“How my husband carried on an affair for years under the guise of volleyball, until I invited his mistress into our home and tore their lies to shreds”
Anna and Maxim had been living together for seventeen years. Everything seemed fine, but lately, things had been going somewhat off. It was as if some spark, some special charm, had vanished.
He used to look at her with fiery eyes—but now…
—Mom, where’s my blue sweater? — twelve-year-old Sonya flew into the room.
Anna snapped out of her thoughts:
—In the closet. On the second shelf.
—Thanks! — Sonya dashed out as quickly as she had appeared.
Anna smiled. Children—perhaps the best thing she and Maxim had. Her gaze fell on the clock. Maxim should be home from work soon. Anna went to the kitchen. Dinner needed to be prepared. As she chopped vegetables for a salad, her thoughts drifted again. Everything seemed fine. They lived in harmony, rarely argued. But it all felt empty.
A door slammed, pulling her out of her reflections.
—I’m home! — Maxim’s voice called out.
He entered the kitchen, kissed Anna on the cheek, and ruffled Misha’s hair.
—How’s it going, my little artist? — he asked his son.
—Fine, — Misha mumbled.
—And how was your day? — Anna asked.
—The usual, — Maxim opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. — A lot of work, two meetings. Oh, and Petrovich called, inviting me to volleyball on Saturday.
Anna tensed. He had been going to volleyball far too often lately. He hadn’t been interested in sports before, and now he even canceled family plans just to play.
—Are you going?
—Yeah, — Maxim took a sip of water.
Anna silently nodded.
—Dad, will you teach me to play volleyball? — Misha asked.
Maxim smiled:
—Of course, son. Once you grow a bit, I’ll definitely teach you.
—Why not now? — Misha pouted.
—Because it’s dinner time, — Anna intervened. — Now, off to wash your hands!
Reluctantly, Misha climbed down from the chair and shuffled to the bathroom.
Anna set the table, and the whole family gathered for dinner. Afterward, Maxim helped clear the table and put Misha to bed. Anna stayed in the kitchen washing dishes. When she finished, she went to the bedroom. Maxim was already lying in bed.
As she joined him, her eyes fell on her husband’s phone. The screen lit up—a new message had arrived.
—Who’s texting you so late?
Maxim glanced quickly at the phone and reached for it.
—Petrovich, about volleyball.
But Anna had already noticed that the sender’s name was female. A sharp pang hit her. Who was this woman? Why had Maxim lied?
All the next day, Anna was on edge. Work wouldn’t stick. Her thoughts kept returning to that mysterious message. She tried to convince herself it was nothing, but then why lie? Her doubts deepened when she decided to unpack her husband’s suitcase.
Inside, she found a second phone. Why did he need another device? Anna took it in her hands, her fingers trembling. She opened the messenger. At the very top was a conversation with a woman.
Olga was at the top. The last message was from last night. Anna began reading:
—Tomorrow at seven? I miss you.
And it was all in that tone. Anna read and couldn’t believe it. Tears streamed down her cheeks. How had she not noticed? What should she do now? Confront Maxim? Cause a scene? Or try to save the family?
That evening, Anna left Sonya in charge at home. She decided to go to the sports complex where Maxim trained. She waited a long time, and eventually saw her husband with a blonde. She recognized the woman from the messages. In person, she was even more beautiful.
—Can I help you? — a voice behind her spoke.
Anna startled and turned. A man in a tracksuit stood before her.
—I… um… — Anna hesitated. — How can I sign up for training?
The coach looked at her skeptically:
—We take new members on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today’s session is closed for the regular group.
—Ah, I see, — Anna muttered. — Then I guess I’ll go.
Anna hurried to the exit, got into her car, and buried her head on the steering wheel. The tears she’d held back all day finally fell. She stirred when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Anna flinched and pulled out the device. On the screen was a message from Maxim:
“I’ll be late. Don’t wait for dinner.”
Anna stared at the screen. Inside, everything boiled over. Lies. Lies again. She clenched the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. Enough of being the naive fool. It was time to act. She started the car and drove off. She would no longer sit idly by and let Maxim fool her.
She—a mother of two, a strong woman—knew her worth. She would not allow even the man she loved to deceive her.
Anna calculated which day she could go to the sports complex with Olga. In the lobby, she saw the same blonde and mustered the courage to approach her.
—Excuse me, could you tell me where the locker rooms are?
—Of course, go straight and then turn left, — the woman smiled. — Are you new here? I haven’t seen you before.
—Yes, I want to sign up for volleyball, — Anna replied. — Have you been playing long?
—About three years. We have a great team and an excellent coach.
—Really? — Anna tried to make her voice sound interested.
Anna struggled to keep her composure. She and Olga chatted a little, and then Anna signed up for the training sessions. It was a perfect moment—her husband was supposed to leave on a business trip.
Anna began visiting the sports complex regularly. Gradually, she grew closer to Olga. They often stayed after practice just to sit and chat. The woman told her everything about Maxim: how he courted her, how he complained about life at home, about the monotony, how his wife nagged him. Anna swallowed it all silently.
It was terrifying to think that her husband had seemingly suffered like that all his life. Why had he even stayed in the family, she wondered? And her anger toward Maxim only grew.
—I’m so tired of waiting, — Olga sighed. — When will he finally leave that fool of a wife?
Anna listened, clenching her fists under the table. Every word cut like a knife. But she kept smiling, pretending to sympathize with her new friend. Inside, she was boiling with anger and pain. She couldn’t bear to believe that Maxim could betray their family so easily.
—Well, you know, — Anna began, — maybe he just needs time? Maybe he doesn’t even know what he wants.
Olga sighed and leaned back in her chair.
—This has been going on for almost a year. I’m tired of waiting. I want him to finally make a decision. But he keeps stalling, saying it’s because of the kids. Everything’s complicated. And I’m not getting any younger, you know?
Anna nodded, though inside she was screaming. She imagined Maxim—her husband, the father of her children—sitting somewhere with this woman. How could he? How could he do this?
—Or maybe he just doesn’t want to leave his family? — Anna asked. — He still loves his wife, after all?
Olga laughed.
—If he loved her, he wouldn’t be with me. They’ve been living like neighbors for a long time.
Anna was on the verge of tears but held herself together.
—Then make it clear to him that you won’t wait forever. Maybe that will push him to finally decide.
Olga nodded.
—You’re right. I’ve been too soft with him. It’s time to make a decision.
Anna smiled, though her chest tightened with pain. How disgusting it was to hear Olga describe the hardships of being a married man’s mistress. Yet she loved Maxim deeply and was willing to wait for him.
But Anna decided it was time to end this farce.
She invited Olga over for a supposed cup of tea. When Maxim returned from work, he froze at the doorway, seeing them together.
—Olya? What are you doing here?
Anna stood and smiled.
—We’re just discussing with your “other half” how you plan to leave your “fool of a wife.”
Maxim’s face went pale. Olga jumped up, staring at Anna in shock.
—You’re his wife? — she stammered.
—Yes, the very “fool” you’ve been dreaming of replacing, — Anna replied, turning her gaze to Maxim. — No need for excuses. I’m filing for divorce.
—Anna, don’t — Maxim began.
—No. You lied to me for a whole year, and I won’t tolerate it anymore. And don’t think you’ll get off easy. I demand full custody of the children and the majority of our assets. You destroyed everything yourself. Now live with the consequences.
In the end, Maxim was left with almost nothing. Anna received the house, the main part of the savings, and full custody of the children. Maxim even had to pay alimony.
And Olga ended her relationship with Maxim. Anna, on the other hand, was ready to start anew. She would never break. And she would smile, just to spite her enemies.
