— I couldn’t find any gold jar, — Evelina replied calmly. — I brought what was in plain sight.
— Useless, — the mother-in-law snorted. — Can’t even do such a small thing right.
Evelina didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to Timur:
— We need to talk.
— About what? — he finally looked at her. His eyes held a mixture of resentment, anger, and… fear?
— About our future. Or rather, the lack of it.
Klavdiya Gennadyevna sat up abruptly in bed.
— What’s that supposed to mean?
— I’m leaving, — Evelina said simply. — I’m taking my things and moving out today.
— Where do you think you’re going? — her mother-in-law’s face contorted. — The apartment is jointly owned. You have no right.
— I’ve rented a place, — Evelina continued to look only at Timur. — I left the divorce papers on the table. Just sign them, and we can part ways civilly.
— What about the mortgage? — for the first time, a note of anxiety crept into Timur’s voice. — We’re paying it off together.
— My lawyer will contact you about the division of property and debts. We might have to sell the apartment and split the proceeds. Or one of us can buy out the other’s share.
— But… but… — Timur’s gaze shifted helplessly between his wife and his mother. — We can’t just get a divorce like this.
— Why not? — Evelina asked. — You chose your mother. She’ll take care of you now.
— Of course, I will, — Klavdiya Gennadyevna intervened. — Better than this careerist. I never understood what you saw in her, son.
Evelina felt a lump forming in her throat. But she would not let herself break down in front of these people.
— Timur… — her voice was steady. — I thought we were building a family. An equal partnership based on respect. But you showed that your mother’s whims are more important to you than your wife’s feelings. You let her insult me. You lied to the doctors and were ready to file a police report. That’s a betrayal I can’t forgive.
— What a tragedy! — Klavdiya Gennadyevna theatrically threw up her hands. — See, Timur? She only thinks about herself. Did she think about you being in the hospital?
— You are both in the hospital, — Evelina noted. — And I came, brought things, even though yesterday I was told you didn’t want to see me.
— You could have bought medicine, — grumbled the mother-in-law. — Or fruit. You just brought a bag of rags.
Evelina ignored this jab and addressed her husband again.
— Timur, I’ll give you time to think, but my decision is final. I am leaving, and I am filing for divorce regardless.
— What if I don’t sign? — a note of challenge appeared in his voice.
— Then it will be a long, unpleasant divorce process through the court. Do you want that?
Timur looked down.
— No.
— Neither do I. That’s why I’m suggesting we part ways like human beings.
— How dare you! — shrieked Klavdiya Gennadyevna. — After everything you’ve done! My son is in the hospital because of you!
— Your son is in the hospital because he lost his balance while trying to roughly push me out of the way, — Evelina replied coldly. — And you know that perfectly well.
The mother-in-law opened her mouth, about to launch into a new tirade, but Evelina was already turning to leave.
— Get well soon. I’ll send a courier for the signed documents.
— Wait, — Timur called after her. — What about… What about us? Five years together?
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