Inna stood by the window, watching as raindrops trickled down the glass, forming whimsical patterns. Seventeen years—was that a long time or a short one? She reflected on each day they’d spent together, every anniversary, every smile, and every quiet moment shared. Now, it all seemed to be crumbling, falling apart like a house of cards.

“We need to talk,” Alexey’s voice broke through the silence, sounding unusually flat.

She turned slowly, meeting his gaze. His eyes were filled with a mixture of resolve and guilt. Inna immediately recognized that look—it was the kind people wore when preparing to deliver difficult news.

“I’m leaving, Inna. I’m going to Natasha.”

The room fell into an eerie quiet. The only sound was the ticking of the old wall clock, a gift from his mother, echoing through the stillness.

“To the student from your faculty?” Her voice was unexpectedly calm.

“Yes. You see, my feelings have faded. I need something new, fresh experiences. You’re a smart woman; you’ll understand,” Alexey said.

Inna gave a small, knowing smile. "Smart woman." How many times had he used that phrase when he wanted her to stay quiet, to stop asking questions?

“Are you sure?” she asked quietly.

“Absolutely. I’ve already packed my things.”

Inna gave a slight nod, then walked to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of wine—the one they had been saving for a special occasion.

“Well, I suppose this is a special moment,” she said, uncorking the bottle. “You know, I think we should have a farewell dinner. Let’s invite your friends and your family. Seventeen years isn’t something to ignore.”

Alexey stared at her in confusion.

“You… you want to throw a party for our divorce?”

“Why not?” Inna smiled, but there was something unsettling about it. “Let’s end this chapter with style. After all, I am a smart woman, remember?”

She took out her phone and started typing. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen.

“Tomorrow at seven. I’ll make your favorite dishes. Consider it my farewell gift.”

Alexey stood there, speechless. He had expected tears, perhaps an outburst, but not this composed acceptance.

“And yes,” Inna continued, without looking up from her phone, “tell Natasha she’s invited too. I want to meet the woman who’s managed to bring ‘new emotions’ into your life.”

The following morning, Inna’s day started unusually early. She methodically called the bank, met with a lawyer, and prepared all the necessary documents. Every action was calculated, like a well-executed plan.

By evening, the apartment was filled with the enticing aroma of carefully prepared dishes. Inna set the table with their finest dinnerware—a wedding gift from her mother-in-law.

“Everything must be perfect,” she whispered as she adjusted the napkins.

At seven o’clock, the first guests began to arrive. Alexey’s parents were the first to walk in. His mother, Vera Pavlovna, gave Inna an awkward hug.

"Innochka, maybe there's still a chance to fix things?"

"No, Mama. Sometimes the right decision is to let go."

Gradually, their friends began arriving, and Alexey and Natasha were the last to walk in.

“Please, come in, take a seat,” Inna gestured for them to sit at the head of the table. “Tonight, you are the stars of the evening.”

Once everyone was seated, Inna stood up with a glass in hand.

“Dear friends, today we are gathered to celebrate the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.”

She turned to Alexey, her tone steady.

“Lesha, thank you for seventeen years. For the good times, the bad, and for everything you taught me. You’ve taught me that love can take many forms.”

An uncomfortable murmur passed across the room. Natasha nervously fiddled with a napkin, avoiding eye contact.

“And you’ve also taught me to pay attention to details,” Inna continued, pulling out a thick envelope. “Especially when it comes to finances.”

She started placing documents on the table.

“Here’s the car loan you took out under our joint account. Here are the tax arrears from your company. And these,” she gestured to the receipts, “are from restaurants and jewelry stores over the past year. I assume you were trying to impress Natasha?”

Alexey’s face turned pale. Natasha’s eyes widened.

“But the most important thing,” Inna said, pulling out the prenuptial agreement, “is this. Do you remember signing it without even reading it? There’s a clause about the division of property in case of infidelity.”

The room fell silent. The only sound was the faint drip of water from the kitchen faucet.

“The house is in my name,” Inna continued. “I’ve already frozen the accounts. And the divorce petition was filed yesterday.”

She turned to Natasha.

“Dear, are you sure you want to tie your future to someone who has no savings, no home, but a pile of debts?”

Natasha stood frozen in the doorway.

“Excuse me, I need to leave,” Natasha murmured, her voice trembling.

Vera Pavlovna shook her head.

“Lesha, how could you? We raised you better than this.”

“Mama, you don’t understand…” Alexey began, but his father interrupted.

