g day.

Andrey felt the ground sinking beneath his feet. It was his wedding anniversary. He’d entirely forgotten.

Worse, he had spent the week with another woman plotting how he would request a divorce.

“And you decided to celebrate with… with this?” He nodded towards Alexey, who continued to smile calmly.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Alexey said, returning to the sofa. “I’m here purely for work.”

— For work? — Andrey clenched his fists.

— In my house? In the evening? With champagne?

“He’s an interior designer,” Marina explained calmly.

“I decided to do some renovations while you were away. It’s an anniversary surprise.”

– In one room? In a week?

– Andrey asked incredulously.

“Not only in the living room,” Marina stood up and gestured for him to follow her. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”

As if in a fog, Andrey followed his wife. Their bedroom had been transformed no less than the living room: new wallpaper, a bed, lamps, paintings on the walls.

“This…” he couldn’t find the words.

– Do you like it?

– Marina asked hopefully. – I’ve wanted to change something for a long time. I thought that while you’re at your “conference”, it’s high time.

Andrey noticed how she emphasized the word “conference” and cringed inwardly.

“Very… unexpected,” he said finally.

“That’s not all,” Marina opened the door to the next room, which used to be his office.

Andrey froze at the threshold.

The area had been totally transformed into a nursery, complete with blue walls, a small crib, and toys.

“What is this?” he murmured.

Marina embraced herself, suddenly being quite vulnerable.

– I wanted to tell you about our anniversary. I am pregnant, Andrey. Fourteen weeks.

Time seemed to have stopped.

Andrey looked at his wife, at her slightly rounded belly, which for some reason he had not noticed right away, at the baby crib, at the teddy bear on the shelf…

– Pregnant? – The word sounded foreign. – But how?

We…

– Do you remember that night before your business trip to Novosibirsk? – Marina smiled weakly. – We were both a little drunk.

Andrey remembered.

Three months ago. A rare moment of intimacy in their relationship, which by then had already begun to fade.

– Why didn’t you tell me earlier?

– I wanted to be sure. Then I waited for the right moment, – Marina shrugged.

– And then you announced your “conference” with Vika.

Andrey turned pale.

– Did you know?

– Of course I knew, – Marina looked him straight in the eyes. – I’m not stupid, Andrey. But I decided to give you a chance.

A chance for all of us.

She placed her hand on her stomach, and that simple gesture suddenly made the situation tangible. They were going to have a baby. Their baby.

“Marina, I…” he couldn’t find the words.

“Don’t say anything now,” she stopped him gently.

“Go back to the living room. Alexey was just about to leave, we’ll drink some champagne and… talk.”

Andrey nodded automatically and exited the nursery. In the living room, Alexey was already packing.

“Happy anniversary,” he murmured, shaking hands with Andrey, who was still astonished.

“And a happy new addition to the family. “Your wife is an incredible woman.”

“Yes,” Andrey said hoarsely. “Thank you.”

When the designer left, Marina returned to the living room with two glasses.

One contained champagne, the other something that looked like juice.

“To us?” she handed Andrey a glass of champagne.

He took it, but was unable to raise it for a toast.

– Marina, I need to say something.

“I know,” she answered calmly. “About Vika, your relationship, about you wanting to leave.”

Andrey looked at her in surprise.

– Where…?

– Your phone di:ed before you left, remember? You took my old one to call a taxi.

You logged in with your ID and didn’t come out, – Marina put her glass on the table. – All your messages came to me. Every single one, Andrey.

Andrey felt blood draining from his face.

All of his chats with Vika, plans for the future, pledges of divorce…

– Marina, I don’t know what to say.

“Don’t say anything,” Marina came up close to him. “Just answer one question. Do you love her?”

Andrey opened and closed his mouth again.

He believed he loved her. All week, he was certain that he loved her. But today, standing here, gazing at his wife and their remodeled flat, knowing about the child…

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly.

“I’m confused.”

Marina nodded, as if she expected just this response.

– Okay. Then this is what we’ll do: she took the untouched glass from him and placed it next to her own. – I will give you a week.

Pack your belongings and stay with friends, parents, or a hotel – anywhere you like. Think of everything. About us, the child, and how you feel.

Come back in a week and tell me what you’ve decided.

“What if I decide to leave?” Andrey asked quietly.

Marina closed her eyes for a moment, and he saw how much effort it took her to remain calm.

– Then you will leave. I will not hold you back. But I want you to be absolutely sure of your choice.

Andrey glanced at his wife, as if for the first time in years.

Her strength, dignity, and affection were all things that had once piqued his interest, but had since become habitual and imperceptible.

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.

– Perhaps, – Marina smiled weakly. – But it’s up to you. Now go.

And don’t call me this week. I want you to think, and not look for easy ways.

Andrey nodded. He slowly approached the suitcase, which was still standing in the corridor, and picked it up.

“See you in a week,” he said, standing at the door.

“See you later,” Marina replied.