— You decided to buy Mom an apartment? — Alisa looked at her husband with confusion. He was sitting at the kitchen table, wearing a somewhat guilty expression.
Kolya nodded, avoiding her gaze.
— Yes, I decided. She’s just a million short, and we’ve almost saved that much.
— What do you mean, “decided”? — Alisa’s voice rose. — We’ve been saving for our own apartment for four years! We were already looking at options, choosing a neighborhood!
— Alisa, think about it yourself. Mom has been suffering all her life in a communal apartment. Neighbors drink, yell at night. She deserves a decent place.
Alisa sat down opposite her husband. Her hands trembled with indignation.
— And what about us? Don’t we deserve that? We’re young, want children, and live in this tiny one-room flat! I’ve already told all my friends we’ll be moving soon!
— Mom’s alone. She’ll retire soon; her salary is pennies. We’re young; we can save more later.
— Save more? — Alisa jumped up. — Do you realize how long that will take? We put aside forty thousand a month, deny ourselves everything!
Kolya finally looked up at her. His eyes showed firm resolve.
— Tomorrow I’m transferring the money to Mom for the apartment. The decision is made.
The next days in their small apartment were heavy with silence. Alisa didn’t speak to her husband, only nodded at his attempts to start a conversation. Kolya pretended everything was fine, but she saw how nervous he was.
On Friday evening, she couldn’t take it anymore and called her sister Svetlana.
— Sveta, can I come over? Things are really bad at home.
— Of course, come. What happened?
An hour later, Alisa sat in her sister’s kitchen telling her what happened. Svetlana listened, occasionally shaking her head.
— Can you imagine? He didn’t even consult you! Just put you in front of a fait accompli!
— And what does Alexandra Mikhailovna say?
— She’s happy, of course. Says she didn’t expect such care from her son. But she’s silent about the fact that now we have problems.
Svetlana poured tea into two mugs and sat opposite her sister.
— Listen, maybe he’s right? After all, it’s his mother…
— Are you against me too? — Alisa felt a lump rise in her throat.
— No, no. I’m just trying to understand his logic. Although I agree — such a decision should have been discussed with the wife.
At that moment, Igor, Svetlana’s husband, entered the kitchen. He overheard the end of the conversation and joined in.
— What’s this about?
Svetlana briefly recounted the situation. Igor thoughtfully shook his head.
— You know, Alisa, if I were Kolya, I’d do the same. Parents are sacred. They raised us; now it’s our turn to take care of them.
— But we had plans! — Alisa exclaimed. — We had plans and dreams!
— Plans can change. But we have only one set of parents.
Alisa felt despair wash over her. Even her relatives didn’t understand her position.
At home, another conversation with Kolya awaited her. He sat on the sofa in the living room, clearly waiting for her.
— Where were you?
— At Sveta’s. I was telling her what a wonderful husband I have.
— Alisa, enough! We’re not poor; we’ll save up again.
— When? In five years? Ten? — her voice broke. — What if we have children? Then there will be nothing to save at all!
— If we have children, we’ll solve the housing issue then. We’ll ask our parents for help.
— Which parents? Yours, who will buy an apartment with our money? Or mine, who gets pennies on her pension?
Kolya stood and went to the window.
— You’re selfish, Alisa. You only think about yourself.
— And you only think about Mom! You forgot you have a wife!
— I didn’t forget. But a wife should understand and support her husband.
— Support what? That our plans go down the drain?
Kolya turned to face her. In his eyes, she saw a coldness she had never noticed before.
— Mom spent her whole life on me. She raised me alone after Dad left. Worked two jobs so I could study properly. Now it’s my turn.
— And what, I’m a stranger? We’ve been together five years, married for three!
— Mom is Mom. And wives… — he didn’t finish, but Alisa understood.
— What about wives? Finish your sentence!
— Nothing. I’ll transfer the money tomorrow. Period.
In the morning, Kolya left for work without saying goodbye. Alisa sat down at the computer and opened the banking app. Their joint account showed one million eight hundred thousand rubles — the result of four years of saving.
She remembered how they started saving. Back then they lived in an even smaller apartment, renting a room in a communal flat. Every month they calculated to the last kopek how much they could save. They gave up cafes, movies, new clothes. They dreamed of their own home.
