After leaving his wife penniless following the divorce, Anton rubbed his hands with satisfaction.

But three years later, when he ran into his ex by chance, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Anton had always considered himself the master of his destiny. While others were buried in textbooks, he was already deep into business ventures—reselling cars, assembling custom computers. That’s when he met Albina, a humble and dedicated student of foreign languages.

They fell in love and soon got married. Their first child, Dimka, was born shortly after, and Albina threw herself into motherhood. A couple of years later, their daughter Lenochka arrived. Taking care of two small children consumed all her time and energy. Albina suggested hiring a nanny so she could return to work, but Anton refused.

“Children need their mother,” he insisted.
Meanwhile, he treated himself to a big-screen TV, a new car, and regular nights out with friends. When Albina asked for a new hairdryer, he dismissed her:
— “The old one still works just fine.”

Time passed. The children grew and started school. Albina began to feel increasingly lonely and exhausted. Her husband was rarely home, and even when he was, he was glued to his phone. If she asked him to go out with her, he always had an excuse—but never missed an outing with his friends.

Then, out of the blue, Anton announced:
— “We should get a divorce. I’m tired of this family game. I want my freedom. I have my own life.”

— “Divorce?” Albina was stunned. “What about the children? What about me?”

— “You’ll be fine,” Anton shrugged. “You’re their mother. You’ll manage.”

That very night, Anton packed up and left, taking all his things. At least he left her the house. Albina was devastated. Her comfortable life had crumbled overnight.

She began searching for a job, leaving the kids with a neighbor. After many rejections, she finally found work as a cleaner at a shopping mall. It wasn’t the job she wanted, but it paid the bills. She had to work extra night shifts and juggle home and work responsibilities, often collapsing from exhaustion.

— “Mommy, why are you always working?” little Lena asked one evening. “I miss you.”

— “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Albina said gently. “I need to work so we can buy food and clothes.”

— “But what about Daddy? He makes a lot of money. Why doesn’t he help us?”

Albina had no answer. Anton had completely disappeared from their lives.

One day, Albina finally got some time off and went to the notary’s office. There, she received a shocking surprise: her grandfather, who had always lived modestly, had spent his life quietly buying shares in various companies. And now, he had left his entire fortune to his beloved granddaughter.

Albina could hardly believe it.
She remembered his words:
— “Save your pennies, granddaughter. They’ll be useful one day.”

Now it all made sense.

Determined to turn her life around, Albina enrolled in professional development courses and returned to her field. She also invested part of the inheritance into opening a small café in her neighborhood.

Business took off quickly, and the café became a local favorite. Albina loved being in the dining area, interacting with guests and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

One afternoon, the doorbell chimed, and she instinctively turned to greet the new customers—and froze. It was Anton. With him was a young, striking blonde. They sat at a table, and Albina approached.

— “Good afternoon. What would you like to order?” she asked calmly.

Anton looked up and stared at her, shocked:
— “Albina? Are you working here as a waitress?”

— “Yes, I work here,” she replied with composure. “So, what can I get you?”

— “Two cappuccinos and some croissants,” he said with a smirk. “Wow… I thought you were still scrubbing floors. I guess this is an upgrade, huh?”

The blonde giggled at his comment.

— “Your order will be ready shortly,” Albina said, turning toward the counter.

She brought the order to their table, and Anton couldn’t resist another jab:
— “You’re doing well. Maybe serving coffee is your true calling?”

Before Albina could reply, another well-dressed man walked in and approached her table with a smile:

— “Albina! How are you? Are you free to talk about our proposal now?”

Albina smiled:
— “As you can see, I’m just helping out a little here.”

The man chuckled:
— “Only you would be out here with the people while everyone else is stuck in an office.”

Anton sat speechless.

— “Wait… you’re the owner?” he finally asked.

Albina smiled gently:
— “Yes, this is my café. Enjoy your visit. If you need anything, just ask our waitress Lena.”

And with that, Albina turned and walked into the office, feeling the weight of her ex-husband’s stunned gaze behind her. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely free. The past no longer held any power over her.