Alyona was washing the floor in the hallway, trying not to miss a single gap between the baseboards. The water was warm, smelled of pine, and outside the window evening was slowly settling in. She could hear their daughter, little Veronika, softly snuffling in her sleep behind the wall. In these quiet moments the house seemed cozy and safe, a real little nest.
The door opened abruptly. In the entryway, casting long shadows on the walls, stood Maksim. He took off his coat, threw it onto the hanger, and his gaze slid over the wet floor and the rag in his wife’s hands.
“Polishing everything again?” he said, his voice completely devoid of warmth. “I thought I told you that by the time I get home everything should be finished. I’m tired, I need peace, not chaos.”
“Vera didn’t sleep well today, she was fussy,” Alyona began quietly, setting the bucket aside.
“There’s always some reason,” he waved his hand and walked into the kitchen, his footsteps booming in the silence. “You know, I think you need a change of scenery. Go stay with your parents for the weekend. Get some rest. I’m tired of seeing that same expression on your face day after day.”
Alyona swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. She remembered how three years ago they’d stood at the registry office, and he had looked at her as if she were the greatest miracle in his life. Then Vera was born, and Alyona left her job to devote all her time to the home and their child. And something in their life together slowly but surely began to change.
At first, Maksim was simply tired of the baby’s crying. Then he started coming home late, blaming endless meetings. And then little barbs began to slip into his words. “You’ve changed,” he would say. “You’ve stopped taking care of yourself,” he would reproach her. “While I’m providing for the future, you’re supposed to provide the comfort,” he demanded.
Alyona tried her best. She read books on parenting, cooked complicated dishes, ironed his shirts to perfection. But the more she tried, the further Maksim pulled away. Apparently, he wanted a bright, well-groomed partner by his side, and instead he saw a tired woman in simple house clothes.
That evening, after putting Veronika to sleep, Alyona walked up to the mirror in the hallway. She took apart her messy bun, and her dark hair spilled over her shoulders. Her face was pale, with no trace of makeup. When was the last time she’d had a new haircut? A month ago? Longer? Time was flowing like thick honey, and she felt herself sinking into its heavy everyday sluggishness.
“He couldn’t handle it,” she whispered to her reflection. “He couldn’t handle the fact that I became a mother. He got bored. Maybe his heart already belongs to someone else.”
A few months earlier, while her daughter was sleeping, Alyona had accidentally come across an online ad for remote work. They were looking for someone to review legal documents. It wasn’t difficult, only required attentiveness, and the pay was symbolic. But for Alyona it became a breath of fresh air. It wasn’t about the money, it was about the feeling that her mind was still worth something.
She worked in secret, when Maksim was at the office. As soon as Vera closed her eyes for her daytime nap, Alyona opened her laptop. By the time he returned, the computer was off and dinner was simmering on the stove. He suspected nothing. Everything she earned she tucked away in the far corner of her wallet. Just in case of unforeseen circumstances.
She worked especially well with one particular firm. The head of it, Artem Sergeyevich, often called her personally to praise her.
“Your attention to detail is beyond all praise,” he would say. “You catch mistakes experienced employees overlook.”
A week ago he had sent her a very complex contract to review. Alyona spent several hours on it and found three serious inconsistencies. As it turned out later, one of them had been a deliberate trap to test competence. Artem Sergeyevich called her immediately.
“Alyona Viktorovna, I am seriously thinking of disbanding the entire department and working only with you. Tell me, when do you plan to return to full-time professional activity?”
“I… I haven’t really thought about it seriously yet,” she stammered.
“Then I’ll take the initiative. I want to offer you the position of lead lawyer at the company. I’ll help arrange a daycare for your daughter, and we can make your schedule flexible. Please think about it. You have a week to decide.”
Alyona was stunned. She wanted to share this news with Maksim. But that evening he never came home. His phone didn’t answer. She was about to start calling hospitals when he finally stepped over the threshold.
