The wedding procession sped through the city, the driver turned on lively music and honked continuously. The bride was all anticipation, constantly adjusting her veil and fidgeting with her wedding bouquet. She was charming: light makeup, blonde curls styled into a beautiful hairstyle, and the veil added a touch of mystery. A happy smile wandered across her face. Sveta’s heart was ready to jump out of her chest; she couldn’t believe that very soon she would become the wife of the most beloved man in the world, her Alexei. And let it be that his parents are displeased, let no one believe in their sincere love, let them gossip that she spun a wealthy groom for a well-fed life and a metropolitan registration! She didn’t care about the gossip. People are just envious. Such love as theirs simply doesn’t exist!
The procession sped past the central registry office, and soon left the city. Sveta didn’t understand anything and turned to the driver:
“Excuse me, what’s happening? Where are you taking me, I can’t understand. The ceremony is at twelve, Alexei is waiting for me there. Turn around immediately! If this is a joke, it’s a very bad one!”
But the driver mysteriously replied:
— It’s a surprise! Just relax, it’s a long ride still. Better listen to the music!
Sveta panicked, started pulling at the door handles, but it was locked, she pleaded to stop the car, but all in vain. The driver drove crazily over bumps, trying not to look in the mirror at how the bride was getting nervous and starting to cry. It was unpleasant for him too, but he couldn’t do it any other way…
An hour later, the car stopped in the middle of nowhere. The driver turned off the music and grumbled:
-Get out. We’ve arrived.
Sveta didn’t understand anything, at the edge of an abandoned village, almost in a swamp, stood a dilapidated hut, everywhere were stumps and logs, crows ominously cawed. The girl was scared:
-Are you crazy? Why have you brought me here! I’ll call Alexei now and tell him everything, he’ll skin you alive! You’ve ruined our wedding! What is this swamp? Take me back!
The guy couldn’t take it anymore:
-Don’t yell at me. Actually, it was your would-be mother-in-law, Galina Vasilyevna, who ordered me to take you here instead of the registry office and leave you! Ask her about it. And the groom heard everything, nodded and kept silent! Just so!
Sveta cried and couldn’t believe it, she kept repeating:
-No, it’s not true! It can’t be. Alexei couldn’t! He loves me. I’ll call him right now.
She feverishly dialed the groom’s and mother-in-law’s numbers, but in vain, they were blocked. Then the driver received a message, read it, and handed the phone to Sveta:
— Here, read it if you don’t believe! I work for Galina Vasilyevna, and can’t disobey her, she’ll fire me in an instant.
The girl read the dreadful lines: “Have you already taken the frog to the swamp where she belongs? Hurry back. There’s still work to do.”
It finally dawned on Sveta, all this was not a stupid silly prank, but a terrible truth. Alexei’s mother decided to mock her like this, to teach her a lesson. To let her know that she, poor thing, had no place in their family. That she should go back to her backwater, from where she came. Did Alexei know all along? And did nothing to protect Sveta from disgrace?
The girl got out of the car, tears clouded her eyes, she shivered and stamped her feet, not knowing what to do now?
The driver took pity and said:
-Don’t be afraid, sit here, and I’ll come back for you, but first I have to report to Galina Vasilyevna. I’m sorry, I’m not to blame here. But you know, maybe it’s all for the best? The lady wouldn’t have let you live in peace anyway. Here, take my jacket, I’ll be back soon…
The car left, Sveta ripped off her veil, sat on a stump, and wept bitterly. In her head, she still couldn’t comprehend all this disgrace. She simply couldn’t believe that someone who had sworn love to her just yesterday could betray her like this? And she also wanted to surprise the groom at the wedding! To tell him that she was pregnant. She imagined how Alexei would be delighted, how he would twirl her and kiss her. And now what? How would she raise a child alone? On what?
Sveta replayed all the stages of her relationship with Alexei in her head and couldn’t understand when, at what moment he decided to treat her so vilely…
Svetlana grew up in a village, her father a tractor driver, her mother worked at the post office, they kept a farm and a garden, all as usual. Their family was considered exemplary from the outside, a rare case in the village where the man of the house didn’t drink. Everyone worked hard like bees, the home was always well-kept. Villagers envied Sveta’s mother, Evdokia, saying she was lucky to have married well. But few knew what really went on in their family. The head of the family, Boris, was not just strict, he was harsh by nature. Everyone walked the line. No one dared speak out of turn. If the mother sat down to rest, even a little, the father immediately lectured her:
-What are we sitting around for? Go check the yeast, feed the calves. Endless work, and here you sit like a lady!
The mother immediately got up and silently went to work. The same applied to Sveta. Reading books, wasting time, going to the club for a disco, was all improper. The father also controlled her school grades himself, and grumbled if he saw bad ones. And he was very sparing with affection, never hugging, never comforting. He always told Sveta:
— Once you finish school, we’ll match you with Kolka, I’ve already spoken to his parents. You’ll work on their farm. He’s a good boy, industrious, not lazy. So consider, I’ve already arranged your fate.
Sveta tried to resist:
“Daddy, I want to study, and I don’t like Kolya at all, he’s rude and redheaded. I want to go to the city, get an education, work there.”
Her father became furious and slammed his fist on the table:
“What, you dare to defy your father? Who do you think you are? Who’s waiting for you in the city? Your mother has spoiled you, filling your head with nonsense. The conversation is over, I have already decided. If I hear about the city one more time, I’ll lock you up to think things over. A woman’s lot is to manage the house and bear children. Understood?”
Sveta cried, pleading with her mother to intervene, but she only shook her head:
“What are you thinking, my daughter? You know how stern your father is. He won’t listen to me. But don’t be upset, your father only wants the best for you. Maybe it’s not so bad? We’ll have a wedding, and you’ll live happily with Kolya…”
Sveta was a stubborn girl, and firmly decided that she would run away to the city and make it on her own! The idea of marrying a man she didn’t love, and living a life like her parents, seemed dreadful to her. And that’s exactly what she did. She worked on the farm, saved a little money for the trip, and packed her bag for the road. Just then, her father noticed her, he yelled, wanting to lock her up, but Sveta broke free and ran. And then her father yelled in anger:
“Ah, so? Well, go then! Just know, there are no princes there. You’ll come crawling back, and I’ll never let you in! You’re foolish, daughter, you’ll regret it yet!”
