The wedding procession was speeding through the city streets. Cheerful, lively music played in the car’s cabin, and the driver kept up the mood by honking at passing cars, both oncoming and alongside. The bride was completely absorbed in anticipation of the important moment—her eyes were glowing, her hands trembled with excitement, she kept adjusting her veil nervously and flicking through the petals of her wedding bouquet. She looked stunning: light makeup, soft golden curls neatly styled, and the airy veil added a touch of mystery to her appearance. A happy, slightly dreamy smile played on her face. Sveta’s heart literally fluttered—very soon she would become the wife of the dearest person in the world, her beloved Lyosha.
She didn’t care that his parents were unhappy, didn’t care that others doubted the sincerity of their feelings! Didn’t care even about the gossip that she had gotten involved with a wealthy fiancé for stability and a city residence permit! She simply didn’t care—let them envy, because true love like hers and Lyosha’s simply doesn’t exist!
The procession passed the central registry office (ZAGS) and began heading out of the city limits. Sveta frowned, not understanding what was happening, and turned to the driver:
“Excuse me, what’s going on? Where are you taking me? We’re supposed to be at the registry office now, Lyosha is waiting for me there! Turn around immediately! If this is a joke—it’s stupid and inappropriate!”
But the man just smiled mysteriously in response:
“It’s a surprise! Relax, the road is still long. Better listen to the music.”
Sveta began to panic. She tugged at the door handles—they were locked. She begged to stop the car, asked for an explanation of what was happening, but it was all useless. The driver sped over the bumps, trying not to look in the rearview mirror where he saw the bride’s tear-streaked face reflected. He himself felt discomfort, but the orders were strict, and he could not act otherwise…
After an hour, the car stopped in some remote backwater. The driver turned off the music and said dryly:
“Get out, we’ve arrived.”
Sveta, not understanding anything, climbed out of the car. Before her stretched the scene of an abandoned village on the edge of a swamp. In the distance, a half-ruined hut darkened, tree stumps and dry branches stuck out everywhere, and crows circled above, cawing ominously. The girl felt uneasy:
“What does this mean? Have you lost your mind?! Why did you bring me here?! I’m going to call Lyosha right now, he’ll fire you, or maybe call the police! You ruined our entire wedding! What kind of place is this?! Take me back!”
The man finally lost his patience:
“Don’t yell at me. It’s all Galina Vasilyevna’s doing, your ‘honorable’ mother-in-law. She ordered me to bring you here instead of the registry office and leave you. So ask her questions. And by the way, Lyosha heard everything and didn’t say a word. So don’t yell at me, yell at them.”
Sveta kept crying, repeating:
“No, this can’t be! Lyosha wouldn’t do this! He loves me! I’m going to call him now!”
She feverishly dialed Lyosha’s and his mother’s numbers, but both were unreachable. At that moment, the driver received a message. He read it and handed the phone to Sveta:
“Here, read it yourself. I work for Galina Vasilyevna and can’t disobey—immediate dismissal.”
The girl read the cruel lines: “Have you already brought the frog to the swamp? Then come back quickly, there are other matters.”
Only now did Sveta realize: this was no joke, no game, but a terrible reality. Lyosha’s mother had decided to take revenge this way, to show that a girl from a simple family had no place in their circle. That she needed to return from where she came. So Lyosha knew everything and didn’t protect her?
Sveta got out of the car; tears blinded her eyes, she trembled from cold and distress, not knowing what to do next.
The driver softened a little:
“Don’t be afraid, sit here, I’ll go report back to Galina Vasilyevna and come back for you. Sorry, I’m really not to blame. But maybe it’s for the best? With such a mother-in-law, it would have been very hard for you.”
He gave her his jacket and left. Sveta tore off her veil, sat on a stump, and sobbed. She couldn’t understand how the man who yesterday kissed her and swore eternal love could today betray her so cruelly. And she was going to give him a gift at the wedding—tell him she was pregnant. She imagined how he would rejoice, spin her in his arms, kiss her… And now? How would she raise the child alone? With what money? How to start all over?
Sveta replayed all stages of their relationship in her mind, trying to understand exactly when Lyosha decided to act this way…
Sveta grew up in an ordinary village family. Her father worked as a tractor driver, her mother served at the post office. They kept a household, tended a garden, and lived like most people. Their home was considered exemplary by others—a rarity in the village where the husband didn’t drink and the family lived in harmony. Villagers even envied Sveta’s mother, Evdokia, saying she was lucky with her husband. But few guessed what was hidden behind that facade.
The head of the family, Boris, was stern and authoritarian. Everything in the house was strictly his way. He tolerated no objections. If the mother rested even a little, the father would immediately grumble:
“What, sitting around like a lady? Go check the dough, feed the calves, there’s plenty to do!”
