— What about a joint account? — asked Anastasia, knowing that Viktor would likely suggest it very soon.
— If you agree to a joint account, insist on separate management. And don’t sign anything without my consultation, — Elena Sergeyevna advised firmly. — That’s all; I’ll be in touch!
Anastasia slowly arranged the buns on the counter, checking that no crumbs had fallen off. The warm scent of freshly baked dough filled the small shop, cozy like a little home corner where one always wants to linger. She recalled how, as a child, she used to help her parents in the same store: her mother taught her how to display the goods, and her father explained how to count money. Everything was going according to plan: her parents were preparing her for adult life, and then… then it happened.
The bell jingled. In walked Anna Petrovna — an old lady with a hunched back, yet with a look as if she too had once been young and beautiful.
— Good morning, Anna Petrovna! — Anastasia greeted with a delighted smile. — As always, a loaf of Borodinsky and a pack of cottage cheese?
— Oh, Nastya, — the old woman looked at her thoughtfully, almost with all her heart. — You always remember what I need. That’s why I love your shop. It’s like being at home, you know? Not like in a store, but like with family.
Nastya sighed softly. This was her little corner of the world, where she didn’t have to pretend. People didn’t come by the clock, nor did they just say “hello” and “goodbye”; warmth was felt at every step. Anastasia knew almost every customer by name, and for many, this shop was not just a place to buy groceries. It was a meeting place where news was discussed, where everyone knew something about each other.
When the morning rush subsided, Nastya allowed herself a moment to rest. She sat on an old wooden chair by the wall and began to ponder. Today marked three years. Three years since her parents died in a car accident. The store was left to her. And all these years, Nastya herself didn’t know how she managed. All she had was this shop, which was her entire life, her entire memory.
At that moment, the phone rang. She hadn’t managed to tear herself away from her thoughts when her husband’s name appeared on the screen.
— Hi, Vitya, — she answered calmly.
— Nastya, when are you finishing? — Viktor’s voice was a bit tense, as if he were hiding something.
— As always, at seven. What’s up?
— Excellent! I have a surprise for you, — he slowed his speech slightly, as if he could hardly believe what he’d just said. — Let’s meet at our little restaurant at eight?
Nastya froze for a second. What surprise now?
— Alright, — she smiled. — I’ll be waiting.
It seemed like an ordinary conversation, yet with one simple “alright,” Viktor managed to stir her soul. They had been together for three years, and he could still surprise her. It was pleasant. But worry also began to build. In recent months, nothing had been going right. Vitya stayed at home, developing ideas for his startup, while Nastya did everything she could to avoid thinking about the fact that the family needed money.
Evening. Restaurant. Anastasia entered, scanned the hall, and immediately noticed him. Viktor was sitting at a far table, holding a glass of wine in his hand. He looked strange — focused, but with a glimmer in his eyes.
— Hello, dear, — Nastya kissed him on the cheek. — So, what’s the surprise?
Viktor smiled like a child who had just discovered a secret.
— Nastya, I found an investor! For my startup! — he announced so loudly that everyone around fell silent for a moment.
— Vitya, that’s amazing! — Anastasia exclaimed, not even having time to think. — You did it!
Viktor bit his lip slightly, studying her with a mysterious look. Then, as if he had resolved to say something important:
— There’s one “but.” To show I’m serious, I must invest in the project too. And I need… — he fell silent, shifting his gaze to her face as if waiting for her reaction.
Nastya felt something constrict in her chest. Investments. Money. And now she wasn’t sure if this was truly a surprise.
— Really? — she asked restrainedly. — How much do you need?
— Think big scale, — Viktor grinned. — In short, we need a little for the start. But I’ve already calculated everything. This is a chance, Nastya, a chance we can’t miss.
Anastasia felt as if everything inside her froze. She already suspected that this was the moment when everything would go awry, when her husband’s words would change not only their lives but her entire perception of the world.
— Maybe we should sell your store? — Viktor proposed casually, as if it were a simple decision like changing curtains. — We invest the money in my project, and in a year or two we’ll be millionaires!
Nastya felt her soul clench into a knot. Sell the store? The only remnant of her parents? The only place that brought even a hint of stability in her life? She froze for a moment, unable to believe he could propose such a thing.