So, Sveta found herself in the capital. Right from the train station, she went to a vocational school; she had always dreamed of becoming a seamstress. She was admitted easily and was given a room in a dormitory. It was hard, of course, but her roommates helped her out, sharing everything they had. Sveta was very upset with her parents. Other students had relatives who brought them bags of groceries and gave support. But not her. Her father had such a difficult character; he had stopped communicating with her, sticking to his principles. Her mother would have visited, of course; a couple of times she managed to send Sveta packages through acquaintances. But clearly, her father wouldn’t allow her to visit her daughter, saying, “She disobeyed, let her manage on her own.”
After finishing school, Sveta got a job at a small tailor shop. She rented a modest apartment on the outskirts. In the evenings, she read women’s romance novels about love and sighed, imagining she too would meet a prince, fall in love. Her excellent sewing skills really helped Sveta out. Not having money for beautiful outfits, she made them herself. Thus, the girl always looked fashionable and interesting. She met Lesha quite by accident, just like in a movie. The guy was standing in front of her in the line at the supermarket cashier, and he dropped his wallet, Sveta immediately picked it up and without hesitation ran outside. The guy was already getting into his car. She handed him the wallet:
“Phew, I barely caught up. Here, you dropped this! Take it.”
The young man was taken aback and began to thank her:
“Wow, really. Thank you so much! I’m sure not everyone would do the same… I’m pleasantly surprised. My name is Alexey. And yours? Maybe we should be on a first-name basis?”
That’s how they met. Lesha offered to have coffee, treated Sveta to pastries. They started talking. It turned out that his parents owned their own travel agency. The guy had been abroad a lot, and he passionately talked about what he had seen, and the girl listened, breathless. She fell in love with Lesha at first sight; he even looked like the prince from her dreams. Just as confident, smiling, exuding masculinity. Their romance was very passionate. Lesha took her to exhibitions and concerts, to museums and the cinema. He opened a completely different capital city for Sveta. Patiently taught her how to behave in society, the rules of etiquette. And she absorbed it all like a sponge. Their feelings were mutual, Sveta knew this. The fiancé whispered such tender words of love to her, gave gifts. Everything was going perfectly until his parents found out about their romance. Galina Vasilievna was furious; she tried everything to dissuade her son from the wedding, convincing him that he could have nothing in common with a rough country girl. She even showed up at the tailor shop a couple of times, openly humiliating Sveta. The woman was convinced that she had ensnared Lesha, wanting to register in their luxurious apartment and live at their expense. Proving otherwise was simply impossible. And then one day, a scandal occurred. It was the first time Lesha had stayed the night at Sveta’s. And in the morning, they were awakened by a knock on the door. Enraged, Galina Vasilievna burst in like a fury. And began to shout:
“You shameless girl! Already jumped into bed? Cover yourself up! Standing there, in a single shirt! Where’s my son?”
The girl got angry:
“I’m at my own home, I can wear what I want. And don’t yell at me. Lesha and I love each other, and we’ll be together whether you like it or not.”
Sveta hoped that Lesha would stand up for her, but he just hurriedly dressed, while Galina Vasilievna continued to shout:
“Son, what have you forgotten in this flea pit? What have you come to, huh? Get home immediately. And forget the way here. And know, this wedding will not happen! We didn’t raise and educate you to marry this seamstress.”
Lesha tried to smooth things over:
“Mom, why are you so upset? How did you even find me here? Don’t yell, calm down. Wait outside, I’ll come down soon.”
Sveta widened her eyes:
“Is that all? So, you think your mother’s behavior is normal? She humiliated me, insulted me, and you’re silent? Maybe I really don’t mean anything to you, say it?”
Tears choked her, as if a bucket of slop was poured over her head. The fiancé tenderly hugged her and whispered:
“What are you, dear, don’t take it so close to heart. Yes, mom is a difficult person. It’s hard for her to accept that I want to get married, she’s just jealous, understand? Don’t worry, she’s always like this. But then she’ll cool down, calm down, I’ll talk to her. We will definitely get married. I love you, honestly. Do you believe me?”
And Sveta forgave him right there, and believed. Breaking up with Lesha was beyond her strength. She believed everything would work out, how could a mother ruin her son’s life? Although, remembering her own father, she understood that it happens…
Sveta didn’t realize immediately that she was pregnant. Just one day during lunch break her coworker brought fried fish, and as soon as Sveta smelled it, she got sick to her stomach. Then she bought a test, and everything became clear. There was a week left until the wedding, and the girl decided to present this news right at the celebration! She really wanted this baby, as it was from the man she loved, desired. The girl already imagined how they would walk with the stroller, bathe the baby together, raise him. After all, that’s how a true strong family should be.
And now? She’s crying on a stump, all bitten by mosquitoes and midges, and freezing, with darkness ahead. No wedding, no fiancé, nothing…
When the driver came back for the unfortunate bride, she was completely incoherent, her eyes swollen from tears, her forehead burning, clearly, she had a fever. Sveta was shaking, she could barely mutter her address, and everything went dark in her eyes. She lost consciousness…
The girl woke up to bright light, blinding her eyes. She was lying in her bed, wrapped up to her neck in a blanket, a wet towel on her head, and her friend Lily bustling around. Seeing that Sveta had come to, she exhaled:
“Thank God! You woke up. It’s good that the guy who brought you here yesterday called, found the number in your phone. I was so scared. You had a high fever. I was about to call an ambulance, but Oleg told me everything, how that bastard Lesha dumped you. We decided it was all from the nerves. We found some antipyretic and a sedative in the medicine cabinet, had to inject. And then you fell asleep. You slept for a day. I even listened to see if you were breathing. You really scared me, Sveta!”
