«Are you sure you don’t need anything?» Lena repeated her question, trying to be as attentive as possible. «Just go, I have everything!» Dmitry replied with a slight annoyance in his voice.
Lena felt his tone slightly offend her, but she decided not to pay attention to it. Lately, her husband had indeed become more irritable, but she didn’t want to create unnecessary conflicts over it. She had always been a compromising person and preferred to avoid scandals. Her mother often told her, «You’ll make an excellent wife—patient and accommodating.» And Lena truly tried to live by these words, swallowing grievances and accommodating Dmitry.
Today she decided to delight her beloved with something special. She planned to bake fish with lemon and rosemary, and for dessert, prepare a dish from her mother-in-law’s recipe that he loved so much. All the ingredients were already bought, and she was standing at the checkout when she suddenly realized: she had left her wallet at home.
Lena sighed heavily, running her hand through her hair out of irritation. She quickly pulled out her phone to call her husband. Maybe he would agree to meet her halfway. But the call remained unanswered. She had to ask the cashier to keep an eye on her groceries while she ran back home.
When she opened the door, intending to grab her wallet, a strange noise made her freeze on the threshold. Dmitry was on a call, and what she heard literally knocked the ground from under her feet.
«Yes, I’ve planned everything down to the last detail,» he was saying confidently. «The apartment has already been transferred. Now all that’s left is to transfer the money.»
Lena turned to stone, standing at the threshold. Her heart began to pound so hard it felt like it was about to leap out of her chest. She leaned mechanically against the doorframe, trying to maintain her balance. Transferred the apartment? Transfer the money? What does that mean?
«Of course, there’s a risk,» Dmitry continued, «but what else is there to do? Lenka will never suspect anything. She’s so submissive, always swallows everything.»
Each of his words was like a knife wound. Lena felt a lump rise in her throat. How could he talk about her like that? They had always lived in peace and harmony. She had given him her whole heart, her life… And him? Until now, she couldn’t believe that this was something real, not just a figment of her imagination.
«By the way, about your proposal,» Dmitry changed his tone, now his voice sounded softer. «After everything, we can go to Italy, as you’ve always dreamed. Imagine us walking through Rome. Just don’t forget to bring a beautiful dress. You’ll need it there.»
Lena closed her eyes, trying to cope with the emotions surging inside her. His voice, full of joy and plans that clearly did not include her, seemed to come from another world.
Lena remained motionless, continuing to eavesdrop on her husband’s conversation with that woman. She was frozen between the desire to run away and the need to burst inside to express all her indignation. But when Dmitry ended the call, she suddenly snapped out of this strange state.
Carefully stepping back from the door, Lena hid around the corner of the hallway, trying not to make a sound. Her heart was still racing madly. Thoughts swirled in her head: enter and cause a scene? Or keep silent to find out exactly what he had planned? However, how could one remain silent after such betrayal?
The door cracked open, and Dmitry appeared in the hallway. From her hiding place, Lena watched as he passed by, not even noticing her presence, and disappeared into the living room. When his steps quieted down, she cautiously emerged from her hiding place. Now she needed time to digest what she had heard.
Slipping out onto the street, Lena began to wander unconsciously. The thought of going for the groceries now seemed absurd. Eventually, she ended up in a small park, where she sat down on a bench and covered her face with her hands. What had Dmitry planned? Why did he do this? And most importantly—how should she react to this?
She pulled out her phone, intending to call someone, but froze. Who to turn to? Friends might sympathize, but how could they really help? Parents? She didn’t want to upset them, and explaining everything would be difficult. After all, they had been together for so many years… And now he just decided to leave her?
Eventually, Lena decided to call her best friend Kate. Kate immediately understood that something serious had happened. «Lena, are you crying?» Kate asked worriedly. «No, not anymore…» Lena replied and told her everything that had happened.
Kate suggested they meet. After talking with her friend, Lena felt a bit better. She headed home, but on the bus, she began to worry again. Opening her banking app, she checked the joint account and noticed that the amount had indeed decreased significantly.
«Well, alright,» she murmured to herself. «You want to play these games? Let’s play.»
When Lena returned home, Dmitry immediately began to inquire: «Where have you been all day? I’ve been sitting here hungry!»
Closing the door, Lena placed her bag on the table and began taking out the groceries. «I decided to stop by Tanya’s,» she calmly replied.
«Great! Husband is starving, and the wife gallivants with friends,» Dmitry grumbled and returned to the TV.
Lena continued cooking, although inside she was boiling with rage. «Can’t leave things as they are,» she thought. The main thing was to keep her cool and learn more about his plans.
The next day, Lena took a day off, citing feeling unwell. In reality, she began a thorough investigation. She went through all her husband’s documents, checked his computer, and found correspondence with a lawyer. It turned out that Dmitry had long been discussing the details of a divorce and planned to divide their property.
«How long he had planned all this!» Lena thought bitterly. She photographed all the found documents and saved the correspondence. Then she contacted another lawyer, using contacts provided by Kate.
While her husband was at work, Lena gathered all the necessary papers and began preparing for the divorce. Now she knew she had to act quickly and decisively to protect her interests.
