Galina stood by the front door, blocking Elena Pavlovna’s way. In the young woman’s eyes burned a fire her mother-in-law had never seen before. Behind Galina, children’s laughter rang out – four-year-old Timofey was playing with his building blocks in the living room.
“You demanded I get an abortion, remember?” Galina asked her former mother-in-law. “So you have NO right to see your grandson.”
Elena Pavlovna straightened up, adjusting her expensive fur coat. Her lips tightened into a thin line of contempt.
“Galya, dear, that was so long ago. I only wanted what was best for you. Back then Maxim was just starting his career, you two were renting a one-room apartment…”
“ENOUGH!” Galina’s voice cracked like a whip. “You called me a beggar who wanted to tie your precious son down with a child. You came to me every single day and kept saying I was going to ruin his future!”
“Don’t take the past so dramatically,” Elena Pavlovna waved her hand, as if shooing away an annoying memory. “Things are different now. Maxim is successful, you have a beautiful apartment. And I have the right to see my grandson.”
“Right? RIGHTS?!” Galina took a step forward, and her mother-in-law involuntarily stepped back. “You lost all rights when you brought me a brochure for an abortion clinic and an envelope of money! When you called me at night and hissed into the phone that I was a parasite!”
Maxim appeared in the hallway. Tall, dressed in an expensive suit, he looked successful. But right now his face was pale.
“Mom, Galya’s right. Leave.”
“Maxim!” Elena Pavlovna turned to her son. “You can’t do this to me! I’m your mother!”
“The same mother who four years ago gave me a choice: either her, or my pregnant wife,” Maxim’s voice was dry. “You made your choice back then. Live with it.”
“This is all HER fault, she turned you against me!” Elena Pavlovna jabbed her finger in Galina’s direction. “That calculating little thing!”
“GET OUT!” Galina exploded. “Get out of my house RIGHT NOW!”
Three days later, Galina was cooking dinner when the doorbell rang. Maxim was at work, Timofey was asleep after kindergarten. When she opened the door, she saw Elena Pavlovna with a huge box of toys.
“I brought gifts for little Timosha,” her mother-in-law smiled, but her eyes stayed cold. “At least let me hand them over.”
“NO,” Galina tried to close the door, but Elena Pavlovna wedged her foot in.
“Listen to me, girl,” her mother-in-law’s voice grew hard. “I am rich and influential enough to make your life unbearable. Maxim works at my friend’s company. One phone call from me – and he’ll lose his position.”
Galina froze. Anger began to boil in her chest.
“You’re threatening me and my husband?”
“I’m just explaining reality,” Elena Pavlovna pushed her way into the hallway. “Either you start behaving reasonably and let me see my grandson, or else…”
“Or WHAT?” Galina grabbed the box of toys and flung it out the door. The toys scattered all over the stair landing. “You’ll destroy your own son’s life? Leave your grandson without support? Is that your idea of love?!”
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me!”
“I WILL!” Galina shouted so loudly that neighbors’ doors began to open. “You’re a MONSTER! You tormented me throughout my pregnancy! You called my unborn child a mistake! And now you show up with toys?!”
“Quiet! What will the neighbors think?”
“Let them know what you’re really like!” Galina pushed her mother-in-law out onto the landing. “And if you dare threaten my family again, I’ll tell all your golf-club friends how you tried to force your pregnant daughter-in-law to have an abortion! I’ve kept all your messages!”
Elena Pavlovna turned pale. Fear flickered in her eyes.
“You wouldn’t dare…”
“TRY ME!” Galina slammed the door.
That evening, when Maxim came home, Galina told him about his mother’s visit. He was silent for a long time, staring out the window.
“She really can call Viktor Semyonovich,” he said at last. “He’s an old friend of hers, the owner of our company.”
“So what? We’ll live under her dictate?” Galina sat down beside him. “Maxim, your mother is toxic. She poisons everything around her.”
“I know. But what can we do?”
