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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Marina lowered her head, fully aware of the futility of her visit. Even if her mother-in-law had left something for her grandson, her ex-husband would inevitably take it for himself.<\/p>\n
Now he had another woman who occupied all his thoughts and time. Anton had not only forgotten about the existence of his son, but he also burdened Marina with enormous mortgage debts.<\/p>\n
The situation with the apartment was rather mysterious. The home they had bought together was now a refuge for Anton and his new lover, while Marina was left with the obligation to pay the mortgage.<\/p>\n
Of course, she could refuse to move out, even involving the police to protect her rights, but Anton and his lover threatened to make her life a real nightmare. And if she valued her child even a little, they said, she should pack her things and disappear.<\/p>\n
Marina had no illusions about her ex-husband. Two years of marriage had taught her a lot. Her mother-in-law, Elena Pavlovna, had always sympathized with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDarling, why did you tie your life to him? You\u2019ve only ruined your fate,\u201d she often said.<\/p>\n
Elena Pavlovna supported her as much as she could, but secretly from her son. Anton had long taken control of the family business, pushing his mother aside. However, in one thing Elena Pavlovna remained adamant\u2014she refused to transfer the business to her son, no matter how much he tried to convince her.<\/p>\n
One day, Marina accidentally overheard their conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I don\u2019t understand why you\u2019re still dealing with taxes and paperwork. I\u2019ve been managing everything myself for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnton, I asked you not to bring this up. You can consider it my insurance against a pauper\u2019s old age.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that what you think of me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly that. And deep down, you know I\u2019m right. When I\u2019m gone, you can do whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, calling their affair a \u201cbusiness\u201d was somewhat of an exaggeration. Elena Pavlovna had a workshop for making and restoring carpets. With the right approach, the business could thrive\u2014there was no other similar workshop in their town, and nothing like it existed in neighboring towns either.<\/p>\n
But Anton was more interested in short-term gain. He even contributed only part of the necessary sum for the mortgage, while Marina and her mother-in-law made up the rest.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the property, all the deposits, and the workshop itself go to Anton,\u201d the notary read aloud.<\/p>\n
Marina flinched. Her husband burst into triumphant laughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s quite logical. How, Marina, do you plan to pay off the mortgage? Anya and I have a lot of plans for this money. Though, why am I asking? \u2014 The loan is in your name. So, figure it out!\u201d<\/p>\n
Now they both laughed together. The notary gave Marina a sympathetic glance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother-in-law left you a letter.\u201d<\/p>\n
A new burst of laughter rang out in the office.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow Marina is going to read it! Oh, hold on! And cry!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and my mother were just perfect for each other,\u201d Anton hissed. \u201cBy the evening, remove all your things from the apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina raised her eyes to her soon-to-be ex-husband.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already taken everything. You can live in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anton\u2019s face froze, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve become too cheeky.\u201d<\/p>\n
The notary stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnton Grigoryevich, please leave the office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019re leaving. We\u2019ve got nothing else to do here,\u201d he sneered.<\/p>\n
Marina left a minute later. Sitting down in the reception area, she unfolded her mother-in-law\u2019s letter.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear, don\u2019t think about despair. I\u2019ve taken care of you and the grandson. I had to act secretly, so my son wouldn\u2019t find out anything. Read my instructions carefully. At this very notary, you will receive an envelope with documents confirming full payment of the mortgage. At the divorce proceedings, present them to the judge, so the apartment will be awarded to you.<\/p>\n
The notary knows and will help arrange everything properly. In court, say that you intend to sell the property\u2014it\u2019s truly not worth living there. In the town where I was born, my first love lives. We\u2019ve never lost contact, and he\u2019s always supported me from afar.<\/p>\n
Right after the divorce, go there. Find him\u2014he\u2019ll show you your new apartment and a small workshop similar to the one here. It\u2019s already up and running.<\/p>\n
Further success depends entirely on you. You\u2019ll also find money in the envelope. It will be enough for you and the little one for a couple of years, and after that\u2014you\u2019ll manage on your own. I couldn\u2019t take out more unnoticed. And please, if you ever decide to remarry, choose a worthy man. I believe everything will turn out well for you. As for Anton\u2014he\u2019s a carbon copy of his father. You can\u2019t fool genetics.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll manage. Leave here for sure. Once you\u2019re on your feet, people like my son will no longer pose a threat to you. Anton, like his father, can only hurt those weaker than him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina wiped away her tears, sat for another minute, and then returned to the notary\u2019s office. The elderly man smiled warmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve completely transformed! I hope it stays that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaving the building, Marina immediately got into the taxi she had ordered in advance, not wanting to disturb her son\u2014he was already tired enough. The car stopped near a neat little house.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve arrived,\u201d said the young driver. \u201cPlease be careful not to wake the baby, and I\u2019ll help with the luggage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina smiled gratefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