Evdokia silently got up and hurried to carry out the orders. The same applied to Sveta. Reading books, going to the club, chatting with friends—her father called all this a waste of time. He controlled her school grades and frowned angrily at any bad marks. He never hugged, caressed, or showed warmth. Only one thing he kept repeating to his daughter over and over:
“When you finish school, we’ll marry you off to Kolya. His parents have already agreed. He’s reliable, hardworking. You’ll work on their farm.”
Sveta didn’t want that:
“Daddy, I want to study! I don’t like Kolya—he’s red-haired and cheeky. I want to move to the city, get an education, find a good job.”
Boris exploded, banging his fist on the table:
“Are you talking back to your father?! Who’s waiting for you in the city? Your mother spoiled you with nonsense. Conversation’s over—I’ve decided everything. If I hear about the city again, I’ll lock you at home to think carefully. A woman’s role is to bear children and run the house. Understand?”
Sveta cried, begged her mother to intervene, but she only shook her head:
“Dear, you know his character. He won’t listen to me. But he wants what’s best for you. Maybe it’s not so bad? Let’s have the wedding, you’ll live in harmony with Kolya…”
But Sveta was stubborn. She firmly decided—not to live like her mother. She wouldn’t marry someone she didn’t love. And she did what she planned—she left for the city. She worked on a farm, saved some money, packed her things. But her father noticed and tried to stop her. Sveta broke free and ran away. Then Boris shouted:
“Well, go ahead! But know—there are no princes there! If you come crawling back with a child, I won’t let you in! Foolish girl, you’ll regret it later!”
So Sveta ended up in the capital. Straight from the station, she headed to a vocational school, dreaming of becoming a seamstress. She enrolled without problems and got a place in a dormitory. It was hard, of course, but her roommates became friends and helped as much as they could. Sveta was very hurt by her parents. Other students’ families came to visit, brought food, supported them. But no one came for her. Her father cut ties, standing on principle. Her mother would have come if she could—she sent care packages through acquaintances a couple of times. But Sveta knew her father forbade Evdokia to visit.
After school, Sveta got a job in a small atelier. She rented a modest apartment on the outskirts. In the evenings, she read romance novels and dreamed of meeting her prince. Thanks to her skills, she always looked stylish and fashionable, although she couldn’t afford expensive clothes—she made them herself.
She met Lyosha by chance, like in a movie. In the supermarket queue, he dropped his wallet, and Sveta picked it up and ran after him to return it. The guy was already getting into his car when the girl handed it to him:
“Phew, just in time! You dropped this, take it back.”
Lyosha was surprised and thanked her:
“Well, it’s nice that there are kind people. Thank you so much! My name is Alexey. Can I call you by your first name?”
That’s how their acquaintance began. Lyosha treated her to coffee and pastries; they talked for a long time. It turned out his parents owned a travel agency; he traveled a lot and spoke admiringly about other countries. Sveta listened breathlessly—he was like the hero of her dreams: confident, charming, with a broad smile. She fell in love at first sight.
Their romance was passionate and sincere. Lyosha took her to exhibitions, theaters, museums, movies. He introduced her to a new world. Patiently taught her social norms, how to behave in society. Sveta absorbed every word like a sponge. She knew their feelings were mutual. Lyosha whispered tender words, gave gifts, promised a future together.
Everything was going great until Lyosha’s parents found out about their engagement. Galina Vasilyevna flew into a rage. She tried by all means to dissuade her son, insisting he would never succeed with a “village girl.” She even came to the atelier a couple of times, humiliating Sveta in front of everyone. She was convinced Sveta had mercenary motives—wanted to get registered in their apartment and live off him. It was impossible to prove otherwise.
One day there was a real scandal. Lyosha stayed overnight at Sveta’s for the first time. In the morning, a loud knock at the door woke them. Galina Vasilyevna burst in, furious, and started shouting:
“Oh, you shameless girl! Already jumped into his bed? Standing here in just a shirt! Where’s my son?”
Despite fear, Sveta flared up with indignation:
“I’m at home, and I have the right to wear whatever I want. And don’t you dare yell at me! Lyosha and I love each other and will be together, whether you like it or not!”
She expected Lyosha to defend her, but he silently began dressing. Meanwhile, his mother continued her angry tirade:
“Son, how could you end up in this cheap place? How low you have sunk! Go home immediately and forget this place. And remember: this wedding will never happen! We didn’t raise you for this, so you wouldn’t get involved with some seamstress.”
Lyosha tried to calm the situation:
“Mom, why are you so upset? How did you even find me here? Stop yelling, let’s talk calmly. Wait for me outside, I’ll come down.”
Sveta looked at him in bewilderment:
“Is that all you can say? You think your mother’s behavior is normal? She humiliates me, insults me, and you just stay silent? Maybe you yourself are starting to doubt me? Say it straight!”
Her eyes filled with tears as if cold water was thrown in her face. But Lyosha hugged her and whispered:
“Don’t take it to heart, dear. Mom is really a difficult person. It’s hard for her to accept that I’m getting married; she’s just jealous. Believe me, she’s always like this—flames up like a fire and then cools down. I’ll talk to her, and everything will be fine. We’ll definitely get married. I love you, you know that. Don’t you believe me?”