The girl remembered everything, and a lump rose to her throat again, but she didn’t start crying, instead, a wave of anger washed over her.
Lily chattered:
“What are you going to do now? You need to sign up for an abortion before it’s too late. How will you manage alone with a child? Your salary barely covers the rent and food. That jerk Lesha! And we’ll find you an even better fiancé. You’ll see.”
But Sveta frowned and shook her head negatively:
“I’m not going anywhere. I won’t kill the baby, I already love him, don’t you understand? I couldn’t live as if nothing happened after that. Nothing, I’ll survive on my own, and raise the child. And I don’t need anyone. Thank you, Lily, for taking care of me. I felt so bad, I don’t remember anything.”
A friend shook her head and said: “Listen, maybe you should go home then? You said it yourself, your family isn’t poor, your parents will thaw out, they’ll help. It’ll be easier for you.”
Sveta frowned again and snapped back: “No way! My father told me straight up, if I show up with a problem, he won’t let me through the door. You don’t know him; he’ll never forgive me. He’d even make my mom suffer, saying, ‘Look what a disgrace you’ve raised.’ No, I’ll deal with this myself. It was stupid of me to listen to fairy tales about love. I thought I found a prince, but it turned out like in that fairy tale—where Ivanushka drinks from a hoof and turns into a little goat! Turns out, Lyosha is a goat too. Well, God be with him, let him live how he wants. Time to get up, I have work tomorrow, need to make something to eat, no time to mope.”
Liliya was amazed: “Wow, you’re tough, friend! A rock. I couldn’t do that. Alright, I have to run, call me if you need anything…”
Days flowed by. Sveta felt miserable and bad, constantly wanting to cry, it seemed like the whole world knew about her disgrace and judged her. BUT the girl held on, didn’t allow herself to mope, and worked tirelessly. She took orders at home, often stayed overtime, trying to earn even a little for her baby’s dowry. But, as luck would have it, her health failed in the second trimester; she had to be hospitalized twice, and the money she earned was spent on food and medical treatment. Her situation was desperate. Labor was approaching, and the landlord threatened to evict her if Sveta didn’t pay… Sveta went to the maternity hospital with a heavy heart, dark thoughts swirling, and the future seemed bleak…
Labor was difficult and exhausting, but all went well, and a boy was born, whom Sveta named Sergey. She pressed her bundle of joy to her chest, cried, kissed the baby, and realized she would never give her miracle to anyone. A nurse came in, and Sveta suddenly asked: “I remember, in the next delivery room, a woman had a difficult labor, and then everyone was rushing around. Is everything okay with her? She probably had twins, her belly was just huge when they wheeled her in.”
The nurse sighed: “Unfortunately, the mother died. She had blood problems, we couldn’t stop the bleeding. It’s the first time this happened in our maternity hospital. And the babies, as if by sin, have a severe allergy to formulas; only breastfeeding suits them. The poor grief-stricken husband is looking for a wet nurse, but it’s not that easy.”
Without a second thought, Sveta offered: “If needed, I can feed the babies. I’m suffering, I have a lot of milk, my breast hurts like hell and feels like it’s going to burst. Why let it go to waste.”
The nurse was delighted and brought the babies. It was a boy and a girl. Sveta fed them, they suckled greedily and were fully satiated. They immediately closed their eyes and dozed off. The nurse began to thank her: “Oh, thank you, it’s so good. Otherwise, they were crying poor things, they’re hungry, they eat a little formula, and immediately spit it all up. It was really a disaster.”
Sveta thought, what a tragedy in the family, the children left without a mother, and she was still complaining about her own life. A couple of hours later, a worn-out man, dressed expensively, obviously well-off, but with eyes as if death resided in them, entered her room. He sat down by Sveta’s bed and spoke in a hoarse, quiet voice: “Hello, Svetlana. My name is Alexander. This was my wife, Anechka, she died in childbirth, and the twins, Stepka and Alisa are also mine. They told me you fed them, and you have a lot of milk? You can’t imagine how you helped me. I’m still in shock from what happened, I can’t recover. The funeral is ahead. And then there’s this allergy. Even the most expensive formulas don’t suit them. Please help me, I beg you! I’ll pay you any money. Become a nurse and nanny for my children. I know, you also had a boy born, that’s okay. You can live with us. I’ll provide you an excellent comfortable room, ensure outstanding nutrition. Understand, I can’t lose the babies too… I understand you have your own family and your husband will be against it. Then let him live with us too. It’s not for long, as soon as we can start feeding the babies, I won’t burden you. Think about it, don’t refuse right away.”
Sveta was very happy because such an option was also a salvation for her. It solved all her problems with money and living. She agreed right away: “I don’t have a husband, so no one will be against it. I agree. Don’t worry, I have a lot of milk, hopefully, it won’t go to waste, there’s enough for everyone.”
Thus, after being discharged, Sveta moved to Kruglov’s huge three-story mansion. There lived Sasha’s parents, an elderly couple, Yefim Petrovich and Alla Igorevna. Sasha himself with the children and his younger sister, Angela. Sveta and her son were given a wonderful spacious room. Cribs for the twins were also placed there, so it was convenient for her to watch over the children and feed them. Initially, it was very difficult for the girl to care for three babies at once, she was running around like a squirrel in a wheel, jokingly feeding everyone in turn, one cries, just calm down, the other starts screaming, it was overwhelming. And the family members met the wet nurse coldly. They told Sasha that it was worth hiring a professional nanny of age, who knows what this young stranger is, and what to expect from her. But Alexander saw how Sveta tried, as soon as he came from work, he immediately took the babies and fussed over them himself. He was very grateful to Sveta for caring for his children, they were gaining weight excellently and growing on her milk. He paid her regularly, bought everything necessary at once for the three children. The relationship between Sveta and Sasha’s sister was particularly difficult. Angela behaved arrogantly, showing her displeasure that the nanny sat at the common table. She thought her place was among the servants. Once she even decided to frame the wet nurse. She created a scandal, claiming her expensive ring from her jewelry box was missing, and in the house, besides Sveta, everyone was familiar. She yelled: “What, brother, warmed a snake on your chest? Soon she’ll cart off all our goods. She probably stole the ring. We need to search her room, I’m sure the ring will be found there. Why did you bring her into our house, tell me? It’s not hard to breastfeed children, especially for such money!”
