After her workout, Vika hurried home—she’d promised her husband she would make ukha, the fish soup he loved. When she walked into the apartment, she saw her husband, Leonid, sitting in the kitchen drinking wine.
“Wow, so you’re drinking solo, huh… Lyonya, couldn’t wait for me? Let me at least make a snack…”
“No need. Sit down, we need to talk.”
Vika had never seen her husband like this before—upset, adrift. God, what on earth happened?
“I don’t even know where to start… Fine, I’ll just say it as it is… My secretary Katya is pregnant by me. I’m leaving for her.”
“Well now… just like a bad melodrama. And how long have you been with her?”
“About a year. As soon as she came, she started showing me attention and, well, I couldn’t resist. Young, pretty, lively—just like you were when you were young… I fell in love like a schoolboy! I wanted to confess honestly right away, but I didn’t have the courage—I felt sorry for you.
“And now there’s no getting around it—we’ll soon be parents. You understand I’ve always wanted a child of my own… Your Igor is like a son to me, but he isn’t my blood… And I need an heir, someone I can hand my business to, you understand? And I feel good with her—I seem to grow younger… It must be a midlife crisis catching up to me, you’ve heard of that?
“Vika, I’m a scoundrel, of course. But I won’t deprive you and Igor of anything. I’ll leave you the apartment, the car—everything—and I’ll help with money, don’t worry. I’ll pay for his studies like I promised. I’ve already bought a new house—put it in Katya’s name; after all, she’ll be the mother of my child.”
“I understand, Lyonya—it’s hard to resist such a beauty as Katya, and you’re a real man, after all… And you can’t abandon a child; that’s noble. Thanks for the financial help—I won’t turn it down. I want to start traveling; I’ll live for myself.
“When are you moving out? Want me to help you pack?”
Leonid stared at his wife in bewilderment. So calm… All the better—no scenes, no hysterics.
“Well, goodbye, husband. Thank you for the years we spent together—I felt good by your side. But life has its own script… Maybe I’ll fall in love with someone too and be happy with a new man. All right, off you go—Katya must be worried, probably thinks I’m clinging to you here like a leech…”
Leonid hurriedly grabbed his suitcases, gave an awkward smile, and headed for the elevator.
After closing the door, Vika went to the kitchen. She took a bottle of champagne from the fridge, opened it, filled a glass to the brim, and drank it. Her husband had left her. How ridiculous that sounded.
She had never even imagined it. All those years they had lived peacefully—maybe there wasn’t a wild passion, but there was attachment, habit, respect.
All right, no use sniveling. New life, new rules! She would find things to do—and her husband would pay. It would be silly to refuse the money; with money, there are more opportunities. She just had to get used to her new status as a woman who’d been left…
And Vika was swept up in a whirl of new impressions. She signed up for dance classes and went after work. On weekends she went to museums, the movies, and to the gym. Thankfully, she had company: her neighbor Irochka, also single, happily joined her.
Her son Igor studied in another city and rarely came home. Vika was on her own. She cooked only what she liked—no need to accommodate anyone. She did what she enjoyed; no one could forbid her anything. She didn’t even think about a new man—she was fine on her own.
The divorce went through quietly and peacefully. She caught a glimpse of Katya in the courthouse corridor—what a beauty, no two ways about it… Her husband had good taste, after all!
Leonid transferred money every month, as promised. Vika was grateful for such a generous gesture. She knew he had money, the business was thriving, and he could easily sponsor her and Igor—as gratitude for the years they spent together. Katya, it seemed, didn’t know about this; she probably wouldn’t have approved.
A year passed. Nothing changed in Vika’s life—dancing, workouts, a couple trips abroad. The support from Leonid stopped coming; Vika felt awkward asking why. Most likely, Katya had forbidden it. Well, never mind, she would manage. Igor was earning decent money while at university and could pay for his studies himself. Her salary covered her own needs.
It was a day off; no need to rush anywhere. Vika savored every day. After cooking ukha, she discovered she was out of bread, and she loved bread. She dashed out to the bakery—and ran into Leonid.
“Lyonya, what are you doing here?”
“Hi, Vikusya. I, uh… live nearby. Bought an apartment.”
“Well, that’s news… And what about Katya? The baby? By the way, what did you have?”
“A daughter… But there’s a whole story… Can you believe it—this Katya had been planted by a competitor. She won my trust, I fell in love, and the rest you know… Then she started pressuring me to transfer the business to her—she was afraid I’d ditch her and leave her with nothing.
“I agreed—after the baby was born, caught up in the emotions, I signed it all over to her. I kept some money in an account she doesn’t know about. In the end, she kicked me out. The little girl turned out not to be mine, and the business ended up with the competitor… That’s the mess I’m in. Funny, isn’t it? Just like a bad melodrama, exactly how it turned out…
“I bought an apartment, found a job—I’m not destitute, but I’ll never have my old life back. And I can’t help you now… I’m sorry… You probably won’t even want to talk to me—you must be hurt that I traded you in for that…”
Vika even felt sorry for him. He didn’t look well… What a con artist that Katya was! He had poured so much effort and strength into his business!
“You’re a fool, Lyonka! Come on, let’s go to my place—I just made ukha, your favorite…”
They had a heartfelt talk in the kitchen where, for so many years, they had met each day and discussed the news. But now they were no longer husband and wife.
They kept in touch from time to time after that. There was no talk of getting back together—each had their own life. Vika met a man at dance class, married him, and was happy.
She invited Leonid to the wedding; he came and was even glad for his ex. At the wedding he met the groom’s sister… Six months later, Vika and her new husband were celebrating at his wedding.
Life is an unpredictable thing, after all! You must never lose heart or put a cross over your own life, no matter what happens. You never know what will come—just live and enjoy each day!