“Alla, can’t you see what’s right in front of you?” Svetlana’s voice sounded anxious even through the crackling phone line. “They treat you like a porcelain doll. Real life just isn’t like that, trust me.”
Alla switched the phone to her other ear and kept stirring the soup. Her call with her friend had already stretched on for half an hour, but cooking dinner for her husband’s family still had to be done.
“Svetlana, what are you talking about?” Alla couldn’t help but smile. “I just got lucky with my in-laws. Not all mothers-in-law have to be the wicked witches from jokes.”
“Alla, listen to me carefully,” Svetlana dropped her voice, as if she was sharing a state secret. “When your mother-in-law gives you compliments every day, always praises your cooking, and asks permission to come into your apartment—that’s suspicious. Very suspicious.”
“What’s suspicious about that? That’s just politeness,” Alla tasted the soup and added more salt. “Galina Ivanovna is a well-mannered woman, that’s all.”
“Well-mannered?” Svetlana scoffed. “Alla, I’ve seen all kinds of mothers-in-law. But for one to bow and scrape before her daughter-in-law like that… something isn’t right.”
“Maybe I just found a good family?” Alla turned off the stove and leaned against the counter. “Things don’t always have to go wrong in life. Sometimes, people get lucky.”
“Alright, alright,” her friend sighed. “Just be careful. When people act too sweet, they usually want something.”
After their talk, Alla stood in the kitchen for a long time, staring out the window. Svetlana’s words kept running through her mind like a splinter she couldn’t remove. Could it really all look that strange from the outside?
A knock at the door broke her thoughts. When Alla opened it, she was greeted by her mother-in-law’s beaming face.
“Allochka, my dear!” Galina Ivanovna held out a bag of freshly baked pies. “I made your favorite ones with cabbage. I know how much you love them.”
“Galina Ivanovna, you really didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” Alla said as she accepted the bag and took in the delicious aroma. “I could have baked them myself.”
“Oh please, sweetheart!” her mother-in-law waved off her concern. “It makes me happy to do something for you. You’re such a wonderful homemaker, always keeping your home so tidy. Where else could we find a daughter-in-law like you?”
Following behind Galina Ivanovna into the apartment was Nikolai Petrovich, her father-in-law—a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a gentle smile.
“Allochka, our beautiful girl!” Nikolai Petrovich gallantly kissed his daughter-in-law’s hand. “How are you? How’s your health? I hope our Viktor treats you well?”
“Oh, of course, Nikolai Petrovich,” Alla laughed. “Viktor is a wonderful husband.”
“Good, good,” her father-in-law nodded. “But if you ever need anything—just let us know right away. We’ll show him what happens when someone mistreats his wife!”
Galina Ivanovna looked around the apartment with an admiring gaze.
“Alla, dear, it’s always so cozy here! Everything is spotless and organized. It feels more like a museum than an apartment. And your cooking is divine—truly golden hands!”
“Oh, come on, Galina Ivanovna,” Alla replied with a shy smile. “It’s just a regular apartment.”
“Regular?” her mother-in-law exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “Every little thing is in its place here! And those curtains—so lovely! The furniture, so tastefully arranged!”
Alla led her husband’s parents into the living room and hurried to set the table. As she laid out the plates, she couldn’t help but eavesdrop on her in-laws’ quiet conversation.
“Just look at her apartment,” Galina Ivanovna whispered. “Right in the center, recently renovated, with great furniture.”
“Keep your voice down,” Nikolai Petrovich cautioned. “She might hear us.”
Alla frowned. What are they talking about? But there was no time to think—Viktor had just come home from work.
“Mom, Dad!” her husband cheerfully hugged his parents. “How are you? How have you been feeling?”
“We just stopped by to see Allochka,” Galina Ivanovna said, stroking her son’s cheek. “I brought some pies. And she’s so smart—already making dinner. Such a wonderful homemaker! Your father and I are so lucky to have her as our daughter-in-law.”
During dinner, Alla tried her best to keep up the conversation, even though her friend’s words kept echoing in her mind. Are Viktor’s parents maybe a bit too affectionate with her?
