“Welcome! I’m your husband’s mistress.”
Katerina set aside the catalog layouts she was reviewing and looked intently at the glamorous red-haired beauty who had appeared at the door of her office. The visitor smirked and continued:
“I bring unpleasant news—I’m pregnant. Naturally, by your husband.”
“How original,” Katerina replied with a faint smile. “Would you at least like to introduce yourself? Or are we jumping straight to the point?”
“Why bother with formalities?” The redhead lifted her chin. “I’m Alisa. And I’m not here to make friends—I came to ruin your little idyll.”
“Alisa…” Katerina repeated, as if tasting the name. “Interesting name. Hopefully not from Wonderland, because reality here is quite harsh.”
Then, in a businesslike tone, Katerina asked:
“Do you have any documents?”
Alisa gave a triumphant smile and pulled a white paper with a blue stamp from her luxurious suede handbag. She had come prepared.
“Here—take a look!” Alisa waved the paper like a victory flag. “Your precious hubby finally proved fertile!”
Katerina examined the document carefully. It was authentic, not homemade—not surprising. When you’re showing up at a wife’s office with claims like that, cheap forgeries don’t fly.
“Excellent,” Katerina nodded. “It seems you truly are expecting a child. Now, we’ll need a paternity test to confirm it’s my husband’s baby, and once that’s settled, everything will be arranged.”
“You really think I’m lying?” Alisa was offended. “Your husband and I have been having an affair for six months!”
“Sweetheart,” Katerina laughed melodically, “an affair and fatherhood are two different things. Didn’t they teach biology at your school?”
“How dare you talk to me like that?!” the redhead flared up.
“How else should one speak to someone who storms into another woman’s office making declarations like yours?” Katerina shrugged. “Still, take a seat. Let’s discuss this like civilized people.”
Alisa’s confidence began to waver. She asked, a bit lost:
“Settled—how exactly?”
Katerina kindly explained:
“My husband will pay you child support, I’ll find you an excellent doctor, reserve a spot at a good clinic—you can give birth safely, without worrying about your health or the baby’s.”
“Support?” Alisa repeated. “But I don’t plan to be some kept woman!”
“Then what are you planning to be?” Katerina asked sincerely. “A wife? Darling, he already has one. That’s me. And we have three kids. Did you really think it would be more than this?”
Alisa became emotional:
“Don’t you get it? A child needs a father!”
“Of course,” Katerina agreed. “And he’ll have one. On weekends, holidays, school events. Lovely, isn’t it?”
“This is absurd!” Alisa snapped. “A child needs a full-time father, a family, a home!”
Katerina explained condescendingly:
“Our three children need a father too. And they have one, fortunately. But don’t worry—my husband will see your child, walk them to school when the time comes. You can even leave the child with us from time to time. We have excellent nannies. I adore kids myself. You’ll have free time to build your own life. Trust me, that’s hard to do with a baby.”
“You speak like everything’s already decided!” Alisa jumped up. “What if I don’t agree to these terms?”
“Then it’ll be sad,” Katerina said with a sigh. “My husband doesn’t like pressure or scandals. You could end up with nothing.”
“But he loves me!” Alisa’s voice cracked with hysteria.
“Sweet girl,” Katerina shook her head. “He loves many. But he lives with me.”
Alisa leapt up, clutching her expensive bag. Her polished face twisted in frustration.
“You don’t get it! I share a bed with your husband! I’m carrying his child! He doesn’t love you anymore—he loves me!”
“Oh, Lord,” Katerina covered her eyes. “Where do these naive creatures keep coming from? Alisa, if every woman who sleeps with my husband demanded alimony, we’d need our own bank branch.”
“You… you’re heartless!” Alisa gasped. “How can you talk so calmly about your husband’s infidelity?”
“How else?” Katerina was genuinely puzzled. “Cry? Scream? Pull out my hair? I don’t have time for theatrics. I have a business, kids, a household. Drama doesn’t fit in my schedule.”
Katerina felt a pang of sympathy. She genuinely pitied the still-so-young woman. But reality quickly erodes romantic delusions—even the ones built around snaring a wealthy man for free.
“Darling, you’re the fourth girl to come to me with this story. The first didn’t even bring a document, the second and third had fakes… Oh, and one was pregnant too, but the paternity test didn’t match. We’ve never denied support, but even my kind-hearted husband won’t tolerate outright lies.”
“Fourth?!” Alisa went pale. “So… there were others?”
“Oh yes,” Katerina nodded sympathetically. “You thought you were the only one? How sweet. I hope he at least gave you compliments? Men tend to repeat themselves in that department.”
“He said… he swore I was special!” Alisa’s voice shook.
“Of course you are,” Katerina reassured her. “They all are. The first had stunning eyes, the second was musically gifted, the third could paint. I’m sure you have your own charm. As for him sleeping with you—he also sleeps with me. And others. I can’t deny my dear husband his weaknesses. Thankfully, it doesn’t affect me or the kids… So, leave your number. I’ll arrange the paternity test tomorrow.”
