Anna closed the last report and leaned back in her chair. The job of financial director in her father’s family business demanded constant attention. At thirty-two, she had already achieved much.
“Dad, I’m heading home,” Anna poked her head into her father’s office. “We’ll discuss the new investments tomorrow.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” her father looked up from his papers. “Say hi to Lesha. When are you going back to the dacha?”
“This weekend for sure,” Anna smiled. “Aleksei promised to help you with the greenhouse.”
The drive home took half an hour. Anna parked her new car in the courtyard and went up to the second floor. She had bought the three-room apartment before marriage. Spacious rooms, high ceilings, large windows. All of it breathed with the comfort of their family nest after four years of marriage.
“Lesha, I’m home!” Anna called out, kicking off her heels in the hallway.
“I’m in the kitchen!” her husband replied. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Aleksei was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pan. He worked as a mid-level manager; the salary was modest, but that never bothered Anna. Household duties they shared equally.
“How was work?” Anna hugged her husband from behind.
“The usual hustle,” Aleksei turned to her. “And you, how’s the project with the new partners?”
“Still sorting out the documents,” Anna sat down at the kitchen table. “By the way, did your mom call?”
“Yes, after lunch,” Aleksei placed dinner on the plates. “Everything’s fine. She told stories about the neighbors, complained about the weather. You know, her birthday’s coming up.”
“Of course I remember,” Anna picked up her fork. “Sixty years, that’s a big date. We should think of something special for a gift.”
On weekends they often went to the little country house that Anna had inherited from her grandmother. Small, cozy, the perfect place to rest. Galina Ivanovna had always admired it.
“Remember how we paid for her dental work last year?” Aleksei sat across from his wife. “Mom still thanks you for that.”
“Family is family,” Anna shrugged. “Then we bought her that trip to Sochi, helped with the renovations. Galina Ivanovna deserves care.”
Her mother-in-law always treated Anna warmly. She called her “daughter,” asked about her work, never interfered in their family life. Anna sincerely thanked fate for such a relationship.
“And what about a gift for Mom?” Aleksei cleared the dishes into the sink. “Maybe some jewelry?”
“I’ve thought about it,” Anna twirled her ring thoughtfully. “But I want something more meaningful. Jewelry is nice, but it’s quickly forgotten.”
In the following days, Anna pondered the gift. A trip? Galina Ivanovna had just vacationed recently. Appliances? She already had everything she needed. It had to be something special, memorable.
“Dad, what do you think about giving her a dacha?” Anna asked during her lunch break.
“In what sense?” her father put down his sandwich.
“As a birthday present for Galina Ivanovna. A small plot with a house,” Anna unfolded a plan. “She’s always dreamed of her own garden.”
Her father studied her attentively.
“A reasonable idea,” he nodded. “Look for options outside the city. Something good, but cozy.”
Anna spent several days going through listings. Realtors offered all sorts of properties. But most weren’t right—too big, too far, too rundown.
“This plot looks interesting. Just outside the city, twenty minutes by car. The house is small but solid. Six hundred square meters of land, fruit trees already there.”
“How much are they asking?” Anna examined the photos carefully.
“Two and a half million. Negotiable,” the agent flipped through papers. “The owners are moving to another city.”
Anna wrote down the address. The property seemed exactly what she wanted—small, tidy, with room for growth. Galina Ivanovna would surely appreciate such a gift.
That evening she discussed the idea with her father over the phone.
“An excellent choice,” he approved. “Your mother-in-law is a practical woman, a dacha will suit her. And the price is fair for your means.”
Anna hung up and immediately dialed Aleksei. Her heart raced with excitement—her husband would surely love the idea. His mother had always dreamed of her own garden.
“Lesha, hi!” Anna’s voice was bright with joy. “I have news about your mom’s gift.”
“Tell me, sunshine,” Aleksei sounded intrigued. “What have you come up with?”
“How about a dacha?” Anna paced across her office. “I found a wonderful option just outside the city. Six hundred square meters, neat house, fruit trees already growing.”
“Seriously?” her husband’s voice was filled with enthusiasm. “Mom will be over the moon! She’s said so many times she’d love to grow her own tomatoes.”
Anna smiled, listening to his excitement. Aleksei always supported her desire to care for his family.
“They want two and a half million,” she went on. “But it’s worth it. Just imagine her joy!”
“That’s the best idea ever!” Aleksei was clearly thrilled. “She’ll never forget such a gift. You’re a genius, darling.”
The warmth in his voice comforted her. Anna pictured the three of them planning the birthday celebration together.
