I listened to my mother-in-law’s conversation with my husband and couldn’t believe my ears.
Everything I had lived for during my marriage turned out to be a lie. I had trusted him so much, and yet he and his mother acted so despicably.
It’s all decided. They’ll regret what they did!
Something Strange Is Happening
Just a month ago, I never could have imagined that my life would change so drastically. I was sitting in my cozy apartment—one I bought after several years of hard work—flipping through a magazine. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee was coming from the kitchen. Maxim was on duty and was supposed to return in a week.
I reached for my favorite cup in the cabinet, but it wasn’t there. Strange—I was sure I’d placed it here. Maybe I had put it in the dishwasher? No, it wasn’t there either.
“What’s going on here?”
I began to methodically search the kitchen.
This wasn’t the first disappearance. First, my favorite sapphire earrings vanished—the gift from my parents for my twenty-fifth birthday. Then, a silk scarf I had brought back from a trip to Italy disappeared. And now, the cup.
I took out my phone and called my husband.
“Darling, haven’t you seen my white cup with the golden rim?”
“Lerochka, did you lose something again?” he asked with a smile. “Maybe you moved it somewhere and forgot. You’re so absent-minded.”
“I’m not absent-minded!” I protested. “And lately, so many things have been disappearing.”
“By the way, I was thinking about that business proposal. Remember I mentioned it? My friend is opening a chain of coffee shops and needs investors. If we mortgage the apartment…”
“Max, we already discussed this,” I interrupted him. “I don’t want to risk the apartment.”
“Ler, but this is a great opportunity! How long am I supposed to be on duty? We invest, earn passive income, and live like kings!”
Maxim had been talking about it for three months. The idea was tempting—a loan against the apartment and an investment in a promising business. But something held me back.
“Let’s do it later, okay? My vacation starts in three days; I’m going to the seaside. We’ll discuss it when I get back.”
“You’re going alone?”
“With whom? You’re not back until next week.”
We talked a bit more and then said goodbye.
To Be Sure
I looked at the empty spot in the cabinet where the cup should have been and resolutely headed for the bedroom.
I pulled a small box from my bag. These disappearances couldn’t be a coincidence, so before my vacation I bought a few small cameras. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I want to know where my things go.
I remembered how I met Maxim. It was like a fairy tale—a chance encounter in a café, his charming smile, his compliments.
He seemed perfect—attentive, caring, with a good job. Three months later he proposed, and I, like a lovesick girl, agreed. My mother was surprised by the haste, but I was sure of my choice.
After setting up the cameras in different corners of the apartment, I sat down to check the live feed on my phone. Everything worked perfectly—a good overview, clear picture. Now I could go on vacation in peace.
The Car
That evening, I couldn’t sleep. For some reason, I recalled our first conversation about finances, when Maxim suggested selling my old car.
“Why do you need that clunker?” he said. “Let’s buy a new, modern one.”
I agreed, even though the car was in excellent condition. I just wanted to please my husband.
In the morning, I woke up with a bad feeling. I chalked it up to pre-vacation nerves and began packing my suitcase. Ahead of me were the sea, the sun, and two weeks of complete relaxation.
I had no idea that this vacation would change my life entirely.
Before leaving, I checked the cameras and their connection to the server once more. Everything was perfect. I could, at any moment, see what was happening in the apartment—even from thousands of kilometers away.
The Seaside Shore
I was lying on a deck chair, enjoying the warm breeze and the sound of the surf. Around me, the atmosphere was one of carefree relaxation—children laughing, music drifting from seaside cafés, seagulls calling.
I took out my phone and opened the camera app.
The first recording showed nothing interesting—the apartment was empty. But then, on Tuesday… I saw the front door open, and Valentina Petrovna entered the apartment.
Not surprising, since my mother-in-law had a spare set of keys. But then…
“Maxim?” I almost dropped my phone.
He was supposed to be on duty. I turned up the volume.
“Well, son, when are you going to persuade your beloved to agree to the loan?” Valentina Petrovna settled into an armchair, crossing her legs.
“I’m working on it, Mom. She’s almost convinced.”
“Almost?” my mother-in-law snorted. “You didn’t dally so long with your previous wife.”
I gasped. Previous wife?
“Mom, it’s different. Ler has the apartment in her name and the car. Everything must be done carefully.”
“Carefully? He’ll do it carefully!” a female voice said, and a young brunette appeared on the screen. “You’ve been dallying with her for far too long, Maxim. Haven’t you fallen for her?”
I stared at the stranger, mesmerized. Slim, vibrant, and confident.
“Aline, don’t start,” Maxim frowned. “I’m doing everything as we agreed.”
“Dad!” Two children, around five or six years old, rushed into the room.
Maxim scooped them up, kissing them. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My husband had been deceiving me all along.
“Max, we need money,” Aline continued. “The kids will start school soon, and you’re dragging your feet with this simpleton.”
“Indeed,” agreed my mother-in-law, “finding such a fool isn’t easy. Clearly, she’s a provincial—no style, no taste.”
“But with the apartment and the car,” Maxim smirked.
Aline approached my cabinet and started rummaging through my things.
“Oh, a nice blouse. May I take it? She won’t need it anyway.”
“Take whatever you want,” Maxim waved off. “Soon all of this will be irrelevant.”
I stopped the recording. Everything fell into place—the missing items, my husband’s sudden business trips, his relentless urging to take out a loan.
I recalled our honeymoon. At that time, Maxim had said, “I can’t believe I met such a wonderful girl. It was fate!” And I, foolishly, melted at his words.
Now I understood—he was a professional con artist. He targets lonely women with assets, charms them, marries them, and then… What happened to that first wife? Was she left with nothing?