— Vitya, you’re out of your mind! You know what this store means to me, — she replied, barely restraining her voice from breaking into pain.
— Oh, come on, Nastya! — Viktor waved his hand dismissively, as if it were nothing. — It’s just a building and some goods. And we have a chance to truly get rich!
Anastasia shook her head, struggling to keep the tears at bay.
— No, Vitya, — her words were like a knife to the heart. — I can’t. This store isn’t just a business. It’s a memory of my parents; it’s a part of me. I have stability, reputation, and all that is here, in this store. Do you really think your project is more important than what I do?
Viktor frowned, his face hardening like stone.
— Alright, let’s at least discuss it at home, — he said, as if it were about buying a new car. — You’ll look at the business plan and understand our prospects.
Nastya closed her eyes. She knew this was not heading towards anything good. But how could she refuse her husband when his eyes burned with that crazy, fiery passion? She gave in, agreed. But inside her, something was broken.
Then came weeks when Viktor wouldn’t stop preaching his project; every morning he started with talks about his project, numbers, graphs. Every day she heard his voice becoming more insistent.
— Nastya, you must understand, the little store is outdated, — Viktor said, emphasizing the futility of their old life. — But my project is a step into the future. Imagine, we’ll have a chain all over Russia!
But the more he insisted, the stronger Nastya resisted. Something in his words set off alarms in her, and her husband’s behavior grew stranger. Viktor became increasingly irritable, often locking himself in his study or whispering to someone on the phone. And then he started dodging her questions like avoiding an unpleasant subplot.
One day, while passing through the corridor by chance, Nastya overheard a conversation that sent chills down her spine.
— Don’t worry, Kolya, — Viktor said in a steady, cold voice. — Everything is going according to plan. This fool will soon agree to sell the store. And then we’ll quickly arrange the divorce, and the money will be ours.
Nastya froze. Her heart felt as if it had leaped out of her chest. How? How could he? How could he do this to her, to the woman who had believed in him all these years, supported him even when things were tough? Her mind filled with chaos. Her hands began to tremble, and inside her, everything was crumbling.
Gathering her last strength, she quietly went to the bedroom and locked herself in, trying to decide what to do. She needed time. Time to pull herself together. She felt the world collapsing around her.
Days passed in a haze. She continued to go to the store, smile at customers, but her gaze was empty. Everything inside her screamed, yet she remained silent. Anger, disappointment, pain — it was too much for one woman. And then something within her snapped. She decided she would take revenge.
Viktor continued to build his airy castles. He didn’t even notice how his wife was changing. How her gaze became cold and her smile hollow.
— Nastya, just think about it, — he said at dinner, continuing his confident act. — Why do we need this little store when we can build an entire chain? You’ll manage everything, not just stand behind the counter like before.
Anastasia nodded silently, while a plan was already forming in her mind. She decided to play along to buy time, to protect her only asset — the store. Time was her ally, while Viktor… Viktor turned out not to be the man she had loved. Or perhaps she had never truly loved him. It didn’t matter. What mattered now was not to lose what belonged to her and her parents.
— You know, Vitya, — Nastya said the next day, — you were right about the store.
Viktor beamed, not understanding what was happening, but instantly anticipating his victory.
— Really? You agree to sell it? — his voice wavered; he was already ready to celebrate.
Nastya paused, choosing her words carefully so as not to give herself away. She decided to take a step back, yet at the same time put him in his place.
— Well, not exactly, — she replied, feigning contemplation. — I was thinking… maybe we should register the store in both our names? So we can develop the business together?
Viktor froze for a moment, not expecting such a twist. He even looked a bit flustered, but quickly regained his composure. What a chance! He couldn’t let it slip away.
— That’s… a great idea, dear! I knew you’d understand! — he immediately embraced Anastasia, and she barely managed a smile, feeling everything inside her tighten. An overwhelming disgust for that gesture filled her completely.
— Let’s start the paperwork tomorrow, — Viktor suggested, unaware that his wife was already executing her plan.
— Of course, my love, — she replied, maintaining the expression he needed to see. — I’ll organize everything myself.
The next day, Nastya went to the lawyer. But not for the documents Viktor expected. She was preparing papers so that, in the event of a divorce, she could protect her property. The store was her last support, and she couldn’t let it go away so easily.
