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\u2014 I decided to sell the apartment, \u2014 Sasha sprawled on the couch, turning on the TV as if he had just announced the weather.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Just like that? \u2014 Yana froze at the kitchen counter.<\/p>\n
\u2014 The payments are unbearable. Better to sell before we sink into debt.<\/p>\n
Three years ago, Sasha\u2019s apartment had seemed like a great investment. A small one-room place on the outskirts, but theirs. He had taken out the mortgage before their wedding, and they chose to live in Yana\u2019s apartment instead.<\/p>\n
\u2014 How much will we get for it?<\/p>\n
\u2014 About three million. After paying off the mortgage, we\u2019d have around one and a half left.<\/p>\n
Yana calculated. With the down payment and interest, they\u2019d barely break even.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Why not rent it out?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Tenants are a hassle. We sell, register a car and a lot in Mom\u2019s name, and you finish the renovation.<\/p>\n
Something in his tone made Yana wary.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What if I ask my parents to help? They just withdrew money from a deposit.<\/p>\n
Sasha perked up.<\/p>\n
\u2014 How much?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Around seven hundred thousand. As a loan.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Excellent! I\u2019ll call the realtor tomorrow.<\/p>\n
That evening, unease settled in Yana\u2019s chest. The renovation money\u2014eight hundred thousand\u2014had come from her alone. Whenever joint expenses arose, Sasha had excuses.<\/p>\n
Her phone chimed. Maria Romanovna: \u201cYanulya, I\u2019ll drop by tomorrow. We need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
By afternoon, her mother-in-law arrived, setting a bag of pies on the table.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sasha is selling the apartment, I hear?<\/p>\n
\u2014 He decided yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Smart choice. No need for two apartments. It\u2019s just wasted money.<\/p>\n
\u2014 We planned to rent it out.<\/p>\n
\u2014 A risk. Tenants cause trouble. Better to get a lump sum and invest wisely. I have great options.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What options?<\/p>\n
\u2014 We\u2019ll discuss when Sasha arrives.<\/p>\n
The door opened. Sasha entered with a man in a suit.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mom, you\u2019re early. This is our realtor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Good afternoon! I have an offer\u2014a young family ready to put down a deposit tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Yana\u2019s head spun. Sasha had just decided this yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Remember the option I sent you? \u2014 Maria Romanovna prompted. \u2014 If we move quickly, we can reserve it.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What option? \u2014 Yana\u2019s voice sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Just a plot of land, \u2014 Sasha mumbled. \u2014 Let me review the documents.<\/p>\n
All evening, they discussed details. Rather, Sasha, his mother, and the realtor talked, while Yana silently observed. Why wasn\u2019t Sasha negotiating the price? Why were extra documents involved? And why hadn\u2019t he mentioned a plot of land before?<\/p>\n
The next morning, Yana saw Maria Romanovna in Sasha\u2019s car outside. Suspicion grew. She searched online and found the realtor\u2019s listing: a suburban plot, fifteen hundred square meters. Special condition: \u201cPossible registration in a third party\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n
She grabbed her phone.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mom, hold off on that money.<\/p>\n
That evening, she called Natasha, her friend who worked in a bank. Natasha arrived with a determined look.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Tell me everything.<\/p>\n
Yana recounted the rushed sale, the secret land purchase, and her mother-in-law\u2019s increasing influence.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Have any documents been signed?<\/p>\n
\u2014 No, they plan to tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Natasha checked the listing. The plot already had an approved house project.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Has Sasha been working late? Phone on silent?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Yes. How did you know?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Wake up. He\u2019s preparing an escape route. He\u2019s using your money, registering assets under his mom, and contributing nothing here.<\/p>\n
Keys clattered in the hall. Natasha shut her laptop.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Gotta run. We\u2019ll talk tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Sasha eyed her suspiciously.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What was that about?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Work stuff, \u2014 Yana dismissed.<\/p>\n
At dinner, Sasha was oddly cheerful.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Tomorrow, we take the deposit. Full payment in a week.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And the money?<\/p>\n
\u2014 We\u2019ll put it in a bank. Mom said\u2014<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mom again? And what do you think?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mom wouldn\u2019t mislead me.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And that plot? The house you\u2019re planning?<\/p>\n
Sasha froze.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Who told you that?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Takes no genius to guess. You\u2019ve planned everything\u2014behind my back.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Yana, it\u2019s not like that\u2014<\/p>\n
\u2014 Then tell me the truth. Now.<\/p>\n
Sasha hesitated before exhaling sharply.<\/p>\n
\u2014 I got a job offer. In another city. Double salary.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And you never told me?<\/p>\n
\u2014 I was waiting until the sale.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And I had no say in this?<\/p>\n
\u2014 I was afraid you\u2019d refuse.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Of course, I\u2019d refuse! You planned our future without me.<\/p>\n
The doorbell rang. Maria Romanovna strode in.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What\u2019s going on? We finalize tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\u2014 No, we don\u2019t, \u2014 Yana said. \u2014 I canceled the money transfer. Without it, you can\u2019t sell.<\/p>\n
Maria Romanovna flushed.<\/p>\n
\u2014 How dare you? We\u2019ve all decided!<\/p>\n
\u2014 No, you decided. I\u2019ve had enough. Either we do this openly, or not at all.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sasha! Say something!<\/p>\n
Sasha looked down.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Are you with your wife or your mom? \u2014 Yana pressed.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Don\u2019t make him choose! \u2014 Maria Romanovna snapped. \u2014 He\u2019s my son!<\/p>\n
\u2014 And my husband. But you make every decision.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Because I know best!<\/p>\n
\u2014 That\u2019s why you wanted everything in your name?<\/p>\n
\u2014 To keep it safe!<\/p>\n
\u2014 No, to control me. I\u2019m done being a puppet.<\/p>\n
Sasha exhaled.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mom, go home. We need to talk.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Are you canceling everything?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Just go. I\u2019ll handle it.<\/p>\n
After she left, silence settled.<\/p>\n
\u2014 I really thought it was best, \u2014 Sasha murmured.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Best for whom? Yourself? Your mom?<\/p>\n
\u2014 For both of us. The salary is great.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And I have plans too. Did you ever ask?<\/p>\n
Sasha finally met her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What plans?<\/p>\n
\u2014 You never asked. Not once in two months.<\/p>\n
\u2014 You\u2019re right. I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n
Yana sighed.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Let\u2019s fix this. First, we cancel the deal. Then we talk. Together.<\/p>\n
Sasha nodded.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And the apartment?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Rent it out. Cover utilities.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And the job?<\/p>\n
\u2014 We visit, see the conditions. Decide together.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And your renovation?<\/p>\n
\u2014 You\u2019ll finally contribute.<\/p>\n
Sasha chuckled, pulling her close.<\/p>\n
\u2014 No more secrets. No more decisions behind my back.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And your mom?<\/p>\n
\u2014 I\u2019ll handle her. Maybe not today?<\/p>\n
Yana laughed.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Tomorrow, for sure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2014 I decided to sell the apartment, \u2014 Sasha sprawled on the couch, turning on the TV as if he had just announced the weather. \u2014 Just… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n