— Marina! Wait! — Kirill rushed out from around the corner of the business center building where his ex-wife’s office was located.
Marina flinched in surprise. It had been a long day; she was tired and least expected to see her ex-husband here. Especially considering that in the last six months since the divorce, they had only met by chance—and each time it turned into a display of his supposed success.
— Kirill? What are you doing here? — she instinctively adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and stepped back.
— We need to talk, — Kirill looked less polished than at their last meetings. His expensive coat hung loosely, and his stubble looked more like neglect than a fashion statement.
— About what? It’s all settled between us a long time ago, — Marina glanced at her watch, showing she was busy.
Kirill shifted his weight nervously, glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear.
— Marina, I need your help. Financial help.
Marina raised an eyebrow in surprise:
— Excuse me, what?
— Two hundred thousand. A loan. For three months, maximum six, — Kirill spoke quickly, avoiding her eyes.
Marina smirked:
— Wait! We’re divorced! Why would you think I’d help you financially, Kirill?
— Well, just…
— Especially after the whole circus you caused in recent months. — She crossed her arms.
Kirill grimaced. He remembered how after the divorce he had sworn to prove Marina wrong. How he took out a loan and bought a used BMW—not the newest, but impressive enough. How he updated his wardrobe, buying clothes with flashy labels. How he “accidentally” ended up in the same cafes as Marina so she could see his success.
— Look, I know how this looks, but I really have problems, — Kirill stepped closer. — I can’t pay the loan.
— Which one exactly? — Marina knew her ex’s financial habits well. — The one you took for your flashy car? Or the designer clothes you flaunted in front of me?
Kirill swallowed:
— Yes, for the car and… other things.
— And now you want me to pay for your show-off? — Marina shook her head. — Kirill, you stirred this mess yourself. You deal with it.
— Marina, I lost my job, — Kirill’s voice softened. — A month ago. I can’t find a new one. The payment is due next week.
Marina looked carefully at her ex-husband. Now she noticed what had escaped her before: tired eyes, tense shoulders, a nervous twitch at the corner of his mouth. But sympathy quickly turned to irritation. She recalled how Kirill ostentatiously pulled out a new phone when they crossed paths in a supermarket. How loudly he told mutual acquaintances about his “success” at the new job, knowing Marina would hear.
— You know, Kirill, — she sighed, — when we divorced, you said I’d regret it. That you’d prove how crazy I was for letting you go. Remember?
Kirill lowered his eyes:
— I was angry.
— No, you were a self-absorbed egoist. And you still are, — Marina adjusted her bag. — You didn’t think about me when you took that loan. You only cared about your bruised ego. And now you want me to save you from the consequences.
— I’ll pay you back, I swear! — Kirill grabbed her hand. — As soon as I find a job.
Marina pulled her hand free:
— No, Kirill. We’re no longer family. Your financial problems are yours alone.
— But the bank… I’m done for if I don’t pay…
— Sell your car, — Marina cut him off.
— I already sold it, — Kirill admitted quietly. — But it wasn’t enough. The interest is too high.
Marina shook her head:
— I’m sorry, truly. But the answer is no.
She walked around Kirill and headed to the parking lot. He watched her go, feeling anger building inside. It’s not over yet, he thought. He’d find a way to convince her.
A week passed after the meeting at the business center. Marina had almost forgotten the strange conversation with her ex when he appeared again. This time Kirill was waiting for her by the entrance.
— Are you following me now? — Marina stopped a few steps from him.
— No, I just know your schedule, — Kirill looked worse than before. — Marina, I get calls every day. They’re demanding the debt repayment.
— Who? — she knew the answer perfectly well but wanted him to say it aloud.
— Collectors. The bank passed my debt to them, — Kirill ran his hand over his face. — I missed two payments.
Marina remembered how three months ago he had deliberately parked his new BMW right in front of her office windows. How he carelessly took out a leather wallet paying in the café where they happened to meet. All those ostentatious acts now looked especially pathetic.
— And what about your expensive watch? Sold too? — she asked.
Kirill flinched:
— What do watches have to do with this? Marina, you don’t understand! They’re threatening to come to my work…
— What work? You said you were unemployed.
— I got a job at a call center a week ago. They pay pennies, but it’s something, — he tried to take her hand, but Marina pulled away.
— And how much do you earn now?
— Thirty thousand, — Kirill looked down. — And the loan payment is forty-five.
Marina shook her head:
— And you think I’ll give you two hundred thousand? So it can happen all over again in six months?
— I’ve changed! — pleading notes appeared in Kirill’s voice. — I realized my mistakes.
— Really? — Marina smiled. — To me, it looks like you just cornered yourself and are looking for someone to pull you out.
