Chapter 2: The Secret Behind The Debt
The next morning, Igor sat alone at the kitchen table.
He looked exhausted.
For the first time in days, he stopped hiding.
“I should have told you earlier.”
Vera stood near the window.
“Yes.”
“You should have.”
Igor sighed.
“I thought I could fix it before you found out.”
“How?”
He didn’t answer.
Because he knew.
There was no plan.
Only hope.
Vera sat down across from him.
“Why did you do it?”
Igor looked at his hands.
“Larisa said her business would succeed.”
“She promised she would pay me back.”
“And when she needed more money… I thought one more loan would solve everything.”
Vera closed her eyes for a moment.
She was hurt.
Not because of the money.
Because of the lie.
“You risked our future without telling me.”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“I was ashamed.”
Before Vera could respond, Tamara entered the room.
She immediately started defending her son.
“You see? He made a mistake. A mistake doesn’t mean he should lose everything.”
Vera looked at her.
“I never said that.”
“Then stop acting like he is a criminal.”
Vera stayed quiet.
Then she placed another document on the table.
Tamara frowned.
“What now?”
“This is the solution.”
Igor picked it up.
His eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“A legal agreement.”
Vera explained calmly.
“The debt will be separated.”
“The money connected to Larisa’s business will remain her responsibility.”
“And the family assets will be protected.”
Igor stared at her.
“You did all this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vera looked at him.
“Because I am your wife.”
A pause.
“But being your wife does not mean I have to blindly accept every mistake.”
Igor lowered his head.
For the first time, he understood the difference.
Vera wasn’t abandoning him.
She was forcing him to become responsible.
Later that day, Larisa arrived.
She walked in confidently.
“I heard Vera is making things complicated.”
Vera turned.
“Actually, I’m making things clear.”
Larisa smiled.
“You know Igor only helped me because he cared.”
Vera nodded.
“And now you will prove you care too.”
Larisa frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You will sign the repayment agreement.”
Her smile disappeared.
“I don’t have that money.”
Vera looked directly at her.
“Then explain why you bought a new car last month.”
Silence.
Igor looked shocked.
“What?”
May you like
Larisa froze.
And Vera realized the truth was much bigger than anyone admitted.
