The candles on the cake flickered in the dim living room. Anna looked at the relatives gathered around her and couldn’t help smiling. Twenty-six was an age when life was only just beginning.
“To my dear wife.” Sergei raised his glass of champagne. “You make every day special. Thank you for being in my life.”
The guests applauded. Anna bit her lip, overwhelmed with happiness. Their two years of marriage had flown by. She still felt a thrill whenever Sergei called her his wife.
“Sergei, you have such a way with words,” her mother said with a laugh. “Anna is glowing.”
“Her mother’s right,” her father added. “Anyone can see you’re made for each other.”
Anna took her husband’s hand. His palm felt warm and reassuring. He was the person she wanted beside her for the rest of her life. She wanted to have children with him and grow old together.
“Anna, you’ve blossomed since marrying our Sergei,” her mother-in-law said with a smile. “You’re beautiful, and you keep such a lovely home.”
“Thank you, Valentina Petrovna.” Anna blushed a little at the compliment.
The evening passed quickly. The guests left one by one, offering warm wishes and hugs. Anna walked her parents to the door.
“My dear girl,” her mother said, holding her tightly, “I’m so glad you’re happy. Sergei is a wonderful man.”
“Take good care of him,” her father added. “Husbands like him are hard to find.”
“I will, Dad.” Anna nodded. “I love him very much.”
Her parents left, but her mother-in-law lingered in the hallway. She buttoned her coat and studied Anna.
“Is something wrong, Valentina Petrovna?” Anna asked.
“Everything is wonderful, dear.” Her mother-in-law gave her a mysterious smile. “You and Sergei have a strong marriage. But there’s still one thing missing.”
Anna’s heart skipped a beat. She had long dreamed of having children but hadn’t dared to bring it up first.
“Children?” she asked cautiously.
Her mother-in-law shook her head and waved a hand.
“No, dear. Not just children.”
“Then what?” Anna frowned.
“You’ll see in time.” Valentina Petrovna kissed her cheek. “What matters most is that you love each other.”
Anna watched her mother-in-law leave. Those strange words stayed with her. What could their marriage possibly be missing?
“Well, birthday girl,” Sergei said, wrapping his arms around her from behind, “we’re finally alone.”
“Yes.” Anna leaned back against him. “It was such a lovely evening. Everyone seemed so happy.”
“You looked especially beautiful tonight.” He kissed the top of her head.
Anna turned to face him. The party lights shimmered in his eyes.
“Sergei, do you know what I dream about?” She held his face between her hands. “By my next birthday, I want there to be a baby in our apartment.”
“Of course, darling.” He nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that too.”
But something strange flashed in his eyes. Anna couldn’t quite tell what had unsettled her.
“By the way,” Sergei said, stepping back, “my birthday is in a month. I’m expecting a special gift from you.”
“What kind of gift?” Anna smiled. “You know I’d do anything for you.”
He only gave her a mysterious wink.
The next three days were filled with anxious speculation. Anna racked her brain over Sergei’s gift. What could he mean? A watch? A trip? A car?
“Sergei,” she began carefully over breakfast, “could you at least give me a hint?”
“No, darling.” He cut himself a slice of bread. “You have to figure it out yourself.”
Anna clenched her fists beneath the table. The uncertainty was exhausting. Every day she came up with new ideas, but none seemed special enough.
Her husband’s birthday fell on a Friday. Anna booked a table at their favorite restaurant. The whole family came: Sergei’s parents, her own parents, and a few close friends.
“Happy birthday, my love.” Anna raised her glass. “I wish you all the best.”
“Thank you, darling.” Sergei put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s a wonderful evening.”
The guests congratulated him. Anna smiled and kept up the conversation, but inside she was tense. She still hadn’t found that special gift.
“Sergei, you look younger every year,” her mother said, laughing. “Anna, take good care of your husband.”
“I will, Mom.” Anna nodded.
Then she noticed her mother-in-law’s expression. Valentina Petrovna was looking at her with clear displeasure, her brows drawn together and her lips pressed tight.
“Is something wrong?” Anna asked quietly.
“Everything is fine,” her mother-in-law replied coldly.
Sergei seemed tense too. He kept checking his watch and giving short answers. Whatever birthday cheer he’d had was gone.
Anna tried to lift everyone’s spirits, but nothing worked. An invisible wall seemed to have risen between her and her husband. She had no idea why.
The taxi ride home passed in oppressive silence. Anna tried several times to start a conversation, but Sergei turned toward the window.
“Sergei, what’s wrong?” she asked as soon as they entered the apartment.
“Nothing.” He tossed his jacket onto a chair.
“But you’ve been acting strangely all evening.” Anna moved closer. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Something wrong?” Sergei spun around. “You humiliated me!”