“Fight,” there was steel in Galina’s voice. “I won’t let her anywhere near Timofey. A person who demanded he be killed before he was born has no right to call herself a grandmother.”
A week passed. Galina was picking up Timofey from kindergarten when the teacher, Marina Sergeevna, pulled her aside.
“Galina Andreevna, there’s something I need to tell you… Today a woman came by, said she was Timofey’s grandmother. Elena Pavlovna, I think. She asked for permission to pick the boy up.”
Galina went cold.
“What did you tell her?”
“Of course we refused. We have strict rules – only parents or people with written permission. But she was very persistent. She promised to sponsor the kindergarten if we would accommodate her.”
“If she comes again, call me IMMEDIATELY,” Galina gripped the teacher’s hand. “It’s very important.”
At home, she called Maxim.
“Your mother went to the kindergarten. She tried to bribe the teachers.”
“What?!” There was a crash in the receiver – apparently Maxim dropped something. “I’m going over there right now!”
“NO!” Galina stopped him. “Don’t. I have a plan.”
The next day Galina went to see Elena Pavlovna at work. Her mother-in-law owned a chain of jewelry stores – an inheritance from her late husband. The secretary tried to stop Galina, but she brushed past her and burst into the office.
Elena Pavlovna was sitting behind a massive desk, discussing something with two men in expensive suits.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Galina smiled. “I need to speak with Elena Pavlovna. It’s a family matter.”
“How dare you!” her mother-in-law jumped to her feet. “Security!”
“Just a moment,” Galina raised her voice. “Gentlemen, you surely know how much Elena Pavlovna loves her grandson, don’t you? She loves him so much that four years ago she demanded I kill him. Have an abortion at five months pregnant.”
The men exchanged glances. Elena Pavlovna flushed crimson.
“Get out! BOTH OF YOU!” she shouted at her partners. They hurriedly left the office.
“Bitch!” her mother-in-law hissed once they were alone. “How dare you come here?!”
“And how did YOU dare to show up at my son’s kindergarten?” Galina stepped closer. “Did you think you could buy the teachers and secretly meet with Timofey?”
“He’s my grandson!”
“He is NOTHING to you!” Galina slammed her palm on the desk. “You disowned him before he was even born! You called him a mistake, a burden, a parasite in my belly!”
“That was a long time ago!”
“Four years! Just FOUR YEARS!” Galina pulled out her phone. “Shall I read your messages out loud? ‘Get rid of it while it’s not too late.’ ‘Don’t ruin my son’s life.’ ‘Women like you only give birth to get money.’”
Elena Pavlovna was silent, her fists clenched.
“I can ruin your life,” she finally hissed. “I have connections…”
“And I have ALL our correspondence,” Galina smiled. “And recordings of your phone calls. Remember how you screamed that it would be better if I died during the abortion? That was in my seventh month. Imagine how that will look on social media: ‘Owner of a jewelry empire forced her daughter-in-law to kill her child.’ Your clients will love it.”
Two weeks passed relatively quietly. Elena Pavlovna no longer appeared at their home or at the kindergarten. But Galina felt it – the calm before the storm.
And the storm broke on Friday evening.
Maxim came home looking grim.
“I’ve been demoted,” he said, dropping his briefcase in the hallway. “Viktor Semyonovich said I’m not effective enough.”
Galina closed her eyes. So, Elena Pavlovna had used her connections after all.
“This is your mother.”
“I know,” Maxim hugged his wife. “But we’ll manage. I’ll find another job.”
“NO!” Galina pulled away. “Enough! I’m not putting up with this anymore! Your mother has crossed every line!”
She grabbed her phone and dialed her mother-in-law’s number. The woman picked up on the third ring.
“Elena Pavlovna? Tomorrow at exactly ten in the morning I expect you at our place. We’re going to settle this ONCE AND FOR ALL.”
“What makes you think I’ll come?” her mother-in-law’s voice oozed poison.
