— You sit around doing nothing, just warming up the air at home. And here, at least, you’ll be of some use.
Artem looked at Alina intently.
— My mother is the most important person in my life. I wouldn’t trust any other caregiver with her care, — Artem shook his head and called over the waiter. — I’d like my steak medium, and for my wife — salmon with vegetables.
— Artem… How can that be? To take care of your mother… — Alina traced the rim of her glass in confusion. — She lives out of town. How long will it take me to get there… And her temper…
— Alina, this conversation is over. After the accident, your mother will need constant care for at least six months… You will move in with her, and maybe even find a way to get along, — Artem carefully adjusted the napkin on his lap as he glanced at the panoramic windows of the restaurant.
— Do you really want us to live apart for that long? — she swallowed nervously.
— I’m swamped at work right now. We’re launching a new division. I’ll only be home to sleep. You’ll hardly see me, — he replied dryly.
— At least you won’t be idle, — he added after a pause. — You understand, my success is directly linked to my mother’s capital. Without her, we wouldn’t be living this way. That’s why your move is a strategically important decision.
— And the children? How can I just leave them? Liza is starting first grade this year, and Maxim still has two years until school!
— A nanny will stay with you. A driver will take them to and from the city. My mother’s house is big — there’ll be room for everyone, — Artem asserted, beginning to eat with apparent appetite.
— By the way, I managed to eat for the first time all day. That’s how busy I am, — he waved his fork, drawing the waiter’s attention for a wine refill.
— And what did I do to deserve being sent to this “forced labor”? — Alina pressed her lips together, looking at him with tear-filled eyes.
— Oh, for heaven’s sake, not the drama again, — Artem rolled his eyes. — It’s necessary. You want a better future for our children, don’t you?
— Of course, — she answered quietly.
The next day, Alina packed her things and left with the children for Vera Sergeyevna’s country mansion. Vera, of course, wasn’t of noble birth. She had simply made a fortunate marriage once.
Back in the ’90s, Vera worked as a cashier in a roadside café where an influential man once walked in. He immediately fell in love with her.
— You are mine. You’re leaving with me right now. “No” is not an option, — declared Pavel Viktorovich then, who would later become Artem’s father.
The wedding was swift and lavish. In the 2000s, Pavel legalized his business, made his wife the mistress of the mansion, and lived a turbulent, yet brief, life.
When Artem turned twenty, his father suddenly passed away, leaving all his property to Vera Sergeyevna. Later, she handed over the management to her son.
But in February, an accident occurred. A drunk driver crashed into Vera’s car. Several fractures — and now she needed constant care.
— Finally! Where have you been? — grumbled the mother-in-law as Alina and the children arrived at the mansion gates.
— And is grandma happy to see us? — asked Liza with a smile.
— Just don’t break me! — Vera Sergeyevna warned strictly as the children rushed to embrace her.
— Alina, don’t just stand there. Vera will explain what your duties are now, — the mother-in-law waved her hand and, leaning on her crutch, headed into the house.
Meanwhile, in Artem’s Moscow apartment, the sound of high heels echoed. A tall blonde, Anastasia, rolled her suitcase into the hall with a satisfied smile.
— How convenient that you sent your wife to the country house, — she noted, glancing at the man. — But are you sure she won’t come back?
— I told her that for the next six months I’ll be completely immersed in work. I personally packed her things.
Artem’s affair with Anastasia had begun a year ago. The man had specifically sought an assistant, expecting more than that. And he wasn’t mistaken. She was married, but her husband clearly didn’t match her income level.
— Why haven’t you divorced yet? We’ve been together for so long… — Anastasia pouted.
— My darling, I told you: I have children; they’re young.
— I’d do anything for you… Divorce is just a matter of weeks, — she winked.
That evening, they argued for a long time. Anastasia only calmed down after Artem increased her salary as compensation.
Meanwhile, Alina was learning the ropes in her mother-in-law’s house. Managing the staff meant taking care of her husband’s mother.
— Why is the omelet cold? Why aren’t the leaves in the yard cleared? Why is the water in the pool murky? — every morning began with Vera Sergeyevna’s criticisms.
But behind her sharpness lay fairness. When Alina’s phone broke, the mother-in-law immediately sent the driver to get a brand new, state-of-the-art replacement.