“Is dinner ready?” he asked, not bothering with even a simple “hello.”
“Maksim, where have you been? I didn’t sleep all night! Your phone was off!”
“The battery dies, it happens. I’m an adult, Alyona, I can take care of myself,” he snapped.
She fell silent. Later, after he’d eaten, his mood improved slightly. He announced that in a week he’d be leaving for a corporate event. Out of town, for a couple of days.
“Is it for employees with families?” Alyona asked cautiously, a small hope flickering in her heart.
“Yes, without children,” he replied.
Alyona’s face lit up with a shy smile. “I haven’t been anywhere in so long! We can leave Vera with my sister, she won’t refuse…”
Maksim looked at her with undisguised surprise. “What do you have to do with it?”
“What do you mean? You said it was with families…”
“Take a look at yourself,” he smirked unpleasantly. “You’re only fit to work in the vegetable patch. You want me to feel embarrassed? Have you stopped thinking altogether, sitting within these four walls? I’d rather not go at all than show up with you.” He burst into loud laughter and went off to the bedroom.
Alyona remained standing in the kitchen. It felt as if someone had plunged her into ice-cold water. As if a bucket of filth had been dumped over her. Cold, sticky, humiliating.
She forced herself to take a deep breath, went over to her phone and wrote to Artem Sergeyevich: “I agree to take the position you offered. When can I start?”
In the morning he called back. “That’s wonderful news! I’ll take care of arranging a daycare for your daughter. Do you have someone who can help pick her up?”
“My sister. She won’t refuse.”
“Excellent. And by the way, this weekend we’re having a corporate party. All companies in our field will be holding it in the same place, it’s more convenient that way. Come, you can meet the team.”
“All right,” Alyona replied, her voice firm.
On the morning of the event, Maksim left early. He was in high spirits and smelled of expensive cologne. Alyona saw him off silently, standing by the door.
As soon as the door closed, she took out her savings. She counted off half, thought, and added more. Then she took Veronika to her sister’s.
“I’ll pick her up tomorrow, okay?”
“Of course! Veronika and I will have a wonderful time!”
Then Alyona went into the city. The next four hours became a journey into another life. A visit to the hairdresser — a stylish haircut, a blow-dry. A beauty salon — well-groomed hands, professional makeup. Shopping — an elegant suit, beautiful shoes, a new handbag.
When she returned home, she looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize herself. Looking back at her was a confident, attractive woman. Alyona smiled, then laughed and spun around in the middle of the room. She hadn’t felt this light and free in so long.
Exactly at six in the evening a car pulled up to the house. Artem Sergeyevich got out to open the door for her. Seeing Alyona, he stopped dead in his tracks.
“You… you look stunning. Much better than in the photo on your documents.”
“Thank you,” she smiled back.
Artem turned out to be younger than she had imagined from his voice on the phone. About forty, with kind, intelligent eyes. In the car they talked easily, and Alyona realized how comfortable she felt with him.
“Artem Sergeyevich, where is the party being held?”
“At the ‘Lesnaya Skazka’ recreation center. You know the place?”
Alyona’s heart clenched. “Yes, the name rings a bell. And your company… what exactly do you do?”
“We’re in the building materials market. ‘ProektStroy.’ Have you heard of us?”
A wave of cold washed over Alyona. “ProektStroy.” Maksim worked at ProektStroy. He’d gotten a job there two years ago. He almost never told her about his work; she had only a vague idea of what he did.
“Is something wrong?” Artem asked, concerned.
“No, everything’s fine,” she lied, but inside everything tightened into a hard knot. Was it possible her husband worked at the same company? Would she run into him today?
When they drove up to the recreation base, Alyona froze. The grounds were beautifully decorated, music was playing, happy couples were everywhere. And twenty meters away from her stood Maksim. He was holding a young woman in a fancy dress in his arms. They were laughing, glasses in their hands. Maksim bent down and kissed his companion. It was a long kiss, with no attempt to hide it from anyone.
