— Sveta, are you okay? You look like the whole world has collapsed — I said, lifting the steaming package. — Is Viktor home? Today is our wedding anniversary. Twenty-five years…— No… well, yes… but he’s in a meeting.
Very important. With investors — Svetlana replied, her face pale, her lips trembling.Heavy, determined footsteps echoed in the hallway. Viktor entered, and he wasn’t alone. A woman’s laugh rang behind him, artificial and sharp, and my chest tightened.
Svetlana grabbed my shoulder, clinging to my coat.— Quickly, into the closet! — she whispered, then closed the door.I squeezed into a narrow space, between hangers and heavy winter coats. The smell of leather and stale paper mixed around me.
Through the cracks of the door, I could see part of the office.The office door opened.— Svetik, bring us some coffee. Don’t come in, serious discussion happening — Viktor said, without looking at us.
Next to him walked a tall girl in a tight red dress. She adjusted her hair along the way, her lips curved with dissatisfaction.— Vitya, how long? You promised we’d finish this today. I’m tired of hiding.
— Angela, quieter — Viktor grabbed her, pulling her close. — Just a little longer. My housekeeper believes I’m saving our future. Tonight, she’ll sign the property transfer to my sister, as if it’s required by the authorities.
In a week, my sister will transfer it to you. And everything will be fine.I put my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t scream. My heart tightened. That apartment… the one we bought in the ’90s with every penny. Where our son grew up. Where I knew every crack in the ceiling.
— Are you sure she’ll sign? — Angela touched Viktor’s tie. — What if she refuses?— Marina? — Viktor chuckled, with so much contempt in his voice that I felt sick. — In twenty-five years, you’ve never made a single decision.
You ask: “Vitya, are you sure this will help?” I say, “Yes, darling, this is for our future.” And she’ll sign. It won’t occur to her that her future will be a tiny shared room I graciously let her have.They closed the office door.
I collapsed onto the closet floor, onto dusty boxes. The lunch I had spent three hours preparing was slowly cooling. Duck on a bed of apples — Viktor’s favorite.After a while, Svetlana opened the door. She wiped her tears quietly, her makeup smudged.
— Marina Viktória, you have to come out. I couldn’t do it another way. He tricked my sister six months ago. She was the accountant. He left her with a huge deficit, threatened her with jail if she didn’t step aside. I just waited for the right moment…
— Do you have access to his computer? — I asked coldly.— Yes. And also the safe keys. He often leaves them in the drawer when this girl is around. He completely loses his head.— Svetlana, we need all corporate documents and invoices under his name. Can you manage that?
She nodded. A determination appeared in her eyes that gave me strength as well.I went home before Viktor. I cleared the festive table, put away the candles. On the table, I placed the copied documents. It turned out that my husband’s company was thriving.
No debts, no authorities. Only that girl was receiving payments from the car dealerships and jewelry stores regularly.Viktor arrived at nine, cheerfully, with a bouquet of chrysanthemums.— Darling, I’m home! Sorry I’m late, partners…
He stepped into the kitchen, dropped the bouquet, then froze. I was sitting by the window, the lights off, only the faint streetlight illuminating the room.— Marina, what is this in the dark? Where’s dinner? It’s a celebration.
— The celebration ended for you in the closet, Viktor — I said, without looking at him.He froze. I heard a heavy sigh.— What closet? What are you talking about? Did you overwork in the kitchen?
I turned on the light. In front of him, I placed a dictaphone. Svetlana had not only handed over the documents but also recorded the conversation in the office — they didn’t hold back their words there.
Viktor listened for a while. He tried to grab the dictaphone, but I held my hand out. — No need. The copies are already with the lawyer. And also with your partner. I’m sure he’ll be interested in where the business money went that you spent on your favorite under the guise of work.
He immediately turned pale. He slumped into the chair from the morning.— Marina, listen to me… just words. Men sometimes talk too much. I just wanted to have fun, the apartment… it was only for our safety!
— Enough, Viktor. I’m not stupid. I’m not going to your sister for a shared room.— Without me, you’re nobody! — he shouted, jumping up. — I got everything! The house is mine, the car is mine! Do you understand?!
He raised his hand, but I didn’t move.— Try it. Then, besides this case, there will also be one for forged property rights. Svetlana saw that you signed instead of me.Viktor slowly lowered his hand. He was shaking.
— What do you want? — he stammered.— You leave. With one suitcase. The apartment is mine. The car is mine. I get half of your company. Tomorrow morning, these documents will be with the authorities. Choose.
An hour later, the door closed behind him. I went to the window, saw him walking to the car in the dark with a suitcase. A pathetic, pitiful figure in the lamplight.I returned to the kitchen. I threw away the chrysanthemums.
The duck was still on the table. I cut a piece, ate it slowly. Delicious. Not bitter, not disappointment — just food.The next day, I called Svetlana.— Sveta, are you working tomorrow?— I quit, Marina Viktória. I can’t stay there any longer.
— Come to me. I’m opening my own workshop. I need someone who can handle money and isn’t afraid of difficulties.Svetlana laughed quietly over the phone.— I’m coming. I’ll definitely come.I hung up and saw my own reflection in the mirror.
Calm eyes. No tears. Just life moving on — now honestly, without lies, foreign property, or fear.