Anastasia stared at her husband, trying to keep her calm. She had heard of people doing desperate things for money, but she never imagined Victor would be one of them.
“Please, Vitya, don’t ask me to do this,” she said, her voice trembling. “This shop is everything I have left from my parents. It’s where I grew up, where I learned how to work hard and be proud of what I do.”
Victor’s face darkened, his smile fading. “You’re being sentimental, Nastya. Think about it logically. This is an opportunity for both of us. I love you, but we need to think about our future.”
Anastasia felt her heart race. Was her husband truly so blinded by ambition that he couldn’t see what was truly valuable to her? Was he willing to destroy their lives just for the sake of a fleeting chance at wealth?
“I can’t believe you,” she whispered, standing up from the table. The restaurant, once a place of warmth, now felt suffocating. “You want me to sell everything I’ve worked for just to fuel your latest fantasy?”
Victor stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. “You’re being unreasonable! Don’t you want a better life? Don’t you want to have more than this tiny shop?”
She looked him in the eyes, feeling the weight of betrayal. The man she had loved, the man she had supported through countless tough times, was now asking her to abandon everything she held dear for a dream that wasn’t even hers.
“No,” she said, her voice firm. “I don’t want your money. I want my dignity, my independence, and the memories of my parents. If you think I’m willing to trade all of that for your startup, then maybe we don’t have the same values anymore.”
Victor’s expression turned cold, and he leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Fine,” he said, “but don’t come crying to me when you realize that this shop won’t be enough to secure your future. I gave you a chance, but if you want to stay stuck in the past, then that’s your choice.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Anastasia standing there, her heart heavy with a bitter mix of anger and sorrow.
As the days passed, Anastasia couldn’t shake the conversation from her mind. Victor had made it clear: he was no longer the man she had married. His dreams of wealth and success had consumed him, and he was willing to sacrifice everything they had built together for the chance to start over.
But Anastasia knew one thing for sure: she wasn’t going to let him drag her down with him. The shop might not make her a millionaire, but it was her inheritance, her pride, and her legacy. And no matter what Victor thought, it was worth more than any amount of money.
She took a deep breath, making a silent promise to herself: she would never let someone else’s greed take away what mattered most to her.
The next morning, she made a decision. She would not let Victor dictate her future. She had worked too hard, loved too deeply, and sacrificed too much.
And she would never sell her inheritance. Not for anyone.