It was supposed to be a magical evening. Nadya had been looking forward to this special night ever since her fiancé, Artem, had planned it. A romantic dinner at one of the city’s finest restaurants just a month before their wedding. After six months of a seemingly perfect relationship, this was meant to be a celebration of their love.
The couple had met at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Artem had caught Nadya’s attention immediately: tall, handsome, with a charming smile. But more importantly, he was caring, attentive, and made her feel like the only woman in the room. They quickly became inseparable.
On their first date, he gave her a bouquet of lilies, saying he had noticed them in one of her social media photos. That small gesture melted Nadya’s heart, and she knew right away that Artem was someone special.
Their relationship flourished with movie dates, park walks, and cozy café outings. Artem was always a gentleman, insisting on paying for everything. “A woman shouldn’t have to reach for her wallet in the presence of a true man,” he would say with a smile, and Nadya, raised in a traditional family, appreciated his respect and care.
When Artem proposed, it was everything Nadya had dreamed of – sunset, champagne, and a velvet box with a sparkling ring. Naturally, she said “yes,” and her friends were envious of her perfect fiancé. He was the kind of man every woman dreamed of.
The night of their special dinner, Nadya felt nervous but excited. She had even bought a new dress just for the occasion. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Everything seemed perfect. But as she sat down at the table with Artem, she noticed a strange expression on his face.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, settling into her seat.
“Of course,” he replied, but Nadya could tell he was distracted. He ordered wine, and the waiter soon came to take their orders.
“I’ll have the Caesar salad with shrimp, a medium-rare steak, and cheesecake for dessert,” Nadya said, glancing at the menu.
Artem’s frown deepened as he ordered something lighter, skipping dessert. When the waiter left, Artem smirked.
“Are you sure you’ll fit into your wedding dress with all that?” he asked with a hint of mockery.
“Excuse me?” Nadya replied, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you’d eat like a delicate little princess,” Artem said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “But you’re more of an eater than I expected. Are you paying for your share?”
Nadya froze. Was this a joke? But Artem’s serious tone made her realize that he wasn’t joking at all. In one moment, everything changed. The man she thought she knew, the perfect fiancé, now seemed completely different.
“Are you serious?” Nadya asked, trying to understand.
“Why not?” Artem shrugged. “Do you know how much your meal costs? Almost five thousand rubles! And they say that keeping a woman is inexpensive.”
Nadya felt her face turn red, not from embarrassment, but from anger. This wasn’t the man she had agreed to marry. This wasn’t love or respect.
“You invited me here,” Nadya said, trying to stay calm. “You chose this place, and now you’re upset because I ordered a regular meal?”
“Well, yeah,” Artem said, dismissively. “I thought you’d be more modest. We need to save up for the wedding.”
“Save?” Nadya was taken aback, remembering how just a week ago Artem had bought himself a new expensive watch. “You’ve never mentioned anything about saving before.”
“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he said, refilling his wine glass. “I just think we need to be more careful with our money. Especially women. You guys don’t know how to manage it.”
The waiter brought their salads, but Nadya couldn’t focus on her food. Inside, she was torn. How had she missed these red flags before? Had she ignored the small signs that Artem wasn’t the man she thought he was?
She remembered the time he had complained about her cosmetics being too expensive or how he rolled his eyes when she wanted to buy a new dress. How he’d hinted at her needing to watch her figure. All these little things she had brushed off. Now it all made sense.
“Listen,” Nadya put down her fork, barely touching her food. “We need to talk. About us. About the future.”
“Now?” Artem seemed taken aback. “I thought we were just having a nice dinner.”
“I thought I was marrying someone who respects me,” Nadya replied quietly.
“Come on, it’s just a silly joke about food,” Artem laughed nervously. “You’re making a drama out of nothing. Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“It’s not about the meal,” Nadya said, her voice steady. “It’s about what you just showed me. If you can belittle me over a simple dinner order, what’s going to happen when we’re married?”
Artem leaned back, his smile turning cold.
“Don’t be so dramatic. Some women only order a salad and water to impress, but then they go home and eat everything in sight. I thought you’d be one of those.”
“So, you prefer women who pretend?” Nadya asked, her voice growing colder.
“I prefer women who think about more than just their desires,” Artem snapped. “But since you brought up our future, let’s talk about it. I think a wife should be frugal. Especially when there are kids. You can’t eat like this every day, right?”
Nadya remained silent. The weight of his words hit her hard. She remembered her friend Katya’s advice: “Pay attention to how he treats waiters, how he talks about money, and how he behaves when things don’t go his way. A person’s true character shows in the little things.”
At that moment, Nadya saw Artem’s true character, and it wasn’t what she had thought. He didn’t value her, her dreams, or her independence.
The rest of the evening passed in silence. Artem continued eating, acting like nothing had happened, while Nadya felt the world around her crumble.
When the check arrived, Nadya paid for her meal, including half of the wine. Without saying a word, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the restaurant. The weight on her shoulders lightened with every step she took. She knew that walking away from Artem was the right choice.
Later that evening, Artem called and sent messages, asking if she was upset over a joke. Nadya read his messages but didn’t reply. Instead, she calmly texted back, “The wedding is off.”
The next day, Artem showed up at her door, flowers in hand, pleading for another chance. But Nadya, unwavering in her decision, closed the door in his face. She couldn’t ignore the signs any longer.
Weeks passed, and Artem’s attempts to win her back only confirmed that she had made the right choice. He even showed up at Katya’s house, trying to convince her to get Nadya to change her mind. But Nadya stood firm.
Eventually, she found peace. Her life slowly returned to normal as she focused on her work, her friends, and herself. She learned that true love is built on respect, not control. And that sometimes, walking away from a relationship can lead to finding the right one.
A month later, Nadya ran into Artem at the mall. He was with some friends, and when he saw her, he turned away. She overheard one of his friends asking if Nadya was his ex, and Artem loudly replied, “Yeah, she left me before the wedding. Over some silly thing.” Nadya didn’t even glance his way.
She had made her decision, and now, looking back, she knew it was the best thing she could have done. She had freed herself from the weight of trying to please someone who didn’t value her.
A few months later, Nadya met Max at a mutual friend’s birthday party. He was kind, funny, and respectful. And when dinner came, Nadya ordered her usual: a steak, a salad, and dessert.
“Good choice,” Max smiled, noticing her selection. “The meat here is fantastic.”
No judgments, no mockery—just genuine respect. For the first time in a long time, Nadya felt at ease. And that, she realized, was what true love felt like.
As time passed, Nadya found herself happier, healthier, and more confident. She had learned that true love doesn’t come with conditions or criticism. It comes with respect, understanding, and shared dreams.
And soon enough, Nadya’s world felt right again—filled with love, joy, and the hope of a bright future ahead.