The first phone call from Sveta caught Irina off guard. Her sister-in-law never called just like that — usually, their communication was limited to holiday greetings and rare meetings at family gatherings. But that June evening, when Irina was washing dishes after dinner and Andrey was watching the news, the phone rang insistently.
“Hey Andryusha,” Sveta’s voice sounded anxious. “Sorry to bother you so late.”
Irina listened to the conversation, continuing to rinse the plates. Sveta was talking about problems with her younger son Misha — the four-year-old boy had a high fever, and their home medicine cabinet didn’t have the necessary medicines.
“You see, it’s still a week until payday, and the doctor prescribed expensive medicine,” Sveta explained. “Maybe you could help for now? I’ll pay you back as soon as I get the money.”
Andrey agreed to help without hesitation. Three thousand rubles for children’s medicine was not a critical amount for their family budget. Irina did not object, though she mentally noted that Sveta’s husband, Nikolay Petrovich, worked as a foreman at a factory and should have a stable salary.
The next call came two weeks later. This time Sveta asked for help buying groceries — their older daughter Lena was going to summer camp, and they needed to prepare the necessary things. Another five thousand rubles were transferred from Andrey’s account to his sister-in-law’s card.
“They have children, you know,” Andrey explained, noticing the slight bewilderment on Irina’s face. “You can’t abandon family in a tough moment.”
Irina nodded but thought to herself that Sveta’s tough moments happened suspiciously often. Nevertheless, she did not object — helping relatives seemed normal to her.
July brought a new wave of requests. Sveta called every week, each time with different reasons. Sometimes money was needed for Lena’s medicines after catching a cold at camp, sometimes urgent payment of utility bills to avoid electricity being cut off. Then the refrigerator broke down, and food began to spoil in the heat.
Andrey responded to every request. Four thousand for medicine, seven thousand for utilities, twelve thousand for fridge repair. The amounts grew, but her husband didn’t think it necessary to discuss the expenses with her.
“She’s my sister,” Andrey would say when Irina cautiously hinted at the growing costs. “I can’t abandon family.”
By the end of July, Irina added up the expenses and was horrified. Thirty-one thousand rubles in one month — almost half of her manager’s salary at a trading company. And they themselves had summer plans: they wanted to update the kitchen furniture and go to the seaside.
“Andrey, maybe we should talk to Nikolay Petrovich?” Irina suggested during one evening conversation. “Find out what’s going on with their money.”
Her husband frowned and shook his head.
“Why meddle in other people’s business? Sveta will tell us if she wants to.”
“But we keep helping constantly. Maybe there are some systemic problems?”
“They do have problems — two kids and a small salary. The rest doesn’t matter.”
Irina wanted to argue, but her husband had already switched the TV channel, making it clear the topic was closed. She stayed silent, though unease was growing inside her.
August turned out to be even more costly. Sveta called twice a week, and every time there were serious reasons for financial help. Preparing children for the new school year, buying school uniforms, paying for extra lessons — the list of expenses seemed endless.
“Lena’s going to fifth grade, she needs good uniforms,” Andrey explained after another talk with his sister. “And Misha is starting preparatory classes.”
Fifteen thousand for school uniforms, eight thousand for stationery, ten thousand for additional classes. Andrey transferred the money without hesitation, and Irina silently watched their savings melt away.
“Maybe we should set some limit?” the woman cautiously suggested. “Like no more than ten thousand a month.”
“A limit on helping children?” Andrey was outraged. “Do you hear what you’re saying?”
“I’m talking about family budget planning.”
“The family budget should include helping relatives.”
“But not on such a scale.”
“What scale? Are we going bankrupt?”
“Not yet, but at this rate, we could.”
Andrey looked at his wife disapprovingly.
“I thought you were a kind woman. Turns out I was wrong.”
The blow was precise and painful. Irina tried to explain that it wasn’t about kindness, but a reasonable approach to spending, but her husband wasn’t listening anymore. The conversation ended with Andrey demonstratively going out to smoke on the balcony, and Irina staying in the living room feeling guilty.
Meanwhile, Sveta’s requests became increasingly sophisticated. She learned to present information so that refusal was impossible. The children got sick at the worst possible times, utility companies threatened to cut services in the heat, appliances broke down before holidays. Every situation required immediate resolution, and Andrey responded exactly as his sister expected.
By the end of August, Irina noticed that her husband had become secretive about finances. Previously, Andrey openly spoke about transfers to his sister, but now he often disappeared with his phone to another room. When she asked about the calls, he gave evasive answers:
“Sveta was asking about our affairs.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yes, that’s it. What else is there to talk about?”
But intuition told Irina it wasn’t just polite inquiries. Andrey was clearly hiding something, and it concerned money.
Her suspicions were confirmed by accident. Irina checked their online bank balance and found a transfer of eighteen thousand rubles made the day before. When she asked her husband about the expense, he hesitated and reluctantly admitted:
“Sveta asked for help repairing the children’s room. Lena’s ceiling leaks after the rain.”
