Due to illness, her husband was staying at home, and when he returned earlier than expected, Anna overheard something she wasn’t supposed to.
“Maxim, when are you finally going to start looking for a job?” asked Raisa Vasilievna to her son-in-law, who was lying on the couch in the living room in front of the TV.
The man merely gave his mother-in-law a condescending look and snorted, as if a pesky mosquito had bothered him. He didn’t like it when Raisa Vasilievna came over and started these kinds of conversations. He felt like a guilty little boy and even resented it, considering such behavior inappropriate.
Why was she putting pressure on him at all? Why did she meddle in someone else’s family with her rules? After his mother-in-law left, he always complained to his wife that he felt guilty, and surely her mother hated him for being such a worthless husband for her daughter.
“How can I look for a job right now? My spine is bad, and my knee pains won’t go away. I’d be happy to find something already, but you understand—there’s just no possibility.
Once I recover, I’ll definitely find something. You know me, Raisa Vasilievna. I’m not some freeloader; I’m a hardworking man. I feel bad myself that Anna has to work alone right now. As soon as I get better, I’ll send her on a vacation to the seaside.”
This is what her son-in-law had been saying for the past six months, yet his problems never seemed to end: one thing, then another… he would heal a sprained ankle, and immediately the knee would start hurting. Raisa Vasilievna didn’t believe that he was truly ill; she would tell her daughter not to fall for empty promises and to send her husband to work.
Anna, on the other hand, worried about her husband and asked her mother not to interfere in their relationship, insisting that they could decide for themselves how to live. She tried to shield her husband from judgment; it wasn’t easy for him.
“It’s not hard for me at all right now, don’t worry. We have enough money for everything. So don’t worry, Mom. Everything’s fine. Really, truly.”
Raisa Vasilievna’s heart was unsettled. It seemed that her daughter was being used, but blinded by her feelings, Anna didn’t notice it at all. She told her husband to fully recover first and only then think about job hunting. Sometimes it seemed that he wasn’t bothered by it at all.
Maxim didn’t even attempt to find any side work, although acquaintances had already offered him work-from-home options and were willing to help. Whenever Anna would seize such opportunities, Maxim would abruptly cut her off and refuse:
“I need to recover at home, not work. If I do anything instead of resting, it will take even longer to heal,” Maxim grumbled. “It’s better that I recover fully, then find something decent and earn proper money.”
Anna agreed. She didn’t want to argue with her husband, especially since she could have been in his position herself. Surely, he wouldn’t pressure her and would allow her to fully recover.
Her mother-in-law occasionally took Raisa Vasilievna’s side, saying that her daughter-in-law was too soft and that a man should work, not lie on the couch. Surprisingly, the mother supported the daughter-in-law rather than pitying her son, though it didn’t matter much.
“I worked until the last months of pregnancy and didn’t fall apart. You’re pitying him too much. Be careful not to regret it yourself later. It’s easy to ruin your health, but restoring it isn’t always possible, as experience shows.”
Anna, however, looked at her husband, buried herself in his arms, and ignored all the advice, believing that Maxim would never take advantage of her kindness or deceive her. If he was still at home, there had to be his reasons.
On weekends, Anna did all the household chores, trying not to burden her husband and not asking him for help. She cared for Maxim but sometimes felt herself beginning to burn out. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she didn’t see the cheerful girl she had been a year ago, but a worn-out, life-weary woman.
Hiding her sleep deprivation under layers of makeup and forcing a smile, Anna told herself that these were just temporary difficulties, but it became harder to hold back each time. Sometimes she wanted to go into the forest and scream. Maybe she shouldn’t have kept silent and hidden her state from her husband?! Yet she didn’t want to make him worry unnecessarily or feel guilty.
Her condition worsened day by day. Working without a break to earn more money and avoid lacking anything, Anna pushed herself harder and harder. When she fainted at work, her boss ordered her to go home and not appear at the office for a week.
“Rest, and don’t even think about saying anything against it. You’re looking like a shadow of yourself! It’s not right to wear yourself out like this. What if something happens to you, and I have to take responsibility? Besides, where else will I find such a good, responsible employee?” the man scolded.
Anna apologized for causing such a commotion and decided to go home, reasoning that nothing terrible would happen if she truly rested. She forgot to call her husband to warn him that she would be back earlier.
Honestly, she didn’t even think it was necessary. He was probably resting anyway, and when he returned, he would tell her not to worry about her condition. She was overworked, but a week of rest would get her back on her feet.
Returning home, Anna heard noise. As soon as she opened the apartment door, she saw several pairs of unfamiliar shoes in the hallway. Her heart sank—her husband had recently told her he was feeling unwell and was going to bed. But where had these guests come from?
