At that moment, Anna’s phone buzzed on the table with a call from an unfamiliar number. She answered cautiously and heard her husband’s tense, irritated voice. He demanded to know why she had blocked him, and Anna calmly said because she didn’t want to talk.
Igor complained that his mother was crying, the guests had arrived, and the house was still dirty. Anna answered evenly that his family’s household problems were no longer her concern. He shouted that she was destroying a marriage over unmopped floors, still failing to understand the real issue.
Anna told him plainly that she was leaving because of three years of constant disrespect and being treated like hired help. She reminded him of all the times he had stood by silently while his mother insulted her. Igor made a weak attempt to defend himself, but Anna shut down each excuse with specific examples.
She said that from now on, all communication would go through attorneys. She would collect the rest of her things while he was away and leave the keys with the building concierge. Ignoring his protests, she ended the call and blocked that number too.
A strange but deeply satisfying calm spread through her as she realized she was finally standing on solid ground. Katya handed her a napkin, and Anna was surprised to find tears on her cheeks. They were tears of relief, of finally stepping out from under years of pressure.
Her friend smiled warmly and said this was the beginning of a much better life. Anna nodded, knowing that divorce and dividing property would not be easy. But now she felt ready for whatever came next.
For the first time in three years, she felt strong, independent, and fully herself again. Katya looked at her with pride and admitted she had been waiting a long time to see this kind of resolve. Anna said she could hardly believe it herself and felt both scared and happy at once.
She honestly couldn’t understand how she had let herself be reduced to such a miserable state. Katya gently explained that this kind of erosion happens slowly. One day you just wake up and realize you’ve been living someone else’s life.
Anna agreed and added that she had really tried to win her mother-in-law over. She had foolishly believed that if she were patient and accommodating enough, it would eventually be appreciated. Katya said sadly that people like that are almost impossible to satisfy.
At that moment, the phone lit up again with another call from an unknown number. Anna declined it and sent that caller to the blocked list too. Both women understood that offended relatives were not going to let this go quietly.
The server brought their order, and Anna looked thoughtfully at the foam on her cappuccino. Katya asked what the plan was for moving the rest of her things out. Anna said she intended to do it the next morning while Igor was at work.
When Katya asked who was helping, Anna hesitated and said she thought she could manage on her own. Her friend immediately shut that down and said she and her husband, Denis, would come. Anna felt a wave of gratitude for such timely, practical support.
Katya told her firmly that she was much stronger than she had been led to believe. The two women stayed at the cozy café another hour, going over all the practical details. It turned out the apartment was in Igor’s name because his parents had helped with the down payment.
Anna could only claim half of the marital property, most of which consisted of the things she had bought. She had purchased nearly all the household appliances with her own savings. Igor treated his paycheck as untouchable, while her income covered the day-to-day expenses…
