In what do you mean—I’m not going with you?” Anton stood in the middle of the room, looking confused while holding a sausage sandwich in his hand. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”
“No, my dear. I never even thought of it. What’s unclear to you? I’m going on this trip alone. Besides, I only paid for one ticket,” answered Marta, his wife, who was already prepared to leave for work.
Today, thanks to her excellent mood, she was wearing a light suit in a soft blue color and her beloved sapphire earrings that her parents had given her for her thirtieth birthday. Starting tomorrow, Marta’s vacation would begin. And that fact in itself was wonderful.
Yesterday, at the end of the workday, Olga called Marta—she was the one who had booked a two-week tour to Sri Lanka—and said that all the documents for the trip were ready.
“Congratulations, soon your dream will come true,” Olga announced joyfully.
Yes, Marta had long dreamed of going somewhere far away, to an exotic country by the ocean, to have a proper rest and relax. To forget about all her problems and worries, if only for a short while. There were plenty of problems in her life. Moreover, Marta worked very hard.
Her husband hadn’t worked anywhere for half a year now. In the three years they had lived together, he had worked at most for one year. And then everything went downhill. One problem kept him from getting along with his superiors, another prevented Anton from staying at the new firm where Marta had found him a position. Every time, he would find excuses and explain in detail why he could no longer work there.
Marta understood that the real reason lay elsewhere. Her salary, which was about five times higher than the regional average, had made her husband complacent, and he decided that he didn’t need to work.
Marta had graduated from the oil and gas faculty of a mining institute. Immediately after receiving her diploma, she began working for an organization that promised career growth and a decent salary. Of course, her father helped facilitate this by using his connections. Marta quickly proved to her father—and to her colleagues—that she was an excellent, ambitious specialist who didn’t spare any effort or time at work. Soon, Marta was promoted.
At that same time, when she was about to turn twenty-seven, she met a handsome and cheerful young man. Anton entered her life so firmly that he had no intention of leaving it.
“I love you, and we’re going to get married. You won’t even protest. I’ve made up my mind,” Anton said with a charming smile.
By then, he was already living in Marta’s apartment and knew that such a chance only comes once in a lifetime. A beautiful, wealthy woman with her own apartment—he thought he was incredibly lucky! And he needed to seize that opportunity immediately by asking his beloved to marry him.
Of course, Marta was in love and melted for him. Everything about this relationship was new to her. Until then, she had never entered into a serious relationship. At first, she focused on her studies, avoided parties and youth gatherings, and shunned boys. She was modest and shy. Then she began working and viewed everyone at work merely as colleagues. It was only by chance that she met Anton on the street. He turned out to be bold and persistent. And thus, love happened.
It was strange for her, but in the three years they had been together, Anton had never once spoken to her about having children. And she herself intuitively felt that having a child with this man was not a good idea.
Almost all the time, Marta dedicated herself to work and had not yet decided to go on maternity leave, especially not with a lazy husband like him. The fact that Anton behaved like a temporary employee was worrisome. Marta was beginning to understand that she needed to put an end to this farce and end the marriage. There would be no benefit in it anyway. Besides, the feelings had already cooled, and the rose-tinted glasses had come off by themselves.
“You said we would fly together, didn’t you?” Anton continued, confused, standing in the doorway and not letting his wife leave for work.
“Yes, I said that. I remember that conversation well, Anton. But you missed one important detail, my dear. I said that if you earned enough for this trip, then we would fly together.”
“You’re so businesslike! I’m simply in awe of you! Where on earth would I earn such a heap of cash? You know I’m having problems right now!” Anton protested indignantly. “What are you doing again? Or are you trying to say that you have too little money even to pay for a ticket for me?”
“I’m not doing anything. You asked, and I answered. I have enough money, but it won’t be like before. Now, step aside—I have to get to work. I can’t afford to be late because of you!” Marta pushed aside a slightly resisting Anton and left the apartment.
The man was furious. He had long realized that his charm no longer worked on his wife. Whereas before, to persuade her, he only needed to hug her, give her a gentle kiss, and promise a passionate night, now none of that meant anything to her.
And he had been dreaming! He had already told all his relatives and friends that he would fly with his wife to the Indian Ocean. Just yesterday he had met with Max, boasting with a glass of wine and lounging in the chair of his office.
“Listen, I’ve already had enough of chasing after these oceans. Just recently, I got back from the Dominican Republic, and now again… Where else can one go? What choice is there? My wife has so much money that we have to spend it somehow,” Anton boldly lied to his friend, a casual tone in his voice.
