Inna stood by the window, watching the rain slide down the glass, making random shapes. Seventeen years—was that a long time or not? She remembered every moment they had shared, every anniversary, every look. And now, everything was falling apart like a fragile stack of cards.
“We need to talk,” Alexey said, his voice flat.
She turned to face him. His eyes showed both determination and guilt. She knew that look—it meant something serious was coming.
“I’m leaving you, Inna. I’m going to be with Natasha.”
Silence filled the room, except for the ticking of the old wall clock his mother once gave them.
“The student from your department?” she asked, surprisingly calm.
“Yes. My feelings for you are gone. I need something new, something exciting. You’re a smart woman—you should understand.”
Inna smiled. A smart woman. He always said that when he wanted something from her.
“Are you sure?” she asked, nothing more.
“Absolutely,” Alexey replied. “I’ve already packed my things.”
Inna simply nodded. Then she went to the cupboard and took out a special bottle they had saved for an important occasion.
“Well, I guess this moment counts,” she said, starting to open it. “Let’s have a farewell dinner. Invite your friends and family. Seventeen years is no small thing.”
Alexey looked confused.
“You… want to celebrate our breakup?”
“Why not?” Inna smiled—and something in that smile made him uneasy. “Let’s end things properly. After all, I am a smart woman, remember?”
She picked up her phone and began typing quickly.
“Tomorrow at seven. I’ll cook your favorite meals. Think of it as my goodbye gift.”
Alexey stood there, speechless. He expected tears, yelling, maybe anger—but not this calm, collected reaction.
“Oh, and tell Natasha she’s invited too,” Inna added without looking up. “I’d love to meet the girl who lit a fire in you that I couldn’t.”
The next morning, Inna got up early. She calmly called the banks, met with a lawyer, and gathered important papers—every move careful, like a surgeon at work.
By evening, the apartment smelled of delicious food. Inna set the table with the finest dishes—a wedding gift from Alexey’s mother.
“Everything has to be perfect,” she whispered, adjusting the napkins just right.
The guests started arriving at 7 o’clock. Alexey’s parents were the first. His mother, Vera Pavlovna, gave Inna a hesitant hug.
“Innochka, maybe it’s not too late to fix things?”
“No, Mama. Sometimes you just have to do what’s right and let go,” Inna replied calmly.
More friends began to show up. Alexey and Natasha were the last to arrive.
“Come in, take a seat,” Inna said, pointing them to the seats at the head of the table. “Tonight, you two are the stars of the evening.”
Once everyone was seated, Inna stood up with a glass in her hand.
“Dear friends, today is special. We’re here to mark the end of one chapter and the start of a new one.”
She looked at Alexey.
“Lesha, thank you for the 17 years we spent together—for all the good and bad times, the lessons, and the memories. You taught me a lot… including that love isn’t always what we think it is.”
The room went quiet. Natasha nervously played with her napkin, avoiding eye contact.
“And you also taught me to pay close attention to details,” Inna said, pulling out a large envelope. “Especially when it comes to money.”
She began laying out documents on the table.
“This is the car loan you took out under our joint account. These are unpaid taxes for your company. And these… are receipts from fancy restaurants and jewelry stores. I assume those were for Natasha?”
Alexey’s face went pale. Natasha quickly looked up, shocked.
“But the most important thing,” Inna said, holding up one last paper, “is our prenup. Remember, you signed it without reading it? It includes a very interesting section about cheating.”
The room was dead silent. Even the drip of water in the kitchen was suddenly loud.
“The house is legally mine,” Inna said calmly. “I’ve already frozen the bank accounts. And I filed for divorce last night.”
Then she turned to Natasha.
“Sweetheart, are you sure you want to build a life with someone who has no home, no money, and a pile of debt?”
Natasha sat still, completely stunned.
“Excuse me, I need to go,” Natasha said quietly.
Vera Pavlovna shook her head and looked at her son.
“Lesha, how could you do this? We didn’t raise you like that.”
“Mama, you don’t understand…” Alexey began, but his father cut him off:
“No, son. You don’t understand. Seventeen years of marriage—gone. And for what? A fling with a student?”