Sveta immediately forgave him. Breaking up with Lyosha was beyond her strength. She believed everything would be resolved—after all, a mother couldn’t be so cruel as to ruin her own son’s life. Although remembering her father, she understood—such cruelty was quite possible…
Sveta didn’t realize she was pregnant for a long time. One day, during lunch, a colleague brought fried fish, and just the smell made the girl suddenly pale and rush to the corridor—she vomited. After that, she bought a test, and everything became clear. There was a week left before the wedding, and Sveta decided to share the joyful news there—on the day of the celebration. She dreamed of a child, after all, from her beloved. In her imagination, she already saw how they would stroll with a stroller, bathe the baby, raise him together. That’s how it should be—a real, strong family.
And now she sat on a stump in some backwater, exhausted, freezing, bitten by insects, and around—no ray of hope. No wedding, no groom… nothing left.
When the driver returned for her, Sveta was almost fainting. Her eyes were red and swollen, her forehead burning with high fever, her body shaking. After barely managing to say her address, she lost consciousness.
Sveta woke up under a bright lamp light. She lay in her bed, her head covered with a damp towel, and her friend Lily fussed nearby. Seeing Sveta open her eyes, she sighed in relief:
“Thank God, you woke up! It’s good the guy who brought you called me yesterday and told me where you were. I almost went crazy with fear. You had a high fever; I was ready to call an ambulance. But Oleg explained everything—how Lyosha betrayed you. He and I decided it was all nerves. We found fever reducers and sedatives in the medicine cabinet, even gave you an injection. Then you fell asleep and slept for a whole day. I even checked if you were breathing. You really scared me, Sveta!”
The girl recalled everything and felt a lump rise in her throat, but instead of tears, anger suddenly flared inside her.
Lily chattered nervously:
“What will you do now? You need to schedule an abortion before it’s too late. How will you manage alone with a child? Your salary and apartment barely cover your needs. That Lyosha is a scoundrel! But we’ll find you a better man, you’ll see!”
But Sveta frowned and shook her head firmly:
“I’m not going anywhere. I won’t kill my child. I already love him, you know? I won’t be able to live after that. I’ll manage on my own. Thank you, Lily, for taking care of me. I was really bad then, I don’t remember anything.”
Her friend thoughtfully shook her head:
“Then maybe you should go home? You said your family isn’t starving. Your parents will forgive and help. It’ll be easier for you.”
Sveta snapped sharply:
“No way! Father said if I come back with a child, he won’t let me in. You don’t know him—he’ll never forgive me. And he’ll start terrorizing mother, saying he raised a slut. No, I’ll manage alone. I shouldn’t have been a fool to believe in love stories. I thought I found a prince, but it turned out like the old tale: Ivan drank from the hoof and turned into a goat. And Lyosha turned out to be a goat. Let him live as he wants. Okay, I have to get up. Work tomorrow, need to prepare something to eat. No time to mope.”
Lily shook her head in surprise:
“You’re like a stone, friend! I couldn’t do that. Okay, I’m off, call if you need anything…”
The days passed. Sveta’s heart ached inside, it seemed the whole world knew about her shame and judged her. But she held herself together, didn’t allow weakness. She worked tirelessly, took orders to sew at home, often stayed late—trying to earn at least a little for the baby’s first things. However, her health began to fail: twice in the second trimester she was hospitalized, and all earned money went to treatment and food. The situation became critical. The landlord threatened eviction. Sveta went to the maternity hospital with a heavy heart, dark thoughts swirling in her head, and the future looked bleak.
The birth was difficult but successful—a boy was born. Sveta named him Seryozha. Holding the small warm body to her chest, she cried with happiness, kissed her son, and understood: she was ready to give her life for him. A nurse looked in, and Sveta suddenly asked:
“Tell me, was there a woman with a very large belly giving birth in the neighboring ward? Is she okay?”
The nurse sighed:
“Unfortunately, she died. There were blood clotting problems; the bleeding couldn’t be stopped. It’s the first time here. Her children—twins—have a severe allergy to formula milk. Only breast milk suits them. The husband is desperate—looking for a wet nurse, but it’s difficult.”
Without hesitation, Sveta offered:
“If needed, I can feed them. I have plenty of milk, my breasts are bursting. It would be a shame to waste it.”
The nurse was delighted and brought the babies—a boy and a girl. Sveta began to feed them; the children sucked eagerly and, sated, fell asleep. The nurse gratefully said:
“Oh, how good that you agreed! They suffered so much—the formula didn’t suit them, they spit up everything. It was just a disaster.”