“Remember, Vitya,” Nikolai Petrovich said, putting down his spoon, “how you and Denis used to run off to the lake as kids? Your mother was frantic, searching for you all over town.”
Viktor laughed.’
“How could I forget! We’d be out there from morning till night—fishing, splashing in the water. We had complete freedom!”
“You basically ran away from home,” Galina Ivanovna chimed in. “Never listened to anyone—always wrapped up in your own adventures.”
“Who’s Denis?” Alla looked up from her plate. “Viktor, you’ve never told me about him.”
An awkward silence fell over the room. Viktor froze with a piece of bread in his hand, and his parents exchanged glances.
Viktor looked uncertainly at his father.
“That’s… That’s my brother.”
Alla raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Your brother? But you told me you didn’t have any siblings.”
Galina Ivanovna began stirring her soup busily, even though her bowl was almost empty.
“Well, I do have a brother,” Viktor coughed awkwardly. “A younger one.”
“So why doesn’t he ever come here?” Alla looked around the table at everyone. “Why have I never seen him? What does he look like? Where does he work?”
“Allochka, dear,” Galina Ivanovna got up from the table, “how about we have some tea? You had such delicious jam last time…”
“Mom, sit down,” Viktor gently guided his mother back to her seat. “Alla, it’s just that Denis and I… we don’t really stay in touch.”
“Why not?” Alla persisted, looking closely at her husband. “What happened between you two?”
“Oh, nothing specific,” Nikolai Petrovich started breaking his bread into tiny pieces. “Sometimes people just have different personalities. That’s normal in families.”
“But still, why isn’t he here?” Alla was not backing down. “Why don’t you talk about him?”
Viktor got up from the table and walked over to the window.
“Alla, let’s not talk about this,” her husband said, not turning around. “Some subjects are better left alone.”
“Of course, of course,” Galina Ivanovna quickly agreed. “Allochka, dear, why don’t you tell us about work instead? How does your boss treat you?”
Alla slowly set her fork down. The abrupt change of subject and the strained faces of her in-laws made her more uneasy than any words could.
In the weeks that followed, Alla tried several times to revisit the conversation about her husband’s brother. Each time, Viktor brushed off her questions with a tired look.
“Alla, please, let’s not go there,” her husband would say, turning to the TV. “Denis and I had a big fight. It’s a painful topic for the whole family.”
“But maybe there’s a way to make up?” Alla pressed on. “Family is sacred.”
“It’s better not to mention him around my parents at all,” Viktor shook his head. “It just upsets them. Some fights can’t be forgiven.”
Alla agreed, since she had no reason not to trust her husband and his family. Viktor’s parents still treated her with touching care.
On a Saturday morning, a sudden ringing at the door woke Alla up. Standing on the doorstep were her husband’s confused parents, carrying a large travel bag.
“Allochka, dear!” Galina Ivanovna sobbed, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. “Something terrible happened! We got flooded by the neighbors upstairs!”
“Flooded? How?” Alla let her in-laws into the apartment.
“Their pipe burst in the night,” Nikolai Petrovich set the bag down in the entryway. “Water gushed right down into our place. The ceilings, the walls—everything is soaked through. It’s impossible to live there!”
“Oh my goodness!” Alla hugged her crying mother-in-law. “What about the repairs?”
“We have no idea how long it will take,” Galina Ivanovna wiped her eyes. “It’ll be at least a few months for sure. And we can’t afford a hotel, our pension is too small.”
“Galina Ivanovna, Nikolai Petrovich, there’s nothing to discuss,” Alla said, taking the bag decisively. “The second bedroom is yours. Stay as long as you need.”
“Allochka, you’re a gem!” her father-in-law hugged her emotionally. “Where else could anyone find such a kind soul!”
Viktor’s parents made themselves comfortable in the second room. Galina Ivanovna hung her dresses in the wardrobe, while Nikolai Petrovich laid out his medicines on the bedside table.
One evening, Alla was walking home from work when she suddenly heard a voice behind her:
“Excuse me, are you Viktor’s wife?”
Alla turned around and froze. In front of her stood a man who looked strikingly similar to Viktor. He had the same dark hair and gray eyes, but his face was thinner and more tired.
“I’m Denis,” the stranger introduced himself. “Viktor’s brother. We need to talk.”