Kolya used to say they were a team. That together they would achieve everything. But now he makes decisions alone.
At lunch, her mother called.
— Alisochka, how are you? Your voice sounds sad.
— Oh, Mom. Just tired from work.
— And Kolya? Haven’t seen your son-in-law in a while.
Alisa didn’t tell her about the problems. Mom already worried about every little thing.
— Kolya is fine. Works a lot.
— Good. When are you going to buy your apartment? I remember you said soon.
— Still saving, Mom.
After the call, Alisa felt worse. She had told everyone about their plans, and now she would have to explain why nothing worked out.
In the evening, Kolya came home silent and immediately sat at the computer. Alisa saw him open the banking app and start arranging a transfer.
— Are you serious about this?
— Serious.
— Kolya, let’s talk again. Maybe we could give Mom half the sum? At least try to find a compromise.
— No. She needs a million. She has eight hundred thousand; the rest is missing.
— And what about us? Don’t we need a decent apartment?
— We do. But it’s not urgent.
Alisa sat next to her husband and put her hand on his shoulder.
— Kolya, please. This is our shared dream. Our future.
He gently removed her hand.
— My decision is final.
— Then so is mine.
— Which one?
— I’m leaving.
Kolya looked up from the computer and stared at his wife.
— Where are you going?
— Away from you. I can’t live with someone who doesn’t respect me.
— Come on! Breaking up over money?
— Not over money. Over the fact that you made a decision for the two of us. Because my opinion doesn’t matter to you.
Kolya turned back to the screen.
— As you wish. I’ll transfer the money anyway.
Alisa started packing. Kolya sat in the same position, pretending not to notice. When she closed the suitcase, he finally turned.
— You think I’ll try to stop you?
— I don’t think so.
— Good. I need a wife who supports me, not one who makes a scandal over every little thing.
— Little things? — Alisa stopped at the door. — Two million rubles and broken plans are little things?
— Compared to what Mom did for me — yes, they are.
— I see. Then live with Mom.
Alisa grabbed her suitcase and headed for the door. Kolya shouted after her:
— Fine, be that way! I don’t need a wife like that!
The door slammed.
Svetlana welcomed her sister without questions. She made her comfortable on the fold-out sofa in the nursery and said she could stay as long as she needed.
— Won’t Igor say anything?
— What would he say? She’s my sister; I have the right to take her in.
In the morning, Alisa woke up to children’s laughter. Her nephews were playing in the next room, unaware of the drama unfolding in their house.
At breakfast, Svetlana asked:
— What will you do now?
— I don’t know. I’ll go to work, and we’ll see.
— Will you talk to Kolya?
— Not ready yet. Let him transfer the money first. I want to see how he likes living with Mom.
— Maybe he’ll come to his senses?
— I doubt it. You heard how he shouted yesterday.
A week later, Alisa learned from mutual acquaintances that Kolya transferred the money to Alexandra Mikhailovna. She had already begun buying a one-room apartment in a new building on the city outskirts.
Kolya tried to call, but Alisa didn’t answer. Then he started sending messages:
“Alisa, let’s talk. This is silly.”
“We’re adults. We can solve this.”
“I miss you. Come home.”
She read the messages but didn’t reply. Her anger at her husband didn’t fade; it only grew.
At work, colleagues noticed Alisa had become distracted and sad. Sergey from the neighboring department offered tea and conversation several times, but she refused.
— Alisa, if you want to share your troubles, I’m ready to listen, — he said once after a meeting.
— Thanks, Sergey. But I’m not ready to talk yet.
— I understand. I recently went through a divorce myself. I know how it feels.
Alisa looked carefully at her colleague. Sergey was a pleasant man in his thirties, always polite and tactful. There were rumors about his divorce, but no details were known.
— Was it hard?
— Very. But life goes on. The main thing is not to close yourself off.
A month passed. Alexandra Mikhailovna got the keys to the new apartment and invited her son to help move. Kolya took time off and spent several days carrying his mother’s things.
Meanwhile, Alisa rented a room in an apartment near work and started divorce proceedings. The lawyer explained that during asset division, she was entitled to half the savings, but the money was gone.
— So, your ex-husband will have to compensate you half the amount, — said the lawyer.
