Natalya stood by the window, watching her husband Alexey and his mother step out of the elevator with heavy grocery bags from the supermarket

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Natalya stood at the window and watched her husband, Alexey, and his mother step out of the elevator with heavy grocery bags. They were deep in discussion, and by her mother-in-law’s sharp gestures it was obvious—once again, the topic was Natalya. Lidiya Petrovna pointed toward their apartment on the third floor, shook her head, and … Read more

“You’re nobody in this house—don’t you dare say a word against my mother!” my husband shouted, swinging his arm at me

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Natalya was slicing potatoes into thin rounds, darting a glance at the clock. Half past six—Sergey would be home from work soon. Meat and vegetables were stewing on the stove, sending a mouthwatering smell through the kitchen. Outside, October twilight was already sinking in, and the lamp filled the room with a soft, cozy warmth. … Read more

This place was bought while we were married, so I’m not walking away with nothing — his wife wasn’t about to be fooled

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— “The house was bought during the marriage, so go after your half!” Alexey’s mother lectured. “The law is on your side, son.” Alexey lay stretched out on the sofa. The talk with his wife didn’t weigh on him at all. The divorce was already decided. “Mom, what half?” he yawned. “Everything’s in my name.” … Read more

Anna stood at the stove, stirring the julienne in small individual clay pots, mentally running through the evening like a checklist.

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Anna stood at the stove, slowly stirring julienne in small clay ramekins, replaying the evening schedule in her head. The dishes needed ten more minutes. The salads were already done. The meat in the oven would reach perfection right as the guests arrived. Everything—like always—exactly on time. A picture-perfect family dinner for her husband’s relatives. … Read more

Earning 400,000 a month, I decided to play the simple girl in front of my fiancé’s relatives—to see what they were really like

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I stood in the entryway mirror, taking my look apart with a critic’s precision. The three-thousand-ruble jeans were gone—replaced with a cheap mass-market pair. My expensive jacket had been traded for a puffer coat from Avito that I’d bought специально for this little show. Even my purse was swapped out for a scuffed fabric tote … Read more

You didn’t fix the brakes on my car—even though you took money for the repair shop—and you spent it on brand-new spinning rods? Y

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“You didn’t fix the brakes on my car even though you took money for the garage—and you spent it on new spinning rods? You sent me out on black ice in a car with faulty brakes to go to the store?” the wife asked quietly, holding an inspection report from an independent mechanic. The paper … Read more

“We’ll stay with you for now, you don’t mind, right?” the sister-in-law asked in a syrupy voice—already parking their suitcases in the entryway

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Anna first saw Svetlana at Dmitry’s birthday party, back when they’d only just started dating. Dima’s sister arrived two hours late and swept into the apartment as if she were stepping onto a catwalk—dramatic, loud, and instantly pulling all the attention toward herself. She scanned the room, then her gaze locked on Anna. “So this … Read more

She Came Home Without Warning—and Froze: My Husband, Sitting With His Brother, Was Discussing My Apartment

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Marina got home around eleven at night, slipped off her heels in the entryway, and heard Dmitry’s displeased voice coming from the bedroom. “Late again,” her husband said as he walked into the hallway, arms folded across his chest. “Every day it’s the same story. Normal wives are home by seven. And you—out roaming around … Read more