After training, Vika hurried home, having promised her husband that she would cook fish soup. When she entered the apartment, she saw her husband, Leonid, sitting in the kitchen and drinking wine.
— Wow, seems like we’re in one picture then… Leonid, did you run out of patience waiting for me? Let me at least prepare a snack…
— No need, sit down, we have something to talk about…
Vika had never seen her husband like this before—upset, lost. “Oh my, what happened?” she thought.
— I don’t even know where to start… Ah, I’ll just tell it like it is… My secretary, Katya, is pregnant with my child; I’m leaving with her.
— Well, that’s something… Like a bad melodrama… And how long have you been with her?
— About a year. As soon as she came, she started giving me signs of affection, and I couldn’t resist. Young, beautiful, cheerful—just like you were in your youth… I fell in love like a little boy! I wanted to confess it to you honestly right away, but I didn’t have the courage; I felt sorry for you…
And now, there’s no turning back—I’m going to be a father soon. You understand, I’ve always wanted my own child… Your Igor is like a son to me, but not by blood… And I need an heir; I’ll hand over my business to him, you see? And with her, I feel good, almost like I’m getting younger… Perhaps the midlife crisis has caught up with me; have you heard of that?
Vika, I’m a scoundrel, of course. But I won’t deprive you or Igor. I’ll leave you the apartment, the car—everything. I’ll continue to support you financially, don’t worry. I’ll pay for your studies, just as I promised. I’ve already bought a new house and put it in Katya’s name—after all, she’s going to be the mother of my child.
— I understand, Leonid; it’s hard to resist such a beauty as Katya, and you are a real man… And you couldn’t just abandon the child—that’s noble. Thank you for the financial help; I won’t refuse it. I want to start traveling, to live for myself.
When are you moving out? Maybe I can help you pack?
Leonid looked at his wife in bewilderment. She was so calm… It was probably for the best—no scandals, no tantrums.
— Well, goodbye, my dear. Thank you for the years we spent together; I was happy by your side! But life has its own script… Maybe I’ll find someone else to love and be happy with a new man. Well, that’s it—go on, before Katya gets worried, thinking I’ve latched onto you like a tick…
Leonid hastily grabbed his suitcases, offered an awkward smile, and walked toward the elevator.
After closing the door, Vika went to the kitchen. She took a bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator, opened it, filled a glass to the brim, and drank it down. Her husband had left her. How absurd it sounded.
She could never have imagined it. All those years they had lived peacefully together—sure, there wasn’t a burning passion, but there was attachment, habit, and respect.
Alright, no time for tears. New life, new rules! She would find something to do, and her husband would pay. It would be foolish to refuse money, as it brought more opportunities. But she’d have to get used to her new status as a dumped woman.
And Vika’s head spun in a whirlwind of new impressions. She signed up for dance classes, attended after work. On weekends she visited museums, the cinema, and went to workouts. Luckily, she had company. Her neighbor, Irochka, who was lonely, gladly accompanied her.
Igor, her son, studied in another city and visited rarely. Vika was left to her own devices. She cooked only what she loved, no longer having to adjust for anyone else. She did what she enjoyed; no one could forbid her anything. She didn’t even think about a new man—being alone was fine.
The divorce from her husband went quietly and peacefully. She caught a glimpse of Katya in the courthouse corridor—a real beauty, what can you say… After all, her husband had exquisite taste!
Leonid transferred money every month, just as he had promised. Vika was grateful for his generous gesture. She knew he had money, that his business was thriving, and that he could easily support her and Igor. It was his way of repaying the years they’d spent together. Clearly, Katya didn’t know about this—and she probably wouldn’t have approved.
A year passed. Nothing had changed in Vika’s life: dancing, workouts, a couple of trips abroad. Leonid’s financial help stopped, and Vika felt awkward asking for an explanation. Most likely, Katya forbade it. Well, nothing, she would manage. Igor earned well enough as a university student, and he could pay for his own tuition. Her salary was sufficient for her needs.
On a day off, with no rush anywhere, Vika savored every day. After cooking fish soup, she discovered there was no bread—and she loved bread very much. She dashed out to a bakery and ran into Leonid.
— Leonid, what are you doing here?
— Vikusya, hello. Well, you see… I live nearby now… I bought an apartment.
— That’s news… And what about Katya? The child? By the way, who was born in your family?
— A daughter… Yes, there’s a bit of a story… Can you imagine, Katya was planted here by a competitor. She ingratiated herself with me, I fell in love, you know how it goes… Then she started pressuring me to transfer the business to her, afraid that I’d leave her with nothing…
I agreed; after the daughter was born, in a fit of emotion, I transferred everything to her. I kept a certain sum in an account she didn’t know about. In the end, she kicked me out. The daughter turned out not to be mine, and the business went to the competitor… Here I am in such a mess… Funny, isn’t it? Just like in a bad melodrama, everything turned out this way…
I bought an apartment, found a job; I’m not destitute, but I won’t have my old life back. And I can’t help you anymore… I’m sorry… You probably won’t even want to talk to me anymore, feeling betrayed, thinking I traded you for her…
Vika even felt sorry for him. He looked so insignificant… What a swindler Katya turned out to be! He had invested so much effort and energy into the business!
— You fool, Leonid! Come on, let’s go to my place—I just made your favorite fish soup…
They had a heartfelt conversation in the kitchen where they had met every day for so many years, discussing news. But now, they were no longer husband and wife.
Afterward, they occasionally kept in touch by phone. There was no talk of getting back together. Each had his own life. At dance classes, Vika met another man, married him, and found happiness.
She even invited Leonid to her wedding; he came and was genuinely happy for his ex. At the wedding, he met the bridegroom’s sister… Six months later, Vika was seen strolling with her new husband at his wedding…
After all, life is an unpredictable thing! You should never lose heart or give up on yourself, no matter what happens. You never know what might happen—just live and enjoy every day