Kirill’s face suddenly changed:
— Yes, I messed up! Happy now? I admit — it was all stupid. But you know I can earn. I always did.
— When did you ever succeed? — Marina laughed. — When you took out loans? Or when you blew all the money on show-offs?
— And you’re perfect? — Kirill raised his voice. — Think I don’t know about your promotion? Your new position?
— Oh, so that’s it, — Marina squinted. — You found out I’m doing well and decided to mooch off me?
— I’m just asking for help! — he grabbed her shoulders. — Haven’t I earned at least that after five years of marriage?
Marina calmly shook his hands off:
— After five years of marriage, you earned a divorce, Kirill. And now you only confirm that I did the right thing leaving you.
She took out her phone:
— Want me to remind you what you said? “Without me, you’re nobody,” “I’ll show you,” “You’ll regret it.” Remember? And now you’re asking me for money.
Kirill went pale:
— Were you recording our conversations?
— No, — Marina put the phone away. — You wrote all this to me in messages. And I remember everything perfectly. Every time you tried to humiliate me with your purchases.
— Marina, please, — his voice trembled. — I have nowhere else to turn.
— That’s your problem, — she cut him off. — I’m no longer your wife or your ATM.
She turned and walked to the entrance. Behind her came the words:
— You’ll regret this!
Marina turned:
— More threats? You never learn, Kirill.
She slammed the door shut behind her, leaving her ex outside. Riding the elevator, Marina thought this was clearly not their last meeting. The next one would be even worse.
Marina met her friend Sveta in a small café near work. They hadn’t seen each other for almost a month, and Marina wanted to distract herself from thoughts of Kirill.
— You look tense, — Sveta noticed, stirring her cappuccino. — Something happened?
Marina sighed:
— Kirill showed up. Twice in the last two weeks.
— And what did he want? — Sveta frowned. She never hid her feelings about her friend’s ex-husband.
— Money, imagine? Two hundred thousand to pay off a loan.
— The one he took after the divorce? — Sveta shook her head. — The audacity is astronomical.
— Exactly, — Marina took a sip of tea. — At first he bought expensive things to spite me, now he’s asking for help.
Sveta looked at her friend intently:
— Did you know he told everyone it was you who left him? And that you supposedly owe him compensation for moral damage?
Marina choked:
— What? Seriously?
— Yes. Andrei ran into him at a bar last week. Kirill was already tipsy and complaining that you refuse to help him after all he did for you.
Marina felt anger boiling inside:
— Unbelievable! He cheated on me, he lost money, he…
— I know, — Sveta covered her hand with hers. — Everyone who knows you understands what he’s really like.
Marina wanted to respond, but just then the café door opened and Kirill walked in. Seeing his ex-wife, he headed straight to their table.
— What a coincidence! — his smile was forced. — Marina, we need to talk.
— I’m with a friend, — Marina cut him off.
— Hi, Sveta, — Kirill nodded but didn’t look at her. — Marina, it’s important. Five minutes.
— Talk here, — Marina crossed her arms.
Kirill glanced around:
— It’s personal.
— I have no secrets from Sveta, — Marina said firmly.
Kirill pressed his lips:
— Fine. The bank called me. If I don’t pay at least part of the amount by the end of the week, they’ll sue.
— And? — Marina raised an eyebrow.
— Marina, I’m asking you one last time, — Kirill lowered his voice. — At least a hundred thousand. I swear I’ll pay you back.
— How will you pay back if you can’t even make the monthly payment? — Sveta asked.
Kirill gave her an annoyed look:
— None of your business.
— Actually, it is, — Sveta replied calmly. — Because you’re telling everyone Marina owes you. And that’s a lie.
Kirill turned red:
— I didn’t say that!
— You did, — Marina took out her phone. — Andrei recorded your conversation at the bar. Want to listen?
It was a bluff—no such recording existed. But Kirill didn’t know that.
— What?! How? Where did you…? — he raised his voice, drawing attention from the patrons.
— The world’s small, — Marina put away the phone. — And everyone knows what a liar you are.
— Screw you! — Kirill slammed his fist on the table. — You think you’re so smart? So successful?
— Kirill, calm down, — Sveta stood. — You’re in a public place.
— And you shut up! — he yelled. — You always meddled in our relationship!
Marina stood up too:
— That’s enough. We’re leaving.
— You’re not going anywhere until you listen to me! — Kirill grabbed her hand.
— Let go, — Marina’s voice was icy. — Now.
— Or what? — he smirked. — Call the police? Say I’m stalking you?
— That’s exactly what I’ll do if you don’t stop, — Marina pulled her hand free. — And stop spreading rumors. I don’t owe you anything. Remember this once and for all: stop! We’re divorced. Why would you think I’d help you financially, Kirill?