Sveta was upset, hurt, and did not remain silent: “You know what? This is too much. I didn’t beg to live here, I decided to help the babies. And I won’t tolerate such rudeness and lies. Go find a replacement! I’ll pack my things and leave right now. Since my services are no longer needed.”
Sasha was also outraged and stood up to defend her: “Are you out of your mind, Angela? To throw around such accusations! Why are you attacking Sveta? I’m sure she didn’t take the ring. And I know you since childhood, I’d rather search your room right now! You always throw your trinkets somewhere, it’s not the first time you’ve lost them! Apologize to her immediately! And I don’t want to hear again that you speak to her in that tone! You better sit with your nephews more often. All you know is how to run around clubs and salons!”
Sasha quickly found the missing item under his sister’s bed and scolded her again. She muttered an apology and harbored even greater malice towards Sveta. All because Sasha’s late wife Anna was a very close friend of Angela’s, and after her death, she couldn’t accept Sveta in the family! She didn’t believe that Sveta came to the house with good intentions. She thought that she wanted to wrap the brother around her finger and marry him. Angela herself couldn’t get along with the babies, just takes one in her arms, Stepka immediately cries, Alisa tries to spit up. What a horror. And Sveta had learned to get along with them so well, everything worked out skillfully for her. Before a walk, she, like an experienced soldier, quickly managed to dress everyone in turn, and most importantly she always chatted with them, smiled, and they just grunted. And this also caused irritation. How come the children don’t accept their own aunt but reach out to a foreign girl?
After that scandal, Angela quieted down, stopped bothering Sveta, but still looked at her with disfavor. But one day everything changed. Sveta was walking with the babies in the yard, they were dozing in the stroller. And Angela decided to swim in the pool, the heat was unbearable. She stood on the edge, stretched, deliberately showing off her sculpted figure and gorgeous swimsuit to this village girl, and jumped into the water. Only she miscalculated, twisted her leg during the jump, and already in the water, a cramp started to tighten her leg, and Angela began to panic and drown. She was a poor swimmer. Sveta saw this, and as she was dressed, immediately jumped in to save her. She managed to pull Sasha’s sister onto the grass with difficulty. Sveta turned her over and started patting her back, finally, Angela started to cough, spitting out water. Barely came to herself and caught her breath. And realizing what happened, suddenly looked at the nanny differently and babbled: “Thank you, you saved my life… And sorry for bothering you. I swear, I’ll never behave like that again. Wow, you’re amazing! How skillfully and capably you provided help… didn’t lose your head… Where did you learn that? Did you go to courses?”
Sveta laughed: “I ran to the river in the village with the kids, and all sorts of things happened. That’s how I learned. Watch the babies for a couple of minutes, I’ll go change. You know why Stepka always cries when you pick him up. Because you do it wrong, and you seem scared and tense. And children always feel that. Look, this is how you do it, I’ll teach you. Stepochka loves it when you talk to him tenderly, he immediately quiets down, and Alisa melts when you gently stroke her, just lightly. And here’s my Sergey, he loves it when I rock him, hold him close. All kids are different, you just need to find the right approach for each.”
Angela listened to the advice and carefully took Stepa, started speaking to him tenderly, smiling. And the baby also amusingly moved his lips, did not cry. From that time on, Sveta and Angela became friends, talked a lot, and the old enmity left no trace. Even Sasha’s stiff parents thawed, accepted the nanny, and already considered her theirs.
A year flew by unnoticed. The babies were already taking their first steps, and didn’t really need breastfeeding anymore. Sveta realized that perhaps it was time to move on and start her own life. But something unimaginable was happening in her soul. During this time, she had come to love the twins as her own, and couldn’t even imagine how to part with them. And the babies themselves had gotten used to playing, walking, and doing everything together as if they were from one family. All this time, Sveta’s friend, that same Liliya, often called her, asked about everything, and urged her:
“You’re such a fool, Svetka! Why haven’t you wrapped Sasha around your finger by now? You could have married him long ago and lived like a queen, instead of being a servant. What are you waiting for, I don’t understand?”
Sveta didn’t like such conversations and got angry: “What are you talking about, Liliya. Sasha sees me only as a nanny, he’s a decent man. How can I hang on his neck? And besides, who am I, and who is he? We would never work out anyway. He still mourns his wife. Often remembers her with such love. No, I can’t do that. Love can’t be forced.”
Liliya twirled her finger at her temple but thought to herself: “Well, as you wish. But I definitely wouldn’t let such a prospective groom slip by, I’d lie down with my bones, twist and turn, but I’d make sure he noticed me and fell in love.” And she began to systematically implement her plans. She started visiting her friend more often. Said she missed her, pretended to be crazy about the children, brought them gifts. The household in general was not against her visits, for Liliya knew how to throw dust in their eyes and show her best side. And physically the guest was very attractive, a bright brunette with outstanding forms. Sasha also communicated nicely with her, but no more. As much as she tried, he didn’t pay her any attention. And Liliya was angry.
And so, one day in the Kruglov’s yard, there was a small celebration, marking Angela’s birthday. They invited young people, and Liliya asked to join them as a guest. Everyone had fun, drank champagne, and then organized dances and competitions. That’s when cunning Liliya decided to act. And Sasha, considerably tipsy by then, looked at her with interest, inviting her for a slow dance and holding her gently by the waist. During the peak of a fast dance, Liliya pretended to twist her ankle, winced in pain, and began to fall. Everyone gasped, but Sasha caught her in his arms.
“Ouch, I think I twisted my ankle, mommy, it hurts, and it seems to be swelling. How will I go home now…”
Sasha was worried:
“You need to lie down, let me carry you to the back guest room. We’ll apply ice, it will get better. And if it doesn’t, you can stay the night and go tomorrow.”
