“Vanya, are you actually serious?” Valentina Yurievna, puzzled and slightly agitated, turned to her husband. “Kirill, did you hear him?”
Kirill Konstantinovich let out a heavy sigh, setting aside the evening newspaper:
“Son, you really need to consider this carefully. I’ve had enough for today; I’m off to bed.”
He exited swiftly, leaving Valentina staring after him with a mix of frustration and disbelief.
“Do you not care at all about your son’s prospects? She’s practically invisible in society! Probably can’t distinguish between a fork and a spoon.”
Kirill paused in the doorway, turning back with a firm look:
“I do care about our son’s future, but I refuse to get involved in these petty squabbles.”
With that, he slammed the door shut. Vanya, caught in the middle, faced his mother:
“Mom, why are you speaking so poorly of Tanya? She’s not some relic from the past!”
“And what do you think, Vanya? That she isn’t?” His mother countered sharply. “Do you really see a bright future with her?”
“Absolutely, we will! I love Tanya, and she loves me.”
“That she loves you, that’s obvious. But haven’t you thought that maybe, from another perspective, she’s not right for you?”
Vanya shook his head resolutely:
“Mom, you’ve got it all wrong about her! Tanya is contemporary, a wonderful person.”
“Vanya, who is she, really? What does she do?”
“What do you mean? She’s a human being.”
“No, what’s her profession?”
“She’s a seamstress.”
“There you have it! And you—supposed to inherit a wine dynasty!”
Vanya chuckled:
“Mom, you’re blowing this out of proportion. We just distribute wine; a dynasty implies production.”
“Nonsense! A dynasty is defined by the substantial profits it generates, and your Tanya has only dreamed of a good life—clearly, she’s after your wealth.”
Vanya stormed out, frustrated by the relentless pressure. His father had advised him not to take his mother’s words to heart, attributing them to her protective maternal instincts, which often manifested as overbearing dominance. Vanya typically nodded along, but this situation was different. Just yesterday, he had introduced Tanya to his parents, and today’s intense questioning from his mother made it clear she wouldn’t let this go. However, Vanya wasn’t about to either; they would marry, regardless of her objections.
At 28, Vanya was independent, having earned his own living for years. He longed for familial harmony rather than conflict.
Outside, Tanya greeted him with concern.
“Vanya, they didn’t take to me…”
He embraced her reassuringly:
“Don’t fret about it. What matters is that I care for you.”
Tanya sighed:
“Why didn’t you warn me? Perhaps I shouldn’t tie my life to yours. It might be better to find someone within your own social strata.”
Vanya stepped back, shocked:
“Has my mother’s skepticism infected you too?”
It had only been a week since their troubles began.
“Tanya, hello! Am I disturbing you?” Valentina Yurievna’s voice chirped through the phone, catching Tanya mid-fitting with a client.
“No, not at all, Valentina Yurievna!”
“I’d like to officially invite you to my birthday celebration at the city’s most lavish restaurant.”
Realizing the implications, Tanya accepted the invitation despite her apprehensions, then hung up and broke into tears. Her client, Anastasia Kondratyevna, looked on in concern, not a stranger to Tanya’s humble studio.
“Tanya, what’s wrong?” Anastasia inquired, sensing the tension.
Tanya opened up about her recent family conflicts, and Anastasia frowned.
“Valentina can be challenging, especially when finances are involved. Don’t cry; let’s figure this out together.”
“What can I do?” Tanya lamented. “She simply doesn’t like me.”
“That’s not the end of it,” Anastasia reassured her. “She’s worried you’ll embarrass her. Stay calm, and instead of worrying about embarrassment, plan to leave everyone in awe.”
“But how can I possibly do that?” Tanya wondered aloud.
“Bravo, Tanya! You’ll turn every head at that party, not just to embarrass you, but because you’ll outshine them all with your grace and dignity.”
The preparations for Valentina Yurievna’s birthday became the backdrop for a deeper transformation in Tanya. She began to see herself not just as Vanya’s defiant partner, but as a woman of elegance and poise. It was not the clothes that made her feel this way, but the confidence that Anastasia and Kostya helped nurture within her.
The day of the birthday finally arrived, and Vanya, despite his initial reluctance, could not help but feel a swell of pride as he escorted Tanya into the crowded room. Her simple elegance, marked not by ostentation but by an understated grace, drew admiring glances even from those who had prepared themselves to judge her harshly.
Valentina Yurievna, who had orchestrated this gathering with different intentions, found herself taken aback. Tanya moved through the guests with such genuine charm and ease that even she could not find the fault she had hoped to expose.
As the evening wore on, it became clear that the only person embarrassed was Valentina herself. Her plan to undermine Tanya had not only failed but had backfired spectacularly, showcasing Tanya’s true character and strength. Even her own friends began to whisper, not about Tanya’s supposed inadequacies, but about Valentina’s unkindness.