Sveta thought: what a great tragedy for these children—they lost their mother. And she complained about her life…
After some time, a man entered the ward. He was dressed expensively but looked deeply sorrowful. Sitting next to the bed, he quietly said:
“Hello, Svetlana. My name is Alexander. My wife, Anechka, died in childbirth. The twins—Styopa and Alisa—are my children too. I was told you fed them and that you have a lot of milk. You can’t imagine how much you helped us. I’m still in shock, can’t come to terms. The funeral is ahead. And this allergy… Please help me! I’ll pay any money—become a wet nurse and nanny for my children. I know you have a son—it’s not a problem. I offer accommodation in the house, good food, comfortable conditions. Think about it, don’t refuse immediately.”
Sveta was glad—that was a way out of all her problems: housing and money. She agreed right away:
“I don’t have a husband, no one will object. I agree. Don’t worry, there’s enough milk for everyone.”
So after discharge, Sveta moved in with the Kruglov family in a large three-story mansion. There lived Alexander’s parents—Yefim Petrovich and Alla Igorevna—his younger sister Angela, and Alexander himself with the children. Sveta and Seryozha were given a spacious room; next to it were cribs for the twins for easy care.
At first, it was hard—three small children required constant attention. One would cry, just as you calm him—the other would start. Her head spun. The family members met her cautiously, especially Angela, who clearly disapproved of the “intruder young woman.” She even told her brother it would be better to hire an experienced nanny rather than trust the children to her.
But Alexander saw how Sveta tried, how she cared for the children. In the evenings, he came home from work and took the babies himself, helping her. He was sincerely grateful—thanks to her milk, the children gained weight and developed well. For this, he paid her regularly, bought everything necessary for all three at once.
Relations with Sasha’s sister were especially difficult. Angela behaved arrogantly, showing by every look that she considered Sveta a stranger. She was especially annoyed that the wet nurse sat at the common table. They say a nanny should be among the servants. But one day she decided not only to express dissatisfaction—she planned to frame Sveta. Making a scandal, she declared:
“What are you up to, brother?” Angela sneered, crossing her arms. “You took in some conceited girl, and now she’s going to steal everything from us! I’m sure she stole my ring! We need to search her room—I’m sure it’s there!”
Sveta was deeply offended and was not going to stay silent:
“Do you know what? This is too much. I didn’t ask to come here, I came to help children, not to endure your rudeness and lies. Find another nanny—you’ll get me out. I’ll pack and leave right now.”
Alexander couldn’t stand it and defended Sveta:
“Are you even sane, Angela? How can you accuse someone like that so simply? Do you understand what you’re saying? I’m sure Sveta has nothing to do with the disappearance. But I know you well since childhood—you constantly lose your trinkets everywhere. Maybe you should first look in your own room? Apologize to Sveta immediately! And I don’t want to hear that tone from you again! Instead of gossiping, you’d better sit with the children. All you do is hang out in clubs and salons!”
After a short search, Sasha really found the missing ring under his sister’s bed. He again scolded her, and Angela reluctantly apologized, although she was full of anger inside. The late wife of Alexander, Anna, was very close to Angela. After her death, the girl couldn’t accept Sveta in the house. She was convinced that Sveta wanted to win her brother’s favor and take the place of his other half.
Besides, Angela couldn’t find common ground with the nephews: she would only pick up Styopa, and he’d start crying; she took Alisa— the child immediately spit up. And Sveta, like an experienced wizard, easily found an approach to the babies. She managed to dress them all in minutes, talking to them gently, smiling—and the children responded warmly. This also irritated Angela: why were they so good to a stranger but not to their own aunt?
After this incident, Angela became less active, stopped attacking Sveta, but her looks remained unfriendly. However, everything changed radically one summer day. Sveta was walking with the children in the yard, rocking them in the stroller. Angela decided to swim in the pool—the heat was unbearable. Showing off her body in a gorgeous swimsuit, she stood on the edge, made a spectacular jump…but miscalculated. Her foot twisted, and suddenly she got a cramp in the water. Angela began to panic and drown—she was a poor swimmer.
Sveta noticed and, without hesitation, jumped in fully clothed. With great difficulty, she pulled Angela ashore. Turning her on her stomach, she began patting her back until Angela coughed and spat out water. When Angela recovered a little, she looked at Sveta with completely new eyes and whispered:
“Thank you… You saved my life. Forgive me for everything I said before. I promise, I won’t ever do that again. How did you act so quickly and confidently? Where did you learn?”
Sveta smiled:
“In the village, we often ran to the river with the kids; all sorts of things happened. That’s how I learned. Wait, I’ll go change. And do you know why Styopa cries when you hold him? Because you hold him wrong and seem afraid of him. Children feel it. Look how you should do it—you need to talk to him gently, smile. Styopa loves when you talk to him and immediately calms down. And Alisa—when you stroke her gently. And my Seryozha just adores when I rock him and hold him close. Each child is special; you just need to find your approach.”
Angela listened carefully and cautiously took Styopa in her arms, beginning to speak softly and smile. The little one responded with a happy giggle. From that day, trustful relations were established between Sveta and Angela. Old grievances went away. Even Alexander’s strict parents began to treat Sveta warmly, accepting her as one of their own.
