Varya arrived half an hour early and overheard her husbands words that would change her life.
Elena got to her motherinlaws house thirty minutes before the appointed time and, by chance, heard her husband say something that turned her world upside down.
She stopped the car beside a familiar home and checked her watch. Too early, she thought. Its fine, Radus mother always likes to see me.
Adjusting her hair in the rearview mirror, she stepped out, a box of cake in her hand. The day was bright, the air scented with blooming lilacs. Elena smiled, remembering how she used to stroll through these quiet courtyards with Radu before they were married.
Reaching the door, she pulled out a keyher motherinlaw had long insisted she have one. She turned the knob gently, not wanting to disturb AnaMihaela if she were resting.
The apartment was silent, save for muffled voices drifting from the kitchen. Elena recognized her motherinlaws tone and was about to call out when the next words froze her in place.
How much longer can we hide this from Elena? AnaMihaela asked, her voice edged with anxiety. Radu, this isnt fair to her.
Mother, I know what Im doing, her husband replied, supposedly on his way to an important work meeting.
Is that so? I think youre making a mistake. I saw the papers on the table. Are you really planning to sell the family business and move to America because of that whats her name Jessica from the investment fund? Shes promising gold bricks in California, right? And Elena? She doesnt even know youre drafting divorce papers! Family games
The cake box slipped from Elenas grasp and hit the floor with a dull thud. Instantly, silence settled over the kitchen.
A moment later, Radu emerged into the hallway, stunned. His face went pale when he saw his wife.
Elena you came early
Yes, early, she answered, her voice trembling. Early enough to learn the truth. Or maybe, just in time?
AnaMihaela appeared behind her son, eyes brimming with tears and compassion.
My daughter
But Elena was already turning toward the exit. The last sound they heard was her motherinlaws voice:
See, Radu? The truth always comes out.
Elena got into her car and started the engine. Her hands shook, but her thoughts were clear. She pulled out her phone and dialed her lawyer. If Radu was preparing divorce papers, she would be ready too. After all, half of the family business legally belonged to her, and she wouldnt let her fate be decided without her knowledge. The Golden Flowers jewelry chain had been founded by Radus father thirty years earlier, growing from a small workshop that crafted custom pieces into a prestigious network of fifteen stores nationwide.
Elena had joined the company six years ago as a marketing specialist, where she met Radu. After their wedding she became fully involved in the family firm, introducing fresh ideas, launching online sales and international deliveries. Thanks to her efforts, profits had doubled over the past three years. And now Radu wanted to sell everything?
Well meet in an hour, she told her lawyer. I have some interesting information about a possible saleGolden Flowers.
She hung up, smiling. Perhaps she hadnt arrived merely early, but exactly on time. Her future was now in her own hands.
The following six months turned into a protracted legal battle. Eventually Elena uncovered the whole story: six months earlier, at an international jewelry exhibition in Rome, Radu had met Jessica Brown, a representative of an American investment fund. Jessica saw potential in Golden Flowers and persuaded Radu to sell, offering him a seat on the board of a new Silicon Valley venture.
Radu, who had always felt eclipsed by his wifes success and weighed down by family tradition, saw this as his chance to write his own success story. Moreover, a romance had blossomed with Jessica, who had already found him a home near SanFrancisco.
In court, Radu was confident he would retain control of the company, arguing that Golden Flowers was his fathers legacy. He did not anticipate Elenas foresightshe had kept every document proving her contribution to the firms growth.
By the third hearing, the financial reports showed how, thanks to her marketing strategy and the launch of online sales, the companys profits had surged. Elena stood by the window, watching the lilacs in bloom, and realized that true wealth lay not in the jewelry but in recognizing her own value.