That evening, she returned home and, as usual, found Viktor on the phone. Seeing her, he quickly ended his call and, trying to look nonchalant, asked:
— How are things, dear? Did you manage to sort out the documents?
Nastya nodded, almost forcing a false note of sincerity:
— Yes, everything is going as planned. Soon our store will be the beginning of something bigger, — her smile was so strained that even she felt it was barely holding on.
Viktor’s face lit up at her smile:
— I knew you’d understand! Together, we can move mountains!
And Nastya nodded quietly, already mentally preparing for the longest and harshest battle of her life. Not for money. Not for love. For the future.
A couple of days later, she met with a family lawyer at a café. Elena Sergeyevna, a woman with a stern look and a businesslike manner, immediately got down to business.
— The situation is complicated, but there is a way out, — she said, leading Nastya toward the only right decision. — You need to act quickly, but in such a way that it doesn’t raise your husband’s suspicions. Everything must be smooth as clockwork.
The lawyer advised gathering all the documents proving that the store was inherited by Nastya. Also, she needed to secure a will so that, even if something went wrong, the store remained hers.
— What about a joint account? — Anastasia asked, knowing that Viktor would likely suggest it very soon.
— If you agree to a joint account, insist on separate management. And don’t sign anything without my consultation, — Elena Sergeyevna advised sternly. — That’s all; I’ll be in touch!
Nastya returned home, full of determination. And, as she had predicted, Viktor soon began talking about finances. But now Nastya was prepared for his manipulations.
— Nastya, I was thinking, — he began, trying to give his tone a relaxed feel, — maybe we should combine our finances? Open a joint account to develop the business?
Anastasia pretended to ponder. Her face remained calm, while inside the calculations were already running.
— You know, that’s an interesting idea. Let’s discuss the details tomorrow? I’m a bit tired today.
Viktor agreed, pleased that his wife hadn’t rejected his proposal. He certainly didn’t know that Nastya had already taken her first step.
Viktor sat there with a stony expression, trying to hide his confusion. He was convinced that everything was going according to plan. In his mind, he already pictured how he would take over the store, turn it into a successful business, while Anastasia… wouldn’t understand how real life works anyway. Yet something inside Viktor warned him to be cautious. But he didn’t heed that thought — it was too late to believe in its correctness.
Nastya wasn’t in a hurry. She acted, as always, without unnecessary fuss. The business was in her hands; everything was documented. Every step, every document — she had verified it all. Viktor had no claim to the store. He was merely part of her personal life, and her business was entirely separate. It was her inheritance, her protection.
Each day, Viktor became more confident and increasingly careless. The more he shared his dreams of “our” future, the less she wanted to listen to his voice. But she kept her composure and waited.
Then came the moment. Viktor came home with papers to sign — what he thought was the final step.
— Nastya, I’ve prepared documents to transfer your inheritance to our joint account, — he said, spreading the papers out on the table. — Let’s sign, and begin a new chapter in our lives!
Anastasia took the documents, pretending to study them carefully. But her thoughts were far away. She looked up at Viktor and uttered words that turned his face as white as a sheet of paper.
— Viktor, I know about your plans to divorce me and take over my business.
Viktor paled, his gaze darkening as if he realized everything had collapsed in an instant.
— What? What are you talking about? — his voice trembled; he couldn’t believe this was happening.
— I heard your conversation with Nikolai, — Anastasia replied calmly, not taking her eyes off him. — You called me “a fool” and discussed how quickly to arrange the divorce after selling the store.
Viktor tried to justify himself, but all his words sounded like pathetic attempts to hide from the truth.
— Nastya, you’ve misunderstood! It was just a joke…
— Stop lying, Viktor, — Anastasia interrupted. — I know everything. And I won’t let you take what belongs to me and my family.
She pulled other documents from her bag — the ones Viktor never expected to see. Papers that would shatter his plans.
— Here are the divorce and property division papers. The store remains entirely mine, just as it was before our marriage. You can take everything we’ve acquired together over these three years.
Viktor, dumbfounded, stared at her, unable to comprehend how everything could have happened.
— You… you were pretending all this time?
— I learned from the best, — Anastasia bitterly smiled. — From you.
Viktor didn’t know what to say. He tried to object, but Anastasia cut him off like an inconvenient remark.