His words scalded her. Anna took a step back. She had never heard him speak to her like that.
“Humiliated you?” she whispered. “How?”
“How can you not understand?” His voice grew louder. “I waited all evening!”
“Waited for what?” Anna struggled to think. “Was the restaurant bad? The food?”
“I don’t give a damn about the restaurant!” Sergei turned to face her fully. “Where’s my special gift?”
“Sergei, I didn’t know what you wanted,” Anna said, her voice shaking. “You never told me.”
“I never told you?” He stepped right up to her. “You were supposed to give me the papers for the apartment! You were supposed to transfer it into my name!”
Anna was speechless. The apartment? Her apartment, which she had inherited from her grandmother?
“Sergei, what are you talking about?” she managed to ask.
“I’m talking about a wife trusting her husband!” he shouted. “What have you shown everyone instead? That you don’t respect me!”
Anna stood frozen. Was he seriously demanding that she transfer ownership of the apartment—her only property—to him?
“What did you say?” she whispered, unable to believe her ears.
“I told you the truth!” Sergei threw his hands in the air, his face red with anger. “We’ve been married for two years! You should have transferred the apartment to me by now!”
Anna backed toward the wall. Her legs felt weak, and she struggled to breathe. Could he really mean this?
“Then we would have been a real family,” he went on, still shouting. “Instead, you’ve shown everyone you don’t trust me!”
“But Sergei, it’s my apartment,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “I inherited it from my grandmother…”
“So what?” He moved close to her again. “A wife should share everything with her husband! What are you doing?”
Anna stared at him and barely recognized him. Where was the gentle Sergei who had sworn he loved her? Where was the husband she had dreamed of having children with?
“I’m not transferring it,” she said quietly but firmly.
“What did you say?” Sergei stopped.
“I said no!” Anna’s voice grew stronger. “I will not transfer the apartment!”
“You won’t transfer it?” He grabbed his head. “Then what do I need a wife like you for?”
The words crashed over her. Anna pressed her hands to her chest. Had he been thinking about her apartment all this time?
“So you married me just for a place to live?” she asked, barely audible.
“What did you think I married you for?” He gave her a cruel smile. “Your looks? Your intelligence?”
Anna clenched her fists. Tears rose in her throat, but she held them back. Not now. Not in front of him.
“Without the apartment, this marriage is worthless to me,” Sergei added. “Do you understand? Worthless!”
“I understand.” Anna looked him in the eye. “And you know what? I have one more gift for you.”
Sergei went still. Hope flashed across his face. He thought she had changed her mind.
“What is it?” he asked cautiously.
“A divorce,” Anna said clearly. “Pack your things and get out of my home.”
His face twisted with anger. He opened his mouth, but Anna spoke first.
“If I’m no use to you unless I transfer the apartment,” she said, her voice tight with emotion, “then leave. And don’t come back.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Sergei grabbed her arm. “You love me!”
“I loved you.” Anna pulled her arm free. “I loved someone who doesn’t exist.”
“Anna, wait!” He tried to come closer. “We can talk about this!”
“Talk?” She gave a bitter laugh. “We’ve been married for two years, and all you’ve thought about is my apartment!”
“But I love you!” Sergei reached toward her. “I just want us to be a real family!”
“A real family?” Anna stepped away. “Where is your love for me? All you want is my apartment.”
“You don’t understand,” he pleaded. “My mother is right. Until you transfer the property, we’re not a family!”
“Your mother!” Anna threw up her hands. “So this was her idea!”
“What difference does it make whose idea it was?” Sergei raised his voice again. “It’s the right thing to do!”
“Is it right to deceive your wife?” Anna looked at him with disgust. “To pretend you’re in love just to get her apartment?”
“Oh, enough!” He turned toward the window, then spun back. “You know you’ll be lost without me!”
“We’ll see.” Anna folded her arms. “For now, pack your things.”
Half an hour later, Sergei was putting his clothes into a suitcase. Anna stood in the doorway and watched in silence. Her heart was breaking, but she had made her decision.
“You’ll come crawling back,” he said from the threshold. “You’ll have the apartment papers in your hands, and you’ll beg me to forgive you!”
Anna slammed the door in his face. The lock clicked. Silence.
The next few weeks were full of tears. Anna grieved for herself and for the future she had imagined. Then she found the strength to file for divorce.
When Sergei heard the news, he called her. His shouting crackled through the phone.
“You have no right to leave me!” he roared. “I’m your husband!”
“You were my husband,” Anna replied calmly. “I’ll see you in court.”
She hung up and took a deep breath. She had taken the first step toward ending her marriage to that greedy man. A new life lay ahead, free of lies and selfish schemes. Her own life, in her own apartment.
