«How long have you had someone else?» Natalia asked, holding back tears.
«Bunny, what are you saying? There’s nothing going on! You’ve misunderstood everything and jumped to the wrong conclusions! I’m telling you—there’s nothing!» Vadym muttered, clearly afraid.
And he really was scared. The threat of uncomfortable change loomed before him. Having a fling on the side was one thing; losing the familiar life with the wife he had spent three decades with was another.
Natalia and Vadym met back in university, started dating, and quickly realized they were good together. With their parents’ blessings, they decided to legalize their relationship. It was the tough 1990s when money was tight, so they organized the wedding themselves. Natalia’s aunt sewed her wedding dress, and the celebration was held at home—they moved furniture around and borrowed tables and chairs from neighbors. Guests understood things were tight and brought whatever food they could. Vadym’s uncle even flew in from Vladivostok with fish and caviar.
It turned out to be a warm and heartfelt celebration. Friends and family wished the young couple a long, happy life. And it truly was—five years ago, when they celebrated their silver anniversary, Vadym and Natalia reminisced about that day. They remembered the joy, the guests, and the laughter. They had spent 25 years together in love and harmony. And it seemed like many more years were ahead.
But in their 31st year of marriage, Natalia received an anonymous email. It claimed that her husband was seeing a young colleague named Valentina, and that it was far from an innocent flirtation. “Be careful,” the anonymous sender warned, “or you’ll be left without a husband.”
At first, Natalia brushed it off—she didn’t believe it. She even thought about showing the email to Vadym so they could laugh about it together. But something stopped her. She decided to investigate for herself.
The next day, she followed her husband. The email included specific details—time, place. And it turned out to be true. During his lunch break, Vadym left the office arm-in-arm with a younger woman. They drove a few blocks, entered a gated courtyard, and disappeared.
The next day, Natalia took another day off work, to her boss’s surprise. She returned to the same location, hiding under a hood and dark sunglasses.
This time, she saw her husband and his lover enter a building. Natalia decided to wait for them to come out. Her phone rang off the hook, but she didn’t care.
When Vadym finally emerged—relaxed, satisfied, and alone—Natalia ran up and slapped him so hard he almost fell over. That evening, back home, his timid excuses began.
«Just tell the truth! Your lies are even worse than the betrayal itself!» she shouted.
Vadym sighed heavily. Their marital life had lost intimacy in recent years. They even slept in separate rooms. Their kids had long grown up: their older son, Maksym, had moved to the coast, gotten married, and given them a granddaughter. The younger one, Dmytro, lived with his girlfriend in Dubna. To Vadym, it seemed like their family had dissolved—still together on paper, but living separate lives.
Then Valya appeared. At first, it was just lunches, conversations, laughter. She was 20 years younger and filled him with energy and life. And somehow, things crossed the line. Vadym never expected his wife to find out. And he certainly didn’t want to lose her.
«Fine, I admit it! Just please don’t leave me!»
«I can’t promise anything!» Natalia said angrily. «It hurts so much I can barely breathe! And you’re saying…»
«But nothing even happened!» Vadym burst out. «You didn’t want me! And I’m a man—I need this!»
«Oh, so that’s what it is? I thought we had silently agreed… If it was so important to you, you should’ve said something!»
«But you didn’t want to!»
«Don’t shift the blame! Pack your things and go to your Valentina!»
«Never!» Vadym suddenly fell to his knees. «Forgive me! I’m begging you!»
«Oh God… Poor woman. She means nothing to you? Then why were you with her? And get up already! Don’t humiliate yourself!»
Vadym stood up with a sigh.
Natalia was an empathetic woman. She imagined what it must be like to be Valentina—maybe she also meant nothing to this man. Or maybe she didn’t want more. But then why be with an older man when there are younger ones?
Natalia knew one thing: she couldn’t forgive right now. She needed time. And she decided to take it—by going to her older son, to the sea.
«I’m going to Maksym. I’ll take unpaid leave. If they won’t approve it—I’ll quit!»
«In February? To the sea?» Vadym asked in surprise.
«Don’t talk to me! I’m very angry!»
But he followed her around like a shadow—trying to help, offering coffee, covering her with a blanket when she sat silently in a chair. He tried once to get close, but Natalia gave him a look that made him back off immediately. She had already bought a ticket and called her son. She really did quit her job—she just couldn’t keep working and living under the same roof with Vadym. She waited for her train and left for Novorossiysk, where her son promised to meet her.