Six months later, Artem arrived for the weekend, waiting for the moment when his mother was absent.
— We’re getting divorced, — he announced calmly.
— What? Why? — Alina couldn’t believe her ears.
— We are strangers. In these six months I’ve realized there’s no love between us.
— And the children? And your mother, whom I cared for? What about me? How will I live?
— The children will stay with me and the nanny. You will go back to your parents. I’ll provide you with enough financial support so that you won’t need to worry about money. But you’re no longer part of my life, — he cut her off, as if echoing someone else’s words.
— If you object, my lawyers will ensure that you never see them again, — he shot her an icy look.
— Pack your things. By this evening, you must leave this house. Tomorrow, the children will meet my new wife.
Leaving Alina alone in the vast hall, he departed, and she stood there clutching the wedding ring that now seemed only a symbol of shattered hopes.
Alina sank onto the marble steps of the staircase. One thought raced through her mind: six years of marriage erased by a few cold phrases. She had once considered this house her home, but now she understood she was merely a temporary guest.
Tears welled up, but she forced herself to breathe deeply. “You can’t cry now,” she recalled her mother’s words.
She stood up and resolutely made her way to the living room. A family portrait hung on the wall — her, Artem, and their children, smiling as if from a magazine spread. She carefully removed it and turned it over. Yes, their perfect family had always been just a façade. Artem had used it as a tool for his own ends.
So she too would act sensibly.
Alina stepped out into the garden and dialed Vera Sergeyevna’s number. The mother-in-law answered almost immediately:
— Yes, Alina?
— I need to meet you in person. It’s important.
— In an hour, I’ll be waiting in the gazebo by the pond.
As she approached the covered area, Vera Sergeyevna was already seated there, holding a cup of tea. Her gaze was piercing yet calm.
— I know why you’re here, — she began without preamble. — Artem told me about the divorce. Do you think I’ll side with you?
— I’m not asking for protection, — Alina said, clenching her fists. — I want justice.
— And what do you consider justice? — Vera squinted.
— For six months I’ve cared for you, given up my career, dedicated myself to your grandchildren. And now he’s just throwing me out like I’m worthless.
Vera Sergeyevna paused and sipped her tea.
— And what is it that you want?
— You know Artem has had another woman for a long time, haven’t you? Anastasia, his assistant. Do you want to see her as your daughter-in-law? As a stepmother to your grandchildren?
Vera’s gaze turned heavy, a flash of anger crossing it.
— Give me time to think it all over. Don’t be in such a hurry to pack your things.
Alina nodded. She knew: Vera Sergeyevna wouldn’t abandon her to fate.
The next morning, the mother-in-law called an attorney. Two days later, Artem received official documents: a lawsuit over the division of property and the determination of the children’s living arrangements.
When he arrived at the country house, his mother was already waiting at the entrance.
— You made a serious mistake, son, — Vera stated calmly. — You drove out the mother of your children, forgetting that this house and the company still belong to me. Alina stays here. And it’s time for you to go.
Artem paled. He tried to protest, but his mother merely turned away, making it clear the conversation was over.
That day ended with Artem packing his suitcase and leaving the mansion. Alina stayed behind with Liza and Maxim.
Vera Sergeyevna looked at her carefully and smiled for the first time in a long while.
— It seems you have spirit, girl. Let’s see what you do next.
A year passed. Alina found work at a charity that helped women in difficult life situations. She and Vera Sergeyevna learned to coexist under the same roof, finding common ground.
The mother-in-law stopped nitpicking over minor details, and Alina gained confidence, learning to communicate with Vera as an equal.
As for Artem, his life turned out very differently from what he had planned. His marriage to Anastasia lasted only six months. After another divorce, he lost a significant portion of his fortune, and then control over the company — Vera Sergeyevna rewrote most of the assets in her name.
One day he appeared at the gates of the mansion.
— Alina, I’m very sorry, — he mumbled, lowering his eyes. — I was wrong.
She looked at him for a long moment, then smiled.
— Yes, you were wrong, — she agreed. — But that doesn’t matter anymore.
She turned and walked confidently back into the house, where the children and a new, free life awaited her.
