“I’m leaving for a young and beautiful woman, and you mean nothing to me anymore,” the husband declared at the festive table, trying to humiliate his wife in front of all the relatives; his wife’s response destroyed everyone  

Victor was certain that this evening would mark the beginning of a new life for him.

He sat at the table like the master of the house, a glass in his hand and a self-satisfied smile on his face. Beside him sat his mother and sister. His mother looked at her son with pride, as if he were a hero, while his sister kept checking her phone, pretending not to care, but in reality watching his every move.

In Victor’s pocket was his phone. It contained messages from another woman — young, bold, promising him “real feelings.” In his mind, he had already said goodbye to his wife. He had crossed her out of his life.

His wife stood by the window. She did not sit down.

The apartment smelled of roasted duck and the heavy perfume of his mother. The air was thick and sticky, like before a storm. The wife felt everything tightening inside her, but her face remained calm. She had understood long ago: this evening was a performance.

Victor laughed loudly and artificially. He drank expensive whiskey and told the same story his wife had heard dozens of times. Then he slapped his palm on the table and snapped:

— What are you standing there for? Pour the wine.

He winked at his mother. She sighed at once, pretending to be sympathetic:

— My poor boy… how much you carry on your shoulders.

The sister snorted and took a selfie with the table in the background.

Victor stood up. Straightened his jacket. Tapped his fork against the glass. Everyone fell silent.

He began to speak in a soft, almost sweet voice. He talked about the gifts he had bought for his mother and sister. He reminded everyone who the breadwinner was. Who paid. Who decided.

Then he looked at his wife. His gaze was cold. Alien.

— I can’t go on like this anymore, he said. — I’m tired. I’m filing for divorce.

He paused and added, as if savoring the moment:

— I have someone else. Young. Full of life. We’re flying to Bali soon. My family approves of my choice. You are nothing to me anymore.

The silence became deafening. You could hear the refrigerator humming.

— I’ll leave the apartment to you, Viktor threw out, as if he were making a great favor.

The wife silently approached the table. Poured herself a glass of champagne. Drank and began to speak. Her response destroyed everyone who was in that house  Continued in the first comment 

— Perfect, she said.

Even Viktor was thrown off for a moment. His mother breathed a sigh of relief.

— Then I’ll also get rid of what’s unnecessary, the wife continued in an even voice. — The house is mine. The car is mine too.

She looked straight at Viktor.

— And the business, in case you’ve forgotten, is also registered in my name. You transferred everything to me yourself. So the tax authorities wouldn’t come after you. Remember?

The sister jerked her head up. The mother-in-law turned pale.

— So now, she continued, you have nothing.

The room grew so quiet you could hear the clock ticking.

The wife walked to the door.

— And now everyone out of my house. Right now.

— Have you lost your mind?! Viktor jumped up.

She flung the door wide open.

— You have exactly two minutes. After that, I’m calling the police.

The mother-in-law started screaming, the sister rushed to gather her things. The wife grabbed jackets, coats, bags and threw them into the hallway.

— Faster, her voice was cold. — You are nobody here anymore.

Viktor was pushed out last. The door slammed shut. The lock clicked.