen table. She mechanically brushed a stray lock of hair back into place and let out a heavy sigh. In the next room, Artem was enthusiastically telling someone on the phone about his new project—online self-improvement courses.
«Imagine, it’s simply revolutionary!» His excited declaration reached her ears. «Right now, everyone is trying to find themselves, and I’m going to help them do that…»
Victoria gave a bitter smile. After five years of marriage, she had learned to recognize these periodic “epiphanies” from her husband. First, it was an organic goods store, then a bicycle repair workshop, and after that—meditation classes. Every time it was the same: Artem would get carried away with an idea, borrow money, and when the venture failed, she had to handle the financial problems.
The phone vibrated—a call from her mother-in-law. Victoria closed her eyes for a moment, bracing herself for the conversation.
«Good morning, Tamara Semyonovna.»
«Vika, did you transfer the money to Artem’s phone?» her mother-in-law immediately got down to business.
«I already paid it yesterday…»
«But that’s not enough!» she interrupted. «He needs to actively communicate with potential clients, develop his business online.»
Victoria pressed her lips together. At the travel agency where she worked, mass layoffs had begun, and every penny was worth its weight in gold. But how could she explain this to her mother-in-law?
«I’ll try to organize something,» she replied coolly.
«That’s great,» Tamara Semyonovna’s tone softened. «You always understand how important it is to support our Artemushka. He’s so special—he just needs time to realize his potential.»
After the call, Victoria sat for a long time, staring blankly. Outside, the rain began to fall, drops sliding down the window and blurring the outlines of the gray buildings. On the table lay utility bills, a bank reminder about an overdue payment, and a list of debts that needed to be repaid urgently.
«Vika!» Artem burst into the kitchen, beaming with joy. «You won’t believe it! I just got a call from a potential partner. He says my idea is a bomb!»
«Wonderful,» she forced a smile. «How much investment will it require this time?»
Artem blushed slightly but quickly composed himself:
«About three hundred thousand… But that’s peanuts compared to what we’ll get!»
«We don’t have that kind of money,» she replied calmly.
«I know!» he said, slumping into the chair opposite with a loud thud. «But we can borrow. Maksim says…»
«Maksim?» she tensed.
«Yes, my friend from college. He’s ready to lend,» Artem said, deliberately avoiding her gaze.
«Ready to lend again? And did you repay the last debt to him?»
«Vika, come on!» he frowned. «I told you I’d handle it. As soon as we launch the project…»
At that moment, the phone rang again. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. Victoria frowned, but she answered:
«Hello?»
«Victoria Andreevna? Good day. I’m calling regarding your aunt, Elena Pavlovna Sokolova…»
Victoria froze. She hardly knew Aunt Lena—she lived in another city and rarely visited the family. The last time they had seen each other was three years ago at a family celebration.
«Is something wrong with her?»
«Unfortunately, Elena Pavlovna is no longer with us,» the notary’s sympathetic voice explained. «However, she left a will… and you are the sole heir.»
Victoria sat stunned. Why had her aunt chosen her, especially when they hardly communicated? Memories of their last conversation at that family celebration surfaced—Aunt Lena had carefully questioned her about her work and future plans, as if she were really listening…
«What wonderful news!» Artem was already unfolding his plans. «That means we’ll now have opportunities…»
He didn’t finish his sentence—a knock sounded at the door. Standing on the threshold was Tamara Semyonovna carrying grocery bags.
«I brought you some food…» she began, but stopped when she saw the expressions on Victoria’s and her son’s faces. «Did something happen?»
«Mom, can you imagine!» Artem grabbed his mother’s hands. «Vika has an inheritance: an apartment, a country house, and money!»
Tamara Semyonovna froze. Her gaze slowly shifted to her daughter-in-law. Something new and unfamiliar flashed in her eyes.
«An apartment, you say?» She carefully set the bags on the floor. «And a country house? Now that’s a twist…»
Victoria felt uncomfortable under her mother-in-law’s scrutinizing gaze. The small kitchen suddenly felt cramped and stifling.
«Perhaps I should go,» she mumbled, grabbing her purse. «I have to go to work.»
All day, Victoria couldn’t concentrate. Clients were asking about tours, but the image of Tamara Semyonovna’s evaluating look lingered in her mind. By evening, the phone practically melted from the calls—somehow, Artem’s relatives had learned about the inheritance.
When she returned home, Victoria found Artem and his mother deep in conversation. Her mother-in-law had hurriedly hidden some documents in her bag, but Victoria managed to glimpse a familiar bank name on the papers.
«Vika, how nice you’re here!» Tamara Semyonovna beamed with forced joy. «We were just discussing…»
«Discussing what exactly?» Victoria asked, tense.
«Just family matters,» exchanged knowing glances between her mother-in-law and her son. «You know, I think we should meet tomorrow to discuss everything… and make a rough calculation.»
«A calculation of what?»
«Oh, dear!» Tamara Semyonovna leaned forward. «We need to figure out how much we can get from selling the property. An apartment in the center is a fortune! And the country house? Do you even know where it’s located?»
No sooner had a day passed, her inheritance had already been mentally divided and spent.
That morning, the phone woke Victoria at seven.
«Good morning, dear!» Tamara Semyonovna’s voice was overly cheerful. «Have you found out the exact value of everything yet?»
