Dasha? What are you doing here?» Svetlana was so shocked she could barely speak.
Thoughts were spinning in her head, and jealousy and resentment were boiling in her soul. Why were they doing this to her? Hadn’t she loved her husband? Was she a bad wife and mother to their son?
But what happened next was beyond belief.
Svetlana was certain that she and her husband were meant for each other. She believed it was only natural that they had been happily married for over ten years.
Today, she was returning home from a business trip she had left for two days ago. The boss had called her in the other day and told her that no one but her could deal with the issues at one of the branches.
— «There’s about three days’ worth of work, no more. Get ready, Svetlana, and don’t even think about coming up with an excuse. Go there tomorrow.» he said to the slightly upset woman.
Svetlana had plans for the next few days, and going to another city on a business trip was not one of them. But with the boss, there was no arguing. You couldn’t even use the argument that only young people went on business trips at the company, a rule the boss himself had established. She’d already had her share of trips. Now, after thirty-five, she was hoping for a more stable schedule.
— «Kostya, I’m going on a business trip. I think it will be for three days. Make sure Dima works with the tutor; he’s been skipping lessons lately. I’m paying good money for it. Also, make sure he eats properly. Not chips and crackers, but soup and cutlets, which I’ll leave for you in the fridge.»
— «Alright, I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry,» her husband muttered indifferently, not taking his eyes off his phone.
— «Is that all?» Svetlana was surprised. «So you’re not upset at all that I’m leaving?» «Listen, can you put down your phone?»
— «You’re not going for a month. You’ll be back in three days, you said so yourself. And three days without you, me and Dima will survive.»
At these words, Konstantin finally looked up at his wife and even smiled.
— «What’s this? Aren’t you done with business trips? Didn’t you already do your share?» he asked, surprised.
— «They need an experienced specialist there. That’s what the boss told me. Experienced and strict, with character!» Svetlana said proudly, knowing how much she was valued at work.
While on the business trip, Svetlana decided to get a jump on things and return home from the distant, unwelcoming city a little earlier. Even if it was just for a day. She could spend that day at home, gifting it to herself.
The train Svetlana was on was approaching the outskirts of her hometown. She was in a good mood, happily thinking about returning to her empty apartment. She was anticipating the kind of freedom she would have. Her husband would be at work, and ten-year-old Dima would still be at school. She would be alone.
She would run a bath with fragrant foam, then do some facial and hand masks. Maybe even nap a little—this was a luxury Svetlana hadn’t allowed herself in a long time. And when Dima came back from school, she would feed him and help with homework. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to give time to her child. She hadn’t even had a proper maternity leave—she rushed back to work, leaving her ten-month-old son to the care of her retired aunt.
Svetlana didn’t warn her husband that she was coming back—whether she had forgotten or intentionally kept it a surprise didn’t matter anymore. It would be a surprise for him. He would come home in the evening to find his beloved wife, a hot dinner, and his son’s homework already done. What bliss!
As she recalled how she and Kostya had met and suddenly gotten married, Svetlana stopped by a store on her way home. She bought a bottle of dry wine and her husband’s favorite cake. Let the evening be romantic. She felt like it was needed because recently, she and her husband had grown a bit distant. She was always absorbed in work, and at home, there were always tasks and worries, while Kostya spent all his time on his phone. They had nothing to talk about. They felt like strangers to each other, really!
When she opened the door to her apartment, Svetlana didn’t immediately realize someone was there. It wasn’t until she switched on the light in the hallway and saw unfamiliar women’s boots that she froze. Then her gaze fell on a light fur coat hanging in the closet. It smelled so strongly of some sweet, overpowering perfume that it made her feel nauseous.
Or maybe it wasn’t the perfume that made her feel sick, but the realization of the very unpleasant situation awaiting her. No bath, no masks, no pleasant family evening with wine and a tasty dinner.
