The golden rays of the setting sun cast a warm glow over the rooftops of the cottage village. Resting against the terrace railing, Xenia gazed at Artem, who was carefully tending to the glowing coals in the grill. Four-year-old Lera, proudly proclaiming herself as “the chief helper,” eagerly handed her father tongs and seasonings, while eight-year-old Maxim enthusiastically kicked a football into a makeshift goal framed by garden stones.
“Ksyu, come join us!” her husband’s voice rang out from below. “Just a few more minutes, and the steak will be perfectly cooked!”
Xenia smiled as she took in the picturesque scene. It felt like life had finally started working in their favor. Artem’s startup, which he had launched a year ago to produce eco-friendly materials, was now turning a profit. To support his dream, Xenia had put her third year of law school on hold, taking charge of the company’s paperwork. “I’ll finish my degree later,” she had insisted stubbornly, poring over textbooks late into the night.
“Mom, look, look!” Lera exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes as she proudly held out a silicone spatula like an Olympic torch.
“My smart girl!” Xenia beamed, stepping down the terrace stairs while adjusting the hem of her vintage-print dress.
Artem wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
“You’re my lucky charm. Without you, this project would have stayed nothing more than sketches in a notebook.”
“We always lift each other up,” she murmured, resting her head against his chest.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. The small garage workshop with just three workers evolved into a thriving enterprise, now headquartered in a sleek glass skyscraper in the heart of the business district. Yet, as their corporate success soared to new heights, Artem’s cheerful laughter grew increasingly rare within the walls of his home. His once-familiar leather briefcase now carried the lingering scent of airplane cabins and high-stakes meetings in distant boardrooms.
“Dad, will you come to my concert on Saturday?” Maxim asked hopefully, carefully tucking his guitar into its case. “I’m playing that song from your playlist!”
“Of course, buddy!” His father absentmindedly ruffled Maxim’s hair while issuing instructions to his managers over the phone.
Meanwhile, Xenia silently arranged the salad bowls on the table, pressing her lips together. In the past six months, he had conveniently “forgotten” Lera’s kindergarten play, skipped their anniversary, and rescheduled their long-awaited Bali trip — three times.
When the kids drifted off to sleep, she finally mustered the courage:
“Art, we need to talk…”
“Tomorrow, love,” he replied without glancing up from the screen, where fluctuating supply charts reflected in his tired eyes. “My Chinese partners are joining a video call in an hour.”
“That’s the 47th time you’ve said that.” Her voice barely wavered. “Yesterday, Maxim asked me if we still love each other.”
“Stop being so dramatic!” Artem snapped, slamming his laptop shut as he sprang to his feet. “I work my ass off so you all can have everything! We bought Lera a bike worth half a million, and you visit ‘Lux-Boutique’ more often than you step into the kitchen!”
“Our son would trade ten bicycles just to have one evening with you!” Xenia’s voice quivered. “Yesterday, he spent an hour rehearsing how to greet you. And you didn’t even bother to open the door.”
But Artem was already back to staring at his screen, pointedly dialing his secretary’s number. The conversation was over.
Three weeks later, Victoria stepped into his life — a poised brunette with an MBA and a knack for choosing shirts that perfectly matched his eyes. The scent of Bleu de Chanel, secret “meetings” at a countryside spa, and 27 missed calls from the kids became Xenia’s unspoken answers to the questions she never dared to ask.
“Mom, does Dad live in his phone now?” Lera asked, perched on a kitchen stool, wiping her tear-streaked cheeks with tiny hands. “He promised to take me to the pony farm…”
“Dad has an important project, my little fish,” Xenia whispered, closing her eyes so Lera wouldn’t see the sorrow in them. “It’ll be over soon…”
That night, Artem came home at dawn. His coat carried the unmistakable scent of another woman’s perfume, and in his jacket pocket sat two tickets to Paris—booked for the same day Lera was supposed to compete in her reading contest.
“We need to talk,” he said, stepping into the living room without even taking off his coat.
