Alina, I need to open my heart to you… I feel that my end is near. You must know the truth, even if you hate me afterwards,” began the mother-in-law, squeezing Alina’s hand.
Alina froze. When had she become “dear Alina” to her? Usually, her mother-in-law called her a “sneaky snake,” a “witch,” or some other offensive name. But now, suddenly, it was “dear Alina.” It’s said that people change before death, starting to recognize their mistakes. Perhaps this happened with Maria Viktorovna. Alina worked as a nurse in the hospital where her former mother-in-law was admitted with a heart attack. She couldn’t assess the severity of the situation—she wasn’t a doctor, but whispers suggested that there were few chances for recovery. Alina never encountered her ex-husband: either he didn’t visit his mother, or their paths just didn’t cross. And they had nothing to talk about… He had once caused her so much pain that she didn’t even want to see him. It all started when it was time to give birth. Her husband wasn’t happy about impending fatherhood, grumbling that they were not yet on their feet, and now he would have to support the family alone. Alina promised to find a work-from-home job so as not to be a burden. But apparently, the child was unwanted—even her mother-in-law threw sidelong glances and said that Alina was rushing things.
When Alina was hospitalized, the doctors decided to perform a cesarean section, although there had previously been no indications for it. She tried to reach her mother-in-law, who was the head of the maternity ward, hoping she would stand up for her. But Maria Viktorovna didn’t answer. After the anesthesia, Alina was told that the girl had died in the womb. It was the worst news of her life. That day, a part of her died too. She dreamed of following her little girl, whom she wanted to name Katya. Her relationship with her husband crumbled. He blamed her for not being able to keep the child, and her mother-in-law added fuel to the fire. It all ended in a divorce, for which Alina was blamed.
And now, Maria Viktorovna lay in the hospital where Alina worked as a nurse, needing care. Her son and his new wife were nowhere to be seen. Apparently, the woman had become unnecessary to her own family.
“Don’t talk nonsense! You’ll get better!” Alina tried to console her, but she just waved her hand.
“Nothing will be good anymore… You know it yourself… But you are a good woman. It’s a pity I didn’t see it right away and supported my son when he decided to part with you. You must know, Alina, that the cesarean wasn’t done just like that…” Alina’s heart clenched. She had guessed something was wrong, but hearing it aloud was unbearable. “And your child didn’t die. They switched him for a stillborn… And your daughter, my granddaughter… your little girl… was given up for adoption to a wealthy family.”
Alina’s ears rang so loudly she almost screamed. Her legs buckled, and she barely kept herself upright. She looked at her mother-in-law and saw not a weak, sick woman, but a monster… A real monster that had deprived her of happiness.
“Why?” whispered Alina, her voice hoarse as if from another world.
“Andrey didn’t want children. You knew that… He was just starting to build his career, had great prospects. Now he has achieved a lot, but a child would have hindered him. He was afraid that you would demand alimony if he decided to divorce… That you would hassle him, but he needed to focus on work. He persuaded me to get rid of the child, to give him away and convince you that the baby had died. Understand, I was ready to do anything for my son to succeed… But now, facing death, I realize the burden I carry. Can you forgive me, Alina?”
“How could you?..” whispered Alina, her voice trembling, and her thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn that couldn’t be untangled. Tears flowed down her cheeks, leaving wet trails. “Where? Where is my daughter?” she breathed out, each word coming with incredible difficulty. Pain squeezed her throat, making it hard to breathe.
“In the bedside table… There’s a notebook… On the first page is the address…” the mother-in-law spoke with difficulty, her voice weak but tinged with bitterness. “But nothing can be changed now. He… he’s a very influential man. Powerful. He won’t give you your daughter back…”
“We’ll see about that!” Alina hissed through her teeth. Her hands trembled as she opened the bedside table and grabbed the notebook. Tearing out the page with the address, she almost ran out of the ward without looking back.
“Alina, forgive me…” Maria Viktorovna’s hoarse voice reached her from behind.
“God will forgive…” Alina threw back, not turning around.
She could no longer stay near this person. The one who had taken a part of her soul, ruined her life. In her mind, there was only one thought—to see her daughter. Five and a half years! She was already so big… Alive… Tears welled up again, but Alina wiped them away and almost ran to the head office. She said something about urgent business, not even remembering exactly how she explained her departure. The road to the given address passed as if in a fog. And now she stood at the gates of a huge mansion, realizing that it wouldn’t be easy to simply enter and take her child back. Gradually, she realized that for the girl herself, it would be a shock. She had already adjusted to another life, to another mother… But at least to see her… Just a glimpse…
A man met her on the porch. He was statuesque, handsome, but his eyes showed a cold emptiness. From somewhere in the depths of the yard, children’s laughter reached her, and Alina’s heart clenched. It was tearing towards there, to her daughter…
“Are you applying for a nanny?” the man asked, sizing her up.
“Nanny?” Alina asked back, not taking her eyes off the yard where the child’s voice came from.
“Isn’t it?” he frowned slightly.
“Sergey?” Alina asked quietly, and the man nodded. “I didn’t come as a nanny… I came for my daughter…” Sergey turned pale. His face tensed, his jaws clenched. He looked at her as if he wanted to crush, destroy her. But Alina didn’t back down. “It’s a long story… Please listen to me,” she began to speak, tears streaming down her face, but she didn’t stop. She told everything: how her husband, the closest person, persuaded his mother to get rid of the child, how they deceived her, making her believe her daughter had died. “I didn’t know… I thought she was no more… I was so afraid… But now…”
“I will not give you your daughter,” Sergey abruptly interrupted her. “She is all I have. Katya is my life.”