Liliya was thrilled, this was all she needed. They both never returned to the guests that evening…
From that party began the romance between Sasha and Liliya; he adored her, gave her lavish gifts, dressed her like a doll. And of course, she soon moved in with him as his fiancée. The luxurious life quickly corrupted Liliya; she began to act boldly, almost as if she owned the place, even began to mock her friend, who was always running around the house tending to the children, giving them all her time:
“Sveta, how much longer? I’m tired of this noise and chaos, take the kids to the playroom. And besides, Sasha and I are getting married soon, and it’s not quite right that you’re still here. Don’t you think? And you’re hardly a good nanny. No discipline, you let them do whatever. Children need to be controlled. I think Sasha and I can manage by ourselves, and three little kids in the house is too much. So, find yourself an apartment, you’ve overstayed your welcome, my friend.”
Sveta was taken aback by such audacity and retorted:
“Haven’t you gotten a bit ahead of yourself, Liliya? Not long ago, you couldn’t even dream of such a life, and now look how you talk? I wanted to leave, but Sasha himself asked me to continue working here. So, you didn’t hire me, it’s not up to you to fire me! And don’t be so high and mighty; you might fall hard! Sasha and I are friends, after all. I could tell him about your true intentions, it’s not love that’s driving you. So, better leave me alone and keep your distance. I didn’t think you were like this, Liliya.”
The former friend harbored grudge against Sveta and decided to get rid of her quickly. She planned to frame her by stealing a folder with documents while Sasha was not at home. But, leaving the office, Angela caught her red-handed. She had been watching Liliya, observing this sly girl, just as she once watched Sveta, trying to understand who she really was. It was all too quick how her brother decided to marry her, as if she had bewitched him. Angela literally grabbed Liliya by the hand and asked:
“What are you doing here? Sasha warned everyone not to even let the maid clean here. Why were you trying to steal the folder? Who are you really? Did Sasha’s competitors send you? Confess, you scoundrel! I’ll tell Sasha everything!”
Liliya turned pale and was terribly frightened; she didn’t want to lose her fiancé and tried to justify herself:
“Please, Angela, forgive me! No one sent me, I know nothing about these business papers. Honestly, I’m not lying. I just… just needed to… I want to frame Sveta, you understand? Sasha and I are supposed to start a family, but she’s always around. Honestly, I’m jealous! My blood runs cold, I’m afraid Sasha might change his mind and notice my friend. So, I did something stupid. Forgive me. Don’t tell him anything. I love Sasha and don’t want to lose him.”
Angela pondered, maybe it was all true, and Liliya wasn’t lying? After all, she also wanted to get rid of Sveta in the same way. How was she any better than Liliya? Jealousy sometimes drives people to such madness. Angela sat on the leather sofa and patiently spoke:
“You know, I didn’t like Sveta at first, and tried to set her up, to my shame. But despite that, she saved me! And besides, Sveta has been with us for a year, and during that time, believe me, she never looked at Sasha as a woman. They’re just friends, nothing more. Here’s what I’ll tell you, Liliya. Sveta is now my close friend, and I consider her a member of our family. You can’t find a better nanny for the nephews. So, drop this nonsense and leave her alone, got it? Or Sasha will find out everything, and you’ll be kicked out, darling! Understand?”
The woman promised not to cause harm anymore, but it was only for show. In reality, Liliya just bided her time, deciding that she would achieve her goals sooner or later…
Soon, Angela herself fell in love, started dating a man, was flying high, and kept chattering that her fiancé was the best. That day she was about to invite him home. They decided to celebrate this significant event at a restaurant. All the household members left, while Sveta stayed home with the children. Time flew quickly, it was already getting dark, she put the restless kids to sleep and decided to have tea and a snack in the kitchen. Then the front door opened, noise, hubbub, the entire family came in, including her ex-fiancé Lesha with his parents. Sasha called Sveta over and introduced her:
“Meet Sveta, she’s the nanny to my little ones, their caregiver, and also a great friend and wonderful person. WE consider her a member of our family. And this is…”
But Sveta interrupted him and sharply threw out:
“— This is Lesha, a scoundrel and a villain, who instead of driving me to the registry office, took me to a swamp! And left me there at his mother’s behest! I don’t understand one thing. What is he doing here? Or did he find out he has a son? Well, I will never let such a scoundrel anywhere near him!”
Alexey blushed, turned pale, and didn’t know what to say…
Sasha was shocked:
“So he’s the scoundrel who did this to you? I remember how you suffered, cried, and worried. You’ve told me this story many times. Sister, do you know who you decided to tie your life with? Something tells me Lesha forgot to tell you something…”
A scandal ensued, Angela demanded explanations, her fiancé mumbled incoherently, and his mother tried to wriggle out:
“Angela, darling, don’t be nervous. Now, think about it, how could I let my only son get tangled with a village girl? And then, it’s just a bad joke, I agree, we went too far. And we knew nothing about Sveta’s pregnancy, so it’s not our fault. Maybe it’s not even Lesha’s child? But that’s all in the past. Truly, Alexey loves only you. And I’m happy to have such a bride as you. We’ve already agreed on everything at the restaurant, right?”
Sveta just shook her head and walked away to the nursery. The Kruglovs shoved the poor groom out along with his mother. The father even threatened:
“That you never set foot in our house again. What else do we need, to be related to such scoundrels! I won’t let this go! Now it’s clear why Alexey clung to my daughter like a tick, he wanted money! How does the earth even bear you, you wrecked a person’s life, and you don’t repent. No, I don’t need such a son-in-law. With such a rotten black soul.”
Galina Vasilyevna and her son left, not having a good time, shamed and silenced. Alexey indeed felt ashamed, while his mother cursed Sveta in all possible ways and swore to make her life miserable.
