Without warning her husband, Anna unexpectedly arrived at the cabin. But as soon as she entered the house, she felt like she was about to faint from what she saw….

Veronica had once had the love of her life. In her sophomore year, the girl lost her head over a guy she met right on the street. He approached her himself, showered her with compliments, invited her for a walk.

Just like in the old days, he saw a beautiful young lady and decided to start a relationship. And Veronica, always reasonable and cautious Veronica, agreed right away. This person stunned the still young girl with his assertiveness and confidence.

Veronica had a whirlwind romance. She was as if under hypnosis back then. She closed her eyes to many things…

To the fact that the guy was much older, and that he told almost nothing about himself. Veronica only knew that he came to their city temporarily from Los Angeles. This suitor swore eternal love to the young companion, made plans for the future.

In general, he knew how to hook an inexperienced girl. He created an image of a reliable and responsible person. He charmed with courtship, buried her in flowers and compliments.

Veronica was ready for anything for him. She even quarreled with her parents for the first time in her life. They wouldn’t let her stay overnight at a supposed friend’s.

Apparently, they suspected something. But the obedient daughter until then declared that she was already an adult. She slammed the door and ran to the object of her adoration.

Well, of course, the happiness was short-lived. The city beau vanished as suddenly as he appeared. He just disappeared from the radar, stopped answering calls.

For some time, Veronica worried. She thought something happened to him. She even cried.

Then she went to the hotel where this young man stayed. And learned that in the morning he calmly checked out, called a taxi to the airport, and left. Veronica understood everything then.

But she still hoped. Who knows what urgent circumstances he had. He would call, he would show up.

He knows where to find Veronica. Well, it couldn’t all be a lie. And his eyes full of adoration, and words about the future.

It doesn’t happen like that. Of course, the love of her life didn’t show up. Veronica suffered.

She didn’t want to eat or talk to anyone. The girl felt crushed, broken, betrayed. It seemed to her then that there would be nothing good in her life anymore.

And a couple of months later, Veronica realized she had more serious problems. She was pregnant. The news was a real shock to her.

And it even shook her up a bit, put her mind back in place. Brought her back to life in a way. After that, there was a serious talk with her parents.

They, of course, lectured their daughter, but supported her. So Veronica became a single mother. She lived with her mother and father.

They helped her raise her daughter. The whole family adored this girl. Alina turned out to be a real doll.

She took after her father in appearance, Veronica smiled, looking at her daughter. He was a handsome blond with emerald eyes too. At least thank him for that.

My daughter is growing up beautiful now. Anna knew Veronica’s story and understood why she was so negatively disposed toward all men in general. Now her friend thought that all were exactly like her daughter’s father.

Deceivers, womanizers, wastrels. And arguing with her was useless. «All cheat, absolutely all,» Veronica assured her friend.

«It’s in men’s nature, can’t help it.» «Well, I don’t know.» «Probably not all,» Anna argued with a smile.

«All,» her friend didn’t give up. «And those who don’t cheat just haven’t found someone yet.» «Well, I trust Max.»

«And you shouldn’t. I wouldn’t be so deluded about that. They’re all unreliable.»

Anna tried not to engage in such conversations with her friend, but sometimes it just happened. Anna pitied Veronica. She had bad luck in her youth, ran into a deceiver, and now this.

Nothing convinced her otherwise. Out of all men who ever existed, her friend acknowledged and loved only two—her own father and Matthew, Anna’s son, whose godmother she was. The rest she considered potential deceivers and cheaters.

Sometimes Veronica and Anna argued about Max. It happened. «Well, he can’t be that ideal,» Veronica shook her head…

«You probably just don’t notice a lot, or consider it normal.» «No. We both trust each other.»

«He’s my closest person. It happens, Nika, it does. Look at us.»

«Maybe it’ll help you reconsider your views. Maybe you’ll try meeting someone.» «Thanks, no need.»

«We’ve been there, we know.» Anna sighed. Veronica was an attractive young woman.

It was a shame that her friend was missing the chance to feel desired and loved. She even suggested seeing a psychologist. A specialist would help Nika work through the trauma from years ago.

But she flatly refused. Once, after a birthday party, they were returning home by taxi. And Veronica, who had exceeded her dose of alcohol at the celebration, suddenly opened up to Anna.

«After him, all other men seem gray to me. No one measures up to him, no one at all, can you imagine? He dumped me, deceived me, used me.»

«And I still consider him the ideal, what a fool, right?» After that conversation, much became clearer to Anna. Surprisingly, Veronica still had feelings for her daughter’s father. And Alina, so similar to him in appearance, didn’t let her mother forget him.

In general, it was Veronica who first suggested to Anna the version that Max had a mistress somewhere on the side. They were shopping together then, getting the kids ready for school. Both felt a bit sad that the long-awaited summer ended so quickly.

School would start soon, not only for Alina and Matthew but also for their teacher moms. Early rises, rushing, a whirlwind of urgent tasks. Max is going on another business trip, Anna shared the news with her friend.

«He’s been going too often lately,» she shook her head. «Their law firm expanded its geography,» Anna sighed. She didn’t like that Max was away from home so often now, but work is work.

«And are they paying more?» Anna pondered. Her friend’s question caught her off guard. «No, actually, they’re paying Max even less now.»

The woman shook her head negatively. Veronica perked up immediately. «Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you?» Her friend stopped and looked intently into Anna’s eyes.

«No. Should it?» «Well, how not? Constant business trips. Salary suddenly decreased for no reason.»

«It didn’t decrease that much. And the firm is expanding now, needs funds for development. Temporary difficulties.»

«That’s what Max tells you. And you believe him?» Anna nodded. Her friend’s reaction suddenly made her think that Max had indeed changed a lot lately.

His thoughtful gaze and the smile that sometimes appeared on his lips, and some secret calls, and texting someone. If you think about it, everything really looked like Max was hiding something from her. An episode suddenly flashed in her memory.

Anna enters the bedroom where Max is sitting at the laptop. At the sound of her steps, he abruptly closed the lid. Another moment.

Max’s phone rings, Anna picks it up to hand it to her husband, but he bursts into the room, hastily grabs the mobile from his wife’s hands, and answers the call behind a closed door. And the business trips. They had indeed become too frequent.

«I’d check his phone if I were you,» Veronica shook her head. «I’m very scared for you. Scared that you’ll experience the same pain as I did once.»

«It’ll be even worse for you. You’ve been together for so many years. And they, they’re all like that, men.»…