None of that would happen now. And maybe she wouldn’t have a family anymore. Because betrayal was something she couldn’t forgive. She just couldn’t.
She braced herself. She had to pull herself together so she wouldn’t look ridiculous and pitiful in the eyes of her betraying husband and the unknown woman who had dared to come into her home to have fun with her husband. And to destroy her happiness.
Svetlana heard laughter and quiet talking coming from the bedroom. Meanwhile, she was searching for something to pick up to hit both of them with.
— «God, how could I let it get this far? Why didn’t I see it? Why didn’t I feel that Kostya had drifted so far away from me that he found a lover? And that wasn’t enough for him—he brought her to our bed!» Svetlana muttered softly to herself, trying to calm down. She knew her hot temper and seriously feared she might hurt one of them. And that would mean jail. So, she absolutely needed to keep herself in check.
Finally, unable to hold back her emotions anymore, she headed to the bedroom, which was now tightly shut.
On her way, she accidentally caught the cord of a tall lamp that had been moved almost to the center of the room, closer to the coffee table. Apparently, before getting to the more interesting part of their meeting, the lovers had been drinking and snacking. There was a bottle of champagne and fruit on the table.
The crash of the lamp falling in the silent apartment immediately alerted those in the bedroom.
The door opened instantly, and, wrapped in a sheet, there stood…
— «Dasha?» Svetlana was shocked. «You? Oh my God! I wondered why that horrible perfume smelled so familiar!» She laughed hysterically, recognizing her former close friend as her rival. «How could you? You snake! This is who you are!»
— «Svetka?» Dasha, in turn, was surprised. «What are you doing here… I’m sorry, but I thought you were on a business trip.»
— «Apparently, he didn’t expect me to return so early, either?» Svetlana said, referring to her husband hiding in the bedroom. «Dear, come out! Don’t hide in there! Everyone’s here, as it turns out.»
— «Svetochka, you’re making a huge mistake. Please, calm down. You don’t understand everything,» Dasha began to babble, standing awkwardly by the bedroom door.
— «Oh no! Those aren’t your words. This is something my husband should say to me right now. That I don’t understand everything. Come out, Kostya! Time to face the music. I caught you! And thank God it will be a divorce and not a murder. Come on out!»
— «Svetka, please, hear me out,» Dasha continued anxiously.
— «Get away from the door! I want to look into the eyes of this bastard!» Svetlana shouted, wanting to get to her husband. «Move, or I can’t be responsible for myself. Clear the door, don’t stand there. It won’t help him anyway.»
— «Svetka, Svetka, forgive us and calm down!» Dasha begged.
— «Will you move or not? Let Konstantin come out! Enough hiding! This won’t help you, Kostechka! Come out, show me your shameless eyes!»
— «No, Kostya’s not in there!» Dasha suddenly blurted out.
— «What? Don’t try to pull a comedy on me! Let him come out! Hear me, dear, be a man, come out to us!»
Then she suddenly seemed to realize something, gazing into Dasha’s eyes.
— «Not Kostya, you say… Then who?» she asked in a quiet voice.
For a moment, Svetlana believed it might not be her husband in the bedroom. And maybe everything would stay the same. And it would turn out that he hadn’t cheated on her. And their family would stay intact, and Dima wouldn’t cry after their divorce. God! What’s happening?
— «Who’s in there? Answer!» Svetlana shouted, losing her patience.
— «It’s Roman,» Dasha answered, lowering her eyes.
— «Roman?» Svetlana was stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard.
Then she pushed her former friend aside and burst into the bedroom.
Yes, it was Roman. Kostya’s own brother was sitting on the bed, already dressed. He turned his face away from Svetlana, staring at the window in guilt.
— «Roman, what’s going on here? Have you lost your mind? What is this? Soon, Dima will be home from school, and you’re turning our apartment into a brothel!»
Svetlana couldn’t hold back her emotions. How could this have happened? She knew Roman as a serious man, and she had always considered her family with Marina to be perfect.