A year flew by unnoticed. The toddlers took their first steps and almost no longer needed breastfeeding. Sveta understood it was time to return to her life. But her heart ached at the thought of parting. She had grown very attached to the twins as if they were her own. And for the children, the quartet—Sveta, Seryozha, Styopa, and Alisa—had long become one. They played, slept, and rejoiced together.
Meanwhile, Lily, Sveta’s friend, regularly called and teased:
“Have you completely lost your mind, Sveta? Why haven’t you tied Sasha to yourself yet? You should have married him long ago and lived like a queen instead of working as a nanny. What are you waiting for?”
Sveta got angry:
“Don’t talk nonsense, Lily. To Sasha, I’m just a nanny to his children. He’s a decent man; he won’t start a relationship with a woman working in his house. Besides, who am I and who is he? We come from different worlds. Nothing would work out between us. He still mourns his wife, often talks about her lovingly. I don’t want to cause him internal conflict. Love can’t be forced.”
Lily just shook her head and thought to herself, “Well, suit yourself. But I wouldn’t miss such a man. You just need to play it right, and he’ll definitely notice me.”
And she started acting. She often visited Sveta, pretending she missed her. Brought gifts for the children, tried to show herself in the best light. The Kruglov family didn’t mind her visits—Lily knew how to make an impression. She looked attractive—tall, slim brunette with striking looks. Alexander was polite to her, but their relationship didn’t go beyond polite conversation. No matter how hard Lily tried, he showed no interest. It infuriated her even more.
One day, a small party was held at the Kruglovs’—Angela’s birthday. Young guests gathered, music played, champagne was served, there were dances and contests. Lily, as usual, was involved—she “accidentally” appeared among the invited, smiled sweetly, talked to guests, and tried hard to attract Alexander’s attention.
Sasha, slightly relaxed after a couple of drinks, indeed began to show interest: invited her to slow dances, held her waist, talked longer than usual. Then Lily decided to make the next move. During a fast dance, she suddenly screamed, pretended to twist her ankle, and began to fall. Guests got worried.
“Oh, I think I seriously injured my leg! It hurts so much, it’s already swollen… How will I get home now?” she wailed, feigning pain.
Alexander immediately picked her up:
“Don’t worry, I’ll carry you to a distant room, put ice, see how it goes. If it doesn’t get better—you can spend the night here, we’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
Lily was thrilled inside—that’s exactly what she wanted. That evening, she and Alexander didn’t go back to the guests…
Thus began their affair. Sasha adored Lily, gave her expensive gifts, dressed her like a princess. Soon she officially became his fiancée and moved into the mansion. The luxurious life quickly went to her head—she began to behave provocatively, even mocking Sveta, who still cared for the children:
“Sveta, when will you stop this endless noise and fuss? Take the kids to the nursery. Besides, Sasha and I will marry soon, and it seems strange to me that you still live in the house. Do you think it’s normal? You’re a lousy nanny—no order, you allow everything. Children need strict upbringing. I think Sasha and I will manage ourselves. Three small children are too much. So go find yourself a place. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Sveta was shocked by her friend’s audacity:
“Aren’t you a bit full of yourself, Lily? Not long ago, you dreamed of such a life, and now you talk down to me? I wanted to leave, but Sasha asked me to stay. So it’s not for you to decide who works here and who doesn’t. And don’t stick your nose too high—it hurts to fall. Sasha and I are friends, and if necessary, I can tell him a lot about your true intentions. So better leave me alone and keep away. I never thought you were capable of this…”
Lily deeply hated Sveta and decided to get rid of her by any means. One day, when Sasha was not home, she sneaked into the office and tried to steal an important folder of documents. But Angela caught her. She had long been watching Lily, trying to understand what drove her to be near her brother. Remembering her past with Sveta, she felt something was wrong.
“What are you doing here?” Angela sharply asked, grabbing Lily’s hand. “Sasha forbade even maids to touch these papers. Why are you trying to steal documents? Who are you anyway? Maybe competitors sent you?”
Lily turned pale, afraid of losing Sasha, and began to justify herself:
“Sorry, Angela, no one sent me. I just… want to get rid of Sveta. You understand? Sasha and I will have a family, and she’s always around. I’m jealous. Afraid he might change his mind and pay attention to her. That’s why I did something stupid. Please don’t tell him anything. I love Sasha and don’t want to lose him.”
Angela thought. She herself once behaved the same way with Sveta. Jealousy can do a lot.
“You know, I didn’t like Sveta either, even tried to frame her. But she saved my life. In the whole year she’s been here, she never looked at Sasha as a woman. They’re just friends. I consider her part of our family. The best nanny for my nephews. So stop these games. Leave her alone, or I’ll tell Sasha everything. And you’ll be out of here, be sure!”
Lily promised she would stop harming her, but these were only words. In reality, she just decided to wait for her chance.
Soon Angela met her first true love, started dating a man, felt like flying on wings, and was even going to invite him over. That day the whole family went to celebrate at a restaurant, and Sveta stayed home with the children. After putting the kids to bed, she sat drinking tea in the kitchen when suddenly the front door swung open—the whole family returned, and unexpectedly Lyosha was among them with his parents.