The room was silent. Everyone avoided looking at each other. Only Mikhail, Alexey’s childhood friend, spoke quietly:
“Lesha, you really messed up.”
Inna still stood holding her glass, calm as ever, like she was just chatting about the weather.
“You know what’s funny? I truly believed our love was something special. I thought we were like those old couples who stay together forever. I ignored the late nights at work, the weird calls, the new clothes.”
She took a sip and continued,
“Then I started noticing the receipts. Jewelry stores. The restaurant White Swan. Spas. The same places you once took me—now used to impress someone else.”
Just then, Natasha came back but didn’t sit down. She stood in the doorway, holding her purse.
“Alexey Nikolaevich, we need to talk. Alone.”
“Of course, dear,” he replied, starting to stand—but Inna raised her hand to stop him.
“Not yet. I’m not finished.”
She smiled sadly. “Do you remember our first apartment? That tiny place on the edge of the city? We were so happy. You said love was all we needed.”
She glanced at his suit.
“And now look at you—fancy clothes, a nice car, a young girlfriend. All built on lies. And debt.”
Natasha’s voice was shaking:
“You told me you were divorced. That you lived separately. That you were buying us an apartment.”
“Natashenka, I can explain—” Alexey started.
“No need,” Inna said, pulling out another envelope. “Here are your card statements. Natasha might like to know you were seeing two other girls as well—both students.”
Silence fell. Natasha didn’t say a word. She turned and ran out, her heels clicking loudly on the stairs.
“Inna,” Alexey groaned, holding his head. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why?” she laughed, without a trace of joy. “What did you expect? That I’d cry? Beg you to stay? Fall apart?”
She looked around the room.
“You want to know the sad part? I really loved him. Every wrinkle, every gray hair. Even his snoring. I wanted to grow old together, to raise grandchildren.”
“Dear,” Vera Pavlovna said softly, “maybe it’s time to stop.”
“No, Mama. It has to be said,” Inna raised her voice for the first time that night. “Everyone should know how your son took out loans to buy gifts for his mistresses. How he wasted our money. Lied to me, lied to you, lied to everyone!”
She pulled out another document.
“Remember those papers you had me sign three months ago? You said it was just for the tax office. It was actually a loan contract—you used my car as collateral.”
People began quietly leaving the table. Some whispered goodbyes, others just walked out. Only Alexey’s parents and Mikhail stayed.
Alexey’s father stood up.
“Son… we’ll go too. Call us when you’ve come to your senses.”
Vera Pavlovna hugged Inna.
“I’m so sorry, dear. We never imagined…”
“You don’t need to apologize, Mama. This isn’t your fault.”
After they left, Mikhail walked over to Alexey.
“You really blew it, man. Call me if you need help. But don’t ask for money—I’m not lending you a cent.”
Then he left too.
Alexey sat alone, his head down. His expensive suit now looked like a cheap costume.
Inna calmly began putting the documents back into the envelope.
“You know, I could’ve gone crazy when I found out everything a month ago. I could’ve smashed your car, ripped your suits, screamed at your office.”
She pulled a plane ticket from her bag.
“But I chose another way. I’m flying out tomorrow. The Maldives—can you believe it? I’ve always wanted to go, but you said it was a waste of money.”
She placed a set of keys on the table.
“The apartment has to be empty by the end of the week. I’m selling it. And don’t even try to take money from the accounts—they’re frozen until the court decides.”
Alexey looked up at her, lost and stunned.
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“That’s not my concern anymore,” she said as she put on her coat. “You know what’s the funny thing? I’m actually thankful. You woke me up. Made me realize I don’t need you to live a full life.”She walked to the door, then turned to look at him one last time.“Goodbye, Lesha. I hope it was worth it.”The door closed softly behind her. Alexey was left sitting alone in the quiet apartment, surrounded by half-eaten food and unfinished wine. In the distance, the sound of a car engine starting echoed—Inna was leaving to begin a new chapter.Outside, the rain started falling again, just like it had the night he decided to ruin everything. But now, there was no one left to watch the raindrops slide down the window.