Now, the three of them were sitting in the kitchen. Svetlana demanded an explanation. She would have a serious conversation with her husband later. But right now, she needed to understand how this had happened between the people she loved. And she was also afraid of what might happen again in her family.
— «We met Dasha a year ago, at Kostya’s birthday. Remember, you took us all to the countryside? It was a lot of fun,» Roman explained. «Then we ran into each other in town. I had a fight with Marina. She once again accused me of not making enough money and not trying to improve. She really hurt me. So, I decided to get back at her. Dasha immediately caught my attention, and then this meeting… Well, I couldn’t resist.»
— «Well, I can see all about you. You’re a divorcee with a child, you don’t care who you fool around with,» Svetlana said, looking at Dasha with disdain. «But you, Roman, how could you? I always used to set your family as an example for Kostya!»
— «Well, I turned out to be imperfect. What can I do…»
— «Why are you meeting here? There are hotels, rooms by the hour! What kind of nonsense is this—invading someone else’s apartment and bed?» Svetlana was outraged, imagining what kind of scandal she would cause her husband for letting his brother into their apartment.
— «Our city’s small, and almost everyone knows me. I work in the administration,» Roman answered. «So we decided to hide out here. Don’t worry, Svet. It’s not the first time we’ve done this. And in general… Dasha and I haven’t met that often… Just a few times.»
— «Oh, no! Spare me these details! What a disgrace… Well, I hope it’s clear to you, Dasha, that we’re no longer friends. And how I’m supposed to look Marina in the eyes, I have no idea!»
After kicking the unwanted guests out of her apartment, Svetlana, instead of enjoying her planned relaxation and spa treatments, decided to do a full cleaning. And while cleaning, she thought a lot about how she and Kostya were living. And what needed to change in their married life to make sure something like this never happened again. Of course, she needed to show more interest in her husband’s life, his problems, and talk to Kostya more often. And, of course, not criticize. Even though that was very hard.
And Svetlana also decided to teach Konstantin a lesson, so he would never think of giving keys to their apartment to anyone again, even his own brother.
— «Dear, I just got back from the business trip, and this is what I come home to!» she screamed into the phone when she called her husband.
— «You’re already home?» Kostya sounded scared, and it was evident in his voice.
— «Yes! I decided to come home early. And we have burglars in the apartment!» Svetlana continued her little comedy. «But don’t worry. I’ve already called the police. I locked them outside with our second lock, which doesn’t open from the inside. They’re trapped! Now I’m waiting for the law enforcement outside.»
— «No, Svet! Don’t call the police, please! I’ll come home and handle it myself!» Kostya shouted into the phone.
— «No, you have to! They’re criminals, let them face the law for breaking into someone’s home,» Svetlana said with a smile.
— «Svet, I’m coming! I’m rushing!» Kostya realized he had to get home quickly and intervene in the conflict that could damage his brother’s reputation.
He rushed home, terrified of what was happening. When he arrived, he was astonished to find his wife’s calm, smiling face.
— «What, is everything already settled?» he asked cautiously.
— «Kostya, say hi to your brother, but don’t ever do this again. Otherwise, you’ll have to go live with him or somewhere else. But I really don’t want that, because I love my silly husband. Please, don’t do such stupid things again. Remember—our apartment is our fortress. It’s sacred. Got it?»
— «Got it,» Konstantin said with relief.
— «And tonight, we’re having a romantic dinner.»
— «Really?» he was even more surprised.
— «Yes. And then you’ll tell me what you dream about. Honestly, okay? And I’ll share my dreams and plans with you too.»
— «Svetka, you’re something else! And are you going to tell Marina?»
— «Do I have to? Let them sort it out themselves.»
— «You’re wise! And beautiful. Let me kiss you.»
— «What about Dima? He’s home,» she smiled, feeling relieved as she thought about how nice it was that her husband was at work during the day and not home.
