Viktor said it so casually, as if he were suggesting they have dinner together. Katya stood by the kitchen table and slowly lowered her cup onto the countertop. The porcelain made a soft clink against the wood.
“Wait. Are you serious right now?”
“Completely. There’s a spare room there, and Mom would enjoy having some company. Two months will fly by before you even notice.”
Katya looked at her husband. He was leaning against the doorway with his hands in his pockets, his shoulders relaxed. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of doubt on his face.
“And what exactly are these things you need to deal with?”
“Work. Complicated stuff. I need to concentrate, you understand?”
“No. I don’t.”
Viktor frowned. He had clearly expected a different reaction—maybe tears, maybe a quiet nod of obedience. But Katya spoke calmly, without raising her voice.
“Listen, it’s temporary. I’m not throwing you out onto the street.”
“You’re throwing me out of my own home and sending me to live with your mother.”
“I’m not throwing you out! It’s more like… reorganizing the living space.”
Katya gave a short, humorless laugh.
Reorganizing.
Such an elegant expression for such an ugly idea.
“Viktor, we’ve been married for four years. During those four years, I have never lived with your mother. And I have no intention of starting now.”
“Why are you immediately making a fight out of this? I told you—it’s temporary!”
“Then why am I the one who has to leave? If you need peace and quiet to focus, rent a hotel room. Or you can go stay with your mother.”
Viktor snorted.
That sound told Katya more than any explanation could have. The possibility of him leaving had never even crossed his mind.
“That’s completely different.”
“How?”
“Well… you’re a woman. Women adapt more easily. And Mom could use some help. She’s alone over there.”
“Your mother isn’t alone. Alina lives nearby with her daughter.”
“Alina is busy. She has Sonya to look after, you know that.”
“Sonya is five. She goes to kindergarten.”
Viktor was silent for a second, then waved his hand dismissively.
“You’re getting caught up in details. The point is, I need some time, and this is the best solution.”
“The best solution for whom, Viktor?”
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and quickly walked into the hallway. Katya could hear fragments of the conversation.
“Yes, I’m telling her… She’s resisting… No, I’ll handle it…”
Katya didn’t move.
She simply stood there and thought.
Four years.
One thousand four hundred and sixty days beside a man who was now planning her life without involving her in the decision.
Viktor returned looking like someone who believed everything was under control.
“That was Alina. She thinks it’s a good idea too, by the way.”
“Alina? Interesting. Why does Alina even know about this?”
“Because I discussed it with her. She’s smart. Practical.”
“You discussed where to send your own wife with your sister, but you didn’t discuss it with me.”
“I’m discussing it with you now!”
“No, Viktor. You’re informing me. There’s a difference.”
He exhaled irritably.
“Katya, stop making everything complicated. What’s the big deal? You’ll stay there, help Mom around the house, maybe watch Sonya once in a while. Alina asked me herself. She needs a break.”
There it was.
Katya could almost feel the final pieces of the puzzle clicking into place.
It wasn’t about work.
It wasn’t about helping his mother.
They needed a free housekeeper for his mother and an unpaid babysitter for his sister.
“So let me understand this correctly. I’m supposed to live with your mother and take care of your sister’s child.”
“Not all the time! Just occasionally! What’s wrong with that?”
“Everything, Viktor. Everything is wrong with that.”
“You’re selfish.”
Katya slowly raised one eyebrow.
“Say that again?”
“You’re selfish. You only think about yourself. Alina is struggling, Mom’s health isn’t great, and you’re refusing because of some ridiculous principles.”
“My life is not a ridiculous principle.”
“Two months, Katya! Just two months!”
She said nothing.
She simply looked at him.
Viktor interpreted her silence as surrender.
“See? You know I’m right. The internet is good there too, so if you need to work, you can work. There won’t be any real difference.”
“There’s a huge difference. I married you, Viktor. I didn’t marry your entire family.”
“My family is your family too!”
“Then why is your family deciding what happens to me behind my back?”
Viktor opened his mouth to answer, but just then the doorbell rang.
He hurried to open it, visibly relieved by the interruption.
Alina was standing outside.
Behind her was her friend Marina, whom Katya had met maybe twice before.
