“— My parents found out that you bought an apartment, and they gave me permission to marry you,” Artem announced proudly.
Artem had loved Liza since their university days. She was lively, intelligent, with a spark in her eyes.
But his parents, Gennady Anatolyevich and Lyudmila Mikhailovna, had one ironclad rule: a mismatched marriage was unacceptable. Liza came from a modest family and had achieved everything on her own. To them, she was an outsider. They categorically forbade Artem from marrying her.
“Love each other as much as you want, Artem,” his father said sternly, taking a sip of coffee from his mug. “But there will be no children and no stamp in your passport until she proves that she is worth something and isn’t simply draining your resources.”
“Of course, Elizaveta is a sweet and hardworking girl, but your father is right. She is not your equal,” Lyudmila Mikhailovna agreed with her husband. “Love fades with time, and all that remains is respect. Will you be able to respect Liza if she achieves nothing in her life? That’s why marriage should be based on practical considerations.”
Artem passed his parents’ harsh verdict on to Liza. The girl burst into tears when she heard it, but accepted the situation.
“So I’m simply not good enough for your level? Fine… I’ll work hard, and I’ll definitely become good enough! I love you, Artem, and I want to be with you no matter what,” she swore, smearing tears and mascara across her face.
The couple continued living together in Artem’s apartment, which his parents had given him for his eighteenth birthday.
Artem sincerely admired Liza. She worked hard, studied, and constantly improved herself. From a modest assistant, she grew into a confident executive.
Artem genuinely celebrated every one of her victories and supported her whenever she failed.
His love for her grew stronger with every passing year as he watched Liza transform. She became intelligent, stylish, and self-confident.
His parents softened their attitude toward their future daughter-in-law, but they still did not approve of marriage.
One day, Liza came home from work and shared some wonderful news with Artem.
“Darling! I just received a notification that I have officially become the owner of a three-bedroom apartment in the city center! The property registry processed my ownership rights in just four days,” Liza said proudly. “I earned the money myself and bought it without a mortgage or anyone else’s help!”
“Wow! Congratulations! But why didn’t you tell me anything earlier?” Artem asked in surprise.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” she replied with a smile.
Artem hugged her tightly and spun her around with happiness. He was genuinely thrilled for Liza.
“Tomorrow after work, I’ll stop by my parents’ place and tell them I’m dating a successful, financially secure woman,” he said half-jokingly.
Her expression immediately fell, and her smile disappeared. She gently pulled away from his embrace and headed toward the bedroom.
“I’m really tired today… I want to take a shower and go to bed early,” Liza said without turning around.
The next day, Artem visited his parents and told them about Liza’s achievement.
“Mom, Dad, Liza bought an apartment in the city center entirely on her own, without anyone’s help. And not some tiny studio either—a full three-bedroom apartment, with no mortgage. And you said she was only with me for money and would never achieve anything on her own,” their son said proudly.
He wanted Gennady Anatolyevich and Lyudmila Mikhailovna to finally understand that Liza was suitable to be his wife and stop standing in the way of their marriage.
After several years of living together, he loved her more than ever.
“Well then… Good for her. So she has character and isn’t a freeloader. She has passed the test of time. You may marry her,” his father said casually, granting his permission.
“I always knew Liza was a clever girl and that sooner or later she would become part of our family,” his mother said cheerfully with an overly sweet smile.
Artem was overjoyed. On the way home, he stopped at a jewelry store and bought an engagement ring.
He decided to throw Liza a surprise party to celebrate the apartment purchase. During the same event, he planned to propose.
The next day, he invited their mutual friends to his apartment. He ordered food from a restaurant, bought champagne, and hung decorative lights around the room.
The guest of honor was expected home from work at any moment.
The door opened.
A tired Liza froze in the doorway when she saw the crowd of friends shouting:
“Surprise! Congratulations on buying your apartment!”
She smiled uncertainly while everyone hugged her and handed her flowers. Artem approached with a radiant smile, dropped to one knee, and pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
The room fell silent.
“Liza… my sunshine… We’ve been through so much together. You are the strongest, smartest, most beautiful woman I know. You achieved everything on your own. My parents finally understand what a treasure I found. They’ve given us their blessing. Liza, will you marry me?” Artem said breathlessly, holding out the ring.
Everyone held their breath.
Liza looked at the velvet box, then at Artem.
Her smile vanished.
Her eyes, which only a moment earlier had looked tired but warm, suddenly filled with cold, furious fire.
“Marry you? Are you serious?” she said irritably. “Go to hell with your ring, Artem. And with your precious blessing.”
She threw the bouquet onto the floor.
The guests gasped, and a murmur spread through the room as everyone began whispering.
Liza suddenly turned toward them.
“Everyone leave! Now!”
The stunned guests began moving awkwardly toward the exit. Without even looking at Artem, who was still frozen on one knee with the open ring box in his hand, Liza walked into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.
Artem heard the lock click.
Then came muffled but unmistakable sobbing.
He knocked on the door and begged her to open it, but the only response was silence interrupted by quiet sobs.
Devastated, Artem finished the remaining champagne and then found a bottle of whiskey.
He drank the bitter, burning liquid, trying to numb his shame, pain, and complete confusion.
The guests left in gloomy silence.
Artem collapsed onto the sofa and fell into a heavy, drunken sleep.
He woke up to silence.
His head was splitting with pain, and sunlight streamed directly into his eyes.
Artem got up and went to the kitchen, but it was empty.
He looked into the bedroom.
The wardrobes were wide open, and half the shelves were empty.
The familiar bottles of perfume and cosmetics were gone from the dressing table.
His heart tightened with anxiety.
On the coffee table in the living room lay a sheet of paper held down by an empty shot glass.
The handwriting was sharp and angular:
“I proved everything to you. And I owe you nothing. Give my regards to your parents. Liza.”
Artem collapsed helplessly onto the sofa.
The ring, carelessly dropped on the floor the previous night, glimmered faintly in the corner.
The apartment, which only yesterday had been filled with laughter and hope, now felt enormous, cold, and empty.
The ringing silence screamed louder than any words.
Liza had passed their test of strength.
Their love had not.
Artem blamed his parents for everything. They were the ones who had made him doubt the woman he loved and had forbidden him from marrying her.
For the entire week, he tried to win Liza back.
He waited outside her workplace with flowers and went to her new address…
But nothing worked.
She refused to see him.
Eventually, Artem gave up.
He and Liza never saw each other again.