Sergey proudly suggests a “brilliant” way for Alina to reconcile with his mother: Alina should buy her an expensive TV as a peace offering. He ignores years of subtle humiliation and disrespect his mother has shown Alina—and his own silence in defending his wife.
At first, Alina seems to agree. Calmly, she places the order. But then she makes one crucial change: she tells the store to charge the full cost to Sergey’s bank card—every last cent on it.
Only then does the truth land. Alina isn’t buying peace anymore. She’s exposing the price Sergey expects her to pay for silence and submission. The TV becomes his gift, his sacrifice, his responsibility.
Alina tells Sergey to go live with his mother. The apartment is hers, inherited from her grandmother, and he no longer belongs there. As Sergey stands stunned, Alina calmly returns to polishing her furniture—her space, her rules, her life restored.
