“Who was that? It’s almost midnight,” Pasha asked his wife with surprise. “Oh, that was my boss,” Alice responded uncertainly. “I have to urgently attend an important work conference.”
“Does it really have to be at midnight? And what kind of conference is this? Are you sure it’s absolutely necessary?” he questioned skeptically.
“Yes, unfortunately, it’s one of the major events in our industry. I simply cannot miss it. The leading experts and the latest innovations will be there,” she explained.
“But you just traveled to a Moscow exhibition last month. Isn’t there anyone else who could go?” Pasha protested.
“I don’t want to go either, but you know how important this is for my career. It’ll only be for a couple of weeks. You understand, right?” Alice pleaded.
Despite his reluctance, Pavel reluctantly agreed, confessing he was beginning to get used to being alone and didn’t enjoy it. They both would miss each other terribly.
Two days later, Pavel helped Alice load her suitcase into a taxi. “I’m off. Love you, don’t be lonely!” she said as she settled into the car.
Opening her phone messaging app, she sent a message to a familiar contact: “I’m leaving home now. Will be at the airport soon.” The reply arrived quickly: “Great! I’m waiting for you in our room. Miss you so much!” along with several flirtatious emojis.
Alice smiled slyly, glancing at her wedding ring. She had lied to her devoted husband once more, though she felt no remorse. Pavel was a wonderful man, but life with him had grown dull. Thoughts of Marat made a pleasant sensation warm in her lower stomach.
What Alice truly longed for were a couple of weeks filled with blazing sun, turquoise sea, and vibrant nights shared with her lover. The conference was merely a convenient excuse to keep Pavel unaware.
“The island felt like a genuine paradise,” she reflected, lying on the beach and watching the waves gleam in the sun.
Enjoying the serene environment, Alice felt blissful spending those precious hours beside Marat.
She observed Marat emerging from the water, his sculpted muscles glistening under the sunlight. His damp skin stirred a wild desire within her. She ached to grab his hand and pull him back to their room for an intimate time together.
A sudden wave of melancholy enveloped Alice. These were the last days of their getaway. She’d told her husband about the conference, claiming she’d relax there as well. Truly, she also longed to escape from him.
Divorce wasn’t immediately on her agenda; she needed to establish a secure foundation first. Finding a lawyer seemed wiser than navigating the process alone.
- Plan carefully before making life-altering decisions.
- Seek professional help when facing legal challenges.
- Weigh the emotional and practical aspects equally.
Marat sat on a lounge chair, draping a wet towel over his shoulder. His large hand grazed her knee before he relaxed back, his palm resting gently on her leg.
“I believe it’ll work out,” he said. “Just prepare everything thoroughly in advance.”
Alice felt uneasy about his lack of belief in her plan. She hoped once the divorce was finalized, they could be inseparable during the initial weeks, savoring their newfound happiness.
That evening at the restaurant marking the last day of their vacation, Alice enjoyed wine and cuddled with Marat, though thoughts of her impending confrontation with Pavel lingered.
In her eyes, Pavel was a naive, mama’s boy, completely oblivious to his wife’s infidelity. The looming divorce threatened to spiral into a drawn-out disaster, especially with Pavel’s mother likely intervening.
Raising her glass, Alice proclaimed, “Soon, I will divorce, move in with you, and finally be happy.”
Marat quickly dismissed her statement. “We never made such an agreement!” he declared. The shock hit her like icy water.
He confessed he had a wife and two children, with a third on the way. “Want a divorce? Do it. But I’m not going to break up my family. I’m satisfied with what I have.”
Alice was speechless and spent the rest of the evening in silence. The next day, they both headed to the airport.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I promised you nothing. This was just a holiday. Besides, my wife is about to have our third child. Our encounters end here. I must be a devoted family man now,” Marat explained.
Her dry reply barely concealed her frustration over dashed hopes.
Yet Marat was honest—he never made promises. The idyllic future Alice imagined was merely a product of her longing.
During the flight, silent and brooding, her heart pounded painfully within her chest. The depth of disappointment was overwhelming.
“Are you sure you won’t reconsider the divorce?” Pavel asked.
“A man who has a mistress never truly leaves his family,” Marat cynically remarked. “If you cheat on your husband, you’ll inevitably do it again. I don’t need that kind of pain. My wife and I are fine. We have kids. You’re not necessary in my life permanently, even if that sounds harsh. This is adult life.”
He gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. Usually, Alice would melt at his touch, but now anger rose within her, wishing she could make him feel the hurt he caused.
Upon landing, passengers began to disembark.
“Alright, Alice, we’ll talk again,” Marat said.
“No, we won’t,” she replied without looking his way.
Alice had hoped he would be upset and follow her, but Marat shrugged and showed no concern. He called separate taxis for each of them, and the cars drove in opposite directions toward the city.
Tears of sadness and disenchantment consumed Alice. The beautiful future she’d envisioned lost all meaning. She had to return home, mend things with Pavel, and try to salvage what remained of their family.
Living alone was unfamiliar and frightening to her. Throughout her life, Alice constantly moved from one relationship to another and only lived with her parents before that. Solitude equaled being unloved and abandoned.
This trip was unforgettable, but now was the time to regain her sense and end the meaningless infidelities. The men in her life had been temporary, offering no hope for a lasting relationship. The fear of being alone was overwhelming.
Her taxi stopped near her apartment building. Alice took her suitcase and headed inside, determined to discuss everything with Pavel. She planned to see a therapist with him and spend quality time away from daily stress, hoping to reignite the love they once shared.
Unlocking the door, she entered and immediately heard noises from the bedroom.
“Why are you home so early?” Pavel’s frightened voice called from inside.
Alice pushed him aside and rushed into the bedroom, finding a young woman partially covered by a blanket on their bed. Typically, she would have frozen, covered her face, and run away crying. But Alice was no coward. Without hesitation, she yanked the girl from the bed, sparking such a struggle that Pavel barely managed to separate them.
“How dare you! I’m working while you bring some girl home? I hate you both! Let me go, I’m going to teach her a lesson!” Alice shouted, enraged.
The frightened girl quickly grabbed her clothes and fled the apartment, hastily pulling on her dress as she ran down the stairs, eager to escape Alice’s wrath.
Only when Alice grew weak did Pavel release his grip. He remained ready to restrain her again if she pursued the girl, who was likely long gone by then.
“I thought you’d be waiting for me, celebrating my return. Instead, you bring home some stranger. Do you think you can easily replace me?” Alice yelled, her voice weakening.
“I know you weren’t at work but with Marat on vacation,” Pavel stated coldly. “While you were away for two weeks by the ocean, I prepared a surprise for you too.”
His words were harsh and unforgiving. Alice searched his eyes, hoping for some excuse to avoid forgiving him. Instead, she silently packed her things and left the apartment without a word.
An hour later, she sobbed on her friend’s lap, tears dampening her pink dress. Anna comforted her, assuring that difficult moments occur in every family and true love means reaching out and forgiving.
“I didn’t believe forgiveness was possible,” Alice confessed. “Even now, I think it’s an impossible notion.”
The next morning, forgiveness didn’t seem so unattainable. Both had hurt each other terribly, yet perhaps they could still be the people who once passionately loved one another despite everything.
“What will you do?” Anna asked.
“I’m going to see him tomorrow. We’ll talk and decide what’s next,” Alice replied, allowing herself one more day to consider.
“That’s right. No use suffering for months. You’re basically starting over and now truly understand how fragile family can be. I hope you make up and invite me to the christening. You’ll see!” Anna laughed.
Alice doubted this, uncertain of Pavel’s response. If he had been unfaithful, there might be no love left. Still, their shared life and habits might inspire them to forgive and move beyond the pain.
The following day, Alice nervously knocked on Pavel’s door, rehearsing what to say, fearing eviction before she could speak.
Pavel calmly let her in, gave her time to catch her breath, and prepared tea.
“I’ve thought it over and believe we should try again,” he admitted. “We hurt each other but have great potential to build a strong relationship.”
His words stunned her. Least of all did she expect his willingness to reconcile. Pavel took her delicate hands in his sturdy ones.
“Let’s forgive and forget everything. I wasn’t a perfect husband, but I want to make things right. We’ll have a child, get a bigger apartment, and live happily. And we’ll never betray each other again,” he promised.
Alice felt speechless, overwhelmed by tears as she rested her head on his chest.
Despite the harsh test they had endured, their bond grew stronger. Though uncertain about the future, they hoped for the strength to preserve their love for many years. They committed to open communication and planning their life together, vowing never to seek comfort elsewhere again.
In summary: The journey through betrayal, heartache, and honesty can lead to renewed understanding and commitment. Even the deepest wounds might be healed when both partners choose forgiveness and work diligently to rebuild trust and affection.