A man with a cane was hurrying toward the car\u2014judging by his age, he was Elena Pavlovna\u2019s first love. The driver handed Marina a business card.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall me anytime, I\u2019ll come right away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you very much,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n
The car drove off, and Marina turned to meet the man.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Marina. Please, come in. You must be tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, a little.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I almost forgot to introduce myself! My name is Pavel Pavlovich. That\u2019s how my parents joked with their son.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man turned out to be quite pleasant and polite.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll feed you now, and you can rest today. Tomorrow Vera, my sister, will come. She\u2019s an amazing woman, she worked in a kindergarten all her life. She still misses the little ones. She\u2019ll sit with your son, and we\u2019ll take care of some urgent matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nVera Pavlovna really turned out to be a wonderful person. Something in her reminded Marina of Elena Pavlovna\u2014kind-hearted, calm, but with a strong inner core. She instantly became fond of Kirill.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, what a miracle!\u201d she marveled. \u201cWe\u2019ll be friends, won\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n
The three-month-old baby smiled toothlessly, causing the new nanny to gush with affection.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, just take care of your things calmly. Everything will be fine: I\u2019ll feed him, we\u2019ll go for a walk, and I\u2019ll organize everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina just smiled in response, feeling completely confused. Completely unfamiliar people surrounded her with care and attention, something she had never known in her life.<\/p>\n
Pavel Pavlovich explained in detail what she should do so that during the divorce, she wouldn\u2019t have to share what Elena Pavlovna had left her. Things went smoothly. Sergey, the taxi driver, waited for her at the gates every morning, drove her to work, brought her back, and categorically refused to take money.<\/p>\n
Marina felt very awkward. Pavel Pavlovich teased her.<\/p>\n
\u201cEh, Marina, you\u2019ve broken our local taxi driver\u2019s heart!\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina embarrassedly waved him off.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, he recently started working in a taxi. Their factory closed, and he used to work there as an engineer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, what details! How does he feel about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I\u2019m worried about other things. Besides, there\u2019s the divorce ahead, and a meeting with Anton\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina hadn\u2019t moved into the apartment Elena Pavlovna had bought for her, so no one would find out about it too early. She dove headfirst into the business matters at the workshop, which had only just begun.<\/p>\n
Part of the money her mother-in-law had left her, Marina invested in the business\u2019s development. They expanded their product range, bought more materials, and ordered advertising.<\/p>\n
The turnover grew. People were amazed at the quality of the work and told their friends how inexpensive and high-quality the carpets were. Marina felt they lacked staff and space, but in a month, the divorce proceedings were scheduled. They had been denied divorce the first time due to the minor child, but Marina no longer wanted to carry Anton\u2019s surname.<\/p>\n
She felt free, strong, and capable of doing a lot. Finally, the court date was set. Marina was about to return to her hometown. Vera Pavlovna gave her some advice:<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, keep your head high. Show him who\u2019s boss, so he never dares to hurt women again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going too,\u201d said Pavel Pavlovich. \u201cWho else will support you? After all, I have education and experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it\u2019s decided,\u201d smiled Sergey, who often dropped by for tea. \u201cI\u2019ll drive everyone, and of course, I\u2019ll support you however I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina looked at them, confused, and then burst into tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear ones, thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sergey looked at Marina with concern and confusion. He was completely flustered, not knowing how to react, but the sight of her tears definitely bothered him.<\/p>\n
Vera Pavlovna sniffed as well, holding little Kirill to her chest. Pavel Pavlovich stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s enough. You women are strange. Everything\u2019s going well, and yet you\u2019re crying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anton was beside himself with rage. The regular siphoning of money from the workshop led to the inevitable result\u2014now there was nothing to pay the employees. People were quitting, openly expressing their dissatisfaction. And then his ex-wife showed up. He definitely hadn\u2019t expected that.<\/p>\n