“I’ve got to run,” Aleksei’s tone was gentle. “See you tonight, my dear. We’ll talk it all over at dinner.”
Anna was about to say goodbye when she realized the call hadn’t ended. Then she heard a familiar voice—her mother-in-law.
“Leshenka, are you done talking with that little rich girl?” Galina Ivanovna’s tone was irritated.
Anna froze. Was she talking about her? Her hand shook as she held the phone.
“Yes, Mom,” Aleksei sighed. “She’s on about gifts again. Always shoving her money in our faces.”
“I’m sick of her generosity,” his mother went on. “Always helping, helping, making me feel like a beggar next to her. Always reminding us how much better she is.”
Anna sank into a chair, her legs buckling. The people she thought of as family spoke of her with such malice.
“Mom, but soon everything will change,” Aleksei lowered his voice. “Remember I consulted a lawyer? There are ways to make her transfer her property to me.”
“What ways?” his mother asked eagerly.
“I’ll slip her papers to sign, disguised as regular documents,” Aleksei explained. “She’s trusting, won’t suspect a thing. I’ll gradually transfer everything to myself.”
Anna clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a scream. The man she loved for four years was coldly planning to deceive her.
“And then what?” Galina Ivanovna sounded pleased.
“First we’ll squeeze as much money as we can out of her for family needs,” Aleksei continued. “Then I’ll file for divorce and claim half of her savings.”
“Smart boy,” his mother praised. “Or maybe we can make up an illness for me? Ask for money for treatment abroad.”
“Great idea,” Aleksei agreed. “After the divorce we’ll live comfortably, and Anya will be left with nothing.”
Anna quietly ended the call. Numbness spread through her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. But deep inside, determination was building.
The two people closest to her had been planning to rob her. Those she trusted most saw her only as a source of money.
Anna wiped away her tears. She would never let herself be deceived again.
That evening Aleksei came home in high spirits, whistling as he hung up his coat.
“Anya, sunshine, I’m home!” he called from the hall. “Did you go see the dacha for Mom?”
Anna silently placed a folder of papers on the kitchen table. On top lay the divorce petition.
“What’s this?” Aleksei grabbed the paper, scanning the lines. His face went pale.
“What you and your mother deserve,” Anna answered calmly.
“What are you even talking about?” Aleksei tried to feign confusion. “Some kind of bad joke?”
Anna stared coldly at him. This man had just planned to rob her, and now played the innocent victim.
“You forgot to end the call this afternoon. I heard your entire conversation with Mommy.”
Aleksei straightened abruptly. Panic flickered in his eyes, but he quickly pulled himself together.
“Listen, you misunderstood,” he started, stepping closer. “We were just chatting, imagining things.”
“Imagining how to trick me into signing over property? Fake documents? Pretending illness?” Anna rose from the table.
“Anya, darling, calm down,” Aleksei reached for her hands. “We’re family, do you really believe such nonsense?”
Anna stepped back. He was still trying to deceive her, looking her straight in the eyes.
“Pack your things and leave,” Anna said coldly. “The apartment is mine, bought before the marriage. You no longer belong here.”
“You can’t throw me out!” Aleksei shouted. “I’m your husband!”
“Ex-husband,” Anna corrected. “The petition is already filed. I have the documents.”
“My son is a falcon, and you’re a sparrow who flew into the wrong nest!” his mother sneered.
Aleksei paced the kitchen, scrambling for arguments. The mask of the caring spouse had slipped away completely.
“Fine, you want to play dirty?” he barked. “So be it! I’ll sue for half your savings, and then we’ll see who wins!”
“Go ahead,” Anna replied calmly. “The property is premarital, and my savings have long been kept in corporate accounts.”
Aleksei fell silent. He realized he had lost.
An hour later he left the apartment with a single suitcase. That same evening Anna called a locksmith and changed the locks.
The divorce went quickly. Aleksei got only a small compensation.
A month later Galina Ivanovna came to Anna. She cried, begged for forgiveness, swore it was all her son’s idea.
“Anya, dear,” the mother-in-law sobbed. “I loved you like my own! You know I’m not like that!”
“Now I know exactly what you’re like,” Anna replied, not inviting her in.
“But we were family,” Galina Ivanovna pleaded. “Can’t we still stay in touch? You were always like a daughter to me.”
Anna shook her head.
“Family doesn’t betray each other,” she said, closing the door.
The next day Anna changed her phone number. She blocked her ex-husband’s family on all social networks. Galina Ivanovna was left without her usual financial support, Aleksei rented a room in a communal apartment.
Anna, meanwhile, kept building her life—now with a clear understanding of the true price of human relationships and the importance of protecting personal boundaries.