— And if he doesn’t have the money?
— Then you can demand half the value of the apartment bought with your joint funds.
— The apartment is in my mother-in-law’s name.
— That complicates things. But it’s worth trying.
Alisa knew the court battle could drag on for years, and it was not certain she would get anything.
Kolya continued trying to mend things. He came to her workplace, waited near her home. Colleagues started gossiping, but she ignored both him and the rumors.
— Alisa, how long will you sulk? — he said one day, catching her near the office. — Talk to me normally.
— We have nothing to talk about.
— What do you mean, nothing? We lived together for five years!
— We lived together, and that’s enough. Go to your mother; she’s living in a new apartment thanks to you now.
— Mom’s not involved here!
— Very much involved. You chose between us; the choice was made.
Kolya tried to take her hand, but Alisa pulled away.
— I thought you’d understand. In time, you’d forgive.
— I won’t forgive. There’s nothing to understand. You showed me who’s more important to you.
— Alisa, that’s my mother!
— And who am I? Some random person?
Kolya looked at his ex-wife helplessly.
— You’re something else…
— What else? Explain.
— Well… you’re young and healthy. You have your whole life ahead. And Mom’s old and alone.
— I see. So as long as I’m young and healthy, I don’t need any care.
— That’s not what I meant!
— What did you mean? That my interests are less important than Mom’s?
Kolya fell silent. Alisa realized he himself couldn’t articulate his position.
— Goodbye, Kolya. Don’t come again.
Six months passed. Alisa got used to her new life. The room was small, but it belonged only to her. No one made decisions for her or presented facts.
Work was going well. Sergey became a good friend. They often ate lunch together and sometimes went to the movies. Nothing serious, but Alisa felt calm and comfortable around him.
— Have you thought about remarrying? — Sergey asked once during lunch.
— Not yet. I want to finalize my divorce first, then I’ll see.
— That’s right. No rush. After my divorce, I didn’t date for a year. I needed to understand what I want from life.
— And did you?
— Yes. I want a family, but with the right person. Someone with shared goals and understanding.
Alisa nodded. She was beginning to understand what she wanted too — and it wasn’t going back to Kolya.
One evening, there was a knock at the door. Alisa opened and saw Kolya. He looked tired and confused.
— Can I come in?
— Why?
— We need to talk.
Alisa reluctantly let her ex-husband in. He looked around and sat on the only chair.
— How are you living?
— Fine. What’s happened?
Kolya was silent, then sighed.
— Mom kicked me out.
— What?
— She met a man. Mikhail Ivanovich, a widower. They decided to live together, and I was told it’s time to live independently.
Alisa felt a surge of schadenfreude but held back.
— And now?
— I’m renting a room in a communal apartment. No money for a normal place — spent everything on Mom’s apartment.
— I see. And why are you telling me this?
Kolya looked at her pleadingly.
— Alisa, I realized I was wrong. I made a mistake. Let’s try again.
— Try what?
— To live together. I’ve changed, understood a lot.
Alisa sat on the bed opposite him.
— What exactly have you understood?
— That important decisions can’t be made alone. That family is about two people.
— And?
— That I lost the dearest person because of my stubbornness.
Alisa was silent. Kolya continued:
— Mom said I’m an adult man and must take care of myself. And you said the same. But I didn’t listen.
— I did.
— Forgive me, Alisa. Let’s start over. We’ll save for an apartment again, plan the future.
— With what money? You spent it all.
— We’ll find a way. Maybe take a loan…
Alisa shook her head.
— It’s too late, Kolya.
— Why too late? We loved each other!
— We did. Past tense.
Kolya stood and went to the window.
— I know I acted badly. But people have the right to make mistakes.
— They do. But not all mistakes can be fixed.
— Alisa, please…
— Kolya, when you shouted “Good riddance,” did you really mean it?
— I was angry…
— Answer me honestly. Did you?
Kolya lowered his head.
— Yes. At that moment, I did.
— See. I remember it. And I realized I wasn’t that important to you.
— Now I see I was wrong!
— Now — that’s when it’s bad for you. When things were good with Mom in the new apartment, you didn’t think about me.
Kolya tried to argue, but Alisa raised her hand.