“Why do you put up with it?” Alisa asked, confused. “Are money and comfort really worth more than dignity?”
“And what is dignity?” Katerina mused. “Leaving with three kids, no income, but with my head held high? Sorry, but I believe it’s more dignified to secure a future for my children.”
“You’re cynical,” the redhead whispered.
“I’m a realist,” Katerina corrected her. “Cynicism was taught to me—by life, and visits like this.”
“You know what,” Alisa suddenly straightened, “maybe I don’t need your precious husband at all. Maybe I’ll find someone who’ll love only me.”
“Now that’s a smart thought!” Katerina said brightly. “Honestly, that’s the best possible outcome. You’re young, beautiful, educated—find a free man and be happy.”
“You… mean that?” Alisa was taken aback.
“Completely,” Katerina nodded. “I genuinely wish you happiness. Just not with my husband. Nothing personal—just business.”
“But the baby…”
“If it’s truly his, everything I promised still stands—child support, healthcare, education. All of it. Just don’t try to claim the role of wife.”
Alisa was thoughtful now, her anger fading.
“What if I tell him I don’t want to see him anymore?”
“He’ll sulk for about three days,” Katerina admitted. “Then he’ll find comfort in someone new. Men have short emotional memories.”
“So he never really loved me?” Alisa’s voice was filled with sadness.
“He did,” Katerina said gently. “In his own way. My husband falls sincerely for every new woman. But… only for a while. That’s just who he is.”
Alisa’s nerves gave way. But this time, she didn’t run out. Instead, she collapsed into the chair and began to cry.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I was such a fool. I thought he’d leave his family for me…”
“Sweetheart,” Katerina stood and came closer, “we’ve all been fools in love at some point. The important thing is to wake up in time.”
“You too?” Alisa looked up with tearful eyes. “Were you ever that naïve?”
“Oh, absolutely!” Katerina laughed. “I was the mistress who once came to his first wife with a pregnancy announcement. She reacted differently—shouted, threatened. And you know what? He left her and came to me.”
“And you’re afraid the same will happen to you?”
“Not afraid—I know it could,” Katerina said calmly. “But I learned from her mistakes. I don’t make scenes, don’t cry, don’t give ultimatums. I just live my life and let him live his.”
“But is that love?” Alisa asked quietly.
“That’s life,” Katerina shrugged. “And love… love takes many forms. Mine is making sure he has a family, raising his kids, and not fussing over his flings.”
“And his love?”
“His love is that he always comes home,” Katerina smiled. “And provides for us. For some, it’s not enough. For me—it is.”
Katerina returned to her desk and lit a cigarette.
“You know what I think?” she said, exhaling smoke. “You’re young, beautiful, smart. Why get involved with a married man? Find someone free, build a family, have children. It’s far better than feeding off scraps of someone else’s happiness.”
“But he’s so… special.”
“Special?” Katerina smiled softly. “Honey, they all seem special when we wear rose-colored glasses. But believe me, only the man who can love one woman—and stay with her—is truly special.”
Alisa wiped her tears and looked at Katerina with new eyes.
“You’re right,” she said quietly. “I was just a silly girl who believed in fairy tales. But fairy tales end. Life goes on.”
“Exactly,” Katerina nodded approvingly. “You have your whole life ahead of you. Find a man who sees only you, who chooses you above all others—and stays true.”
“And if he really is the father of my child?”
“Then your baby will have everything it needs,” Katerina assured her. “But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for being a mistress. You deserve more.”
Alisa slowly stood up.
“You know what?” she said. “I don’t need your husband. Not at all. I want to find real love—the one and only kind.”
“Now those are the right words!” Katerina said with genuine joy. “Believe me, when you meet the right man, you’ll realize how much time you wasted on someone unworthy.”
“I was so naïve,” Alisa shook her head. “I thought love was when a man would destroy his family for you. But now I understand—real love is when he builds a family with you.”
“Exactly,” Katerina agreed. “And that love exists. You just have to be patient—and never settle for less.”
Alisa walked to the door, then turned:
“Thank you. For the lesson. For opening my eyes. I wish you…” she paused.
“Wish me wisdom,” Katerina prompted. “It’s the only thing that helps in my situation.”
“Then I wish you wisdom. And myself—true love.”
The door quietly closed behind the red-haired girl. Katerina was alone again in her office. She leaned back in her chair and shut her eyes.
Another story had come to an end. Another naive girl had gotten a dose of reality. Thankfully, this one was smarter than the last—she realized she deserved more than someone else’s leftovers.
Katerina glanced at the clock—the workday wasn’t over. She picked up the catalog layouts and returned to her tasks. Life went on—steady, predictable, full of compromises.
Somewhere deep down, a thought flickered: what if she had done what Alisa did years ago? Walked away? Chosen a single, available man?
But the thought lasted only a second. Katerina looked at the photo of her three children on the desk and returned to the layouts. She had the life she chose—and it was too late to change it.