A chill ran down her spine. “Has something serious happened?”
“I’ve decided to file for divorce.”
The words shattered the stillness of the house like a sudden explosion. Xenia slumped into the chair, struggling to process what she had just heard. «What?.. Why?..» — «It’s best for everyone. I’ve found someone who truly gets me and aligns with my goals.» — «Vika?» Xenia’s voice was barely audible. Artem gave a silent nod. «I need to move forward. This family holds me back. I’m exhausted from pretending to be the ideal husband.» — «Ideal husband?» Her voice wavered. — «Fifteen years together—was it all a lie?» «I expect you to leave the house by the end of the week. It’s mine, along with everything else.» — «And the children? Did they even cross your mind?» «I’ll provide financial support. Additionally, I’ll cover temporary housing for you.»
Xenia gazed at the unfamiliar man before her, unable to see the Artem she had committed her life to fifteen years ago.
A sleepy and tousled Maxim appeared in the doorway. «Mom? What’s going on?»
Artem spun around abruptly and exited, slamming the door behind him. Xenia pulled her son close. How could she make him understand that their world had just changed forever?
Before long, Xenia and the children settled into a small apartment on the outskirts. Artem abandoned them without financial support.
Lera wept, unable to grasp why they couldn’t go back home. Maxim withdrew into himself, stopped talking to his friends, and lost interest in his music lessons.
Watching her children sleep, Xenia murmured, «I have to find work. I need to be strong for them.»
The first days in their new home were the toughest. Xenia searched the city for jobs, but every position required experience — something she lacked after devoting the last fifteen years to her family.
Finally, she managed to secure a job as a waitress at a modest café. The owner, Nina Petrovna, welcomed Xenia with kindness, overlooking her inexperience. Every evening, once the children were asleep, she immersed herself in textbooks—determined to pursue a law degree through remote learning.
Years passed. One day, Xenia unexpectedly heard about trouble in her ex-husband’s business. According to whispers, Artem was teetering on the edge of financial ruin.
“Can you believe it? Vika managed to drain almost his entire fortune,” an old colleague of Artem’s mentioned while stopping by the café. “Word is, she splurged on lavish properties, launched boutiques, but every venture collapsed.”
Xenia quietly wiped down the tables, yet each word lingered in her thoughts. That evening, upon returning home, she dug through old files—somewhere among them were the documents from Artem’s first company.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Maxim peeked into the room.
“Just searching for some old documents, son. Nothing major.”
“I saw Dad today. He was picking out discounted items at the supermarket.”
Xenia stiffened. So, the rumors were tru e —Artem was facing serious financial trouble. Otherwise, he would have never paid attention to such bargains. Yet, based on recent records, the properties and cars were still in his name. Most likely, he kept up the illusion of wealth while concealing his struggles. He held onto his assets for as long as possible, using whatever funds remained to settle debts.
The following day, Igor—a longtime family friend employed at a major financial institution—showed up at the café.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” he said as her shift ended. “Do you know what’s happening with Artem?”
“I’ve only heard bits and pieces.”
“It’s actually far worse. He committed tax evasion, hid significant income. I have documents proving it.”
Xenia absorbed every word, each one shaping a strategy in her mind.
A week later, she formally requested a revision of the divorce settlement. The gathered evidence was undeniable—Artem had been underreporting his earnings for years to reduce alimony payments.
“You had the right to a much larger settlement,” the lawyer remarked. “Given your contributions to his business and the years you devoted to raising the children, which allowed him to advance his career.”
The case dragged on for months. Xenia attended every hearing, systematically presenting her case. Artem appeared drained—his suit hung loosely on his frame, and deep shadows settled beneath his eyes.
As the judge delivered the verdict, a heavy silence filled the courtroom. Artem was ordered to hand over a substantial share of his wealth to Xenia and their children.
“Happy now?” Artem caught up with his ex-wife outside the courthouse. “Do you realize I’m nearly bankrupt?”