She said this loud enough for those around to hear. Kirill looked around and realized he had become the center of attention.
— This isn’t over, — he hissed through his teeth. — You’ll regret it.
— More threats? — Marina shook her head. — You’re pathetic, Kirill.
She nodded to Sveta, and they left the café together, leaving Kirill standing in the middle of the room. Marina knew this confrontation wasn’t over yet. The next round would be decisive.
Three days passed after the café incident. Marina couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety. Kirill’s words “you’ll regret this” echoed in her head. She knew her ex—desperate, he could do unpredictable things.
On Wednesday evening, returning from work, Marina found her apartment door slightly open. Her heart skipped a beat. She cautiously pushed the door and froze on the threshold.
The apartment was turned upside down. Drawers pulled out, closet contents spilled onto the floor, even books knocked off shelves. In the middle of this chaos sat Kirill, leafing through some papers.
— What are you doing in my apartment? — Marina’s voice trembled with anger.
Kirill looked up:
— I was looking for documents on the car.
— What car? — Marina clenched her fists, trying to stay calm.
— Yours, of course, — he waved a piece of paper. — Here, found it. A 2018 Toyota Corolla. Not bad for someone who supposedly couldn’t help me with two hundred thousand.
— You broke into my apartment, turned everything upside down, and now you’re accusing me? — Marina took out her phone. — I’m calling the police.
— Call them, — Kirill shrugged. — I’ll tell them I have rights to half the property, including this car. The divorce was officially finalized only a year ago.
— I bought the car after the divorce, you lunatic, — Marina dialed emergency services. — And you know that perfectly well.
— Prove it, — Kirill smirked. — Meanwhile, I’ll tell everyone how my ex-wife refused to help me in a tough moment while driving a new car.
Marina put her finger on the call button but didn’t press it. She looked at Kirill, trying to understand when this once confident man became a pitiful shadow of a person.
— Kirill, listen carefully, — she slowly lowered the phone. — You leave my apartment now, and we forget this incident. Otherwise, I will not only call the police but also file a report for domestic violence and stalking, for breaking into my apartment and robbing me.
— Violence? Robbery? What? — he laughed. — I didn’t even lay a finger on you! And all this…
— I have dozens of witnesses to your aggressive behavior, — Marina stepped forward. — Including Sveta and café visitors. Plus your threats via SMS. Think that won’t convince the court?
Kirill froze, realizing the situation.
— You’re bluffing, — he said uncertainly.
— Want to check? — Marina raised the phone again. — You’re currently in someone else’s apartment without permission. That’s a crime, Kirill. Want to add a criminal record to your financial problems?
He was silent, clutching the documents.
— What were you really looking for? — Marina asked. — Money? Valuables? Planning to rob me?
— No, I… — Kirill hesitated. — I just wanted to know if it’s true that you’re living well while I’m drowning in debt.
Marina looked at the mess around and suddenly felt tired:
— You know what’s the saddest thing, Kirill? Even now, after you stooped to breaking and entering, you don’t get the real problem. I’m not to blame for your failures. You dug this hole yourself.
— Easy for you to say! — he snapped. — You have it all. Job, car, apartment…
— And who stopped you from building the same life? — Marina shrugged. — Only your pride and desire to be someone you’re not.
Kirill was silent, head down.
— I’m giving you five minutes to leave, — Marina said firmly. — And never come near me again. Never, got it?
Kirill got up from the sofa, threw the papers on the floor:
— You always thought you were better than me. Always thought I wasn’t good enough for you.
— No, Kirill, — Marina shook her head. — I just wanted you to be honest. With yourself and with me. But you chose to live in illusions.
He walked past her to the door:
— You’re right—we really are divorced. In every way.
When the door slammed behind him, Marina collapsed to the floor amid the scattered things and cried for the first time in a long while. Not from grief or fear. From relief. She finally understood that their story was over. Truly over.
An hour later, Sveta called:
— How are you? Kirill told me you talked.
— All good, — Marina wiped her tears. — I think he finally understood that we’re no longer connected.
— Are you sure?
— Yes, — Marina looked at the mess in the apartment and suddenly smiled. — Sometimes you have to completely destroy everything to start building anew.
— Philosopher, — Sveta chuckled. — Come over tonight. We’ll open some wine…
— Tempting, — Marina stood up. — But you know, I’d better stay home. I need to clean up… In every sense.
She began picking books off the floor, placing them back on shelves. Each item returned to its place symbolized a step toward a new life. A life without Kirill and his unreasonable ambitions. A life where she chooses her own path.
The divorce was finally over—not just on paper, but in their hearts and minds…