After the incident, Angela became even closer friends with Sveta, was grateful to her for opening her eyes to the fiancé and his rotten family. And learning about all that happened to Sveta, what she had to endure, Angela felt very sympathetic. She was amazed:
“Well, you’re brave, still decided to have the baby, even though you knew you’d have to raise him on your own. And here I am, forever complaining. And that scoundrel Lesha, the love songs he sang, the gorgeous bouquets he gave. He said I was his greatest love, that he had never met someone like me. And I thought, why is he in such a hurry with the wedding?”
Sveta bitterly smiled, hugging her little son:
“He said the same to me, exactly. And I, the fool, loved him so devotedly, believed everything. You can’t even imagine what I felt when on the wedding day I ended up in the wilderness… I don’t even know how I survived all this. Thanks to your brother, probably, motherhood and caring for the children saved me, there was no time to be depressed. The kids are like little suns, they give such a charge of goodness and positivity. The more I busied myself with them, the faster my soul thawed, and the dark thoughts evaporated. You know, at first I was very angry at Lesha, even hated him, then desperately longed for his arms, his embrace, and now I’m holding my son, and it feels so good. Sergey and I are already a family, and we don’t need anyone else. And I’m even surprised at myself, I love Sergey, Stepa, and Alisa equally. As if all three are mine. I don’t understand how that’s possible…”
Angela admired:
“You’re amazing, I could never do that, honestly. You have such a kind heart. Don’t worry, Sveta, you can’t give up on your personal happiness. We both managed to fall in love with the same scoundrel. Well, let it be. Look at my brother, what’s wrong with him? There are decent men in the world, so we’ll be lucky too.”
Galina Vasilyevna was furious, she hated Sveta, because of her the wedding with such important people was ruined. And the news about the child from her son made the woman even more angry. She fumed: “Look at this schemer. I thought she would run away to her village after such a disgrace, but no, she sneaked into the house of the rich, and now she commands there as an equal, just how they believed this seamstress. We need to make it so that she gets out of the way, leaves the city, and remembers for a long time how to cross the Sapunovs.”
Then Galina Vasilyevna decided to probe the ground and talk cautiously with Liliya. She sensed by her gut that this girl wasn’t as simple as she seemed, and maybe she could help her. And so it turned out. Liliya herself wanted to settle scores with her friend and make sure she was disgracefully kicked out. Then the two harpies concocted a terrible plan.
That day nothing foreshadowed trouble. Sveta, as usual, walked with the children. Across the road from the mansion was a wonderful playground. The nanny swung Sergey and Alina on the swings, while Stepa was busy in the sandbox, engrossedly making sand cakes. Liliya was there too, helping, because it’s hard to keep an eye on three restless ones at once. But the little ones asked to bring a big car, and Liliya briefly went into the yard to look for the children’s favorite toy. But when she returned, she gasped and screamed:
“Sveta, where’s Stepa? He’s not in the sandbox! Where did he disappear? He was just here! What were you looking at?”
The woman’s insides went cold, she stared bewildered at the scoop and bucket, and babbled:
“Oh, mommy! How could this happen? He was just here!”
She started running, shouting, looking for Stepa! And Liliya immediately stirred everyone up. Until late evening, everyone searched for the child. It seemed the whole house turned against Sveta. The parents yelled:
“What negligence! How could you? Pray that nothing happens to our grandson, otherwise we’ll put you in jail for a long time! How could you not notice that the child disappeared, tell me?”
Sveta burst into tears, Alisa and Sergey, as if understanding that something bad happened, also screamed one louder than the other. The woman barely managed to say:
“I was swinging the little ones on the swings, and Stepa was making sand cakes. You know how he loves to play in the sand for a long time. He’s so calm, never goes anywhere without me. Then Liliya went for the car, but when she left Stepa was definitely there, I even adjusted his cap. I don’t know where he could have gone! Maybe he was stolen! Forgive me, I don’t know how this happened.”
Alexander paced back and forth, called the police several times, and kept wondering who could have kidnapped the little one? For ransom? Then why has no one called yet?
And Angela, meanwhile, quietly observed everyone, and noticed that Liliya was somewhat overly dramatizing for the public, crying, wringing her hands, and condemning Sveta louder than anyone. It all seemed strange, because she was quite cool towards the children, just busied herself with them for show, and that only when Sasha was home. And now suddenly she became so emotional. The girl gestured to Sasha and shared her suspicions with him:
“Brother, listen! You all turned against Sveta, but she’s been working with us for a year, and there was never any incident. You see how she’s trembling for the kids. My opinion, Liliya concocted all this! Take off your rose-colored glasses already! Look closely. She’s playing for the public, and she’s not even a good actress at that. And then, Stepa disappeared exactly when Liliya left the playground, so that no suspicions would fall on her! She’s not as wonderful as you think. Do you even know that she rummaged through your office? Wanted to steal documents and blame it all on Sveta. And now this terrible case…
But Sasha didn’t believe it:
“Angela, why are you lumping everything together? Don’t make a monster out of Liliya. She loves me, and we’re going to get married soon. Why would she steal Stepa? That’s nonsense. And how could she have done it if she never left the mansion?”
The girl pursed her lips:
“Fine, don’t believe me! But I will prove I’m right! Can I take your driver to help me and discreetly follow Liliya? I’m sure I’ll find something out.”
“Do whatever you want! Don’t bother me, I’m trying to think who kidnapped my son and how to find him! We’ve combed through two blocks already, no sign of my son anywhere! We’ve looked under every bush, in every crack. He must have been kidnapped!”
It was hectic in the Sapunov mansion. Galina Stepanovna was carrying a crying boy, trying to distract him and somehow calm him down. Her husband lamented:
“Galina, have you lost your mind? Why did you bring someone else’s child into our home? What does all this mean? God, I’m going crazy from this screaming. Give me the boy. You’re just irritating him.”