«Tamara Semyonovna, I haven’t even seen the documents yet…»
«How can that be?» irritation crept into her mother-in-law’s voice. «We must act quickly! For example, Artemushka’s debt…»
«What debt?» Victoria was struck dumb.
«Oh yes, you’re not aware!» Tamara Semyonovna hurriedly corrected herself. «Artem took out a small business loan using our apartment as collateral. But that’s a minor detail! Now we’ll solve everything… and help little Dima.»
«Which Dima?»
«Artem’s brother, of course! He’s in trouble, needs a good lawyer… and funds to pay off his debts.»
Victoria ended the call abruptly. Her head was spinning. The news about the loan stunned her—when had this happened? And why was Artem hiding it? And now his brother’s problems, too…
By evening, Artem unexpectedly suggested a family dinner.
«Let’s invite Mom, sit down, and chat,» he said casually while slicing bread.
«Why?» Victoria asked warily.
«Why not? We’re a family. We need to discuss our next steps.»
Before she could reply, Artem was already dialing his mother’s number.
Tamara Semyonovna arrived half an hour later, armed with a cake. As she set the table, she kept smiling with that characteristic, conspiratorial smile of hers.
«Well, my dears,» she began ceremoniously, raising her glass. «I want to congratulate everyone! At last, a streak of good fortune has begun in our family.»
Victoria stared silently at her plate. Anxiety was building inside her. She sensed that this news would change everything, but she couldn’t yet understand—what exactly.
«Now all our family troubles can be solved!» Tamara Semyonovna continued enthusiastically. «Victoria, as a good wife should, will help us. Right, my son?»
Artem nodded, avoiding his wife’s gaze.
«Let’s celebrate Aunt’s inheritance!» the mother-in-law declared, raising her glass even higher. «And immediately sort out my youngest’s debts. The lawyer is already waiting…»
Victoria’s fingers, clenching the fork, turned white with tension. The only sound in the silence was the ticking of the old wall clock—the very one she had bought with her first salary.
Slowly, she raised her eyes and looked at Artem. Her husband was absorbed in his plate, smearing the remnants of his salad along the edges. Not a single word of protest, not even a hint of support—only silent agreement with his mother.
«Artem,» she called quietly. «Don’t you have anything to say?»
He shrugged, still looking down.
«Mom is right. Dima really does need help. And so do I.»
Victoria took a deep breath. The clock kept counting the seconds—tick-tock, tick-tock. Five years. Five long years she had borne this marriage alone: paying off loans, settling bills, enduring her husband’s failures, and his mother’s endless commands.
«Do you really think I’m obliged to give my money to your family?» Victoria turned to Tamara Semyonovna, her tone laced with sarcasm and indignation.
Her mother-in-law smiled condescendingly, adjusting a brooch on her blouse.
«Why else is money needed if not for the family? Are you planning to just hoard it? In a family, we must help each other.»
«In what kind of family?» Victoria slowly stood up. «One where the daughter-in-law is treated like a bank account? Or one where the husband hides his debts from his wife?»
«Vika, please…» Artem tried to intervene.
But she wasn’t listening anymore. In the bedroom, she grabbed an old travel bag and began packing her things. Her hands trembled slightly, but her thoughts were crystal clear.
«Darling, where are you going?» Tamara Semyonovna appeared in the doorway. «Let’s discuss this calmly. Maybe you’re just tired?»
Victoria methodically continued packing the essentials: her toothbrush, comb, documents, a photograph of her parents.
«Vika, you can’t just leave like this!» her mother-in-law’s voice turned hysterical. «What will happen to Artem? To the family?»
She zipped up her bag and turned to her mother-in-law.
«You know, Tamara Semyonovna, I’ve finally realized one important thing. You have a family—you and your sons. And I was merely used as a source of funds. But that will not happen again.»
A week later, Victoria filed for divorce. She rented a modest apartment. She submitted her resignation. Artem called daily, but his words sounded insincere:
«Vika, let’s work something out. You know you can’t manage alone…»
«I’ve been managing just fine for five years, Artem,» she replied calmly. «Now, it’s just becoming official.»
The divorce proceeded quickly and quietly. Their joint apartment was sold, and the money was split equally. Once all the inheritance documents were finalized, Victoria decided not to sell her aunt’s apartment. Instead, she renovated it and moved in herself. In the spacious three-room apartment, she created a home office—which turned out to be perfect, as she soon opened her own travel agency.
She kept the country house too. Every weekend, Victoria would go there, gradually tidying up the plot. The physical work in the fresh air helped clear her mind of anxious thoughts. Life in the new city brought relief—here, no one could bother her.
She invested the money in her business. A year later, Victoria’s agency became one of the best in town. She specialized in exclusive travel experiences and quickly carved out her niche in the market.
One day, while sorting through Aunt Lena’s old things, Victoria found a diary. On the last page was a note: «Financial independence is freedom. But only if you decide for yourself how to use your money.»
Victoria smiled—it seemed her aunt truly understood her.
Now, sitting in her cozy office overlooking the park, Victoria sometimes reflected on how one decision could completely change a life. She was no longer the woman who was afraid to say “no.” Her life now belonged solely to her—and that was the most valuable inheritance she had ever received.
