Anya sighed as she stepped out of the office building, exhausted. The entire day had been a relentless stream of demands and last-minute tasks. Couldn’t that report have waited until tomorrow? Frustration weighed on her shoulders as she decided to take a detour to her favorite café. A Greek salad and a strong coffee—just what she needed to reset her mood.
The café was quiet when she walked in, a comforting haven from the chaos of work. She was just about to claim her usual table when something made her stop in her tracks. Across the room, sitting comfortably with an elegantly dressed blonde, was her husband—Sergey.
Anya felt an icy wave rush over her. She barely recognized the woman sitting across from him, but one thing was clear—she was beautiful, radiating wealth and confidence. Her platinum hair, styled to perfection, framed a flawless face, and her dress clung to her figure like it was made just for her. The expensive jewelry she wore glistened under the café’s warm lights. She laughed, leaning in, playfully touching Sergey’s hand.
A bitter taste filled Anya’s mouth. So, this was what he did when he was supposed to be “at a meeting”?
Her first impulse was to storm over and confront them both. Make a scene. Demand answers. But no—that would be too easy. Sergey deserved a lesson. And she was going to make sure he got one.
Steeling herself, Anya walked to a different corner of the café, choosing a seat where she had a perfect view of them. She ordered her salad and coffee, but her appetite had vanished. Instead, she reached for her phone and called Sergey.
His phone buzzed on the table. Anya watched as he glanced at the screen, hesitated, then swiftly muted the call. A slow smirk spread across her lips. So, he wasn’t in a rush to answer his *wife*? How interesting.
As she observed, she noticed the way Sergey leaned in, whispering something in the blonde’s ear. The woman giggled, her diamond ring catching the light as she lightly touched his arm.
Anya clenched her fists.
Her mind raced through their years together—the first time they met, their dates, the way he once looked at her. Had it all been a lie? Was she just another routine in his life, while he entertained himself with women like *her*?
Just then, a tall, handsome man walked past her table. His sharp features and confident stride made him look like he had stepped right out of an advertisement.
An idea sparked in Anya’s mind.
She raised her hand slightly, catching his attention.
“Excuse me,” she said as he stopped beside her table.
He turned toward her, intrigued. “Yes?”
Anya hesitated for only a moment before speaking.
“This is going to sound odd, but I need a favor. A small act, nothing major. You see,” she subtly gestured toward Sergey, “that’s my husband. And from the looks of it, he’s enjoying his time with another woman.”
The man followed her gaze, his brows raising slightly in understanding.
“So,” she continued, “would you be willing to play along? Make him feel what I’m feeling right now?”
A slow grin spread across his face.
“Why not?” he said, sliding into the seat across from her. “Sounds entertaining.”
Anya smiled, a mix of nerves and determination in her expression. “I’m Anya.”
“Igor,” he introduced himself, leaning in as if they were deep in conversation.
She took a breath and glanced over at Sergey. He had noticed. His relaxed demeanor stiffened, his eyes flicking toward them with confusion.
Anya pretended to be engrossed in her conversation, leaning in slightly and letting out soft laughter at all the right moments. Igor played along effortlessly, nodding, smiling, engaging her as if they had known each other for years.
Sergey’s hand tensed on the table. He kept stealing glances at them, but he forced himself to keep talking to the blonde. Anya could see the shift in him—the subtle discomfort, the forced composure.
Perfect.
Then, Anya decided to push things a little further.
She reached across the table and gently took Igor’s hand. He immediately caught on, lightly squeezing her fingers in return.
Sergey’s eyes darkened.
His blonde companion was still chattering, but his attention was no longer on her. Anya could practically feel the tension radiating from him.
Igor leaned in and whispered, “See how unsettled he is? I think we’ve got him sweating.”
Anya smirked. “Let’s take a walk past their table. I want to see how he reacts.”
Igor nodded, and they both rose from their seats. She slipped her arm through his, and they made their way toward the exit—deliberately passing by Sergey’s table.
As they did, Anya turned and flashed the sweetest, most innocent smile.
“Oh, hello, dear! Fancy seeing you here,” she said smoothly. “And who’s this?”
Sergey’s expression flickered between shock and irritation. He cleared his throat. “Uh, this is… a colleague.”
The blonde raised an eyebrow.
Anya feigned surprise. “A colleague? How interesting. I could’ve sworn you said you had client meetings today.”
Sergey clenched his jaw.
“This isn’t what it looks like, Anya.”
“Really?” She tilted her head. “Then I suppose I should introduce you to Igor. We were just having a lovely chat.”
Sergey’s fists tightened at his sides. “Who the hell is Igor?”
Before Anya could respond, the blonde suddenly turned to Sergey.
“Wait… you’re *married*?”
Sergey hesitated. That was all she needed.
The blonde scoffed, snatching her purse from the chair. “Unbelievable. I don’t deal with liars.” And with that, she stormed out.
Sergey shot Anya an exasperated look. “Happy now?”
Anya shrugged. “I just gave you a taste of your own medicine.”
“This wasn’t what you think,” he insisted. “She was an important client. She liked me, and I played along for business. That’s all it was.”
“Oh, sure. Just business,” she replied mockingly. “How convenient.”
His eyes flickered to Igor, his irritation growing. “And what about *him*? You cheating on me now too?”
Anya smirked. “Oh, so it’s different when the tables are turned?”
Sergey scoffed, throwing a few bills onto the table before storming out.
Anya exhaled. The rush of adrenaline was fading, leaving her with a mix of triumph and sadness. She turned to Igor with a grateful smile.
“Thank you for playing along.”
Igor chuckled. “Anytime. Though, I think that was enough drama for one day.”
She nodded, grabbing her bag. She needed time to process everything.
When she finally arrived home, she was shocked to find Sergey already there, sitting on the couch. He looked at her, his expression softer than before.
“Anya,” he said, his voice quieter. “Did you really cheat on me?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “No. I met Igor today. I just… I wanted to make you feel what I felt.”
Sergey ran a hand through his hair. “This whole situation is ridiculous. I see now how stupid I was. I should’ve told you everything. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Anya studied him, searching for sincerity. He seemed genuinely remorseful.
“Promise me,” she whispered. “No more lies.”
He reached for her hand. “I promise.”
For now, she let herself believe him. Maybe, just maybe, they could rebuild what was broken.