Grigory placed the boy in a soft chair and left him alone, handing him a beautiful, bright jewelry box. Stepa gradually calmed down and started examining it with interest. And Galina rambled:
“Whew, Grisha, you’re the boss! Finally, he’s quiet. How I’ve forgotten what it’s like with little kids. This is Stepa, son of Alexander Kruglov, he also has a sister, Angela. Isn’t he a wonderful boy? I bought him some vegetable mixes, baby food. I’ll go open it now, he must be hungry…”
Grigory was indignant:
“All very interesting, but what’s the boy doing in our house? Did you kidnap him? I think Kruglov wouldn’t have given him to you willingly! Explain everything to me immediately! What are you getting our family into?”
Galina tried to explain:
“Yes, Grisha, while they were distracting our would-be daughter-in-law, I quietly grabbed the boy and ran. He didn’t realize at first, started screaming only in the car. It’s revenge, Grisha! Let them kick out Sveta from the rich house with a bang. Since her confessions ruined such a wedding! Our son is single again! We’ll never get him married! They’ll catch the child, kick out the nanny. As soon as that happens, we’ll return him, don’t worry! He’ll just stay with us for a little. We’re not harming him. Look, I bought a whole bag of things. Various toys and sweets.”
Her husband was outraged:
“Galina, are you out of your mind? Those tough businessmen have probably already turned the city upside down and are searching with the police for Stepa! What have you done? What if they find him here and arrest us?”
Galina just snorted:
“Why would they arrest us? I’ll say that Liliya brought me the child and asked me to look after him while she went somewhere on business. That’s all. Don’t worry, as soon as they throw out that girl, I’ll return the child to Kruglov’s fiancée, and she’ll come up with a story about how and where she found him. Then her fiancé Sasha will be grateful to her for life for saving the child, and they’ll get married. So everyone benefits from this little adventure.”
Galina opened a jar of puree and started feeding Stepa:
“Okay, let’s eat, for daddy, for mommy! Good boy, eating so well, you’ll grow up big!”
An hour later, Liliya arrived at the mansion, the boy was already asleep. She started babbling:
“Galina Vasilievna, everything went perfectly! Our plan worked! Everyone’s turned against Sveta, they want to kick her out. How’s Stepa? Sleeping already? Well, good. I hope they’ll fire the nanny tomorrow, and I’ll take the boy back. It’s painful to watch Sasha, he’s so devastated! But when I return his son, he’ll adore me, I’m telling you!”
The women didn’t realize they were being watched through the window. Angela was prepared, armed with binoculars, and spotted how Galina Vasilievna was putting the child to bed. Then Alexei arrived at the house. Angela rushed to him, grabbed him by the chest, and started shaking him:
“Ah, you scoundrel! Decided to take revenge on me? Kidnap my nephew? Well, I’ll show you! Mind you, I’m calling the police right now, and they’ll arrest your mother and that vixen for kidnapping!”
Lesha blinked, he didn’t understand anything:
“Liliya, snap out of it! What child? What kidnapping? I was on a business trip, I just got back. Who kidnapped whom?”
The girl saw he wasn’t lying and told him everything. Alexei was terrified:
“God, has mother completely lost her mind? Don’t call the police! I’ll retrieve Stepa and return him. Please forgive me, I truly didn’t know. Wait here. Don’t call anyone, I’ll be quick!”
But Angela had already called her brother, and he was rushing to retrieve his son. Lesha entered the house and without taking off his shoes went to his mother’s bedroom. Indeed, the child was peacefully snoring on the bed. The young man quietly picked him up and started to leave. Galina ran after him:
“Lesha! What are you doing! You’ll ruin the whole plan. I barely got that little rascal to sleep. It’s necessary, I’ll explain everything later.”
“Too late! You’ve caused enough trouble, mom. We’ll all be arrested! Move aside, let me pass! We need to return the little boy before Angela calls the police!”
Then Alexander burst into the house, Stepa woke up, rubbed his eyes, was about to cry, but saw his father and broke into a smile, immediately reaching out his arms. The man hugged his son tightly and whispered:
“Lord! Alive! Thank God! Everything will be alright now. Don’t be afraid, son, daddy’s here.”
Angela was filming everything on her phone, and muttered:
“Well, there you go, lovebirds! You got caught. What now, Liliya, wanted to set up your friend again? What a scoundrel you are! I hope now my brother understands who he was going to marry! And I think your rightful place is with Alexey! You two deserve each other! One left his bride in the wilderness on their wedding day, the other kidnapped her beloved’s son! I can’t wrap my head around it!”
Sasha didn’t want to scare his son and simply stated:
“Consider this, I won’t let it go. I’ll wipe you off the face of the earth! And you, Liliya, get out of my house. I’ll settle scores with you too!”
Galina Vasilievna tried to wiggle out:
“Sasha, you’ve got it all wrong! We’re not to blame for anything! Your fiancée brought me Stepa, asked me to watch him. What could I do? I love kids. We played, he ate and slept. Sorry, it turned into a silly situation.”
Sasha took his son home, kicked Liliya out, and his father, having learned everything, was so enraged that within two months, he bankrupted the Sapunovs with lawsuits through the court and sent them packing. They became penniless. All their accounts were blocked, their house sold at auction for debts. Lesha, after everything, could no longer deal with his mother, who, without realizing it, ruined his entire life, and he had been following her lead. The young man visited Sasha’s house several times, apologizing, then moved far north for work. He cut all ties with his mother. Galina’s husband fell ill and died of a heart attack six months later. And the quarrelsome, money-hungry woman walked the streets, destitute and begged for alms. She had to take a job as a cleaner, washing floors in a store. It was so humiliating for her. Within a year, Galina Vasilievna was unrecognizable. She had transformed from a businessman’s wife to a pitiful old woman. And rightly so. She brought so much grief to people and never repented.
Amazingly, only after his son’s kidnapping did Sasha suddenly see Sveta in a new light, as if noticing her for the first time as a woman. He began to understand that he wouldn’t find a better wife and mother for his children anywhere. And he also loved Sergey no less than his own children and had long considered him his own.