“About what?” Alla instinctively took a step back. “Viktor told me you don’t keep in touch.”
“That’s exactly why we need to talk,” Denis glanced around. “Not here. Let’s go to a café.”
Alla hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her. Maybe she could help reunite the family.
At the café, Denis ordered himself a coffee. He silently looked out the window. Alla waited for him to speak.
“Do you know which apartment my parents are living in now?” Denis finally asked.
“In their own, I thought,” Alla replied in surprise. “Why?”
“It’s my apartment,” Denis turned to her. “Well, it was mine. My parents sold theirs five years ago.”
“Sold it?” Alla frowned. “Why?”
“They gave the money to Viktor. He invested it somewhere and lost everything,” Denis said with a bitter smile. “Then our parents decided to take my apartment. By tricking me.”
“That can’t be,” Alla whispered.
“Oh, it can. Now I rent tiny rooms and get by with odd jobs. Meanwhile, they’re living in my apartment,” Denis clenched his fists. “And now they’ve set their sights on you.”
“On me?” Alla’s voice trembled.
“Two days ago, I was passing by the notary’s office on Sadovaya. I happened to look inside and saw my parents, Viktor, and a notary. They were arguing loudly and waving papers around. It seemed suspicious, so I followed them back to your building. I overheard them loudly discussing how they plan to take your apartment!”
A chill swept over Alla.
“Alla,” Denis leaned across the table and suddenly switched to a more informal tone, “don’t sign any papers that Viktor’s mother brings you. She’s deceiving you, just like she deceived me.”
At home, Alla watched her in-laws closely. Sure enough, they were always whispering about something, falling silent whenever she entered the room. Viktor had become anxious and distracted.
A week later, Galina Ivanovna approached Alla with a folder of documents.
“Allochka, dear,” her mother-in-law smiled sweetly, “we’ve decided to take out a small loan for apartment repairs. Will you be our guarantor? It’s just a formality.”
“Of course, Galina Ivanovna,” Alla said, taking the pen and reaching for the documents. “Let me see them.”
The very first lines made her freeze. “Deed of gift for real estate.” Her apartment was being transferred to Galina Ivanovna and Nikolai Petrovich.
“This is a deed giving away my apartment,” Alla said quietly, looking up.
“What are you talking about, dear?” Galina Ivanovna waved her hands, then started riffling through the paperwork. “These are the loan documents.”
“It says ‘deed of gift’ right here,” Alla stood up from the table. “You’re trying to take my apartment.”
“Alla, stop making things up,” Nikolai Petrovich tried to grab the papers. “Just sign them and stop this nonsense.”
“So Denis was right,” Alla threw the folder aside. “You took the apartment from your youngest son, and now you want to take mine too!”
“Who is Denis?” Viktor ran out of the room. “How do you even know about Denis?”
“He found me and told me everything!” Alla raised her voice. “All three of you are scammers!”
“Don’t you dare listen to him!” Viktor exploded. “He’s no longer part of this family!”
“And you’re a liar!” Alla raised her hand. “How could you deceive your own son like that?”
“What do you know?” Galina Ivanovna chimed in. “We did everything for Viktor! For the family!”
“Get out of my apartment!” Alla screamed. “Right now! And you too, Viktor! I’m filing for divorce!”
“You’ll regret this!” Nikolai Petrovich shook his finger at her. “We will never forgive you!”
“I don’t need your forgiveness,” Alla said as she opened the door. “Get out!”
A month later, while strolling in the park, Alla spotted Denis sitting on a bench. He was reading and didn’t notice her approaching.
“Thank you,” Alla said as she sat down next to him. “You saved my apartment.”
“It was nothing,” Denis closed his book. “How’s the divorce going?”
“I get the papers tomorrow,” Alla sighed. “How about you?”
“Looking for a job. Hopefully I’ll be able to rent a decent place soon.”
They talked until sunset. Then they met again. And again. Denis turned out to be a kind, honest man, deeply hurt by his family’s betrayal.
Half a year later, Alla was wearing a white dress for the second time in her life. But this time, she stood next to a man she could truly trust. And most importantly—there were no in-laws anywhere in sight.