Sasha called Sveta over:
“Meet Sveta—our nanny, wet nurse to my children, a good friend, and a wonderful person. We consider her part of the family. And this is…”
But Sveta interrupted him:
“This is Lyosha—the traitor and scoundrel who, instead of a wedding, took me to the wilderness on his mother’s orders! I don’t understand what he’s doing here? Maybe he found out he has a son? But I’ll never let such a father near my child!”
Alexey blushed, turned pale, unable to find words.
Sasha was shocked:
“Is this the same bastard you told me about? The one who drove you to tears and despair? Angela, do you know who you got involved with? I think Lyosha hasn’t told you everything yet…”
A scandal began. Angela demanded explanations, the fiancé muttered incoherently, and his mother tried to get out of it:
“Angela, calm down. Well, it was just an unlucky joke. We definitely went too far. And Sveta’s pregnancy? We didn’t know. Maybe the child isn’t even Lyosha’s. But that’s all in the past. Why dig it up? Alexey only loves you. I’m glad you’ll be together. We already discussed everything at the restaurant, right?”
Sveta just shook her head and went to the children. The Kruglovs kicked Lyosha and his mother out. Sasha’s father said last words:
“I don’t want to see you here anymore. Don’t think I will allow kinship with such people! Now it’s clear why your son was so eager to marry my daughter—probably wanted money. Good that it came out in time. I don’t want such a son-in-law. Let rotten souls find others.”
Galina Vasilyevna and her son left broken and humiliated. Alexey was ashamed, but his mother boiled with rage and vowed revenge on Sveta.
After all this, Angela became even closer to Sveta. She was grateful to her for opening her eyes to Lyosha and his family. Learning about all Sveta had gone through, she sincerely admired her strength of spirit:
“You’re brave to decide to have a child knowing you’d raise him alone. And I always whine. And what a bastard Lyosha is! What beautiful words of love he told me, what bouquets he gave. He said I was his only love. And I wonder—why was he in such a hurry to get married?”
Sveta smiled, holding her son close:
“He said all that to me too. And I, a fool, believed every word. I don’t even know how I survived that day when I was alone in the swamp… Thanks to your brother—motherhood and caring for the children helped me survive. The kids are like the sun, they give warmth and light. The more I cared for them, the faster the hurt and pain disappeared from my heart. At first, I hated Lyosha, then missed him, and now I hold Seryozha—and I’m fine. We’re family; we don’t need anyone else. And I’m amazed—I love Seryozha, Styopa, and Alisa equally. As if all three are my own.”
Angela looked at her admiringly:
“You’re incredible. I couldn’t do that. You have the kindest heart. You can’t lose hope for personal happiness. We both made a mistake with the same bastard. But look at my brother—he’s an example of a decent man. That means we’ll be lucky too.”
Meanwhile, Galina Vasilyevna raged. The ruined wedding, the news of the child—it all drove her mad. She boiled with anger:
“Look at this schemer. Thought she’d run back to her village after the shame, but she got into a rich house and is already bossing around like an equal! These people believe she’s real! She needs to get out of the way. Let her leave the city and remember for a long time how to defy the Sapunovs!”
Galina Vasilyevna decided to act cautiously—she intended to test how useful Lily could be in her cunning plans. Her intuition didn’t fail: Lily dreamed of revenge on Sveta and getting rid of her once and for all. So two women, each with their own malice, joined in a cruel conspiracy.
No one could have guessed the trouble that day. Sveta was walking with the children as usual. Near the house was a cozy playground where she rocked Seryozha and Alisa on swings, and Styopa peacefully played in the sandbox, molding sand cakes. Lily was nearby, helping to watch the kids. At some point, the children asked for a big toy car, and Lily, supposedly to please them, went out to the yard to find the toy.
When she returned, she suddenly screamed:
“Sveta! Where is Styopa? He’s not in the sandbox! He was just here!”
Sveta froze. She looked in shock at the little shovel and bucket left without their little owner:
“Oh, my God… How is this possible? He was just here…”
She began to panic, call for the child, search every corner. Lily meanwhile raised a panic among adults. The entire family searched for the missing boy for hours. Chaos broke out in the Kruglov house. The parents were frantic:
“How could you be so careless?! Pray that nothing happened to the child! Or we’ll send you to prison! How could you lose the baby?”
Sveta cried, her voice trembling:
“I was rocking the children, Styopa was making sand cakes… He’s always so calm, never wanders off. Then Lily went for the toy car… But when she left, Styopa was definitely here—I even adjusted his hat. I don’t know where he could have gone… Maybe someone kidnapped him! Forgive me… I don’t understand how this happened…”
Alexander rushed around the house, constantly calling the police. He couldn’t understand: if this was a kidnapping, why was no ransom demanded? Why no calls?