His wife, Dasha, came from Gelendzhik to pick her up. She was local. Maksym had met her in Moscow when Dasha was visiting as a tourist. At first, Natalia hadn’t been thrilled about her son marrying such a lively girl. But then she thought—living near the sea wasn’t such a bad idea. And now, she had someone to visit—no need to pay for a hotel.
«Where’s Olesya?» Natalia asked.
«At daycare.»
«Are you crazy? She’s only two!»
«It’s a private daycare. Maks and I work a lot. If you’d prefer, we can take her out while you’re visiting.»
Natalia thought about it and politely declined.
«I’ll watch her in the evenings.»
«Oh, you’ll get your fill! She’s so fast! We’re just in shock…»
Natalia bit her tongue to avoid saying that the granddaughter was just like her mother.
Dasha brought her to their home—a four-room house, one of which was a spacious living room. Natalia got a bedroom at the end of the hall, near the living room.
«Wow, you really built yourselves a little palace!» Natalia exclaimed.
«We borrowed a ton of money from the bank! But at least it’s comfortable. Natalia Mikhailovna, make yourself at home. I’m heading back to work, but we’ll return with Olesya in the evening. Here are the keys, food’s in the fridge. If you feel like walking—here’s the address. You won’t get lost. By the way, what happened?»
Natalia flinched. The question was too abrupt.
«Nothing happened. Why do you ask?» she said, trying to sound cheerful.
«Okay, if you don’t want to talk—don’t,» Dasha shrugged and rushed out.
Natalia went to her room and collapsed on the bed, face down. And finally, she allowed herself to cry. At home, she hadn’t wanted to show weakness in front of Vadym. And you can’t cry in front of strangers on a train. So here she sobbed into her son’s pillow, loudly, while no one was home.
She didn’t even notice when she fell asleep. Loud voices behind the door woke her. She sat up, confused.
«Where’s Grandma? Have you lost your mind?!» a child’s voice shouted.
«I don’t know! Dasha, where did you take my mom? Tell me now!» Maksym shouted.
Natalia realized it was her son. The child—Olesya. Her granddaughter, whom she’d only seen once after birth. She rushed to the living room.
«Hi, sunshine!» she exclaimed joyfully, seeing the little girl.
The child stared at her with a confused look.
«Mom… you should wash your face!» Maks said, swiping his hand across his neck.
Natalia ran to the bathroom. Oh no! She had cried herself to sleep with makeup on. What a sight! She washed up, and when she came back, Dasha had already set the table. Olesya was playing with a big doll. The TV murmured softly.
«Ah, much better!» Maksym said, hugging his mother. «Have you lost weight?»
She really had. After learning about Vadym’s betrayal, she had stopped eating. The stress had stolen her appetite.
«Tell me everything,» Maks demanded over dinner. «You and Dad never travel without each other.»
«Not in front of the child!» Natalia looked at her granddaughter.
«She doesn’t care about our problems. She’s doing her own thing. But I care—about you and Dad. About both of you.»
Natalia shrugged and began eating her salad. Suddenly, she had an appetite again. But she realized something she hadn’t considered before—her children would ask what had happened. What was she supposed to tell them?
«He’s having an affair!» she blurted out.
Dasha choked, covering her mouth with her fist.
«What? I asked you not to say that in front of the child.»
«That’s not the issue. I’m just shocked.»
«And you think I’m not shocked?!» Natalia laughed bitterly. «He begs me not to divorce him. And I can’t even look at him. That’s the news. You really wanted to hear it?»
«I don’t see the big deal,» Maksym said. «It happens. What do they say? A little gray in the beard?»
«If you ever get that kind of ‘gray,'» Dasha said with a sharp look, «I’ll strangle you. Just warn me first.»
«No one’s planning anything like that! But men are… well, men.»
«What do you mean, ‘men’?» Dasha snapped.
«Sinners, Dasha. Mom, think about it… Are you really ready to throw away thirty years of marriage over one mistake?»
«He saw her every day! It wasn’t some business-trip moment!» Natalia shouted, throwing her fork on the table and covering her face with her hands. «God! Why am I even talking about this with you two? And scaring the child too…»
She felt a little touch on her leg. She looked up and saw Olesya. The little girl had placed her tiny hands on Natalia’s knees and nodded seriously.
«Grandma, no cry!» the girl said.
«I’m not crying, sweetie, I’m not… I’m okay…»
From then on, they didn’t talk about the affair. They chatted about everyday things, watched TV, and took turns putting Olesya to bed. They fell asleep late, and when Natalia woke the next morning, the house was quiet. She was alone.
