Can you imagine a veranda facing straight east? Igor squeezed Vera’s hand as they crossed the street. “In the mornings, the sun will rise over the pines.
Leaning on his shoulder, Vera smiled despite the chilly February wind fluttering her scarf. Beside Igor, warmth was found. They strolled along the river embankment, musing often about the house they dreamed of owning.
“I just want a bigger window,” she said softly, eyes closed in thought. “So much light floods in. There, I’ll place my easel.”
“You’ll paint there,” Igor replied, gently tousling her hair. “I’ll make special shelves for your paints.”
They grew closer, reflecting on a year spent together — full of deep conversations, cozy evenings, and a memorable trip to Kazan over the May holidays.
Igor appeared reliable, confident in himself. His construction company thrived, although competitors and contractor problems sometimes frustrated him.
Stopping at the railing, gazing on the flowing water, Igor said, “If all goes well, by next winter we’ll have enough saved for a down payment.”
Vera looked up, hopeful: “Really? Then I’ll have to take on commercial portraits.”
He frowned: “Why? I have a plan and can handle it.”
“But it’s our house,” Vera insisted. “I want to be part of it, too.”
Smiling, he hugged her shoulders: “Let’s focus on decorating the apartment before the wedding. Money is a man’s responsibility.”
Vera prepared to argue but was interrupted by an unexpected call from an unknown number.
“Vera Andreyevna?” a deep male voice asked. “This is the law firm Konovalov and Partners.” She stepped aside; the official tone made her lower her voice.
“I’m listening.”
“It concerns your uncle, Gennady Viktorovich Sokolov.”
Vera gripped the phone tighter. Uncle Gena — her mother’s brother with whom ties had broken years ago.
Her mind conjured an image of his gray mustache and large hands, gifting her a wooden horse.
“Did something happen to him?” she asked, turning toward a shop window.
“Sadly, two weeks ago, Gennady Viktorovich passed away after an illness,” the voice lowered. “We need to discuss some matters requiring your presence. Can you come to our office?”
Glancing back at Igor busy on his phone, she replied quietly, “Would tomorrow at three work? Please send the address.”
After the call, she returned to Igor, who raised an eyebrow.
“Wrong number,” she waved it off. “What were we talking about?”
They walked on, but Vera’s mind raced. Her uncle’s news reminded her how rapidly life could change.
The next day, Vera told Igor she was meeting a client for a portrait but instead sat in the lawyer’s office, stunned by what she heard.
“Forty-seven million,” the lawyer repeated, handing her documents. “Plus a downtown apartment and a country house.”
Your uncle was a successful investor, never married, and you are his sole heir.
- Inheritance worth millions
- Property in the city center
- Country house included
Trembling, Vera managed, “All right… and can this remain confidential?”
“Of course,” the lawyer reassured. “You will receive everything in six months.
That evening, she and Igor discussed their upcoming wedding — the restaurant, guests, and honeymoon. He lovingly traced her wrist, promising a better future.
“My little artist will soon live in a mansion,” he said. “But let’s wait before having kids — first, we get settled.”
Vera remained silent, the inheritance documents tucked away in her studio. An internal voice urged caution — to wait and watch.
“Are you listening to me?” Igor snapped his fingers. “I’m talking about us.”
“Sorry, I was thinking about invitations,” Vera smiled. “Blue tones, to match your eyes.”
Their wedding was simple and intimate — a cozy café, art she painted instead of bouquets, a taxi instead of a limousine, and jazz from a cheerful driver sharing stories.
As guests danced, Vera watched rain trace patterns against the window, inheritance papers untouched.
Igor approached gently, “What’s on your mind, wife?”
“I still can’t believe I’m married to you,” she smiled.
“Get used to it,” he chuckled. “Everything will have a name — marriage, house… and later, kids.”
“Kids?” Vera laughed.
His smile dimmed. “Not yet. Let’s get on our feet first.”
Weeks passed in a blissful haze. They moved into Igor’s larger apartment, but it felt cold.
Vera decorated it with paintings and flowers, creating warmth. Igor reminded her repeatedly: “Save money for the house, no splurging on little things.”
At dinner, Vera shared her desire to reduce teaching hours to work on a solo exhibition.
“I want to tighten my belt just a bit,” she explained.
Igor’s voice grew cold: “All my money is mine, and yours is yours. I’m not supporting anyone. If you want something, earn it yourself.”
Vera was stunned. “But we’re family. Marriage means supporting each other.”
“Yes, support, but not leeching. Your work is your responsibility; mine is mine.”
He left her alone, and that night felt unusually wide between them.
The next morning, Igor acted as if nothing happened. They exchanged words about movies and resorts, but Vera felt a growing distance.
Testing him, she asked to borrow money. He refused curtly.
- Vera worked three jobs to prove herself
- Her hours stretched from dawn until late night
- She handled art schools, advertisements, and workshops
She returned home only after the city had gone quiet, the gap growing between them.
When she found messages on Igor’s phone flirting with other women, he dismissed her concerns.
Their life chilled; routines lost warmth. A day before their half-year anniversary, Vera received her first inheritance payment.
Quietly, she opened a separate account without Igor knowing.
That evening, he arrived late, smelling of alcohol and perfume.
“Had a party, signed a new project,” he said without looking up.
Vera nodded silently, having already packed her most important things and an envelope with divorce papers.
Igor asked about milk without noticing her mood.
A month later, the divorce petition remained unopened, held back by painful curiosity about how far this marriage could unravel.
She carefully managed house chores and investments, transforming her inheritance into legally recognized assets: documents, keys to an apartment with river views, and a country house.
One evening at dinner, Igor excitedly proposed buying a house together with a mortgage.
“Our down payment,” he said.
“Your down payment,” Vera corrected coldly.
They argued. She reminded him of his earlier words: “All my money is mine, and yours is yours.”
He tried to soothe her, focusing on shared dreams before the wedding.
Vera stood, saying she needed to prepare for lessons.
Next morning, Igor apologized, wanting to build a future together, but Vera, seeing the man clearly now, said, “I’ll be late today. Don’t wait.”
That night, instead of work, she visited her newly inherited apartment — spacious, with lofty ceilings, marble sills, and grand windows where real art could thrive.
A week later, Igor came home agitated, sharing news from a bank friend.
Seeing Vera with a box, he stopped, puzzled as she revealed documents proving her inheritance.
His disbelief turned into frustration.
“Why keep this from me?” he demanded.
She answered firmly: “You made your priorities clear with your words. Our marriage was a business deal for you. I had to be sure.”
Igor tried to convince her to reconsider and keep their plans alive. Vera calmly presented divorce papers, insisting on his signature.
He raged, calling her crazy and demanding them back.
She warned: “Sign, or I’ll expose your affairs. Call logs, witnesses, everything.”
He paled, realizing the extent of her preparation.
“It’s not blackmail,” she said. “It’s securing my future.”
Key Insight: This story illustrates how honesty, self-reliance, and courage empower one to reclaim control and freedom, even amid broken promises.
Months after the divorce, Vera celebrated her newfound independence by opening an art school and gallery named “Breath of Color.”
The bright space filled with excited children ready to create their first masterpieces symbolized her fresh start.
“Good afternoon, young talents! Are you ready to create your first masterpieces?” Vera smiled at their eager faces.
Her journey reveals the strength found in seizing control over one’s destiny and turning trials into opportunities for personal growth.
Thus, Vera’s story is a testament to resilience and transformation, reminding us that true freedom comes from within.