Vanya, seeing the change in the room’s mood, finally understood something vital about love and acceptance. He realized that his mother’s approval was not the measure of his relationship’s worth. As he watched Tanya laughing and interacting with the guests, her resilience and warmth melting even the iciest demeanors, he knew that their future was theirs to define, not to be dictated by anyone else’s expectations or schemes.
In a quiet moment, he took Tanya aside and whispered, “You know, you’ve always been my queen, no matter what you wear. But tonight, you showed everyone else what I’ve always seen in you.”
Tanya, feeling a mixture of triumph and tenderness, squeezed his hand, her eyes sparkling with tears and laughter. “And you, my love, have shown me that together, we are more than the sum of others’ opinions. We are us, and that’s more than enough.”
They left the party not just as a couple who had survived a test but as partners who had thrived through it, ready to face whatever challenges life might throw their way, together and stronger than ever.
“Okay, everyone, it’s time to head home! Let’s make sure tomorrow Valentina Yurievna is utterly surprised! Tanya, don’t worry, Kostya and I will be there too; we’ve got invites.”
Vanya was tense, watching each person who walked into the restaurant. Valentina Yurievna was gracefully accepting well-wishes, speaking quickly with each giver, and never missed a chance to announce that Vanechka was soon to be wed, and the bride was almost here. She was certain that Tanya would choose today of all days not to show up. The guests had already arrived when Valentina Yurievna turned to her son:
— Vanyusha, where’s Tanechka?
Vanya responded with a shrug:
— I’ve been calling, but she’s not answering.
— Did she actually decide to stay away? — she wondered aloud, just as everyone’s gaze shifted to the door.
In walked Tanya. Both Vanya and Valentina Yurievna were speechless, their jaws hanging open. The patriarch of the family observed her closely, grunted approvingly, and took a drink. Valentina was now too shocked to fret over him.
Tanya, stunning in a sleek indigo dress, elegant shoes, and expertly styled hair, was hardly recognizable.
— My dear! — Vanya exclaimed, hesitating as he approached her.
— Didn’t you recognize me?
— Of course, I did! You look so… so…
— And here I thought you’d greet me outside!
Vanya blushed deeply. He had indeed planned to wait for her outside since she knew no one at the party and needed his support. He had imagined her jumping into his arms in her usual floral knit dress, all eyes on them. Why that dress? It was all he had ever seen her wear.
— Alright, Vanya, I need to present my gift, — she said with a smile.
Tanya had used up all her savings on the gift, a beauty salon voucher. It was Anastasia’s idea; she was concerned Tanya might back out at the last minute. Tanya just smiled:
— Now I have even more reason to work with you, to save up again.
Anastasia chimed in:
— You know, in their family, the men may earn the bread, but only Valentina gets to speak.
As Tanya observed, Vanya’s mother struggled to regain her composure. She didn’t smile but stared at Tanya as if she were a stranger. At the table, she slyly recommended Tanya an exotic dish with oysters, confident Tanya would falter. But Tanya handled it gracefully.
Later, as Tanya and Vanya slow-danced, she overheard a nearby guest:
— I don’t get it. Valya said it’d be a riot when the bride showed up, but I don’t see the joke. She’s gorgeous; Vanya has good taste.
Another added:
— Seriously, they picked her up from nowhere, yet she fits right in with the elites!
That was the last straw for Tanya. She spun around and headed for the exit. Vanya caught up with her outside.
— Tanyush, where are you going?
She stopped sharply.
— Vanya, why didn’t you defend me? You knew your mother planned to humiliate me!
— Tanya, I… No, I… It all worked out, didn’t it?
— And then, when they talked about me like that, why did you say nothing?
Vanya looked surprised:
— What, you wanted me to punch Kudryavtsev? Do you even know who he is?
Tanya shrugged:
— No, and I don’t care. I hope I never have to be in such company again.
— But when we’re married, we’ll have to deal with these people.
Tanya met his gaze:
— I’m not marrying you. Well, maybe you, but definitely not your mother, sorry, Vanya. Find someone who suits her better.
With that, she walked away. Vanya watched silently as she disappeared around the corner. Just then, a car pulled up.
— I can’t let such a gorgeous woman wander the city alone. Tanya, come on, let’s grab a coffee.
— How about a shawarma instead? — Tanya replied with a grin. — Hi, Kostya!
— Hello, Tanya! I had a feeling I’d see you tonight. I knew you wouldn’t tolerate all that. So I waited here.
She carefully removed the necklace she had borrowed from Anastasia Kondratyevna, ensuring it wasn’t lost.
— You know, I feel a real sense of relief now, — Tanya admitted. — It’s good she invited me tonight; it showed me everyone’s true colors.
From that evening on, Tanya and Kostya were inseparable.