Around ten, Alexey called, sounding displeased. Sofya didn’t explain the reason for her departure over the phone. Let him come and hear everything in person.
At half past ten, the doorbell rang again. Sofya opened the door and saw her bewildered husband. Alexey looked disheveled, as if he hadn’t slept well.
— What’s going on? — he asked, attempting to come in.
Sofya blocked his way.
— I heard your conversation at the anniversary, — she said calmly, looking Alexey straight in the eyes. — “She’s not my son’s wife. Just a girl with money, nothing more!” I quote your mother verbatim.
Alexey paled and lowered his gaze.
— Those are just words, — his husband mumbled. — You know how your mother is, she always speaks like that. It’s her celebration, she’s the star, and everyone talks about you.
— But you were silent, — Sofya snapped. — You stood there and didn’t say a word in my defense.
— I didn’t want any conflicts, — Alexey tried to justify himself. — Why make things worse? We’ll drink and forget all about it.
Sofya shook her head. By the door stood a suitcase with her husband’s belongings.
— It took me only one night to realize that I don’t need this marriage.
— You can’t just decide everything like that! — Alexey protested.
— I can and I have decided, — Sofya declared firmly. — I’m filing for divorce. I don’t want to spend any more time or money on people who don’t appreciate me.
Alexey grabbed his suitcase and retreated toward the stairs.
— You’ll regret this someday, — he tossed as a final remark.
Sofya closed the door. Inside, she felt a resolute certainty. Enough was enough. Five years of an unequal marriage was enough time to understand that nothing would ever change.
An hour later the phone rang. Nina Petrovna’s name appeared on the screen. Sofya took a deep breath and answered.
— What do you think you’re doing?! — Nina Petrovna’s voice rang with indignation. — How could you cast my son out?!
Sofya silently listened to the stream of accusations—“selfish,” “careerist,” “heartless.” Her mother-in-law spared no harsh words. Then came the final blow.
— With your behavior, you have endangered our family! — Nina Petrovna exclaimed. — I always knew you’d only bring trouble!
Sofya smiled. Unassailable logic.
— Nina Petrovna, — she replied calmly, — if you were so dissatisfied with the daughter-in-law who paid for your anniversary, now you’ll have the chance to find someone better.
Without waiting for a reply, Sofya hung up and turned off the phone. Ahead lay a new life—without constant criticism, toxic relatives, and a husband who was never on her side. Just the thought of how much strength and nerve she would now preserve brought a sense of lightness to her heart.
“Free,” Sofya thought.
She did not regret her decision. Five years were enough to realize that the person next to her was not the one. Sofya knew that everything would be different now.