Both women walked inside as though they had been expected.
“Hi!” Alina kissed her brother on the cheek. “So? Did you two agree?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
Alina turned toward Katya.
There was something strange in her expression—a mixture of impatience and carefully performed sympathy.
“Katya, seriously, it’s a great arrangement. I really need help. Sonya has exhausted me so badly I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
Marina nodded.
“I keep telling Alina she needs a proper break. She should go somewhere, relax, clear her head.”
“And where exactly are you planning to go?” Katya asked.
Alina and Marina exchanged a quick glance.
There was a brief hesitation.
“Well… we haven’t decided yet. Maybe somewhere by the sea. Or Saint Petersburg.”
“For a month?”
“Maybe two weeks. Maybe a month. Depends.”
Katya slowly nodded.
Now the picture was completely clear.
His sister wanted a vacation from motherhood.
Her friend would keep her company.
And Katya was expected to become the unpaid nanny for an indefinite period.
“So you two are going on vacation, and I’m supposed to stay behind with your child.”
“Not just you! Grandma will be there too!”
“Your mother is Sonya’s grandmother. Sonya is her granddaughter. Who exactly am I in this arrangement?”
Viktor immediately stepped into the conversation.
“You’re part of the family. You’re supposed to help.”
“Supposed to? Who exactly do I owe? And why?”
Marina gave a quiet scoff.
“You’re very principled, aren’t you? She’s a child, not some stranger.”
Katya gave her a long look.
“Marina, what exactly does any of this have to do with you?”
“I’m Alina’s friend. I’m supporting her.”
“Then support her differently. Stay with Sonya yourself.”
Marina’s face twisted.
“I have my own life.”
“So do I.”
Alina threw her hands into the air.
“Katya, why are you acting like you’re not family? Viktor is my brother! Families are supposed to help each other!”
“Viktor is your brother. I’m not. And helping someone is voluntary. It isn’t an obligation.”
Viktor took Katya by the elbow and led her a few steps away.
“Listen. I understand this came as a surprise. But can’t you at least try it? One month. If you hate it, you can come back.”
Katya looked directly into his eyes.
There was no tenderness there.
No concern.
Only irritation because his plan wasn’t going smoothly.
“Viktor, I’m giving you one chance. Tell your sister and her friend that you made a mistake. Tell them I’m not going anywhere. And tell them you’ll deal with whatever help your mother needs yourself.”
“What? No! I already promised them!”
“Promised who?”
“Alina! And Mom!”
“And what did you promise me four years ago at the registry office?”
Viktor shrugged.
“That’s a different conversation.”
“No. It’s exactly the same conversation. Last chance, Viktor. Right now.”
He was silent for a moment.
Then he turned toward his sister.
“Alina, give us a little time. We’ll talk some more.”
Alina rolled her eyes.
“Viktor, seriously? How long is this going to take? You promised!”
“I know. It’s just…”
“No ‘just’! Marina and I were already looking at tickets! I haven’t had a vacation in two years!”
Katya had heard enough.
She walked toward the window and took out her phone.
Her fingers quickly dialed a number.
Twenty minutes later, the door opened again.
Denis, Viktor’s older brother, stood in the doorway.
Katya had called him as soon as she realized Viktor had no intention of changing his decision.
“Denis?” Viktor’s face went pale. “What are you doing here?”
“Katya called. Said you were holding a family meeting without me.”
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“It does. Mom is my mother too. And if someone plans to turn her apartment into temporary housing for other people’s wives, I’d like to know about it.”
Alina immediately bristled.
“Denis, stay out of this! This is between Viktor and Katya!”
“Apparently not anymore. I hear you’re planning a trip to the sea.”
“So what?”
“So you’re planning to dump Sonya on someone who has no responsibility for her. Katya is Viktor’s wife, not your personal nanny.”
Marina scoffed.
“Aren’t you noble? Family is supposed to help family.”
Denis turned toward her.
“And who are you?”
“Alina’s friend.”
“Then stay out of it. This is a family matter.”
Marina opened her mouth, but Alina pulled her back by the sleeve.
Denis walked straight up to Viktor.
“Do you even understand what you’re doing?”