“Eighteen thousand for ceiling repair?”
“Not only the ceiling. We also needed to replace the linoleum damaged by water.”
“Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“I didn’t want to upset you. I know you worry about expenses.”
“I worry because we’ve already spent more than eighty thousand this summer.”
“Not more than eighty. Maximum seventy.”
“Eighty-two thousand,” Irina said firmly. “I counted.”
Andrey fell silent, realizing his wife knew the exact figures. He tried to change the subject, but Irina was determined.
“Andrey, this has to stop. We can’t support an entire family.”
“We’re not supporting. We’re helping in difficult situations.”
“They have difficult situations every week.”
“So what? Their life is hard.”
“Or they’re used to solving problems at our expense.”
“Ira, you’re saying terrible things about my sister.”
“I’m telling the truth. Sveta uses our kindness.”
“She doesn’t. She’s desperately asking for help.”
“Every week, desperately? Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
“What seems strange to me is your attitude towards family.”
“Family? That’s not our family. That’s Sveta’s family.”
“Sveta is my sister. Her children are my nephews.”
“Who should be supported by their parents, not us.”
“The parents can’t manage. We help.”
“We help them not to manage. Why should Nikolay Petrovich look for extra work if he has a generous brother-in-law?”
“He works! Just a small salary.”
“Then let Sveta get a job. Lena is a schoolgirl, Misha goes to kindergarten.”
“Sveta can’t work. The children need attention.”
“The children, or the husband who demands the wife stay home?”
“I don’t know. That’s their business.”
“Then supporting the children is their business, not ours.”
The conversation reached another deadlock. Andrey refused to admit that his sister manipulated him, and Irina couldn’t tolerate the constant spending anymore. The family budget was bursting at the seams, plans were falling apart, and there seemed to be no end to the extortions.
The worst part was that Andrey began hiding the real scale of help from his wife. He transferred money secretly and then came up with explanations. Trust between the spouses was undermined; the family was on the brink of collapse.
But Sveta kept calling. Every week there were new reasons for financial requests, and every time Andrey agreed to help. Irina understood this couldn’t continue.
The blow came from where it was least expected. In early October, Irina received a call from the bank. A polite manager’s voice informed her that a payment on a loan taken out in her husband’s name was overdue by forty-three thousand rubles.
“What loan?” Irina asked, feeling her heart start to race.
“A consumer loan for eight hundred thousand rubles, taken out a month ago. Andrey Sergeevich is the guarantor on a mortgage loan but took an additional loan to pay off the debt.”
Irina slowly sat down. Eight hundred thousand rubles. A huge amount that her husband hadn’t mentioned a word about. She asked to have the loan details emailed to her and hung up.
The documents arrived half an hour later. The loan was indeed taken out in Andrey’s name a month ago. The purpose was to pay off mortgage debt. But what mortgage? Their apartment had been bought long ago and fully paid.
Irina reread the papers and realized. Andrey had become a guarantor on a mortgage loan for Sveta and Nikolay Petrovich. When they had problems with payments, her husband took out a consumer loan to cover their debt. Eight hundred thousand rubles — not help, but real financial madness.
She waited for her husband to come home from work and silently put the printed documents in front of him. Andrey looked at the papers and paled.
“Ira, I can explain…”
“Eight hundred thousand rubles,” Irina said evenly. “A loan at eighteen percent per annum. Monthly payment thirty-four thousand rubles.”
“I wanted to tell you but didn’t know how…”
“Didn’t know how to say you jeopardized our financial future?”
“I didn’t. We’ll manage.”
“Manage? Our combined income is one hundred twenty-five thousand a month. Thirty-four thousand goes to the loan, plus our regular expenses. What’s left?”
“Enough to live.”
“To exist. And if we lose our jobs? Get sick? Need money for something urgent?”
“Let’s not speculate.”
“We will. Because you already did — for both of us.”
Andrey lowered his head, realizing he had no excuses. He had signed the papers without telling his wife a word, breaking all principles of family life for his sister.
“Sveta said this is the last time,” the husband mumbled. “She won’t ask again.”
“Sveta said a lot of things. Remember when she promised to return the first three thousand?”
“That’s different.”
“It’s the same. Sveta is used to living off others.”
“Not off others. Off family.”
“Off us. Your sister doesn’t work, her husband earns decent money, but for some reason, they can’t pay the mortgage.”
“Nikolay Petrovich got sick, missed work…”
“Sick or quit, knowing there’s a generous brother-in-law?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly. You know nothing about their real situation.”
“I know they need help.”
“You know they know how to ask for money.”
Irina stood and paced the room. Eight hundred thousand rubles — not just a large sum. Financial bondage for years. A high-interest loan to be paid regardless of circumstances.