— Don’t lie. In a year, you called only a few times in the first month. Then stopped.
— I thought you didn’t want to talk…
— I didn’t. And I still don’t.
Kolya sat for another half hour trying to convince his ex-wife to give him a second chance. He talked about how lonely he felt, how he understood his mistakes, how he’d changed.
Alisa listened silently. Inside, there was neither anger nor pity. Only indifference to the person who had once been dear to her.
— I don’t give traitors a second chance, — she finally said.
— I’m not a traitor!
— You are. You betrayed our plans, our dreams, our trust.
— But I explained why…
— Explanations don’t justify betrayal.
Kolya stood.
— So, it’s all over?
— It ended a year ago. You just realized it now.
— What if I wait? Maybe you’ll change your mind with time?
Alisa walked to the door and opened it.
— Don’t waste your time. I have a new life now.
— What new life? That guy you were seen with?
— None of your business.
Kolya lingered in the doorway.
— Alisa…
— Goodbye, Kolya.
He left, and Alisa closed the door. She sat in silence for a long time, thinking about the conversation. Strange, but she felt no strong emotions. It was like talking to a stranger.
The next day at lunch, Sergey asked:
— How are you? You look calm.
— Yes, I think I finally closed one chapter.
— That’s good. So, ready to start a new one?
— Yes. But no rush. I want to enjoy freedom first.
— I understand. And do you know what I realized after my divorce?
— What?
— That the most important thing in a relationship is respect. Love can fade, but respect should remain.
— Wise words.
— From bitter experience. My ex-wife also ignored my opinion. Though our situation was reversed — she spent our savings on her parents without asking.
Alisa looked surprised.
— Seriously?
— Seriously. That’s why I understand how you felt. When a loved one makes important decisions for you — it’s painful and humiliating.
— Exactly.
— But the main thing is you didn’t agree with it. Many women would have accepted, thinking family is more important than principles.
— I decided principles are more important than a fake family.
— And you did right.
Several months passed. Alisa fully settled into her new life. She finalized the divorce, got her share from selling their old furniture, and even some money through court — it turned out Kolya took a loan for Mom’s apartment, and by law half the debt passed to Alisa. But legally half the apartment was also hers.
Kolya tried to contest this but failed. He ended up selling his share to Alexandra Mikhailovna for a symbolic sum so Alisa could get compensation.
— Justice prevailed, — said Svetlana when Alisa told her about the court decision.
— It’s not about that. I just want everything to be fair.
— And now? Will you buy a new apartment?
— Not yet. I want to live for myself, travel. Then I’ll see.
Once, Alisa accidentally met Kolya at the mall. He was buying groceries and looked tired.
— Hi, — he said uncertainly.
— Hi.
— How are you?
— Good. And you?
— Okay. Working, living.
They stood in awkward silence.
— Alisa, are you… happy? — Kolya finally asked.
— Yes. And you?
— Don’t know. Probably not.
— Sorry.
— Aren’t you angry with me?
Alisa thought.
— No. The anger’s gone. Now I understand it was for the best.
— For the best?
— Yes. We were incompatible people. We just didn’t realize it right away.
— What if I hadn’t given the money to Mom then?
— Sooner or later, another situation would have come up. You would have made another important decision without me. Or I would have realized you don’t respect me as an equal.
Kolya nodded.
— Probably you’re right.
— I’m not angry, Kolya. But I don’t want to come back. I have a new life now.
— I understand. Thanks for being honest.
— Good luck.
— You too.
They parted ways.
That evening, Alisa sat in her room thinking about the meeting. Strange, but she felt no strong emotions. Kolya had become just a person from her past she was once connected to.
The phone rang. It was Sergey.
— Hi! How about a movie tomorrow night?
— Gladly. What are we watching?
— There’s a comedy that’s supposed to be very funny.
— Great. I need some positive vibes now.
— Did something happen?
— I met my ex-husband. But it’s okay, no drama.
— That’s good. So it’s really all in the past?
— Really all in the past.
After the call, Alisa went to the window and looked at the evening city. A year ago, she thought her life had collapsed. Now she understood — life was just beginning. Real life, where she makes decisions and takes responsibility for them herself.
She truly didn’t give traitors a second chance. And she was right.