Alyona stood there, unable to move. Artem, walking up beside her, followed her gaze.
“You know Maksim?” he asked quietly.
“That’s… that’s my husband,” she whispered.
Artem looked at her with genuine astonishment. “Your husband? But he said… he was the only one who came without a wife. He said his wife has trouble socializing and that they’re in the process of getting a divorce.”
“Well, we most definitely are now,” Alyona said softly. Strangely, she didn’t feel any pain. Only a cold, clear clarity. “He said that people like me don’t belong in decent company.”
“He actually said that?” Artem was clearly outraged. “That’s unacceptable. As a specialist he’s quite mediocre. Lots of ambition, but few real achievements.”
“Artem Sergeyevich, do you still want to introduce me to the team?”
“More than ever. Let’s go.”
They walked onto the grounds. Maksim didn’t notice them; he was entirely absorbed in his companion. Alyona walked past, not even glancing his way, and sat at the table Artem indicated.
About half an hour later, Artem went up onto a small stage and took the microphone.
“Dear friends, colleagues! I have some pleasant news today. Our company has opened a new key position — lead lawyer.”
Alyona noticed Maksim straighten up and adjust his tie. She remembered how, lately, he had talked more and more about a promotion, about a new position that was just about to open.
“And I am delighted to present our new lead lawyer,” Artem continued. “Alyona Viktorovna Zaitseva!”
Alyona got up and walked onto the stage. She smiled at the audience and walked past her husband as if not seeing him. Maksim sat there with a completely stunned expression on his face.
“Max,” his companion tugged at his sleeve. “Max! You said that position was promised to you! That we’d go on vacation on your bonus! Max!”
But Maksim wasn’t listening. He was staring at his wife on the stage. At the elegant, well-groomed, confident woman. The very one he’d called a “scarecrow for the vegetable patch.”
Alyona stepped down from the stage, and Artem began introducing her to her colleagues. She smiled, shook hands, thanked them for their congratulations. She was a professional, and the situation didn’t rattle her in the least.
About an hour later, Maksim intercepted her at the entrance to the main building.
“What was that?” he hissed, his face distorted with anger. “What are you doing here? Where’s our daughter?”
“Vera is with my sister. And I’m at work. You didn’t buy me at a market, Maksim. By the way, your companion seems to be looking for you.”
Maksim turned — the girl was standing a little way off, looking confused. He waved his hand impatiently. “It’s not what you think.”
“You know, I was told here that your wife has social issues. And that you’re getting a divorce. Very interesting information.”
Maksim looked flustered. “How did you… When did you manage to turn into such a business lady? Why didn’t I know anything about your job?”
“Because you never asked. To you, I was just part of the furniture.”
“We’ll talk at home! We’re leaving now!” He tried to grab her by the arm.
But Artem approached them. “Maksim, I wouldn’t recommend making a scene. You yourself kept talking about divorce. Alyona Viktorovna, is everything all right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Maksim shot them both a furious look, turned sharply, grabbed his companion by the hand, and practically dragged her to the exit. Alyona calmly watched them go.
“Shall I drive you home? So you can talk to him?” Artem offered.
“No. Everything has already been decided. I’ll file the papers tomorrow. If you need to help with housing…”
“I won’t,” she replied. “The apartment belonged to my parents. It’s in my name.”
“That’s odd. Maksim bragged to his friends that he’d bought it himself, right before the wedding.”
Alyona smiled faintly. “He made up a lot of things about himself.”
She came home late. The apartment was empty — Maksim hadn’t come back. For the first time in three long years, Alyona went to bed with a peaceful heart.
In the morning she packed his things. Carefully folded his suits, shirts, shoes into suitcases and set them by the door. Then she called a locksmith and changed the lock.