“Andrey, I can’t anymore,” she said tiredly. “I can’t live with someone who makes such decisions without consulting me.”
“Ira, let’s discuss…”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You made your choice. You chose your sister.”
“I didn’t choose. Just helped.”
“Helped at the expense of our marriage.”
“Marriage has nothing to do with it.”
“It does. Family finances are a shared responsibility.”
“I take responsibility.”
“You can’t. The loan is in your name, but we’ll both pay.”
“We will. And manage.”
“We won’t. Because I’m leaving.”
Andrey looked up and saw fear in his wife’s eyes.
“Ira, don’t say stupid things.”
“I’m not. I’m making a decision.”
“Because of money?”
“Because of lies. Because you put your sister’s interests above your wife’s.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did. And proved it with the eight hundred thousand loan.”
“That’s helping family.”
“That’s betraying family.”
“What betrayal? I didn’t betray anyone.”
“You betrayed me. Made a decision about our future.”
“Our future is shared.”
“It was shared. Now you have obligations to the bank and your sister.”
“We have obligations.”
“You do. I wasn’t involved.”
“But we’re family.”
“Family means decisions are made together.”
“I couldn’t wait. Sveta threatened eviction.”
“Let them evict. That’s not our problem.”
“How not our problem? The children will be homeless.”
“Children will be with parents who should solve their problems themselves.”
“Parents can’t cope.”
“Then let them sell the apartment and buy something cheaper.”
“They can’t sell. Mortgage.”
“They can. Selling with encumbrance.”
“They’ll lose money.”
“They’ll lose what they couldn’t earn.”
“Ira, that’s cruel.”
“Cruel to drag relatives into your financial problems.”
“Not drag. Ask for help.”
“Demand support.”
“Not demand…”
“Demand. Because they know you won’t refuse.”
“I won’t refuse because it’s right.”
“Right means being honest with your wife.”
“I was honest.”
“Hid an eight hundred thousand loan?”
“Didn’t hide. Just didn’t get a chance to say.”
“A month and no chance?”
“Looking for the right moment.”
“The right moment is immediately after signing.”
“Knew you’d be against it.”
“I would be. And rightly so.”
“Right is helping family.”
“Right is preserving your own family.”
“Our family won’t fall apart because of a loan.”
“Already has. From distrust.”
Irina went to the bedroom and took out a suitcase. The decision was immediate, but its roots went deep — months of deception, manipulation, and ignoring the wife’s opinion. The loan was the last straw.
The next day, she went to the bank and learned she could freeze access to their joint accounts. The procedure took several hours, but the result met expectations. Andrey could no longer spend family money on his sister.
A week later, Irina filed for divorce. There was practically no property to divide — the apartment was registered in the husband’s name, as was the car. But the woman did not claim material benefits. She only wanted freedom from financial obligations her husband had taken on.
Andrey tried to persuade his wife, promising to stop helping his sister and swearing he would pay off the loan himself. But trust was broken for good. Irina understood that if she stayed, Sveta would call again in a month or two with another request, and her husband would again be unable to say no.
On moving day, Irina packed only personal belongings and documents. The apartment remained with Andrey, along with the loan obligations and the need to pay off the sister’s debts. She rented a small one-room apartment in another district and began a new life.
A month later, Andrey called asking for a meeting. He looked haggard and tired. He said Sveta was asking for help again — now for paying utility bills. But Andrey had no money; loan payments consumed most of his salary.
“Maybe you’ll come back?” the husband asked in a broken voice. “It’ll be easier together.”
“No,” Irina answered calmly. “I won’t.”
“But we loved each other.”
“We did. But love wasn’t enough.”
“Not enough for what?”
“For you to choose me over your sister.”
“I didn’t choose.”
“You did. Every time Sveta called.”
“Things are different now.”
“You don’t have money now. When you do, you’ll help again.”
“I won’t.”
“You will. Because you can’t say no.”
“I’ll learn.”
“Too late to learn. The choice is made.”
Andrey left, and Irina stayed in her small apartment, sipping cold coffee and looking out the window. She was sad, but not regretful. She was free from financial manipulation, deception, and having to endure disrespect for her opinion.
Six months later, a friend told her that Andrey sold the apartment to pay off the loan. He moved into a rented room and spent most of the sale money on his sister’s new needs. Sveta still did not work, Nikolay Petrovich found a new job but earned little.
“Let him pay his debts himself now. I’m nobody to him anymore,” Irina smirked upon hearing the news.
The woman got a new job with a higher salary, started saving for her own apartment, and for the first time in a long while felt financial freedom. No one demanded help, manipulated feelings, or made decisions for her.
Andrey was left with the consequences of his choice: the loan, rented room, and a sister who kept calling with requests. But now there was nothing to help with — all money went to pay debts. Sveta quickly lost interest in a brother who stopped being a financial source.
Irina didn’t gloat, but felt a certain satisfaction. Justice prevailed — everyone got what they deserved.