“Yeah, Anton, you sure have it easy when it comes to talking! Who would have thought—finding your happiness out on the street. You can afford not to work and live like royalty. And here you are, working almost twenty-four hours a day, and the payoff is still meager,” his friend Maxim, who owned a car dealership, replied.
“Well, don’t look so down on me. You live pretty well too—I saw your new car. And your nice house too!” Anton said enviously, clearly fond of automobiles.
Anton had planned to talk to Marta in the coming days about selling their used car and buying him a newer, fancier one. He had even planned that after returning from the trip, he would take his wife to Max’s dealership to choose a new car for himself.
But now he realized that not only the trip, but also his dream of a new car had flown away.
While Anton was pondering what to do next, his sister called his cell phone.
“Hi, Anton! Is Marta already at work?” asked Varya.
“At work, at work! Where else would she be?” Anton replied gloomily.
“Why are you shouting? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? Why are you so upset? You’re living as if you’re rolling in dough,” continued Varya.
“What do you want?” Anton interrupted, annoyed by the situation and not in the mood to chat.
“What am I calling for… Marta probably forgot that we have a credit payment today. She hasn’t transferred the money to my card,” Varya complained, used to constant help from her well-off sister-in-law.
“Since when does she owe you anything? Have you ever even repaid her? No! That’s it! You only call her when you need something. Whether it’s paying a credit or buying a jacket for Artyom, or some cosmetic for herself. Let your Vadik get off his backside and go earn you some money! So that you have enough for everything.”
“You too, it seems, haven’t pulled yourself together. A real smart aleck! Clinging to a rich wife and not lifting a finger. If your Marta hadn’t given us ten thousand like she usually does, you’d be in trouble!” Varya retorted indignantly. “Alright then, forget talking to you. I’ll call her myself tonight. At work it’s pointless anyway—she won’t pick up the phone. When are you two leaving for vacation?”
“What difference does it make to you—when!” Anton snapped dismissively. “Just leave me alone!”
Yes, the situation was truly bad. Judging by the fact that Marta, kind and always ready to help her relatives, had refused to give money to her sister-in-law, there was only one conclusion.
At that moment, the brazen and cynical man began to feel truly scared. His well-fed and lazy life was under threat. In all the three years they had lived together, Anton had always felt that he had everything under control and that Marta loved him to pieces. That things would continue like that forever, and he could enjoy all the benefits of his wife even into old age.
Sometimes, the man even considered that it was time for him and Marta to have a child, someone who would tie his wife to him even more. But, firstly, Anton was lazy and inert, and a child would force him to forget about the calm, carefree life he led. And secondly, Marta would have to leave her work for a while, which meant financial problems might arise and he might have to solve them himself. Anton was not ready for such a turn of events at all. Therefore, the current situation in the family suited him just fine.
Today he regretted that he had never hinted to his wife about having a child.
Closer to noon, his mother called.
“Hello, son. What’s going on? Varya told me that your Marta refused to give her money. What’s happening? Did you do something to upset her?” asked Tatiana Petrovna sternly.
“I didn’t upset her with anything! Where did you get that from? And she didn’t give money to Varya, and rightly so! How long is she going to keep taking from us?” Anton replied irritably, not wanting to discuss the matter further, especially not with his mother.
“But they both work, you know. Both Varya and Vadim. And still, it’s not enough. With two children in a family, there’s never enough money these days with such high prices. Your Marta earns a good salary and always helps us out. And you still haven’t gotten your act together. You’re clinging to your wife, and that’s why she’s upset. And now we’re all going to suffer. You must think about whom you’re hurting!” his mother hinted at the large sums her daughter-in-law spent.
“Mom, what do our relations have to do with you? Can’t you gossip enough already?” Anton snapped in anger. “I’ll decide for myself when I go to work. And whether I need to go at all is none of your business!”
“Why are you yelling at your mother! You must have had a fight with Marta, for sure. You should be getting rid of a wife like that! And look at you showing attitude. What are you going to do with yourself? I had planned to do some repairs at the dacha this spring. I had already arranged with Marta that she would help me. We wanted to start buying construction materials gradually. Today I was even thinking of asking her what sum she could allocate for the initial expenses,” lamented Tatiana Petrovna.
“None. Marta doesn’t have money for you,” Anton curtly interrupted his mother.
“Wait, Mom, let me take the phone,” he heard his father’s voice. “I have something to say to him as well.”