“Did you feel any remorse when you threw us out?” Xenia replied calmly. “When our children asked why they couldn’t stay in their home?”
Lowering his voice, he offered, “I’m willing to negotiate. Maybe we can settle this amicably?”
“That ship has sailed,” Xenia said coldly. “It’s far too late now.”
“Is this payback? For me leaving? Ksyusha, it was just business! I can turn things around, rebuild everything…”
Xenia halted and met his gaze. “No, Artem. This isn’t revenge. This is justice. It’s not about another woman—it’s about how you treated us, your own family. You didn’t just betray me—you betrayed your children.”
“They’re still my kids!” Artem’s voice wavered, tinged with desperation. “You can’t…”
“I can,” Xenia said resolutely. “And I will. Because someone has to secure their future.”
Artem grasped her hand. “Wait, just listen. I have a proposition. We can start fresh. Vika… she wasn’t who she pretended to be. And you… you always stood by me, believed in me…”
Xenia calmly but firmly pulled away. “Goodbye, Artem. I’ve built my own life, my own path. And I’m no longer that foolish girl who fell for all your empty promises.”
A month after their conversation, the entire town buzzed about the downfall of Artem’s business empire. Vika had siphoned off a substantial amount of money into her own accounts before vanishing. His lavish properties and other assets were sold for a fraction of their worth to settle mounting debts. Artem struggled to keep up the illusion of success, but in the end, all his efforts were futile.
Xenia observed it all without bitterness. The legal victories enabled her to purchase a spacious home in an upscale neighborhood. The children finally had their own rooms, and Maxim even set up a music studio at home.
As the years passed, their lives steadily improved.
“Mom, look!” Lera burst into the room, excitedly waving an envelope. “I got accepted with a full scholarship!”
Xenia hugged her daughter, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. Getting accepted into a prestigious economics university had always been Lera’s dream.
One spring afternoon, Artem showed up at Xenia’s office. He looked worn down, his coat frayed and shabby. “I understand everything now, Ksyusha,” he murmured, avoiding her gaze. “Money and power blinded me. I thought they were the key to happiness.”
“Why are you here?”
“I want to make things right. Bring our family back together. I miss the kids… I miss you.”
Xenia shook her head. “The children grew up without you, Artem. That was your decision.”
Just then, Maxim pulled up in a sleek new car. He had grown into a successful entrepreneur, building his own IT company—music had remained just a passion on the side.
“Ready?” Maxim asked, completely ignoring his father. “We’ve got a meeting with investors in an hour.”
“Yes, son,” Xenia said, picking up her purse. “Sorry, Artem, we’re in a hurry.”
Their paths crossed again at a charity event. Now just an ordinary manager, Artem hesitantly approached, hoping to speak to his ex-wife.
“Xenia Vladimirovna, may I have a moment of your time?” Artem called out loudly, catching up with her in the foyer.
Xenia turned, surrounded by colleagues and business partners. “Yes, Artem?”
“I wanted to publicly admit my mistakes…” he started.
“Don’t,” Xenia gently interrupted. “That’s all in the past. I forgave everything long ago, and I truly wish you well.”
That evening, curled up in her favorite chair with a warm cup of tea, Xenia flipped through family photos. One captured Lera receiving her diploma, another showed Maxim proudly opening his first office.
Her phone buzzed—Maxim had sent a photo. He and Lera were at a new restaurant, laughing together.
“Mom, come join us!” he texted. “We’re celebrating Lera’s successful first semester.”
Xenia smiled. Life had tested her, but she had overcome every challenge. Now, her world stood strong—built on love for her children and unwavering faith in herself.
In the mirror, a confident, graceful woman gazed back. Xenia adjusted her hair, picked up her car keys, and smiled. Her children were waiting at the restaurant, and that meant far more than any past hurt or disappointment.
Stepping outside, she paused, breathing in the crisp evening air. Life moved forward, full of beauty—the love of her children, the respect of her peers, a fulfilling career. But above all, the greatest gift was the freedom to be herself—without dwelling on the past or fearing the future.