“I gave it to Mom a month ago,” Victoria corrected him.
Artem’s face changed. His eyebrows furrowed, his lips tightened.
“Why?” he asked sharply.
“Mom dreamed her whole life of having her own summer house. She found a suitable plot with a cottage,” Victoria explained. “I decided to help her fulfill that dream.”
“Wonderful!” Artem leaned back in his chair. “So you found money for your own mother, but not for my son?”
Victoria flinched at her husband’s tone.
“These are different situations,” she tried to explain. “Besides, that was my savings.”
“Yours?” Artem repeated mockingly. “Are we a family or not? Or do you only think about yourself and your relatives?”
“Artem, don’t raise your voice,” Victoria asked. “Let’s discuss this calmly.”
“What is there to discuss?” the husband exploded. “You spent money on some summer house, and my son was left without a gift!”
“Your son will get a gift,” Victoria retorted. “Just not an apartment since you don’t have money for the down payment.”
“And what do you think he should get? Socks?” Artem asked venomously.
Victoria stood up from the table. The conversation was taking an unpleasant turn.
“We can think of a worthy gift without such expenses,” she said.
“So my child is not worthy of a good gift?” Artem also stood up. “Got it, Victoria. Thanks for your honesty.”
“You’re twisting my words!” Victoria protested.
The quarrel flared up seriously. Artem accused his wife of selfishness, and Victoria reminded him that it was her money and her right to decide how to spend it. Their voices grew louder, and their words more hurtful.
It ended with Artem going to sleep in the living room, and Victoria locking herself in the bedroom and crying half the night.
The following days passed in silence. The spouses spoke only the necessary phrases — “good morning” and “good night.” Artem continued to sleep on the couch, and Victoria tried to avoid his gaze. The tension in the apartment was palpable.
On Friday, Victoria came into the apartment and saw Galina Petrovna in the hallway. The mother-in-law was putting on her coat and looked Victoria up and down disapprovingly.
“Think carefully about my words,” the mother-in-law said, turning to her son who stood in the hallway. “It’s time to decide what’s more important to you.”
“Mom, I understand,” Artem replied restrainedly.
“I hope you really understand,” Galina Petrovna added and headed to the elevator without even saying goodbye to Victoria. The door closed behind her.
Victoria was washing dishes when Artem entered the kitchen. She didn’t turn around, continuing to scrub a plate. The mother-in-law’s words echoed in her head.
“Vika,” her husband called.
“What?” she answered shortly.
“We need to have a serious talk,” Artem took her by the elbow. “Let’s go to the living room.”
Victoria dried her hands and followed him. They sat on the sofa facing each other. Artem was silent for a long time, searching for words.
“I’ve been thinking a lot the last few days,” he began slowly. “About the situation with the gift for Maxim.”
Victoria nodded, waiting for him to continue.
“You see, the boy is waiting for attention from me,” Artem continued. “I can’t disappoint him.”
“And what do you suggest?” Victoria asked cautiously.
“I found a way out,” Artem straightened up. “Mom agreed to take us in.”
Victoria frowned. Where was this conversation going?
“Tomorrow we’re moving in with Mom. And my son will live in your apartment!” Artem announced.
The world seemed to stop around Victoria. Her husband’s words hit her like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. The apartment she bought, where he was officially registered — and now he wants to give it to his son?
“Are you crazy?” Victoria exhaled, leaning back on the couch. “This is my apartment!”
“It was yours,” Artem corrected, not looking away. “Now we are family and should think about the children.”
Victoria looked at her husband with wide-open eyes. Does he really think that?
“What children?” she exploded, clenching her fists. “Maxim is your son! Only yours! And the apartment is in my name!”
“Don’t be such a selfish woman,” Artem said sharply, leaning forward. “The guy is eighteen, he needs housing.”
Blood rushed to Victoria’s head. Selfish? For defending her own property?
“Let him rent like all normal students!” Victoria jumped up from the couch, unable to sit still. “Or live with his mother!”
“Maxim is my son, and I must help him!” Artem raised his voice as he also stood up.
Victoria saw the muscles tense in her husband’s neck. Artem was preparing for battle.
“At my expense?” she shouted, waving her hands. “You want to kick me out of my own apartment for your child?”
“I’m proposing a compromise — to live at Mom’s,” Artem also stood, straightening up to full height. “There’s room there.”
“What kind of compromise?” Victoria was beside herself, her voice trembling with rage. “You just decided to give away my apartment!”
“Our apartment!” the husband objected, pointing a finger at Victoria. “We’re married!”
“I bought the apartment before marriage!” Victoria reminded him, folding her arms. “And it’s in my name!”
Artem turned pale, as if doused with cold water. His mouth opened slightly, panic flickering in his eyes. He clearly hoped his wife wouldn’t bring up the documents.
“Pack your things and leave,” Victoria said coldly, pointing to the door. “Right now.”
“You can’t kick me out!” Artem tried to argue, but his voice sounded uncertain.
“I can and I will,” Victoria cut him off, turning her back on him. “This is the end, Artem. The end of our marriage.”
An hour later, her husband packed a bag and left. Victoria was left alone in the apartment she had almost lost.
Three months passed. Victoria sat by an inflatable pool at the summer house her mother bought. There was no wedding ring on her finger — she took it off on the day of the divorce. A book lay nearby, and ice melted in her lemonade glass.
It hurt, of course. Her husband’s betrayal cut deep. But time gradually healed the wounds. Victoria was learning to live anew, to make plans for herself alone. And new opportunities lay ahead.