Meanwhile, Angela carefully observed what was happening. Lily’s behavior disturbed her—she was too actively crying and blaming Sveta. Meanwhile, before, the girl had only shown formal interest in the children. This aroused suspicion.
“Sasha, listen to me,” she quietly said to her brother. “You all blame Sveta, but in a year of work she never allowed anything like this. Look at her—she’s trembling with fear and pain. I think this is Lily’s doing. Admit it, she does too much for show. She even tried to steal documents from your office! And now this… Maybe Styopa disappeared just when Lily was away?”
But Sasha didn’t want to hear it:
“Angela, stop! You blame Lily for everything, but why would she harm anyone? We’re getting married soon. Why would she want to get rid of Styopa? And how would she do that if she never left the mansion?”
Angela pressed her lips:
“Fine, if you don’t believe me, forget it. But I’ll figure it out myself. Can I take the driver and follow Lily? I’m sure I’ll find something important.”
“Do as you wish,” Sasha replied. “But I have to find my son. We’ve already searched two blocks, no trace. It means he was really kidnapped.”
Meanwhile, at the Sapunov house, there was their own hustle and bustle. Galina Vasilyevna held crying Styopa, trying to calm him. Her husband, Grigory Petrovich, was bewildered:
“Galina, are you crazy? Why did you bring someone else’s child home? What does all this mean?”
The woman proudly straightened up:
“This is Styopa, son of Alexander Kruglov. He has a sister, Angela. Look what a charming boy! I took him while everyone was distracted. It’s revenge! Let them kick out this Sveta from the house, let her suffer as our family did because of her. If Lyosha is alone again, let theirs collapse too.”
Grigory was horrified:
“You kidnapped him?! Do you realize how many people are looking for him now? The police are probably chasing all over the districts. You’ll get us all in jail!”
“Don’t panic,” Galina replied coldly. “I’ll say Lily brought me the child and asked me to watch him while she was busy. Then we’ll just return him to Kruglov’s bride, and she’ll say she found him. Sasha will be grateful, and they’ll marry. Everyone’s happy!”
She opened a jar of baby food and began feeding Styopa:
“That’s right, baby, for mom and dad! Good boy, you’ll grow big and strong!”
After a while, Lily arrived at the house. Seeing the sleeping boy, she whispered:
“Great! Everyone turned against Sveta; she might get fired or kicked out. How’s Styopa? Sleeping? Great. I hope they’ll fire the nanny tomorrow, and I’ll get the child back. Sasha will be grateful to me—he’ll worship me.”
The women had no idea they were being watched. Outside, hiding in the shadows, Angela observed. Armed with binoculars, she saw Galina put Styopa to sleep. She immediately called her brother.
Lyosha meanwhile arrived home, unsuspecting. Hearing the truth from Angela, he froze in horror:
“I was on a business trip, I didn’t know anything! Mom completely lost her mind… Wait, I’ll return the child right now. Just don’t call the police!”
Angela nodded:
“Then hurry before I change my mind. But if you don’t return Styopa right now—I’ll immediately notify the authorities.”
Lyosha ran into the house, carefully took Styopa in his arms. Galina ran after him:
“Lyosha, are you crazy? It’s for your own good! We planned everything!”
“Mom, you’ll ruin us all!” he whispered. “We must return the boy or we’ll be jailed.”
At that moment, Alexander burst into the house. Seeing his son, he hugged him with relief. Styopa woke, rubbed his eyes, but recognizing his father, cried tears of joy—not fear—reaching out to him. Sasha whispered:
“Alive… Thank God, alive… Everything will be fine, son, Daddy’s here.”
Angela recorded everything on her phone, commenting:
“Well, darlings,” Angela hissed, squeezing the phone, “caught! Lily, you tried to frame your friend again? You’re just a disgusting person! Now brother will definitely understand how worthy you both are of each other. You’re perfect for each other: one abandoned his bride in the wilderness on the wedding day, the other kidnapped a child! I can’t believe such things!”
Alexander tried not to disturb his son, but his voice was firm and cold:
“This isn’t the end. I won’t leave it like this. You will answer for everything. And you, Lily, don’t ever show up in front of me again. I’ll deal with you later.”
Galina Vasilyevna tried to wiggle out:
“Sasha, you misunderstood! We have nothing to do with it! It’s all Lily! She brought Styopa and asked me to watch him a bit. And me? I love children! We played with him, he ate and fell asleep. Just a stupid misunderstanding… Forgive us…”
Sasha went home with his son, got rid of Lily, and a few months later his father began a legal campaign against the Sapunovs. As a result, the family lost everything: accounts, house, property. Galina Vasilyevna and her husband ended up poor. Alexey, realizing the scale of the destruction his mother caused, broke off relations with her, went to work in the North, and never returned. Galina’s husband, shocked by the events, fell ill and soon died of a heart attack. The once confident and tough woman became a pitiful shadow of herself. She wandered the streets poor, begged for alms, and even got a job as a store cleaner. This turn was not just humiliation—it was payback. After years of pain and intrigue, she lost everything. And deservedly so.
