— What do you mean the apartment will be in her name?! You’re a man! You should be the head of the family! She just wants to take advantage of you! Dima woke up to the sound of the doorbell. It was sharp and persistent—two short rings, one long. He would recognize that rhythm anywhere: … Read more
Hey sweetie, how’s it going? Have you made all the money yet, or what? Nina, Tatyana’s mom, asked with an unpleasant giggle on the phone. “No one can make all the money in the world. But that’s not the only reason I work, Mom.” “Oh? What else then?” “For pleasure. I love my job, Mom.” … Read more
Elena stood in front of the bedroom mirror, fixing her hair. Forty-five—that age when a woman either gives up for good or starts her life from scratch. She ran her hand across her face, noticing the faint wrinkles near her eyes. Still, she looked good. Regular trips to the gym, healthy eating habits, quality cosmetics—it … Read more
“Why do you need such an expensive apartment?” demanded my mother-in-law Polina brushed her hand across the smooth surface of the kitchen granite. Her two-bedroom apartment in a prestigious neighborhood was her pride. Panoramic windows revealed a park view. Light-colored walls and expensive furniture — all a result of her efforts. “I finally have a … Read more
Larisa opened her banking app and froze. The coveted number lit up on the screen—three million rubles. She ran her finger across the screen, as if making sure she wasn’t dreaming. Every single ruble had been hard-earned. “Lara, where are you?” came Andrey’s voice from the hallway. “In the kitchen!” she called back, quickly hiding … Read more
“Olya, I have news!” Maxim walked into the kitchen where his wife was making dinner and stopped by the window. “The builders said it’s just a couple more weeks. We can start planning the move.” Olga turned around, drying her hands on a towel. Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? Finally!” She wrapped her … Read more
Tanya looked at him. He still hadn’t lifted his head. “Prepare dinner for ten, immediately! Family’s coming, do you hear me? Immediately!” Valentina Sergeyevna’s voice on the phone was so sharp that Tanya instinctively pulled it away from her ear. She wasn’t yelling—she was cutting. She was used to giving orders: after all, a daughter-in-law … Read more
“We’ll make the kids’ room on the closed veranda, there’s more sunlight there,” my mother-in-law said confidently while helping herself to some herring under a fur coat. “Olga’s boys look so pale being in the city. We’ll put Vadim’s sofa in the big room—it’s just gathering dust on their balcony anyway. And the summer kitchen … Read more
“Mom will temporarily be the official owner of our future apartment, so everything will be much easier with the documents,” Pavel explained in a completely ordinary tone while I was fascinated by the brochure, looking at the thoughtful layout of the spacious kitchen with panoramic windows. That blueprint proudly showcased two glassed-in balconies and a … Read more
“It’s not what you think,” he started to say. “Of course. You just went to Vika’s to play chess,” I answered. Andrey froze in the doorway. His two bags were placed by the door, neatly zipped up. His jacket was draped over the handle, just like you see in a hotel when checking out. He … Read more