Katya…
Alina sobbed even harder. That was exactly what she wanted to name her daughter. Her legs buckled, but she held herself up. She didn’t know what to do next. Sergey could throw her out, call security, the police… But he was silent, listening.
“Let’s go inside,” he finally said. “I’ll make you tea and tell you my story…”
Alina nodded, although her heart was torn where her daughter was. She wanted to see her, even fleetingly.
Inside the house, sadness overwhelmed her. She realized she could never give her daughter such luxury. Her clothing, her life—it was all so far from this world. Could she make Katya happy? Of course, she would give her all, but would it be enough? Out of the corner of her eye, Alina noticed dollhouses, luxurious toys. Probably it was Katya’s playroom. In the kitchen, over a cup of tea, Sergey began his story.
“My wife was infertile. We dreamed of a child, and suddenly they called us from the maternity hospital. They said there was a girl whose mother had abandoned her. We didn’t even think. We immediately started the paperwork. Our home was filled with happiness. We became parents. And when Katya turned three, my wife died. Heart attack. It was… like thunder out of a clear sky. I still can’t come to terms with it, although it’s been two and a half years. Katya keeps asking when mom will return from heaven. It’s painful… She’s waiting for mom, but not you…”
Alina’s heart was breaking. She set down her cup and stood up. Through the frosted glass of the kitchen, she saw a girl. It was her. Her daughter. Her spitting image. Alina barely held back from rushing to her. But she couldn’t. It would shock the child. Katya loved her father.
“You said you needed a nanny,” Alina said firmly.
“A nanny, but not you…” Sergey shook his head. “You won’t be able to keep yourself in check. I can’t trust you. What if you decide to steal her?”
“Steal? No! I swear! No!” Alina almost shouted. “I came here to take her, but now I understand that she has her own life. I don’t want to break her psyche, but I beg you… Let me be near her. Let me be a nanny!”
“I’ll give you an answer in two days,” Sergey replied dryly.
Those two days were torture for Alina. She barely held back from going to the police, from starting to demand her daughter back. But she understood: that was not the solution. She had to be wiser. For Katya’s sake.
Two days later, Sergey called. His voice was calm, but there was a slight tension. He informed her that he was ready to make concessions, but only under certain conditions. Alina had to sign a contract in which she promised never to tell Katya that she was her mother. Additionally, she had to undergo psychological counseling and submit a DNA test. Only after that did Sergey agree to hire her as a nanny. Alina, without hesitation, agreed to everything. She knew without tests that Katya was her daughter. The girl was her spitting image. But Sergey needed evidence, formalities, to be sure he wasn’t mistaken.
When the test results confirmed the relationship and the psychologist concluded that Alina could control her emotions, Sergey handed her the contract. She didn’t even read it—she signed without thinking. That same day, the man introduced Katya to the new nanny. This moment became the happiest in Alina’s life for her. Initially, Sergey allowed her to work two days on, two days off, but after a month, he insisted that she quit the hospital and move in with them.
“Katya really likes you,” he said. “She’s drawn to you. It’s better for her to be with you all the time.”
Alina even refused to take money for her work, but Sergey insisted, citing the terms of the contract. She cleaned the house, cooked, did laundry, and spent almost all her time with Katya. Each time the girl smiled at her, Alina felt her heart break with love. But she restrained herself, not allowing herself too much. She couldn’t call her “daughter,” couldn’t hug her the way she wanted.
Eight months passed. Sergey gradually began to thaw. He saw how Alina cared for Katya, how sincerely she loved her, and realized that she would not take the child away from him. His heart began to warm to this woman who had endured so much. He started talking to her more, inviting her for walks in the garden. They found common topics, shared thoughts. Unbeknownst to himself, Sergey began to develop warm feelings for Alina. But he didn’t know how she would react to his confession.
Alina’s birthday arrived. All day, Sergey behaved as if he knew nothing about the holiday. But in the evening, he and Katya threw her a surprise. They invited her for tea with cake, and the girl, blushing, handed Alina a small box with a bow.
“Daddy told me the truth,” Katya said quietly, looking down. “You’re my mommy, who came down to us from heaven.”
Alina froze. Her heart pounded so hard she could barely breathe. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked at Sergey, and he just smiled, slightly lifting the corners of his lips.
“But mom and dad should be married, right?” Katya continued, raising her big eyes to Alina. “Daddy wants to marry you! Will you agree, mommy?”
Alina couldn’t hold back her tears. She hugged her daughter, breathing in her child’s scent, kissing her hair, hugging her again and again. Katya seemed like the most precious treasure in the world to her.
“I love you,” the girl whispered, smiling. “Thank you for coming down to us. But you haven’t answered yet… Will you marry daddy?”
“Katya,” Sergey said with a light reproach. “We practiced: ‘marry daddy,’ not ‘get married.'”
Alina laughed. Sergey and Katya joined her laughter. At that moment, she felt her heart was filled with happiness.
“I will,” she said, smiling through tears. “Of course, I will.”
Sergey joined their embrace, hugging both his little princess and the woman who had become not just a nanny but part of their family. At that moment, Alina realized: her life had finally found its meaning.