— Don’t bother. I’ve already consulted with a lawyer. All the documents are in order, and you won’t be able to claim my business.
Viktor slumped into a chair. His shoulders sank, like someone who has just had everything he valued ripped away. He looked at her, understanding that he had lost.
— And now what? — he asked, his voice barely audible.
— Now you’ll sign these papers and leave, — Anastasia stated firmly, looking at him without the slightest hesitation. — I’ll give you a week to pack your things and find a new place.
Viktor silently signed the papers, holding neither hope nor strength in his hands. When he looked up at Anastasia, his gaze held not only defeat but something resembling respect.
— I underestimated you, Nastya.
— That was your biggest mistake, — she replied, opening the front door as if inviting him into a new reality that no longer had room for him.
After Viktor left, Anastasia felt an odd emptiness. It seemed that all those three years they had spent together were a lie, sealed in moments foreign to her. But with that bitterness came an amazing relief — as if she had shed a heavy burden that had been suffocating her.
The next day, as if to prove her new life, Anastasia arrived at the store earlier than usual. She walked along the aisles, inhaling the familiar scents of fresh bread and coffee. This was her world, her baby, her soul. And now she had managed to protect it. Almost like a symbol of her victory.
At that moment, Anna Petrovna entered the shop to buy some fresh cottage cheese. She immediately noticed something was off.
— Nastya, are you all right? You look a bit tired, — the old woman inquired, inspecting the owner.
Anastasia smiled, but her eyes were as cold as glass.
— Everything’s fine, Anna Petrovna. I’m just… starting a new chapter in my life, — she said calmly, but there was a firmness in her voice that made the old woman fall silent.
— Well, as long as our little store isn’t going anywhere. We’ve grown fond of it, — Anna Petrovna said, nodding and sighing.
Anastasia abruptly interrupted her:
— Don’t worry, the store isn’t going anywhere. On the contrary, I’ll make it even better!
Anastasia immersed herself in work as if it were a life-saving abyss. The interior of the shop was updated, the assortment expanded, and local farm products and delivery services for the elderly were added. And as strange as it may sound, people began to love her even more. She became not just a seller, but the true mistress of her own business, her own world.
Time flew by. The business thrived, and Anastasia was happier than ever before. She wasn’t just selling groceries. She had created a place where people felt at home, where they could stop and talk. There was something uniquely special, familiar, and important about that.
One day, while going through old photographs, Anastasia came across a picture of her with her parents posing in front of the newly opened store. Back then, everyone had hoped that the business would not fail, but would bring happiness and stability.
— Thank you, — she whispered, caressing the photo. — I managed to keep the little store afloat. And I’ll do everything to keep your legacy alive and thriving.
When evening came and Nastya, as usual, was closing the store, she accidentally noticed her reflection in the display window. At first she didn’t recognize herself. But it was her — strong, confident, genuine. All the pain, humiliation, betrayals… they were left behind somewhere. And Nastya realized that she had gone through it all and emerged stronger than ever.
— I suppose I’ve grown up, — she murmured to herself, smiling.
Locking up the store, she headed home, full of new plans and hopes. There was so much ahead in her life. And now, more than ever, she wanted to see what fate had in store for her.
Six months later, by chance, Nastya met Viktor. He looked completely different from before. Deep wrinkles had appeared, and his gaze was lost.
— Hello, Nastya, — Viktor said uncertainly. — How are you?
Anastasia gave a reserved smile.
— Fine. And you?
Viktor shrugged, his look tired.
— I’ve been better… You know, I… I wanted to apologize. You were right about me.
Anastasia raised her eyes to her ex-husband. He stood before her like a shadow of the past.
— Thank you for apologizing, Vitya. I hope you learned a lesson from all of this.
Viktor nodded, as if in a gesture of contrition.
— Yes, I learned… You taught me that honesty and hard work are worth more than any schemes or tricks.
Anastasia smiled, but her smile was as brief as a shadow.
— Glad to hear that. Good luck, Vitya.
As soon as Viktor left, Anastasia felt a strange relief. The past had let her go, like an old blanket that no longer kept her warm.
With renewed strength, she returned to work. She had plans, she had dreams. And now she truly believed that everything would work out. Everything would definitely work out.
Anastasia smiled and looked toward the future. Life went on.