Novel

You're a successful interior designer. You have your own style, a portfolio, and projects for dozens of other people's homes. But this house was special—for you and your husband.

Your husband is a builder. For him, durability and practicality are more important than "pretty pictures." You often argued about design, but usually found a compromise.

You spent a month preparing the project: redoing plans, searching for references, thinking through every detail. You wanted to combine his reliability with your own lightness in the house.

On the day of the final screening, you opened your laptop with a smile.

— Look. Our bedroom: light colors, large windows, lots of air.

He silently leafed through the project.

"And this is the living room. I left the exposed beams and fireplace, just like you wanted, but I added a cozy feel."

"Comfort?" He frowned. "This isn't a house. It's a picture."

You froze.

• And what do you suggest?

He rose from the table.

— This project is not suitable. Make a new one.

— Start from scratch?

"If you want me to accept it, I'll support you. But not this project."