“I’m solving a problem!”
“No, you’re creating one. What kind of ‘work’ do you have that requires throwing your wife out of her own home?”
Viktor looked away.
“It’s personal.”
“Personal. Right. Does Lena have anything to do with it?”
Katya felt the atmosphere in the room change instantly.
Viktor flinched.
“What does Lena have to do with anything?”
“The fact that you’ve been messaging her for the past month. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“You were spying on me?!”
“You left your phone at Mom’s last week. The screen kept lighting up. Not my fault you leave your notifications visible.”
Katya stood perfectly still.
Inside, everything became cold and clear.
Strangely, there was no pain.
Only a sharp, crystalline understanding.
“Viktor,” she said. “So those are the ‘things’ you need to deal with.”
“Katya, it isn’t—”
“Don’t. I’ve heard enough.”
She took her handbag from the hook.
Keys.
Documents.
Phone.
She checked that her bank card was still in her pocket.
“Where are you going?” Viktor grabbed her arm.
“Take your hand off me.”
“Can we talk about this like adults?”
“We already did. You wanted to send me to your mother so you could clear the apartment for another woman. And your sister helped you because she wanted a free babysitter.”
Alina’s face turned red.
“I didn’t know about Lena!”
“But you knew you were helping him push me out of my home. That’s enough.”
Denis stepped closer to Katya.
“I’ll drive you wherever you want.”
“Thank you. But I’ll manage.”
“Katya, wait!” Viktor rushed after her. “You’ve misunderstood everything! Lena is just someone I know!”
“Viktor. I am not going to live with your mother. I am not going to babysit someone else’s child. And I am not going to be your wife anymore.”
“You can’t just walk away like this!”
“I can. And I am.”
Katya stepped outside the apartment building and took a deep breath of the evening air.
Her mind was clear.
Her movements were precise.
She pulled out her phone and called a real estate agent she had worked with several years earlier.
“Olga? Good evening. I need a rental apartment. Tonight. Yes, urgently. One bedroom. The neighborhood doesn’t matter. Send me an address.”
An hour later, she was sitting in an empty but clean apartment on the other side of the city.
The only belongings she had with her were her handbag and documents.
Everything else could be collected later.
Or perhaps not collected at all.
Her phone kept ringing.
Viktor.
Alina.
Unknown numbers.
Katya blocked them one by one and turned off the sound.
There was only one call she answered.
“Katya, it’s Denis. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I rented an apartment.”
“That was fast.”
“Why drag it out?”
“Listen… Viktor is panicking. He says you’re exaggerating everything.”
“He can say whatever he wants. I don’t care.”
“I’m on your side. If you need anything, call me.”
“Thank you, Denis. You’ve already helped enough.”
She ended the call and looked up at the ceiling.
Four years.
One thousand four hundred and sixty days.
And one evening was enough to bring it all to an end.
The next morning, Alina called her.
“Katya, I need to talk to you!”
“About what?”
“About Viktor! He’s completely losing it!”
“That’s his problem.”
“But you’re his wife!”
“Not anymore.”
“What do you mean, not anymore?! You aren’t even divorced!”
“We will be. I’m filing the paperwork this week.”
“Have you lost your mind?! Over one argument?”
“This wasn’t an argument, Alina. It was the truth. The truth all of you were hiding from me.”
“What truth?! Viktor said Lena is just a colleague!”
“Alina, you knew he wanted me out of the apartment. You helped him do it because it benefited you. You wanted me to stay with your child so you could go on vacation. You didn’t care about me as a person. You only cared about what was convenient for you.”
Silence came from the other end of the line.
“And you know what?” Katya continued. “I’m not even angry anymore. I’m simply done participating in this circus.”
“You’re going to regret this!”
“I don’t think so.”
Katya ended the call and blocked the number again.
A week later, Denis sent her a message.
“Viktor and Lena are over. She found out he was married and told him to get lost. Alina didn’t go anywhere either—Marina found someone else to travel with. Mom keeps asking how you are. Want me to tell her anything?”
Katya typed a short reply.
“Tell her I’m doing well. Because I am.”
She put the phone aside and smiled.
Outside the window, a new day was beginning.
The first day of her real life.