Entering the kitchen, Anna froze. There were bottles of alcohol on the table, and her husband was playing cards with his friends.
“While my little workhorse is grinding away, I can afford to relax. She’s foolish, believes every word I say. Thinks I’m really sick and helpless!” Maxim boasted, not noticing his wife. “And so naive… she’s been hanging on my every word for so long and believes it. I didn’t think she was such a fool, but it works in my favor. Money always comes, and I don’t have to go anywhere.”
“You’re lucky to have found such a simple-minded one,” Maxim’s old friend Oleg commented. “My wife would have kicked me back to work ages ago, even if I could barely drag myself around. Yours is patient. How long are you going to keep sitting at home?”
“And why rush? I’m perfectly comfortable. Warm, bright, fed, and my wife literally blows the dust off me. Then I’ll work a bit and find some excuse to lie down again. Why labor when everything is already perfect? Let others work,” Maxim laughed.
The guests, absorbed in their game, didn’t notice Anna frozen in the doorway. Anger welled up in her, and tears sprang to her eyes. Her husband had said he was spending money on check-ups, medicine, and procedures, and she had never asked him for receipts or proof.
Now she realized where the money she had given him had gone. He wasn’t just gambling—he was playing for money. Clenching her fists, Anna took another decisive step forward.
“Wrap up your little get-together,” she said in an icy voice. “And get out of my apartment immediately.”
“Anyuta?” Maxim went pale, and then it seemed his face turned green. The man trembled all over as he looked at his wife, who was struggling to restrain her fury…
How strongly she wanted to grab something heavy and hit him, just to make his brain snap into place and start working in the right direction. No… that wouldn’t help. It would only create more problems.
Her mother had been right. And her mother-in-law—she was right too. They said Anna was too trusting and soft-hearted, yet she only believed her husband. She looked at him as if he were some kind of deity, encouraged him—and what had it led to in the end? To shattered hopes. Her heart ached so much that it was almost impossible not to give in to the storm of emotions raging inside her.
“Anna, it’s not what you think. The guys just came to support me. I get bored alone, so they decided to drop by.”
“Everyone out of my apartment!” Anna raised her voice.
The guests immediately scattered and left. She should have checked whether they had taken anything, but she had no energy for that. Looking at her husband, Anna saw a traitor who brazenly deceived her, led her by the nose, and took advantage of her trust.
While she had been working tirelessly and caring for him, he had been living such a disgusting life. Not only wasting money and loafing around, but mocking his wife, calling her foolish and gullible. And several times, Anna had noticed the smell of alcohol on him, but he assured her it was medicine and that he drank nothing because he had to take care of his health to get back on his feet quickly.
Perhaps Maxim was right. She was indeed too trusting, blindly believing every word he said without ever doubting his honesty.
“Didn’t you hear me? Get out of my apartment,” Anna repeated, looking him straight in the eyes.
“Anna, why are you getting so angry over such a little thing? Well, my friends came over, had a few drinks. Why the hysterics? Everything’s fine. I haven’t done anything wrong to anyone.”
Anna laughed, unable to contain her emotions. She thought she shouldn’t lose her temper, but how could she control the flood of raging feelings? How could she hold herself together?
“Nothing wrong? You really think everything was just fine? Fine… I don’t want to talk to you right now. Pack your things and get out. Or do you want me to call my brother for help?”
Maxim feared Anna’s brother. The young man worked in law enforcement and was an imposing presence. He had once said that if Maxim ever dared to hurt his sister, he would deal with him. Since then, just the thought of them meeting made Maxim shiver.
“Why are you getting so worked up? Let’s talk and settle this peacefully. We love each other, right? This is all a misunderstanding. I’m better now, and tomorrow I’ll go look for a job. Give me one more chance, Anna. I promise I’ll change.”
Her grandmother often said that only the grave could straighten a hunchback. Now Anna felt she had been right. She had no desire to continue talking to her husband. All she wanted was to be alone. She insisted on her decision, making Maxim pack his things and leave. Her heart ached, but a decisive step had to be taken to avoid even deeper regret later.
Thinking it over with a clear head, Anna decided not to change her mind and to divorce Maxim. The man had exploited her naivety and kindness enough, and it was time to end it. Her mother-in-law took the daughter-in-law’s side, saying Anna was doing the right thing. She didn’t defend her son, stating that he was to blame for losing a woman who truly loved him and could have preserved the family hearth.
Maxim had no choice but to go back to work, as his mother wasn’t going to support him and told him to be grateful for the roof over his head instead of being thrown out. Taking advantage of his wife’s trust and living off her, he had destroyed his family.
He realized it too late—and that he could no longer get Anna back. Anna, however, was not despairing: she knew this was merely a trial, and life had not stopped. She just needed to be more cautious in the future and not trust words alone.