“Well, what else do you want?” Anton was surprised.
“Oh, nothing! Why did you have a fight with Marta? How am I supposed to buy new tires for my ‘Niva’ now? I just wanted to ask your wife for some help. I know she wouldn’t refuse me. And on top of that, you! Our boy has already shown his true colors. And yet you won’t stand up to her, huh? After all, you live off everything! You wouldn’t even go along with your wife properly. Instead, you just loaf around!”
“Just forget all of you!” Anton shouted irritably.
He hung up and was left in thought. Anton did not like to think much, especially about serious issues. He preferred to spend his precious time on more pleasant activities: sleeping, drinking fine wine, ordering delicious food from a restaurant, listening to beautiful music, or watching an exciting film. Or simply taking his car for a drive around the city, telling his wife he was going to look for a job. And meeting his friends at a bar.
But now he had to think. The picture that was emerging was, to put it frankly, not a pretty one.
It was clear as day that Marta was utterly fed up with his insolent relatives who were always asking for money. She had tolerated it for too long. And Anton himself was not against his wife cutting him off completely—so long as he continued to live comfortably.
But the fact that his wife would not take him on such a long and distant trip was already a hint of a serious turn in their family life.
Either Marta had taken someone else on the side, of which Anton was not yet aware, or she was simply tired of carrying a deadbeat husband on her back. Anton was no fool and understood perfectly well what his lifestyle was called. He only hoped that the end of that rope wouldn’t come anytime soon.
“Alright, I need to try… I really must try hard today. I have to remind my wife how happy we were not so long ago. She did love me, truly. That means she’ll melt, and everything will be as before,” Anton reasoned with himself. “She’ll even pay for my trip; she’ll never disappear! And I won’t disgrace myself. I’ll work hard for both of us.”
When Marta returned home that evening, Anton was sad and pensive.
“What were you doing?” his wife asked.
“What do you mean? I’m upset, can’t help it. I was planning to go to a firm about a job, but I postponed it. I guess I got some pressure, you know… I’m upset because of you, my love,” he reached out for Marta.
“I wanted to warn you, Anton. Pack your things. Starting tomorrow, you no longer live here. I can’t leave you in my apartment—I’m sure you understand, there are too many expensive things here. And yes, most likely we will have to separate. You’re still living the kind of life that I cannot accept. I don’t need such a husband—and certainly not as the father of my future children,” Marta said calmly.
“What? Marta! How can you? But I love you! How can this be…? Nothing even hinted at this! Maybe there’s someone else?” Anton feigned jealousy.
“Please, you’re no actor. And you’re not exactly the loving husband either. You understand perfectly well—only you’re playing dumb.”
“Marta, think about it—we were so good together.”
“Well, I did think about it. I thought it through very thoroughly. Yes, things were good, but only for you. You made yourself comfortable. But it wasn’t as good for me as you imagined. That’s why after I return from my vacation, I will file for divorce.”
“No! You won’t do that! What are you saying? I’ll fall apart without you, Marta!” Anton even tried to shed a tear.
“You won’t fall apart. You’ll find another foolish girl to support you. There are plenty of them, and you’re handsome. You know how beautifully you speak—and you’re talented, too. And one more thing, Anton—keep in mind, everything I earned during our marriage was deposited into my father’s account. Yes, I spent a lot for you all, for the needs and wishes of your family. But nonetheless, if you ever try to claim a share—know that you have no right to it. Even our car is registered in my father’s name, in case you forgot.”
“You’re so cruel…” Anton said in a different, colder voice.
“No, my eyes have just been opened. I’ve realized that I don’t love you enough to carry all of you on my fragile back for life.”
Anton was forced to pack his things and leave to his parents’ house.
Marta flew off on her trip and, through an app, sent in her divorce filing. Now a new life awaited her—one without a freeloader who kept talking about his love, and without his numerous relatives who regarded Marta as a cash cow.
And in her personal life, things would still be fine. After all, she was only thirty—young, beautiful, and financially secure, as well as ambitious. Moreover, her father would do his best for her. He probably already had his eye on a couple or three potential candidates for his daughter’s hand and heart.
Anton, meanwhile, was searching. He frequented expensive clubs and restaurants, attended trendy parties where the golden youth gathered. He was really short on cash. He even had to do some taxi work using his father’s car.
He dreamed of meeting someone just like Marta. But in the city, everyone already knew him as the freeloader who lived off others.
