Our tenth wedding anniversary was approaching, and I, Eliza, hoped that Alexei would organise a special romantic trip for us. However, he seemed to have forgotten about this significant event, excusing himself with work commitments. In the end, I decided to spend the weekend with a friend — and no one even suspected that what was supposedly another ‘business trip’ would actually be my husband meeting another woman.
From the moment Alexei first mentioned the beauty of Valdai, I imagined how we would spend an unforgettable week there together: walking hand in hand, discussing his youth in this city. He talked about this place so often that it became a symbol of our family vows.
‘Valdai is one of the most beautiful places, Eliza,’ he often said, sipping tea and leafing through the newspaper
Every year, he promised to go there with me, but various circumstances — urgent work, caring for his parents, fatigue — kept postponing the trip. His words remained empty.
‘I’m sorry, dear,’ he apologised again. ‘I have urgent business at the office, I have to go.’
When Alexei missed our anniversary, something inside me broke.
‘I need to go away for a week,’ he said, shaving in front of the mirror. ‘Work, looking for new clients.’
I was hoping to hear an invitation to pack my bags and celebrate our anniversary together. But he didn’t even remember it.
I realised: enough of being a shadow in my own love story.
I called my best friend Tanya and announced:
‘We’re going to celebrate my wedding anniversary!’
She was surprised, but quickly supported me. I told her that Alexei had once again ‘gone away on business’ and that I was tired of being alone. I wanted to change this situation.
‘Tanya, pack your things,’ I said, immediately starting to look for clothes. I needed this trip, some time for myself.
I quickly booked a room at the hotel — the place Alexei had talked so much about.
When we entered the lobby with the gilded frames he had so often described, my heart sank. I was glad that Tanya was there, but inside I was looking for him — my husband. After all, this could have been our memorable moment together.
‘Let’s check in and eat fish and potatoes, you’ve been talking about it for so long,’ Tanya laughed.
But at that moment, I heard a familiar laugh.
Looking up, I saw Alexei — he was standing there, hugging another woman, beaming with happiness. It was clearly not me.
It felt like a punch in the stomach. He was living our dream with someone else.
My first thought was to run over and make a scene, but instead I was overcome by a cold, determined calm.
Ten years of marriage for this? And this is his ‘work’?
I immediately took out my phone and started filming their laughter and glances — everything that should have belonged to me.
‘Are you okay, Eliza?’ Tanya asked in surprise, not seeing what was happening.
‘Look,’ I said quietly, pointing to my husband.
Tanya covered her mouth in amazement.
Plucking up my courage, I approached the reception desk.
‘I am Mrs. Cooper,’ I introduced myself. ‘You must find my husband, Alexei Cooper. Today is our anniversary, and I wanted to surprise him.’
The administrator believed me and even offered us a free couples massage if I could prove that we were married.
Soon I was given the key to the room Alexei was staying in.
Upon entering, I captured on camera the scattered belongings, champagne in an ice bucket, and romantic setting — evidence of their secret escape.
Supported by Tanya, we went for a walk through the streets of Valdai. I showed the video to anyone who wanted to see it.
‘What do you think a woman thinks when her husband promises romance but takes his mistress away instead?’ I asked.
Tanya filmed the reactions of passers-by. People were shocked. Some expressed sympathy, others shared similar stories. My pain became shared.
Back in our room, we ordered dinner. While I was eating, Tanya edited our video on her laptop.
Forgotten promises: betrayal in the Valdai format.
We posted the video online and tagged Alexei.
Soon the video went viral. The comments were filled with words of support and outrage — and not just from me.
Alexei called.
‘Eliza!’ he shouted. ‘Delete it! It’s unfair!’
‘It’s too late,’ I replied calmly. ‘It’s the truth, and now everyone knows it.’
‘Why didn’t he just come here?’ Tanya wondered. ‘We’re right here at the hotel.’
I didn’t understand myself. He was probably with his mistress, complaining to her about how I had ‘ruined’ his life.
I hung up the phone. Tanya and I went out for ice cream to calm our emotions.
Suddenly, another phone rang — a travel company had seen our video and offered us a job: creating authentic travel blogs.
‘Keep up the good work,’ encouraged manager Natasha. ‘You’ll even get a laptop.’
Now I’m not just a deceived wife, but a storyteller of vivid stories from beautiful places.
Meanwhile, Alexei’s life began to fall apart. Colleagues and clients doubted his integrity, and local teenagers pelted his car with eggs — deservedly so.
When I got home, I packed my things and moved in with Tanya. She was there for me and alone — who else could I start a new life with?
The trip to Valdai turned out to be nothing like I expected. At first, I dreamed of a romantic journey, then I planned a bachelorette party, and in the end, it became the end of my marriage.
In the end, I’m not sure I did everything perfectly, but I knew for sure that I had to do it to stop being a shadow in the life of a man who had long since stopped caring.
Today, I am free and ready to build a new life on my own terms.
What would you have done in my situation?
