“Are you absolutely sure you don’t need anything else from the store?” Anna asked once more.
“No, really, just go already,” Boris waved her off impatiently.
It was clear he was eager for her to leave. Anna let out a quiet sigh. Lately, Boris’s mood had grown sharp and restless. She chose to keep her silence, not wanting to spark an argument.
Avoiding conflict had always been her way. She was quick to yield and smooth over tension.
Her mother often said Anna would make an ideal wife—and in many ways, she had proven it. Swallowing her growing frustration, Anna grabbed her shopping list and headed out.
Her plan for dinner was baked salmon infused with lemon and rosemary, and for dessert, a cake recipe passed down from her mother-in-law. She wanted to do something nice for Boris. But as she reached the checkout, a sinking feeling hit her — she’d forgotten her wallet at home.
Frustrated, she ran her hands through her hair and quickly dialed Boris, hoping he might come by with some money. No answer. She asked the cashier to hold her basket and hurried back to the apartment.
Just as she was about to enter, voices caught her attention.
Boris was on the phone, and what she overheard froze her in place.
“Yeah, I’ve thought it through,” he said calmly. “The apartment’s almost transferred. Just need to send the payment.”
Standing frozen in the doorway, Anna’s heart thundered in her chest. What apartment? What payment? What was he up to?
“There’s some risk, sure,” Boris continued. “But what can you do? She doesn’t suspect a thing. And honestly, what could she do? She’s quiet—always puts up with everything.”
Pain and fury surged through Anna. Her fingers gripped the doorframe tightly. How dare he speak about her like that? After all these years, after all she’d given him — was this the truth?
“Oh, and about the trip,” Boris added. “We can still go to Paris, like you wanted. Once everything’s settled. I can already picture us strolling down the Champs-Élysées. You can buy yourself something nice.”
Anna stood rooted, stunned as her husband planned a future with another woman. She neither stepped inside nor fled. When the call ended, reality crashed down around her.
She quietly stepped away from the door, careful not to make a sound, and slipped around the corner. Her mind raced—should she confront him now, or hold back and gather her thoughts? How could she stay silent after this betrayal?
The hallway door swung open. Boris entered, unaware of her presence. Anna watched him pass by, then quietly left the apartment. She needed space to think.
Wandering the streets aimlessly, her groceries abandoned, Anna eventually sank onto a park bench, burying her face in her hands. What was Boris hiding? Why was he doing this? What should she do next?
She pulled out her phone, finger hovering over contacts. Who could she turn to? Friends might offer sympathy but little help. Her parents? She dreaded upsetting them with such news after all these years.
Was he really planning to leave? She dialed her closest friend, Irina, who immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Anna, are you crying?” Irina asked gently.
“Not anymore,” Anna whispered, then poured out everything.
“Come over,” Irina urged.
Anna agreed. They talked late into the night about Boris and the betrayal. It helped, if only a little. But on the way home, her heart still churned. Opening her banking app, she saw it—less money in their joint account.
“Alright,” she whispered fiercely. “If this is a game, then I’m playing.”
Back at the apartment, Boris was irritable.
“Where’ve you been?” he snapped. “I’ve been starving here all day.”
Anna clenched her jaw, setting the grocery bags down as she began unpacking.
“I stopped by Irina’s,” she said quietly.
“Great. I’m hungry, and you’re out socializing.”
Anna said nothing, focusing on preparing the salmon. Boris scoffed and turned back to the television. She cooked silently, her mind racing. She couldn’t let things continue like this. But she had to keep calm, learn more before making her move.
That evening, Boris glued himself to the TV while Anna pretended to read a book, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
The next day, she took matters into her own hands. Calling in sick, she started digging—searching through his documents, checking his computer. Then she found it: messages exchanged with a lawyer discussing divorce and dividing assets. The betrayal was real.
How long had he been planning this? How had she been so blind? But there was no time to wallow. She snapped photos of the evidence and contacted a lawyer immediately.
While Boris was at work, Anna organized her files and prepared for what was ahead.
She opened a separate bank account, moved some savings, and reached out to her parents for support. Around Boris, she stayed calm and composed, revealing nothing.
But she had a surprise planned.
That evening, as Boris sat down for dinner, Anna set the table as usual. When he took his seat, she slid a folder across to him.
“What’s this?” he asked, frowning.
“Our future,” Anna replied with a cold smile. “I’m filing for divorce.”
His face drained of color. He tried to speak, but Anna cut him off.
“Save your excuses. I heard your call, saw the messages. Thought you could cheat me out of everything? Think again.”
Boris sat frozen. Anna pressed on.
“Don’t expect to walk away with it all. I’ve hired a top lawyer and I’m ready to fight to make sure you get nothing extra. The assets will be divided fairly. Forget Paris — and don’t try hiding or moving anything. I’ve got the proof.”
Her voice was sharp.
“I’ve come to terms with it all. I never suspected our marriage was this broken. You planned this ‘surprise’ for me so long. Well, what goes around comes around.”
Boris sat pale as a ghost.
“Anna, please listen…” he began.
“No, Boris. Enough,” she interrupted firmly. “Your games are over. You thought I wouldn’t notice? That I’d quietly accept being tossed aside? You were wrong.”
“This is all your fault!” he exploded. “You were boring! You drove me away!”
Anna looked at him with disgust.
“I never imagined you were such a coward, unable even to be honest about leaving. Well, now you get what you deserve. Pack your things and leave.”
He shouted and blamed her, but Anna no longer heard him. Eventually, he left.
The court ruled his attempt to transfer property invalid. The assets were split evenly. Boris filed more lawsuits, but all failed.
Months passed. Anna slowly healed. She even went to a friend’s birthday party—her first real social outing in ages.
There, she met Andrey, a kind doctor recently widowed. From their first conversation, something felt different. He was attentive, sincere, and made her laugh. They talked for hours as if they’d known each other forever.
Unlike Boris, Andrey was honest, supportive, and genuine. He didn’t make promises; he simply showed up.
They began seeing each other often. Andrey helped Anna look forward to the future, teaching her what love and respect truly meant.
Not long after, Andrey proposed. Anna said yes without hesitation. Their wedding was small but warm—surrounded only by those closest. Anna radiated happiness. Andrey never took his loving gaze from her.
Together, they built a new life on trust and care.
Anna left the pain and bitterness behind. The divorce had been harsh, but it taught her her worth.
Now, looking at Andrey, she understood that true happiness wasn’t about possessions, but about simple human connection—warmth, support, and love. Every moment with him was a gift. Finally, she had found her true soulmate.