Maksim showed up only toward evening. He tried to open the door with his key, but couldn’t. So he rang the bell. Alyona opened the door and silently handed him the suitcases.
“Your things. I’ll send the divorce papers through my legal representative.”
“Alyona, let’s talk this over like adults! I was wrong, I get it! Give me a chance to fix everything!”
“You had three years of chances. You spent them belittling me.”
“But the apartment is mine too!”
“No. This is my parents’ apartment. It was registered to me before our wedding. You can check the documents. You just lived here all this time.”
Maksim tried to push his way inside, but Alyona calmly raised her phone. “Shall I call security? Or will you leave on your own?”
He yanked the suitcases out of her hands and left without looking back. He never returned again.
A week later Alyona started her new job. Veronika was placed in a wonderful daycare not far from home. Her sister helped pick her up. The team welcomed Alyona warmly — her professionalism was quickly appreciated.
Maksim no longer worked at the company. As Artem put it, “After that evening he handed in his resignation himself. Apparently, he felt uncomfortable.”
Artem treated Alyona very tactfully. He invited her to lunch, sometimes walked her home, always asked how Vera was doing. Three months later he confessed, “I have very warm feelings for you. Since the day I got your first review. And when I saw you… I realized I was lost.”
“I’m only just starting a new life,” Alyona gently stopped him. “It’s too soon to talk about anything serious.”
“I’m willing to wait. As long as it takes.”
The divorce was finalized quickly — Maksim didn’t resist. Child support was ordered, but Alyona didn’t insist on a large amount — she was earning perfectly well on her own.
Veronika loved daycare. She loved that her mom had become cheerful and smiled often. She loved that she could now jump on the couch — the dad who had forbidden it wasn’t there anymore. And she really liked Uncle Tyoma, who brought interesting books and could read them aloud for hours.
Six months after the divorce, Artem proposed to Alyona. Quietly, at home, in Veronika’s presence. The little girl clapped her hands.
“Mom, say yes! He’s nice!”
Alyona looked at this man who had patiently waited, who had never humiliated her, who saw a person in her. “Yes,” she said. “I agree.”
Their wedding was very beautiful. Small, only for the closest people. Vera was the main little bridesmaid in a white dress. Alyona wore an elegant outfit, her eyes shining with happiness.
Maksim found out about the wedding from mutual acquaintances. He tried to call. Alyona didn’t pick up. He sent a message: “You found a replacement quickly.” Alyona deleted it and blocked his number forever.
A year passed. Alyona sat in her spacious office with panoramic windows. She was going through documents, checking new contracts. The door opened and Artem walked in with two cups of coffee.
“How’s it going, wife?” he asked, setting a cup in front of her.
“Everything’s wonderful, husband,” she smiled back at him.
“Do you regret anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“Marrying me. Working for me. Someone might say it’s favoritism.”
“Let them talk. I’ve proved my professionalism with my work. And my personal life is my business alone.”
In the evening they stopped by the daycare to pick up Vera. The girl chattered away, waving her hands as she told them about her day. At home, Artem, as always, took charge of cooking dinner — he loved it. Alyona helped Vera with her homework.
“Mom, is Daddy Maksim never coming back?” the girl asked once.
“No, sweetheart.”
“And that’s good. He was always angry. But Daddy Tyoma is kind.”
Alyona hugged her daughter. “Yes, he’s kind. We’re very lucky.”
Sometimes on the street Alyona ran into old acquaintances. They looked at her in surprise — well-groomed, stylish, confident.
“Alyona? Is that really you?”
“Yes, it’s me,” she would answer with a warm smile. “The new version.”
“And Maksim?”
“We broke up. Long ago.”
“We heard… he seems to be with that girl from the corporate party…”
“I wish him happiness,” Alyona would say sincerely. There wasn’t a drop of anger in her heart. Only a quiet gratitude for all the twists of fate.