He had been told to wait a year for the divorce, and he carelessly dismissed it: \u201cWe\u2019ll wait, let\u2019s wait!\u201d But this crazy woman had filed for divorce herself. He thought she\u2019d be crying somewhere in an alley, but she was heading for divorce!<\/p>\n
Interesting. Maybe she\u2019s hoping to get something? Nonsense, what could she get? The apartment? He had already clearly explained what would happen to her if she tried. No, there was something else. She probably just wanted to remind him of herself, maybe hoping to return. But he had no time for that.<\/p>\n
Anton didn\u2019t remember the last time he had a good night\u2019s sleep. He spent the days in the workshop and the evenings with Anya, who seemed to never tire of wasting money. And soon there would be no more of that money.<\/p>\n
He thought about all this while sitting in the courtroom, waiting for Marina. Of course, Anya was there. Always watching, making sure nothing happened without her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnton, look, she\u2019s coming,\u201d Anya whispered.<\/p>\n
He looked up. Marina was entering the room. Something subtle had changed in her\u2014her posture, her gaze. She had gotten a new haircut and changed her hair color. Her clothes also looked unusual for her. If he had met her on the street, he might not have recognized her. Although he would have definitely noticed\u2014how did she manage to transform like that?<\/p>\n
Marina wasn\u2019t alone. She had come with an elderly man who, as it turned out, represented her interests. So, she had managed to find money for a lawyer. And another companion, younger, made Anton feel uneasy. Could it be that Marina had already started an affair? That seemed impossible\u2014she wasn\u2019t like that, she couldn\u2019t be capable of something like that.<\/p>\n
Anya leaned in to Anton\u2019s ear:<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, your ex is really something. How long has it been? Only four months?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up!\u201d he hissed.<\/p>\n
Anya turned away offended, and Anton sighed with longing, realizing he would now have to beg for forgiveness. He noticed how the elderly man passed some papers to the judge. The judge studied them, nodded, and tapped his gavel.<\/p>\n
Throughout the proceedings, Anton had the feeling that the whole thing was unreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat nonsense are you spouting?!\u201d he finally couldn\u2019t hold back. \u201cThis is my apartment! I\u2019m not giving it to anyone. Hey, you!\u201d<\/p>\n
He rushed toward Marina, but her young companion immediately stepped between them, and within a second, Anton was escorted out of the room.<\/p>\n
The trial was over, and Anton realized he was homeless. What was happening? What a ridiculous situation! Now Marina was putting the apartment up for sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what now?\u201d Anya was standing next to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ll go back to my mom\u2019s house while you sort out your problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo your mom\u2019s? I thought we were together, facing difficulties as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe? What are you talking about? I have enough of my own problems. Why would I want yours too?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anton watched as Anya left. He was left with one option\u2014to give Marina the money for the apartment. He couldn\u2019t afford to be on the street. He remembered seeing information online about a workshop similar to his own, but it was successfully operating in another city.<\/p>\n
His business was practically bankrupt. He had to go and offer them his business for sale. They should agree, so he could get rid of a competitor.<\/p>\n
Anton hurried home to search for contacts. He had only two weeks left.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, come in, they\u2019re waiting for you,\u201d the secretary smiled warmly.<\/p>\n
Anton thought, \u201cWhat do they do here that makes this workshop so successful?\u201d He noticed that there was active construction in the yard\u2014they were obviously expanding production.<\/p>\n
Three days ago, he had sent his proposal, and today they invited him for negotiations and possibly to strike a deal. Rumor had it that the director was a very young woman. \u201cOh, how I\u2019d love to have a fling with her,\u201d Anton thought.<\/p>\n
He entered the office and froze. Marina was sitting at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, why are you frozen? Come in,\u201d she said calmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou?!\u201d Anton could barely speak.<\/p>\n
Marina shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it strange to see me here? If you have a business proposal, sit down. If not, sorry, I have a lot of work.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sat down and noticed that same young man, who was leisurely sipping coffee in the corner of the room. Anton finally realized that he wouldn\u2019t be able to negotiate anything here. Obviously, Marina was well aware of all the problems with his workshop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, to hell with all of you!\u201d he jumped up and stormed out of the office.<\/p>\n
Marina looked in surprise at the door that had slammed shut. Sergey approached her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I\u2019ll go and talk to him. I\u2019m sure we can come to an agreement. He\u2019s really in a hopeless situation. So we\u2019ll even manage to revive your mother-in-law\u2019s workshop before our wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Marina lowered her head, fully aware of the futility of her visit. Even if her mother-in-law had left something for her grandson, her ex-husband would inevitably take… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n