Sveta’s birthday was approaching, and Alexander decided to confess his feelings and propose to her on that day. Sveta slept soundly and deeply, unusually, the children didn’t wake up once, which was rare. The woman woke up when the sun was already shining brightly through the window. She jumped up, how could she have overslept? The children needed to eat long ago! And it was so quiet in the nursery. Strange! She rushed to the cribs, but the children weren’t there. Frightened, Sveta rubbed her eyes, threw on a robe, and was about to rush into the corridor when the door swung open, and Sasha entered the room. He was carrying a tray with two cups of aromatic coffee and croissants. He looked conspiratorial. The woman was stunned, Sasha had never entered without knocking before, she started fixing her hair, embarrassed by her appearance. But Alexander said:
“Good morning, birthday girl! Calm down, I see the panic in your eyes. The kids will stay with Angela and my parents today. You lie down. Here’s your breakfast. I brewed the coffee myself, with cinnamon and cardamom, I hope you like it.”
Sveta beamed, Alexander had never shown her any signs of attention before. She felt so pleased. She had forgotten when she last indulged in bed like this. Usually, she was on her feet from early morning.
She savored the amazing taste of the coffee:
“Thank you, Sasha, no one has ever congratulated me like this! I forgot it was my birthday.”
“This isn’t just a congratulation, it’s just preparation, to set the mood. Let’s have breakfast, and then we’ll go create magic for the best woman in the world! I want you to remember this day as the best and happiest! So get ready, I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”
The woman’s heart was ready to burst. She rejoiced: “God, did I really hear that? Sasha called me the best woman! Has he finally felt for me what I’ve long felt for him? I can’t believe it.”
Sveta indeed remembered that day for a long time. First, they went to a spa salon. Skilled professionals worked their magic on Sveta, and after two hours, a real beauty fluttered out of there. Sasha admired how beautiful she was, and how he had never noticed before? Next on the agenda was a ride on a pleasure boat, Sveta squealed with delight and had fun like a child. It had been a long time since she felt so light and happy. And in the evening, they ended up in an upscale restaurant, where a table was already reserved. The lovebirds dined, drank wine, and danced. Then came the time for the main gift. The man pulled out a beautiful velvet box, and put a ring on Sveta’s finger, whispering:
“My beautiful nanny, Sveta! I’m not good at fancy words, but I want to say the main thing! Be my wife. I can’t imagine my home without you, the kids already call you mom, repeating after Sergey. I think we’ll make a great, strong family.”
Sveta threw herself into his arms and said: “Yes!” A month later, they had a lavish, beautiful wedding. All the newspapers buzzed about it. The photo showed the whole family together! Happy Sveta in a veil and white dress, embracing Sasha, his parents, sister, and all three kids. The headlines blared: “Alexander Kruglov with his family. Happy together!”
Liliya drank cheap wine and tore the newspaper into pieces, stomping on it in her rented room. She was so upset that Sveta had outdone her, and Kruglov had married her! And she was left out. After a luxurious life in an expensive mansion, it was unbearable for her to be in that stuffy, poor room, it seemed even the walls were pressing in. She had always dreamed of finding a rich husband and living comfortably, so why did Sveta get lucky and not her? Envy and anger consumed Liliya’s soul completely…
The day after the restaurant celebration, Sasha decisively said:
“So, wife, we’re all packing up and going to the village to meet your parents. You never talk about them. Didn’t even invite them to the wedding. That’s not right. They haven’t even seen their grandson! I want to meet your father.”
Sveta turned pale and tried to justify:
“You don’t understand, I’m very upset with dad, he was always too strict, didn’t understand me, wanted to marry me off without love. I’m very upset with him. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go…”
But her husband wouldn’t listen:
“Dear, you’re no longer a child, you’re a mother yourself, forget childhood grievances, do you think it’s easy for your parents? They’re probably missing you, so it’s time to reconcile. Someone has to make the first step.”
Sveta sighed and agreed, her husband was right, she was also to blame, could have called first. She was behaving like an egoist, harboring a grudge. Even though she had long dreamed of hugging her mom and telling her everything…
Over the years of her absence, much had changed, Evdokia often fell ill from longing for her daughter, and had become entirely withdrawn in her sorrow. And Boris realized he had been too harsh. He began to treat his wife tenderly, no longer banged his fist on the table or lectured her. He saw how she talked to her daughter’s portrait at night and kissed it, and it made his own heart bleed…
When two large SUVs sped through the village, the locals whistled and went to find out to whom such important guests were coming.
Sveta stood on the threshold of her family home, and tears rolled down her face, the same small-flowered curtains, carved shutters, and a rooster on the roof. The children curiously examined everything, babbling in their own way. Sasha knocked on the window, and when a silver-haired, still robust man appeared at the doorway, he immediately extended his hand energetically:
“Good day, Boris Ivanovich. My name is Sasha, we’ve come to visit your family! Will you welcome us?”
The master of the house looked guiltily into his daughter’s eyes and couldn’t hold back, approached, and perhaps for the first time in his life awkwardly hugged her with his large calloused hands:
“Well, here we are! Hello, daughter! We and your mother have been waiting for you for a long time. Come in, dear guests! Evdokia! Just look who’s come to us! Daughter with grandchildren, son-in-law, in-laws!”
The woman couldn’t believe her eyes, she wept and kissed Sveta, cuddled the grandchildren, and lamented:
“What a joy! My daughter! My smart girl! How I prayed to the Lord that you would come, how I missed you! Forgive your father, he’s changed a lot, doesn’t hurt me anymore, and he missed you too.”
Sveta cried:
“Forgive me, I’m such an egoist. I also held onto the grudge, afraid to show my face. Mommy, let’s unpack the bags. We brought so much. Let’s celebrate the second day of the wedding!”
Within an hour, the whole family was warmly relaxing, everyone chattering, Sasha’s parents, though accustomed to delicacies, happily ate homemade sausages and lard, and melt-in-your-mouth pies. Happy and proud Boris tickled his grandchildren, sat them on his knees, and cuddled them. How glad he was that his daughter had returned, that there were no more grievances, that she had such a good family. Sveta felt amazingly light and easy in her soul, though she had to go through many trials, but now she was a happy mother, wife, and that was the main reward!