Once, in a big store, she ran into Maksim by accident. He looked older and worn out. Seeing her, he froze.
“Alyona…”
“Hello, Maksim.”
“You… you look amazing.”
“Thank you. How are you?”
“Fine. Working. I married that… that girl.”
“Congratulations.”
An awkward pause hung between them.
“Alyona, I want to apologize. For everything. I behaved terribly.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “You did. But that’s in the past. Live happily. All the best to you.”
She turned and walked away. Artem was waiting for her by the car with Vera. Seeing Maksim, he frowned. “That’s him?”
“Yes. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Let’s go home.”
At home, after Vera had fallen asleep, she and Artem sat on the balcony. They each held a cup of hot herbal tea.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked quietly.
“About how strangely life works. Back then, on maternity leave, it felt like I was trapped. Like it was forever. But it turned out it was just a bridge. A bridge to a new life, a new me.”
“You built that bridge yourself,” Artem said. “You didn’t give up. You secretly studied, worked, grew. And when the chance came, you were ready to take it.”
“You know what the main lesson I took from all this is?” Alyona looked at him, city lights reflected in her eyes. “A woman on maternity leave must not disappear. She must not apologize because the child is noisy. She must not feel guilty just for existing. Motherhood is an important stage, not a sentence.”
“You’re absolutely right. And thank you for teaching me that. Now I know for sure: a real man doesn’t humiliate the woman who gave him a child. He supports her.”
“You’re the best,” she whispered and kissed him gently.
Five years passed. Alyona headed the legal department of a large holding company. Vera was in fourth grade and brought home only top marks. Artem had become a successful and respected businessman. And they had a son, whom they named Egor.
Their life had come together. Not immediately, not easily. Through pain and hurt. But it had come together the way it was meant to.
“Mom, tell me about Daddy Maksim,” Vera asked one day.
“What do you want to know?”
“Why did you break up?”
Alyona thought for a moment. “Because we were too different. He wanted me to play a single role. And I wanted to be myself. We couldn’t find a common language.”
“And Daddy Tyoma?”
“Daddy Tyoma sees a person in me. An equal. He values my thoughts, respects my decisions, and loves me just because. That’s the whole difference.”
“I see. When I grow up, I want a husband like that too. One who values and respects me.”
“And that’s exactly what you’ll have, my joy. The main thing is never to forget to value and respect yourself. Then others will treat you the same way.”
Sometimes Alyona thought about what would have happened if she hadn’t found the strength back then, during maternity leave, to start working in secret. If she had continued to put up with humiliation. How much longer would she have lasted? A year? Five? Ten?
But fate had turned out differently. It had sent her a chance. And Alyona had taken it. She turned hurt into motivation. A secret side job into a brilliant career. The image of a browbeaten housewife into the image of a successful, happy woman.
“Life after a breakup is only just beginning,” she often told her friends who were afraid to leave unloving husbands. “Don’t be afraid. It’s scary, but it’s worth it. The freedom to be yourself is worth more than any comfort bought at the price of humiliation.”
And that was her truth. The truth of a woman who had stepped out of the shadows into the light. Not for revenge, but for herself. For her dignity. For her happiness.
And that memorable corporate party where everything was decided? It was just a bright starting point. A gift of fate. The cherry on the cake called “a new life.”
Alyona held no grudge against Maksim. She was even grateful to him. For that harsh lesson. For showing her what life should not be. For the push that forced her to change.
“Thank you, Maksim,” she sometimes whispered. “Thank you for being the husband you were. Because of you, I met someone like Artem.”
And that was the best kind of retribution there could be. Not spiteful, not vengeful. Just quiet, personal, hard-won happiness.
The happiness of a woman who found the strength to spread her wings. Who proved to herself and to the world that motherhood is not the end of the road. It’s just a short stop, after which a new, even more beautiful chapter of life begins. A chapter in which every woman has the right to her own happiness, respect, and wings behind her back