I got up from the deck chair and walked along the shore. I needed to clear my head, gather my thoughts, and make a decision. Inside, I was boiling with anger and hurt. Six months of pretense, lies, and manipulation.
That Evening on the Beach
At the party on the beach, I was sitting at the bar when a handsome man sat next to me.
“May I buy you a cocktail?”
“Why not,” I smiled. “Today is a special day.”
“Really? And what’s special about it?”
“Today, I’m starting a new life,” I toasted. “You know, sometimes you have to lose everything to realize how strong you are.”
“That’s quite philosophical,” the stranger remarked.
“Oh no, I’m very practical,” my laughter turned unexpectedly harsh. “I just realized one simple truth: if you’re betrayed, your revenge must be… elegant.”
The man raised an eyebrow in confusion, but I had already started packing.
“Thanks for the cocktail. I need to get ready to go home.”
Back in my room, I opened my laptop and began drafting a plan. I wasn’t planning to throw a tantrum or cause a scandal—I had a better idea.
First, I called my lawyer acquaintance.
“Hi, Pasha. I need a consultation. But please, no unnecessary questions…”
Then I sent a message to all my friends and acquaintances, announcing that I was urgently selling the apartment. Unexpectedly, a classmate—someone I hadn’t seen since school—responded.
The last days of the month passed in a blur. I acted precisely as planned, like an actress in a well-directed play.
“Mom, I’ve decided to move to another city,” I said during a phone call.
“Lerochka, how come?” my mom’s voice was filled with worry. “And what does Maxim say?”
“You could say it’s his idea,” I replied with a wan smile. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
“Sweetie, you’ve been acting strangely lately. Did something happen?”
“No, Mom. It’s just… sometimes life throws you surprises. And you have to learn to respond in kind.”
The meeting with Semyon went exactly as I had expected.
He hadn’t changed much since school—still the tough guy with a heavy gaze. I remembered how in tenth grade he had cornered two seniors who were harassing girls. After that, the whole school was afraid of him.
“So you’re selling the apartment?” he rumbled, inspecting the rooms.
“Yes, I’m moving. Although there’s one catch—I need a month to clear out my things.”
“No problem,” Semyon shrugged. “As long as the price is right.”
When all the documents were signed, I called Maxim.
“Darling, I need to go stay with a friend for a couple of days,” I purred into the phone. “But I left you a surprise.”
“Really?” There was genuine curiosity in his voice. “What is it?”
“You’ll find out,” I answered mysteriously. “By the way, I missed you so much. I can’t wait for you to come back.”
“And I missed you, honey. You know, I still can’t believe fate gave me such a wonderful wife.”
I closed my eyes and clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. It was nauseating to hear those false declarations.
“Yes, fate is one wicked joker,” I spat through gritted teeth, then quickly added in a honeyed voice, “Love you, bye!”
The last call came from my mother-in-law.
“Valentina Petrovna, I washed your things. You can pick them up.”
“Oh, Lerochka, thank you! You’re such a caring daughter-in-law.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I smiled, picturing her hypocritical grin. “Family is what matters.”
D-Day
I knew Maxim would return in the evening—he always came home at the same time. On the stove, I had left his favorite stew, and on the table a note: “Darling, I love you! There’s new shampoo in the bathroom; you’ll like it. But that’s not the only surprise. Get ready!”
I boarded a train bound for another city. The compartment was stuffy, but I felt great. I could already imagine how things would unfold back at the apartment.
Maxim returned home at his usual time. Catching the aroma of the stew, he smiled contentedly and took out his phone.
“Aline, everything is going according to plan. The naive one is preparing surprises for me, can you imagine?”
“And what surprises?” Aline snorted.
“Who cares! The main thing is that soon everything will be settled. I’ll divorce her, get the money for the apartment, and even claim the car as part of the asset division.”
“Are you sure you can handle the car?”
“Why not? I bought it during the marriage—so it’s joint property.”
“Don’t mess it up!”
“Everything will work out,” Maxim assured. “I’m going to take a shower and try the new shampoo she left. I’ll call you back.”
He went into the bathroom, turned on the water, and began lathering his hair while humming some tune. At that moment, the front door burst open.
“Don’t you understand?” roared Semyon.
The door slammed open. Maxim flinched, desperately trying to hide behind the curtain.
“Who are you?” he bellowed. “What are you doing in my apartment?”
“This is my apartment!”
“Get out of here!” Semyon grabbed him by the shoulder. “Quickly!”
“Wait, there’s some mistake…”
“The only mistake is that you’re still here!” Semyon shoved Maxim into the hallway.
At that moment, Valentina Petrovna was coming up the stairs.
“Son, what’s happening?” she gasped, mouth agape. “Oh my, what’s with your hair?”
Maxim began touching his hair, confused.
“You’re redhead…” she exclaimed in astonishment. “Why are my things lying in the trash?!” she cried indignantly. “I just came from there! Can you imagine, some tramp tried on my favorite dress!”
“What things? What do things have to do with it?” Maxim grabbed his head, nearly dropping the towel. “She sold the apartment!”
“How did she sell it?” Valentina Petrovna’s eyes widened in horror.
“That figures,” Semyon rumbled as he exited the apartment. “I bought it. All by the book, with proper documents. And you’re illegally occupying it. So I suggest you leave quickly before I call the police.”
Lera smiled and ordered coffee in the dining car. She took a sip from her cup and, for the first time in a long while, laughed genuinely.
She pulled out her phone and opened a chat with her mom.
“Mom, once I’m settled, I’ll come to see you. No, Maxim isn’t coming. I’ll explain everything later.”