Polina stood by the window, staring at the sleek black BMW parked in the driveway. That car had cost more than she ever thought she’d spend on something with wheels. They had taken out a hefty loan to afford it—one she was still paying off on her own. Artem hadn’t worked in over three years.
“Daydreaming again?” Artem called from the couch, his attention fixed on his phone. “Can’t get enough of our beauty, huh?”
“Our beauty?” Polina turned from the window. “You mean the car I’m still paying for?”
“But I’m the one driving it,” he said with a grin. “Come on, you wouldn’t even know how to handle something like that anymore. When was the last time you used your license?”
She didn’t reply. She was used to it—his jabs, the way he talked down to her. In the early years, she told herself it was stress, or just his difficult personality. But now, it was clear. Artem had never been a partner. He had been a burden she carried alone.
“By the way,” he said, not looking up, “I’m going fishing this weekend.”
“For three days?”
“Yeah.”
“And where exactly do you think the money’s coming from?”
“You’re seriously going to deny your loving husband a little break?” he gave her a charming smile, the kind he once used to win her over.
“I’m not giving you any more money, Artem.”
His smile vanished. He sat up, eyebrows raised.
“What do you mean you’re not giving? You’re supposed to support me!”
“Since when?”
“You’re my wife! Wives are supposed to stand by their husbands.”
“I’ve supported you for five years. I think that’s enough.”
He jumped to his feet. “Don’t forget, we bought that car together!”
“With my money.”
“But it’s in my name,” he said, smirking. “Actually—my mother’s name.”
Polina froze. “What?”
“I transferred the ownership to her. A month ago.”
Her voice dropped. “Why would you do that?”
“To protect myself,” he said, chest puffed up. “I knew you were thinking about leaving. So I made sure you’d walk away with nothing.”
Polina sat down slowly. The car was worth millions. They’d been making payments for over a year. She had been the only one covering the cost, every month, without fail.
“You planned this,” she said quietly.
“It was smart,” he shrugged, heading toward the hallway. “Mom helped. We made sure it was all legal.”
Polina turned as his mother appeared in the doorway, unusually smug.
“Artem made the right move,” she said. “Men need cars more than women. We couldn’t let you run off in it.”
Polina’s gaze moved between them, expression unreadable.
“So the car is officially yours now?”
“Exactly,” his mother said. “And don’t even think of fighting it. Everything’s perfectly filed.”
Polina reached for her phone.
“What are you doing?” Artem asked, suddenly cautious.
“Calling my lawyer.”
His mother laughed. “Please. Call all you want. The documents are airtight.”
She spoke calmly into the phone. “Mikhail Sergeyevich? Remember what I mentioned about my husband’s shady behavior? He transferred the car to his mother…”
Artem’s face changed.
“What evidence?” he said, voice rising.
Polina walked to the cabinet, pulled out a thick folder, and placed it on the table.
“I started collecting proof months ago. Just in case.”
Inside was a detailed paper trail—receipts, payment schedules, her bank statements.
“See this? Every loan payment, all from my account. The car was chosen, purchased, and maintained entirely by me.”
“That doesn’t matter,” his mother snapped. “The deed’s in my name!”
“Really?” Polina pulled out another document. “Here’s my divorce filing—submitted two days before the deed was transferred. That makes it fraud.”
Artem’s smirk was gone.
“How did you know?”
“I’ve known more than you thought. Here’s the dealership’s confirmation that I paid. My income statements. And a letter showing you haven’t had taxable income for years.”
“Still doesn’t prove anything!” his mother cried.
“Yes, it does. This was an intentional move to hide assets.”
The next day, Polina met with her lawyer. After reviewing the evidence, he nodded firmly.
“This is a textbook sham transfer,” he said. “We’ll request to nullify it. Given the value, they could face legal penalties.”
“What kind of penalties?”
“Fines. And depending on how the court sees it, possibly criminal charges. I recommend filing immediately.”
Polina agreed. She filed the lawsuit quietly.
Artem didn’t find out until a week later, when he opened a court summons. He burst into the apartment in a rage.
“What the hell is this? You think you’re clever?”
“No,” Polina said. “Just fair.”
“I have a right to make decisions about our property!”
“You mean the property you didn’t pay for?”
“I’m your husband! That car belonged to both of us!”
“It did. Until you decided to lie and hand it over behind my back.”
“You’ll never prove it in court!”
“I already have. Everything’s with the lawyer.”
He stormed out. An hour later, his mother arrived, trembling with anger.
“You’re trying to ruin us! You want to take his car?”
“He never earned it.”
“You can’t undo the deed!”
Polina pulled out her phone and tapped a button. “Are you threatening me?”
Her mother-in-law’s expression changed. “No. I’m just saying…”
“Good. Because threats are being recorded too.”
That night, Artem called. He sounded less sure of himself.
“Maybe we can talk. I’ll give back part of the money.”
“No,” Polina said. “This is going to court.”
“You’re being difficult!” he snapped. Something shattered in the background.
“And you’re being dishonest,” she replied. “You wanted to play games. Now face the rules.”
The next morning, the court session began. Polina sat beside her lawyer while Artem fidgeted in his chair. His mother wore a blazer and a scowl.
“All payments were made solely by my client,” the lawyer began. “The car was purchased with her funds. The deed transferring ownership took place two days after a divorce petition was filed—clearly to hide assets.”
The judge flipped through the documents.
“Additionally,” the lawyer continued, “we have records of unpaid traffic fines totaling over one hundred thousand.”
“What fines?” Artem exclaimed.
“For reckless driving, illegal parking, and speeding,” the judge said. “Since the car is registered to your mother, she is liable for all fines.”
Nina turned pale.
“This is nonsense!” she shouted. “The car is mine!”
The judge nodded. “And so are the fines.”
After two hours, the court ruled that the deed was fraudulent. The car was returned to shared ownership, and Nina Petrovna was ordered to pay the outstanding penalties.
In the hallway, Artem caught up with Polina.
“Come on, we can work something out. Let’s just split it.”
Polina handed him the keys.
“You can have it. Just pay the fines, the loan, and the taxes first.”
“What money? I don’t have that kind of money!”
“Then I guess you can’t afford it,” she said and turned away.
He looked helplessly at his mother.
“You said they couldn’t touch it!”
“I thought…”
“You thought you could cheat her and get away with it?”
“I just wanted to help you…”
“Help? You’ve ruined us!”
A week later, they signed the final property division papers. Artem looked defeated.
“Polina, can’t we try again? I’ve changed.”
“Changed?”
“I see now—I should’ve worked, been honest…”
“Instead of lying? Forging documents? Manipulating me?”
He lowered his head. “I miss you.”
“Of course you do. No one’s paying for your fun anymore.”
“It’s not about the money!”
“Then what is it? Love? Respect? Because I saw none of that when you went behind my back.”
“I was scared.”
“So you decided to betray me?”
He had no answer.
In the parking lot, the BMW waited. It was officially hers now. His mother had sold her jewelry to pay the fines.
“You know what?” Polina said as she reached for the door, “I should thank you.”
“For what?”
“For showing me exactly who you are. Now I know what kind of man not to trust again.”
“Polina—”
“Don’t call me.”
She got in, started the engine, and drove off without a glance.
A month later, Artem sent a message: let’s start over?
She didn’t reply. She was too busy planning her vacation—and this time, she’d be paying for it with her own money, for herself alone.