“Maxim, you realize I don’t need you hanging around here, right?” Maxim said to his wife, Tamara, his tone cold and dismissive. “Why don’t you move to the countryside? I think you’ll fit right in.”
“What countryside? What on earth are you talking about?” Tamara shot back, her exhaustion plain. She was drained—emotionally and mentally. Betrayed by the man she had trusted most, her patience was gone. Together, they had started from scratch. They had sold their apartment, pooling all their resources to invest in their shared business. Maxim had sold a small room in a communal flat, while Tamara’s sharp mind navigated their way through every challenge. They lived modestly, moving from one rented home to another, but their sacrifices paid off, and success followed.
But as time passed, Maxim began acting like a king. Slowly and deliberately, he transferred all their assets into his name, ensuring that if they divorced, Tamara would be left with nothing. And once he completed his plan, he filed for divorce.
“Do you really think this is right, Maxim?” Tamara confronted him, her voice steady despite her anger.
Maxim sneered. “Don’t start with that nonsense. You haven’t contributed anything for a long time. I’m the one running everything while you just sit there.”
Her frustration grew. “You told me to rest, to take care of myself.”
Maxim rolled his eyes. “I’ve had enough of this pointless argument. Look, my former boss Ivanovich left me some rundown property in his will—a house or a farm, or something like that. It’s perfect for you. If you don’t want it, you’ll get nothing.”
Tamara smiled bitterly. She understood his game. After twelve years, she had come to see Maxim for the stranger he truly was. “Fine,” she said after a pause. “But there’s one condition: transfer the farm to me officially.”
“Sure,” Maxim replied with a shrug. “That’ll save me on taxes anyway.”
Without another word, Tamara packed her belongings and moved to a hotel. She was ready to start over, no matter what awaited her—whether it was a neglected farm or an empty piece of land. She had decided to face whatever challenges came her way. If it didn’t work out, she would rebuild her life in the city.
She loaded her car with everything she could carry, leaving the rest to Maxim and his mistress. If Maxim believed she would be the safety net for his new life, he was mistaken. The woman he had chosen to replace Tamara seemed to have little to offer beyond her arrogance.
Maxim handed her the signed papers. Tamara accepted them calmly. “Good luck to you,” she said as she left.
Maxim laughed. “And good luck to you. Don’t forget to send me a picture with the cows.”
Tamara didn’t dignify his comment with a response. She simply closed the car door and drove away. Once she was out of the city, the emotions overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of it all hit her. She had no idea how long she cried until a gentle knock on her car window startled her.
“Are you alright, dear?” asked an elderly woman standing outside. “My husband and I have been waiting at the bus stop, and we saw you. You’ve been sitting here for quite some time.”
Tamara wiped her tears and looked up. She noticed the bus stop in her rearview mirror and smiled weakly. “I’m fine, just feeling overwhelmed,” she replied.
The woman nodded. “We’ve been visiting a neighbor in the hospital. She’s all alone. Are you heading to Mikhalki?”
Tamara’s curiosity was piqued. “Mikhalki? That’s where the farm is.”
The woman smiled warmly. “Then we’re heading the same way. It’s a small village. The previous owner passed, and no one has really taken over. People keep working out of habit and for the sake of the animals.”
Tamara made space in her car for the couple. As they traveled, she learned more about the farm’s current state. It had once supplied milk to local stores but had fallen into disrepair. Only twenty cows remained from what had been a thriving operation.
When they arrived, Tamara surveyed the land with mixed emotions. The fields were barren, and the buildings needed attention. But instead of despair, she felt a spark of determination. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
A year later, Tamara stood proudly as eighty healthy cows grazed on lush pastures. The farm was thriving again, and her products were in high demand. Calls poured in from neighboring regions, and she was even considering refrigerated trucks to expand her reach. She had sacrificed everything—her savings, her jewelry—but it had all been worth it.
One day, Sveta, a spirited young girl from the village, rushed to her with a newspaper ad. “Look! Two refrigerated trucks for sale at a great price!”
Tamara studied the ad carefully and recognized the phone number. It belonged to Maxim’s office. A smirk crossed her face. “Call them,” she instructed Sveta. “Offer 5% more if they promise not to show the trucks to anyone else before us.”
When she went to inspect the trucks with her mechanic, Ivan, she ran into Maxim. His expression was priceless. He had expected her to fail, but here she was—stronger, more confident, and thriving.
“So, you’re buying these trucks?” he asked, barely hiding his shock.
“Yes,” Tamara replied coolly. “The farm you gave me turned out to be quite the success.”
Maxim was left speechless. His plan to see her fail had backfired spectacularly.
Tamara’s hard work didn’t just revive the farm; it transformed her life. She married Ivan, and a year later, they welcomed their daughter, Sonya. As Maxim sat in his crumbling office, watching his business fall apart, Tamara’s triumph was complete. She had built a future for herself—one Maxim never imagined she could achieve.