So she started cleaning. It was clear Dasha was doing her best but didn’t have time. Natalia cleaned the fridge, the kitchen cabinets, the stove, picked up Olesya’s toys. When she finished, she collapsed on the couch. That’s when she remembered her phone. She checked it—dozens of missed calls and messages from Vadym.
«I arrived,» she wrote curtly. He called immediately.
«Are you out of your mind? I was so worried!»
«Vadym, I left to get away from you. Stop bothering me with calls. I need time to think. No pressure!»
«Okay, okay, I get it.»
«If you were so worried, you could’ve called Maksym. Or were you afraid?»
«You told him?»
Natalia didn’t respond.
«Why?»
«So you wouldn’t think you can just pretend nothing happened. Keep that in mind. That’s it. Don’t call me again.»
After finishing the cleaning and her conversation with Vadym, Natalia felt both exhausted and relieved. She had released the pain that had built up inside her. But she still hadn’t made a final decision. Divorce? She couldn’t picture life alone. Stay with Vadym? But how? She couldn’t forgive him yet. Forgiveness doesn’t come on command. Maybe someday… But what to do until that “someday” arrived? Just endure it? Live with resentment?
“Natalia? Maslenkova?” she suddenly heard.
She hadn’t heard her maiden name in years. Natalia flinched and looked up. A man about her age stood in front of her. Something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place him.
“Zhenya. Veselov,” he said, sitting at the table across from her.
Natalia had stopped by a café for coffee and cheesecake.
“Zhenka?!” she gasped. “My God! I would never have recognized you!”
“I hope that’s a compliment?” he smiled.
“Don’t even doubt it!” Natalia exclaimed, blushing.
Back in school, Zhenka Veselov had chased after her since nearly first grade. At first, he’d pull her braids and try to snatch her schoolbag to carry it home. Later, he showed more persistent interest. Zhenya had been a typical troublemaker, and Natalia a well-mannered girl who excelled at school. And he hadn’t exactly been handsome. How had he changed so much?
“Do you live here?” Natalia asked.
“I do. I build homes and apartments. I love the southern climate. And you? How did you end up here?”
“Visiting my son.”
“Time really flies,” Zhenya said. “Want to toast to this unexpected reunion?”
“Are you married, Veselov?”
He gave her a surprised look.
“Divorced. Why? You don’t drink with married classmates?”
“I don’t drink or do anything else with married men. And I despise those who do.”
“Got it! Bitter experience, huh?”
Natalia twirled her finger above the table and answered, “Yup. From the other side.”
“Your husband cheated?”
“Right on.”
“Well, that’s nothing to cry about, Maslenkova. Believe me.”
“Did you cheat on your wife?” she looked at him, curious.
“Wives. I’ve been married twice, Natashka. But no, I didn’t cheat. You know why?”
“No, why?”
“I didn’t have time. At first I was working for a name, now the name works for me. Come on, let’s go!”
“Where?”
“To the site! I’ll show you what I do.”
Natalia thought for a moment and then said, “Let’s go!”
She walked through the new house—it was small, tidy, and beautiful. She touched the smooth wooden walls, admired how every plank fit together perfectly. A simple but beautiful job. Nice floors, large windows.
“The workers finished yesterday. The owner’s supposed to inspect it tomorrow. So, shall we have a drink, Maslenkova?” Zhenya held up a bottle of wine.
“Where from?”
“My car.”
“Ladies’ man,” Natalia laughed. “Carrying wine around?”
“Not for the reason you think!”
They had a drink and talked for hours. Remembered school, laughed. Zhenya only sipped his wine—he later drove Natalia home. And asked her out. She liked spending time with him so much that she agreed.
They began seeing each other. Natalia felt younger, full of life again, and realized her life wasn’t over. She marveled at fate’s twists. She used to believe life followed a straight, logical path. But it didn’t.
She decided to stay in Gelendzhik and divorce Vadym. She told him over the phone. When he showed up angrily to win her back, Maksym told him she no longer lived there.
“Where?” Vadym asked, stunned.
“I don’t know. You figure that out yourself.”
Natalia agreed to meet her husband in a neutral place. She told him she was happy and even thanked him for the betrayal. Literally thanked him. He stared at his younger-looking wife, stunned, feeling a sharp, invisible pain in his chest.
“We’ll still keep in touch,” she smiled. “We have children.”
Vadym said nothing. He had no argument left.
Natalia returned home and inhaled deeply.
“What smells so good?!”
“I’m making you dinner,” Zhenya said, peeking out from the hallway. “How was it?”
“Absolutely wonderful!” she smiled, barely holding back tears of joy.
Vadym moved in with Valya. She, by the way, was quite happy about it. Actually—she was thrilled.
