Her husband was staying home due to illness, and when she returned early, she heard something she shouldn’t have.
Hermann lay on the living room sofa, wrapped in a blanket. His fever had been hovering above 38 degrees for three days, and the doctor had strictly forbidden him from going to work. He worked as a luxury real estate sales manager and was proud of his accomplishments—over the past year, he had closed several major deals that allowed the family to move into a new apartment in a prestigious neighborhood.
Alexandra had left for work that morning; she ran a small advertising agency. She usually returned after 7 p.m., but today an important client meeting had been canceled, so she decided to come home early to cook something tasty for her ailing husband.
The front door opened silently. Alexandra was deliberately careful not to make any noise, in case Hermann was asleep. In the hallway, she took off her shoes and tiptoed toward the living room, but stopped when she heard her husband’s voice. He was on the phone.
“OF COURSE, Mom, I understand everything,” his voice sounded perfectly healthy, without the slightest hint of a cold. “Yes, Sasha is at work, we can talk calmly.”
Alexandra froze. Sasha? He NEVER called her that. And why was his voice so cheerful?
“You know, Mom, I’m already tired of this show,” Hermann continued. “It’s been three years since we got married, and what’s the point? Her agency is barely making ends meet, and she keeps investing in it. I thought she’d be smarter than that.”
Alexandra leaned against the wall. Her heart started beating faster.
“NO, Mom, you don’t understand!” Hermann’s voice grew louder. “I married her because I thought she was a promising girl, ambitious, and would make money. And what about her? She buries everything in that agency of hers! Zero profit! Only expenses!”
Pause. Apparently, Emilia Arkadyevna, his mother, answered something.