Surprisingly, after the son’s kidnapping, Sasha saw Sveta differently. It was as if he noticed her for the first time as a woman, realizing there was no better mother for his children and partner in life. He had long loved her kindness, strength, care, and especially her ability to love all three children equally.
Sveta’s birthday came. Alexander decided to use this moment to make an important proposal. The morning started unusually: Sveta woke up late, wondering why the children hadn’t woken her earlier. The nursery was suspiciously quiet. Putting on a robe, she was about to run into the corridor when Sasha entered the room carrying a tray—with steaming coffee and fresh croissants on it.
“Good morning, birthday girl! Don’t worry, today the kids are with parents and Angela. You can have breakfast in bed peacefully. I made the coffee myself, with cinnamon and cardamom. Hope you like it.”
Sveta smiled shyly. Alexander had never shown such care before. She felt warmth in her soul—she had forgotten what it was like to be loved.
She took a sip:
“Thank you, Sasha. I didn’t even remember today was my birthday.”
“That’s not a congratulations yet,” he smiled. “It’s just the beginning. Eat, then we’ll go make magic. I want you to remember this day as the happiest.”
Sveta’s heart fluttered. “Does he feel the same as I do?” she thought, unable to hide her joy.
The day became truly magical for her. They visited a spa where professionals turned her into a real beauty. Then they rode on a sightseeing boat—Sveta laughed like a child, enjoying every moment. In the evening, they had dinner in an expensive restaurant with a romantic atmosphere.
The climax came when Sasha took out a velvet box, knelt down, and said:
“My dear Sveta… I’m not good with beautiful words, but I want to say the main thing: be my wife. Without you, our home is not a home; the children already call you mom, and so do I. We need to be together. We need a strong family.”
Sveta threw herself into his arms and whispered:
“Yes! Of course, yes!”
A month later, a magnificent wedding took place, written about in all the society columns. In the photos—the whole family: happy Sveta and Sasha, his parents, Angela, and the three children. The caption read: “The happiness of the Kruglovs: love, children, and unity.”
Meanwhile, Lily sat in a cramped rented room, tearing newspapers into pieces and crying with anger. How?! How did Sveta manage to win again? How did Kruglov marry her, not her? After a luxurious life in a mansion, ending up in four walls was unbearable. Envy and resentment tormented her soul.
The day after the celebration, Sasha said:
“Today we’re going to the village to meet your parents. We have to do it. You never told me about them, didn’t even invite them to the wedding. That’s wrong. Your son should know his grandparents. We need to reconcile.”
Sveta paled:
“I know you’re right. But father was very strict with me, wanted to marry me off his way. I was hurt for a long time, couldn’t forgive. I’m afraid he won’t accept me easily.”
But Sasha didn’t accept objections:
“You’re no longer a girl, you’re an adult woman, a mother. It’s time to forget old grievances. The parents are probably suffering greatly. Someone has to make the first move.”
Sveta agreed. She really had held a grudge for many years, although she longed to hug her mother and tell her everything.
Much had changed in the family during her absence. Evdokia often fell ill, grieving for her daughter, and withdrew into herself. Boris realized his mistakes, stopped commanding, and silently regretted much. He saw how his wife kissed Sveta’s portrait at night, and his heart tightened.
When two SUVs stopped at the house, locals poured onto the street—it wasn’t every day such guests arrived.
Sveta stood at the threshold, tears streaming down her cheeks. The same flowered curtains, the same shutters, the rooster on the roof—everything remained as before. The children examined the house with interest, babbling something.
Sasha was the first to approach the door and cheerfully knocked:
“Good afternoon, Boris Ivanovich! It’s us—the whole family visiting! Will you welcome us?”
The man, embarrassed, came out. His gaze met his daughter’s, and he couldn’t hold back—he hugged her with big, strong arms for the first time in his life:
“Daughter… At last! We waited for you so much… Come in, dear guests! Evdokia! Look who came to us!”
The woman couldn’t believe her eyes. She cried, hugged Sveta, kissed the grandchildren:
“Thank God, daughter! How I prayed for you to come back! Forgive me and your father. He’s completely different now, stopped shouting, missed you.”
Sveta cried:
“No, I should be asking forgiveness. I held a grudge too long, was afraid to return. Mom, let’s unpack the bags, we brought a lot. We’ll celebrate a second wedding day!”
Soon everyone gathered around the table: Sasha’s parents, his relatives, Boris and Evdokia, the toddlers, and the newlyweds. Guests gladly ate homemade pies, lard, sausages—and admired the village hospitality.
Boris, happy, tickled the grandchildren, tossed them on his knees, laughed. He was grateful to fate that his daughter returned, that grievances were left behind. And Sveta, looking at the family, felt an unusual lightness inside. No matter what she’d been through, what trials she’d endured—now she was happy. She was a loving wife, caring mother, and that was the most valuable thing in life.
The story ended bright and fair. Love, forgiveness, and family became her main reward.