“No, son, you don’t understand. Seventeen years is not something you throw away. And what was it all for? For an affair with a student?”

The friends around the table remained silent, unable to make eye contact. Only Mikhail, Alexey’s best friend since school, quietly muttered:

“Lesha, you really messed up.”

Inna remained standing, her glass in hand, her face serene as though she were discussing the weather at a dinner party.

“You know what’s the most interesting? All these years, I thought our love was something special. That we were like those old couples who stayed together until the end. I ignored your work delays, your strange phone calls, your new clothes.”

She took a sip of wine.

“And then I started noticing the receipts. Jewelry store, ‘White Swan’ restaurant, a spa salon... funny, isn’t it? You took her to the same places you once took me.”

Natasha reappeared, but she stood in the doorway, holding her purse.

“Alexey Nikolaevich, I think we need to talk. Alone.”

“Of course, dear,” Alexey started to stand to follow her, but Inna stopped him with a raised hand.

“Wait. I’m not finished. Remember our first apartment? The tiny one on the outskirts? We were so happy there. You said we needed nothing but each other.”

She smiled.

“And now look at you. Expensive suits, a fancy car, a young mistress... but it’s all built on lies and debts.”

“Alexey Nikolaevich,” Natasha’s voice trembled, “you told me we were divorced. That we were living separately. You said you were going to buy us a new apartment.”

“Natashenka, I’ll explain everything.”

“Don’t bother,” Inna said, pulling out yet another envelope. “Here are the statements from your cards. I think Natasha might be interested to know that, along with her, you’ve been seeing two other women. Or should I say—students?”

A heavy silence fell over the room. Without a word, Natasha turned and fled the apartment. The sound of her heels echoed as she hurried down the stairs.

“Inna,” Alexey clutched his head in disbelief. “Why are you doing this?”

“Why?” Inna laughed, but there was no joy in it. “Did you expect me to cry, beg you to stay? Roll around at your feet?”

She scanned the room.

“You know what’s truly amusing? I really loved him. Every wrinkle, every gray hair. Even his snoring at night seemed endearing. I was ready to grow old with him, to raise grandchildren.”

“Dear,” Vera Pavlovna whispered, “maybe it’s not worth it.”

“No, Mama, it is,” Inna’s voice rose for the first time that evening. “Let everyone know. Let them know how your son took out loans to buy gifts for his mistresses. How he squandered our shared money. How he lied to me, to you, to everyone!”

She pulled out another document.

“And this is especially interesting. Remember, Lesha, three months ago you asked me to sign some papers? You said it was for the tax office? Turns out, it was a guarantee for a loan. You mortgaged my car.”

The guests began to quietly rise from the table. Some muttered apologies, others simply made their way toward the door. Only Alexey’s parents and Mikhail remained.

“Son,” Alexey’s father said as he stood, “we’ll probably leave too. Call when… when you come to your senses.”

Vera Pavlovna embraced Inna.

“Forgive us, dear. We never thought he…”

“Don’t apologize, Mama,” Inna replied. “You have nothing to do with this.”

After they left, Mikhail approached Alexey.

“Old man, you really messed up. Call if you need help, but know this—I’m not giving you any money.”

And with that, he too left.

Alexey sat alone, his head bowed. His expensive suit now seemed ridiculous, like a costume.

“You know,” Inna began, gathering the documents into an envelope, “I could have made a scene a month ago when I found out everything. I could have smashed your car, torn up your suits, had a meltdown at your workplace.”

“But I decided to do it differently,” she said, pulling a plane ticket from her bag. “I’m flying out tomorrow. To the Maldives. Can you imagine? I’ve always dreamed of going there, but you always said it was a waste of money.”

She placed the keys on the table.

“The apartment must be vacated by the end of the week. I’m selling it. And don’t even try to withdraw money from the accounts—they’re frozen until the court makes a decision.”

Alexey looked at her with a lost expression.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

“That’s no longer my problem,” she said, grabbing her coat. “The funniest part? I’m actually grateful to you. You made me wake up. I realized life doesn’t end with you.”

She turned to the door one last time.

“Goodbye, Lesha. I hope it was worth it.”

The door closed softly. Alexey was left alone, surrounded by half-eaten food and unfinished wine. In the distance, the sound of a car engine starting echoed—Inna was leaving for her new life.

Outside, the rain began again, just as it had that evening when he decided to destroy everything. This time, there was no one left to watch the raindrops trace their patterns on the glass.