Ten years of marriage—a full decade filled with affection, loyalty, and sacrifices—vanished with a cheap mop priced at 999 rubles.
My husband Karen had always shown a careless attitude when it came to presents. He once forgot my birthday entirely. Another time, he gave me a gym membership—not because I asked for it, but supposedly because I “needed” it.
But this?!
This exceeded every humiliation I had ever experienced.
That very evening, both Karen and his insufferable sister Aljona would discover the true cost of their cruelty.
Celebration of Love or a Public Humiliation?
Our tenth wedding anniversary was supposed to be a memorable occasion.
Karen threw a lavish party. But not for me—only for himself.
He basked in the spotlight, raising toasts, cozying up to his friends, and laughing as if he owned the world.
I stood nearby, forcing a smile while a chill settled deeply in my stomach.
I knew Karen well. Whenever he planned something, it inevitably meant trouble.
Someone grasped my hand. It was Aljona.
She clinked her glass with mine, wearing a smug grin.
“Marina, darling, isn’t this party fantastic? Karen really outdid himself!”
On her wrist sparkled a golden bracelet—the very same Karen had gifted her a month ago.
I forced my smile to stretch even wider.
“Wonderful,” I replied.
Leaning closer, Aljona’s breath smelled of expensive champagne.
“I can’t wait to see what he gives you,” she whispered. “It must be something exceptional to outshine this bracelet.”
She shook her wrist again, making the bracelet glitter noticeably.
I clenched my fists silently.
Karen had never gifted me jewelry—not even on our wedding day.
Before I could respond, Karen’s voice boomed:
“Friends, may I have your attention, please!”
The Gift That Shattered Everything
Karen approached me, holding a large, festively wrapped box.
“Marina, happy anniversary, my love!”
Silence fell over the room.
I forced a smile, hoping—just maybe—that this time he wanted to make amends.
Trembling, I peeled off the wrapping paper and lifted the lid.
Nothing but silence.
Inside lay… a MOP.
Cheap, plastic, utterly humiliating.
For a moment, I thought I must be dreaming.
Suddenly, Aljona’s shrill laughter shattered the quiet:
“Oh Karen! How thoughtful of you—a such a sweet gift for your wife!”
Nervous laughter rippled through the hall.
I gripped the mop handle tightly.
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” I asked.
Karen grinned and replied, “The real present will come later.”
A blatant lie.
There was nothing else.
Aljona doubled over in laughter:
“Don’t be sad, Marina! At least now you have the right tool!”
Something inside me broke irreparably.
A Lesson in Karma
I turned around and headed toward the exit.
Behind me, I heard Karen call out:
“Marina? Where are you going?”
I did not answer.
Outside, his sports car gleamed under the lights—a symbol of his pride.
I gripped the mop tighter and swung it hard.
CRASH!
The windshield shattered into fragments.
Gasps escaped from the guests.
Karen’s face drained of color.
“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” he shouted.
I dropped the mop at his feet.
“Happy anniversary, darling. I hope your gift pleases you as much as mine pleases me.”
And then, the universe intervened.
When Karma Strikes Twice
A dull thud echoed.
Every head turned.
A huge concrete flower pot “accidentally” toppled over—landing squarely on the hood of Karen’s car.
The paint? Dented and scratched.
Aljona’s laughter died instantly.
Karen screamed in frustration.
I bit my lip to keep from bursting out laughing.
Yet karma was not done.
Inside the house, Aljona yelled into the phone:
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY ACCOUNT IS BLOCKED?!”
She stormed through the room, completely stripped of her previous arrogance.
Karen rushed to her.
“Aljona, what happened?”
She turned, frustrated:
“The bank! There must be a mistake! All my money is gone!”
The guests exchanged glances.
Then a family friend, Larisa, approached me.
The Final Blow
Larisa looked serious.
“Marina, I have to tell you something. I overheard Karen meeting with a lawyer recently. He plans to divorce you.”
I caught my breath.
Karen—the man who had just publicly humiliated me.
This wasn’t a misstep. It was calculated.
I inhaled deeply.
No tears fell. No hysteria followed. Only resolve.
I went into the study to examine our documents.
What I found was invaluable.
- The house belonged to me.
- The company—51% was mine.
Karen had transferred all of it to my name years ago—to save on taxes.
“Just a formality, darling,” his words echoed in my mind.
A New Chapter
The next morning, I packed his belongings.
He caught me in the act.
“Marina… what are you doing?”
I closed the suitcase tightly.
“Packing. You’re moving out.”
He stepped back, speechless.
“But this is…”
“My house,” I interrupted with a smile.
He opened his mouth but said nothing.
“I didn’t want it to end like this…”
“You wanted to humiliate me,” I said crossing my arms. “Congratulations. You only humiliated yourself.”
An unexpected knock came at the door.
Two FSB agents stood outside.
“Citizen Andreyeva?”
I smiled.
“Yes?”
One of them flashed his ID.
“We need to speak with your husband and his sister. They are suspected of fraud.”
Karen went pale.
“Oh, darling,” I said sweetly, “maybe your mop will still come in handy.”
With these words, I closed the door.
Forever—for Karen. For Aljona. For ten wasted years.
I began my new life.
In conclusion, this story illustrates how thoughtless actions can unravel a decade of relationship and how karma can swiftly and dramatically restore balance. Despite the humiliation and betrayal, the protagonist found strength, reclaimed her life, and turned the painful chapter into a new beginning.