Roman’s fingers were drumming the steering wheel the entire way, following the rhythm of a light, familiar pop song from the radio. He didn’t even try to hide his good mood—although he was, as the doctors put it, taking his wife “to rest”… in reality,
he was sending her to an isolated village to live out the rest of her life there.The car’s stiff suspension harshly swallowed every bump in the road, lifting Zlata on the back seat each time. She sat motionless, staring at the worn gray headrest, as if she no longer belonged in this world.
— Inessa Valerjevna, maybe you should roll the window down — Roman said, glancing at his mother in the rearview mirror. — I’m suffocating from this smell.His mother noisily fiddled with the wrapper of a mint candy.
— I told you we shouldn’t have hung that disgusting pine-scent thing! — she snapped. — Zlata, isn’t it drafty? …Of course she won’t answer. Anyway, it’ll be good for her there. Nature, silence, forest. The professor said it himself: she needs peace. She’ll completely break down in the city.
— Mom, the neighbors will talk… — Roman said, steering around a deep pothole. — They’ll say we got rid of her.— And? — the woman shrugged. — You care about your project, I care about finally sleeping. I’m not going to deal with a sick woman all day. Stepanida will take care of her.
Money can make anyone do anything.Zlata stayed silent. Not a single reaction.But a month earlier, everything had been completely different.That was when she learned her uncle from Murmansk had died and left her a significant inheritance. She ran home happily and laid the documents on the table.
Roman practically carried her in his arms, his mother-in-law prepared a festive dinner, and the finest porcelain was brought out.A week later, Margarita, her lawyer friend, invited her for coffee.They hadn’t even ordered when Margarita silently pushed her phone toward her.
— Listen to this.It was a recording.Roman’s voice. A woman laughing.— Come on, Milana… if needed, I’ll tell her: “rot away at the end of the world.” She’ll break down mentally anyway. I’ll get guardianship, and all the money will be mine. Then I’ll open you a beauty salon…
Zlata still didn’t cry.The next day she quietly went to the bank and moved the money. Then she started her own game.At first she simply ate less. Then she acted weak. Eventually she became “paralyzed.”Within three weeks, Roman never once helped her. His mother-in-law left cold soup and went back to watching TV.
Now they were here.Zabolgye.An old house surrounded by wild nettles, its porch sagging. A heavyset woman stood in the doorway: Stepanida.— Well, the city one has arrived… — she muttered.Roman quickly handed her an envelope, placed Zlata into a creaking wheelchair, then wordlessly got back into the car.
— Roma… — Zlata said softly.The man didn’t even turn around.He drove off.The engine noise faded.Silence.Stepanida stepped closer and already reached for Zlata’s pocket.The next moment she gasped.Zlata grabbed her wrist.Then… stood up.Straight-backed.Calm.
— Listen to me — she said quietly, but in a voice that left no room for doubt. — My husband paid you pocket change. I’ll pay you triple. But everyone believes I can’t even walk. And it will stay that way. If you tell anyone… you won’t see a single cent.
Stepanida could only nod.That’s how it began.The next day Zlata started cleaning. For days she worked—scrubbing, repairing, restoring the house. When the food ran out, she went to the shop.That’s where she met Bogdan.The man was nervously flipping through papers.
— The numbers don’t add up… the cheese factory is going bankrupt…Zlata glanced at him.— It’s not going bankrupt. Your accountant is manipulating the data to pay less tax.Bogdan looked up.— Who are you?— Someone who can fix it. In exchange, I need help.
That was the deal.Within three months, the loss-making factory became profitable. Fraud was exposed, a new system was built.And meanwhile… something else.A year passed.Roman returned.He was sure he would find a sick, helpless woman.
But where the ruined house had been, there was now a well-kept home.And in the doorway stood Zlata.Healthy.— Came for the inheritance? — she asked calmly.Roman’s face turned pale.— You… you can walk?!— I always could.
Roman raged, demanding the money.Then Bogdan stepped out from behind her.Roman stepped back.In court, everything came to light.The wealth was not shared property.And Roman… lost everything.Zlata left the building.
Bogdan was waiting outside.— Shall we go home? — he asked.Zlata smiled.— Yes.For the first time… that word truly meant what it was always supposed to mean.
