Husband left on a business trip, and wife decided to repot flowers. What she found in the pot made her hair stand on end…
«Well, what shook there again?» She took a deep breath and gathered her courage. «Anthony, I found a camera, hidden in our house.» There was silence on the line.
«What camera? Where?» «In the flower pot.» «Are you normal?» — roared her husband. His voice sounded as if he was talking to an idiot.
«What nonsense? I didn’t install any cameras. And anyway, what kind of habit is it to call in the middle of the night over some rubbish?» «Anthony, it’s not rubbish,» exclaimed Paula. «Someone is watching us, understand?» «I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I have no time for your fantasies.
Figure it out yourself. Go talk to your friend who gave that flower.
What’s her name? Natalie? Yeah, talk to her about it.» «Oh, I think she’s been jealous of you for a long time. No wonder, snagged such a husband.
Businessman, good-looking.» «So you deny knowing about it?» — asked Paula, feeling anger boiling inside. «And what should I know?» — snapped Anthony.
«I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all. Maybe you need a doctor yourself? You’re treating others’ sleep, but you seem to have gone crazy and don’t notice it.»
«You don’t believe me?» «Paula, I’m tired of your hysterics. I work sixteen hours. I need to earn money to support you and Mike.
And all you do is brainwash me.» «Anthony, you were never like this,» said Paula, barely holding back tears. «What happened? Why have you changed so much? You don’t even give me flowers on my birthday.
Moved to another room. Is this normal?» «I haven’t changed,» replied her husband impassively. «You’ve become abnormal.
Always dissatisfied. Suspecting me of something. I’m tired.»
There was silence on the line again. Paula felt her heart breaking into pieces. «Do you have someone?» — she finally asked, barely audible.
Anthony was silent. «Answer!» — shouted Paula into the phone. «Are you cheating on me?» At that moment, she heard the sound of a kiss and some woman’s laughter.
«Anthony, who is that?» — asked Paula, choking on tears. And a second later, some woman’s voice affectionately said. «Anthony, come to me.
Don’t make me wait.» Paula froze. She couldn’t believe her ears.
And then the connection was cut off. Short beeps sounded in the phone. She stood on the balcony and couldn’t move.
Her world collapsed in an instant, and dreams shattered to pieces. Her beloved Anthony turned out to be a cheater. Tears rolled down her cheeks in streams.
«How could this be? Why did he do this to me?» — she whispered, unable to hold back sobs. Paula left the balcony, staggering like drunk. And in her head was only one thought.
She was spied on, deceived, discarded like an unnecessary thing. Paula entered the living room, where Helen was watching TV. The mother-in-law turned and noticed her tear-stained face.
«What happened, Paula?» — she asked anxiously. «Something with Anthony?» Paula looked at her silently and couldn’t say a word. She was overwhelmed with pain and despair.
Without saying anything, Paula turned and went to her room, covering her face with her hands. «What happened?» — shouted Helen after her. «Paula, answer!» But she didn’t answer.
And entering the room, she locked the door from inside. Then she threw herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. That night she didn’t close her eyes.
She just lay in the dark and cried, mourning her love, family, and life in general. After learning about the infidelity, the camera issue receded into the background. And what was the point now, whether spying or not? The morning turned out gray and gloomy to match her mood.
The sleepless night left traces of fatigue and despair on her face. Her eyes were red, swollen from tears. Coming out to the kitchen, she saw Helen already bustling at the stove.
«Good morning!» — said the mother-in-law. «I made breakfast. You need to eat.»
«Thanks,» replied Paula, sitting at the table. «But I don’t feel like it.» «At least a little.
Need to gain strength. A hard day ahead.» Paula took a spoon of porridge and mechanically brought it to her mouth.
But she really didn’t want to eat. «Helen, I’ve decided everything,» she said, putting down the spoon. «I’m filing for divorce.»
The mother-in-law’s face changed instantly. «What did you say?» «I said I’m filing for divorce,» repeated Paula. «I can’t live like this anymore.
And I definitely can’t forgive infidelity.» Helen sank into a chair and clutched her head. «Paula, don’t do this.
Think carefully. You love each other. You have a child together.
Imagine how it will be for him.» «I thought we loved each other,» replied Paula. And her voice trembled with resentment.
«But now I know. It’s not so. I can’t forgive Anthony.
I’m not going to live with a man who cheats on me.» «Oh, Paula, what are you going on about? Believe me, all men are the same,» exclaimed the mother-in-law. «Good, bad, they all think only about other skirts.
You need to forgive Anthony. Forget about it and just live on. You’re a woman.
You must be wise after all.» «And I don’t want to be wise,» replied Paula. «I want to be happy.»
«You’re making a big mistake,» exclaimed Helen. «Destroying the family. Depriving the child of a father.»
«I’m depriving the child of a father? Who doesn’t care about him at all?» «I think for Mike it’s better to have only a mom than two parents who constantly argue and live like cat and dog.» «What has Anthony done for his son? Couldn’t even find time to take him to kindergarten. And school? His son’s lessons give him allergies.»
«He says Mike was born a slow thinker like me. And what’s wrong with me? I have a doctor’s degree, by the way.» The mother-in-law raised her palms conciliatorily.
«Okay, don’t boil over. You know, Anthony’s father, Greg, was also quite the walker. So what? I tolerated it.
And you tolerate it. That’s our women’s lot. And all that lovey-dovey is only in books.
Reality is much more serious.» Paula shook her head. «No, I won’t live in deception.
And I have a right to happiness. And I’ll find it. Even if I have to start from scratch.»..
