I had finished talking to my husband, but I didn’t hang up. And that “accident” ended up saving my life.

Another contract for medical equipment supply blurred before Yelena’s tired eyes. The numbers and clauses had long since melted into a dull, lifeless mass. Exhausted, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and leaned back in her chair, trying to dispel the growing sense of weariness.

Her husband’s call came at the perfect moment to break the monotony.

“Lena, hi. Listen, I’m going to be home late today. The meeting is dragging on,” Igor said, voice neutral—too neutral.

“Again?” she replied automatically, flipping another page of the contract. “That’s the third time just this week.”

“What can I do? It’s work. Don’t make dinner, I’ll grab something on the way.”

“All right,” Yelena said. She was already used to his late nights. Over the last six months, they had become alarmingly frequent. “See you at home.”

“Sure. Well, bye.”

Yelena was about to tap the button to end the call when she suddenly heard a woman’s laughter in the background. Familiar laughter. Her hand froze over the screen.

That laugh… where did she know it from?

“Igor, you promised!” the same voice said, now much clearer.

Yelena’s heart stopped.

Anzhela.

Her former friend. Ex-friend, since an ugly incident involving money two years ago had shattered their relationship.

What was she doing next to Igor?

“Just be patient,” Igor replied, using a tone Yelena had never heard before. “We need to be careful.”

“I’m tired of hiding! When are you going to make a decision once and for all?” Anzhela demanded.

Yelena’s fingers went numb. Her phone nearly slipped out of her hand.

What did she mean by “make a decision”? What were they talking about?

“I’m done waiting,” Anzhela pressed. “It’s been two years of dragging this on. She’s going to find out sooner or later.”

“She will, but not now. I have a plan. Trust me.”

A plan?

Yelena pressed the phone tightly against her ear, terrified of missing even a single word. Her throat went dry.

“Your Yelena is so naive,” Anzhela laughed. “She has no idea. And we’ve done practically everything right under her nose.”

“Quiet,” Igor snapped. “Don’t get cocky. She’s smarter than she looks.”

“Igor, I’m serious. Stop delaying. Get the papers sorted out. I can’t keep pretending in this ridiculous charade.”

Papers? Divorce? Transfers? Legal documents?

A cold shiver ran down Yelena’s spine.

“All right, all right,” Igor finally said. “Next week I’m meeting with the lawyer. But promise me you’ll be more careful. If she gets suspicious before the time comes, everything could fall apart.”

“I promise. But I won’t wait forever!”

That was when Yelena realized she had two options: hang up and pretend she hadn’t heard anything… or keep listening and face the truth.

She chose the second.

And what she heard next changed everything.

“The insurance company confirmed it,” Igor whispered. “The policy is active. All that’s missing is the ‘event.’ Once it happens, half goes to me, half to you.”

Anzhela sighed with satisfaction.

“I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. But hurry. The longer she stays alive, the greater the risk.”

Yelena’s world collapsed.

They weren’t talking about cheating. They were talking about her.

About getting her out of the way.

About killing her.

Yelena ended the call silently, her entire body trembling. For a moment, the quiet office seemed to swallow her whole. Then something inside her cracked—and something new took its place.

She wiped her tears, inhaled deeply, and opened her laptop with steady hands.

If Igor had a plan… she would have one too.

But hers would be better.

And it would start now.