Lena remained motionless, frozen between the desire to run away and the necessity to burst inside immediately to express all her feelings. However, when Dmitry finished the conversation, she seemed to awaken from the trance.
Carefully stepping back from the door, Lena slipped around the corner of the hallway, trying not to make a sound. Her heart continued to pound furiously. Thoughts raced: enter and cause a scandal? Or keep calm and find out exactly what he had planned? But how could one remain silent after such betrayal?
The door cracked open, and Dmitry appeared in the hallway. From her hiding place, Lena watched as he walked by, not even noticing her. As soon as his steps quieted down in the living room, she cautiously emerged from her hiding place. Now she needed time to digest what she had heard.
Slipping out onto the street, Lena began to wander aimlessly. Even the thought of going for the groceries now seemed utterly senseless. Eventually, she found herself in a small park, where she sat down on a bench and covered her face with her hands. What had Dmitry planned? Why had he acted this way? And most importantly—how should she now react?
She pulled out her phone, intending to call someone, but froze. Who to turn to? Friends might sympathize, but how could they really help? Parents? She didn’t want to upset them, and explaining everything would be extremely difficult. After all, they had been together for so many years… And now he had just decided to leave her?
In the end, Lena decided to call her best friend Kate. Kate immediately realized that something serious had happened. «Lena, are you crying?» Kate asked anxiously. «No, not anymore…» Lena replied and told her everything that had happened.
Kate suggested they meet. After talking with her friend, Lena felt a bit better. She headed home, but on the bus, she began to worry again. Opening her banking app, she checked the joint account and noticed that the amount had indeed significantly decreased.
«Well, okay,» she muttered to herself. «You want to play these games? Let’s play.»
When Lena returned home, Dmitry immediately began to inquire: «Where have you been all day? I’ve been sitting here hungry!»
Closing the door, Lena placed her bag on the table and began taking out the groceries. «I decided to stop by Tanya’s,» she calmly replied.
«Great! Husband is starving, and wife is gallivanting with friends,» Dmitry grumbled and returned to the TV.
Lena continued cooking, although inside she was boiling with rage. «Can’t leave things as they are,» she thought. The main thing was to keep her cool and learn more about his plans.
The next day, Lena took a day off, citing feeling unwell. In reality, she began a thorough investigation. She went through all her husband’s documents, checked his computer, and found correspondence with a lawyer. It turned out that Dmitry had long been discussing the details of a divorce and planned to divide their property.
«How long he had planned all this!» Lena thought bitterly. She photographed all the found documents and saved the correspondence. Then she contacted another lawyer, using contacts provided by Kate.
While her husband was at work, Lena gathered all the necessary papers and began preparing for the divorce. Now she knew she had to act quickly and decisively to protect her interests and not let him get away with it easily.
Lena opened a separate account at the bank and transferred part of their joint savings there to protect herself. Then she called her parents and asked for their support. In front of her husband, however, she continued to behave as inconspicuously as possible, as if nothing had changed.
However, one day she decided to present Dmitry with an unexpected surprise.
As usual, Lena prepared dinner. When Dima sat down at the table, she placed a folder with documents in front of him.
«What is this?» he frowned.
«This is our new stage, dear,» Lena replied with a bitter smile. «I’m filing for divorce.»
Dmitry immediately turned pale and tried to say something, but Lena cut him off:
«Don’t bother to justify yourself. I am well aware of your plans. I heard your conversation with that woman and saw all your correspondence. Did you think you could deceive me and leave me with nothing? Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.»
Dmitry was deeply shocked. And Lena continued:
«Don’t think you can easily sue me for everything. I’ve already hired an excellent lawyer and am ready to spend any amount to ensure you don’t get what you were counting on. We will divide everything evenly, and none of your dreams about Italy with your mistress will come true. By the way, I have all the necessary copies of the documents.»
Lena sadly smiled:
«You know, I had time to rethink everything and accept it. I never would have thought that something was wrong between us. But you decided to give me such a ‘gift.’ But know: everything comes back like a boomerang.»
Dmitry, pale as a sheet, tried to object: «Lena, wait…»
«No need, Dima,» his wife coldly interrupted him. «Did you think I would sit and wait while you threw me out on the street? Sorry, but you miscalculated.»
«It’s all your fault!» he shouted. «You were always too boring! You drove me to this!»
Lena looked at him with contempt: «I didn’t think you were just a coward who can’t even honestly admit that he wants to leave. Now you will get what you deserve. Pack your things and leave.»
Dmitry continued to shout insults for a long time, but Lena no longer wanted to listen to them. Eventually, he gathered his belongings and left the apartment. Later, the court recognized all his manipulations with the property as illegal, and everything was divided evenly. Of course, the process was not easy. Dmitry tried to file new lawsuits several times, but each time he was unsuccessful.
Several months passed before Lena began to recover. One day she decided to go to a friend’s birthday party—the first step back to a normal life. And that step turned out to be the right one.
There she met a charming man. Although she had thought that at her age she would not find new love, she decided to give herself a chance. And she did not regret it at all.