“Because I’m inviting someone else too. Your older sister from Yekaterinburg. Anna Pavlovna, remember her? The one you haven’t given her share of your father’s inheritance to for twenty years.”
Silence hung in the receiver.
“How… how do you know?”
“I have my own sources,” Galina smiled. “Anna Pavlovna is more than happy to come. She’s already on the train. I paid for her tickets.”
“Bitch! This is blackmail!”
“This is JUSTICE. See you tomorrow, Elena Pavlovna.”
Galina hung up and looked at her stunned husband.
“How do you know about Aunt Anna? I only recently found out she exists…”
“Your father told me. Valery Petrovich. We talk on the phone sometimes. He’s been divorced from your mother for a long time, but he knows a lot about her affairs.”
Maxim sank onto the couch.
“Dad? You talk to my father?”
“He’s the only one of your relatives who supported me during the pregnancy. He sent money for vitamins when your mother was demanding an abortion. He’s a grandfather who loves Timofey, even if he sees him in secret.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You would have felt forced to choose between your parents. This way, Valery Petrovich just comes to the park to walk with us when you’re at work. Timofey calls him Grandpa Valera.”
Maxim hugged his wife.
“You’re incredible. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you from my mother sooner.”
“Tomorrow it’ll all be over,” Galina pressed against her husband. “Either your mother accepts our terms, or she’ll lose a lot more than her grandson.”
That night Galina hardly slept. She went over the next day’s conversation in her head, preparing her arguments. Beside her, Timofey snored softly – they’d let him sleep in their bed.
At exactly ten in the morning, the doorbell rang. Galina opened it. Two women were standing on the threshold – Elena Pavlovna and her copy, only older and more plainly dressed.
“Anna Pavlovna, come in,” Galina smiled warmly at her mother-in-law’s older sister. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine, dear,” Anna Pavlovna hugged Galina. “Valery Petrovich has told me a lot about you. Where’s my grand-nephew?”
“Maxim is out walking with him. They’ll be back in an hour.”
Elena Pavlovna walked into the living room without taking off her coat.
“Let’s get this farce over with.”
“Please, sit down,” Galina gestured toward the couch. “Tea? Coffee?”
“NOTHING!” Elena Pavlovna barked. “Say what you want!”
Anna Pavlovna sat down next to her sister.
“Lena, how many years has it been… Twenty-two years you’ve been avoiding seeing me.”
“None of your business!”
Galina sat down opposite them.
“Elena Pavlovna, my terms are simple. You FOREVER stop trying to see Timofey. You stay away from us, you stop trying to influence our lives through your friends. Maxim is reinstated to his position.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then Anna Pavlovna will sue you for her share of your father’s inheritance. The house in the city center you sold ten years ago for fifteen million – half belonged to her.”
“That’s impossible to prove!”
Anna Pavlovna pulled out a folder of documents.
“Father’s will. Notarized. You forged my signature on the inheritance waiver. But I never signed it. I was on a business trip to China when you pulled that trick.”
Elena Pavlovna turned pale.
“Where… where did you get the will?”
“Valery kept a copy. Your ex-husband. He knew about your scheme but kept quiet for your son’s sake. Now he’s on Galina’s side. So am I.”
“This… this is a conspiracy!” Elena Pavlovna jumped up. “You’ve all plotted against me!”
“NO!” Galina stood up too. “These are the consequences of YOUR actions! You cheated your sister, you drove your husband to divorce with your tyranny, you tried to force me to kill my child! And now you’re surprised everyone’s against you?!”
“Maxim won’t allow this…”
“Maxim knows everything,” Galina took out her phone, showing their messages. “He fully supports me. What’s more, he’s ready to testify about your pressure on me during my pregnancy.”
Elena Pavlovna slowly sank back onto the couch. Her perfect hairstyle was disheveled, blotches appeared on her face.
“What do you want?”
“I already told you. You disappear from our lives. You sign a waiver of any claims to contact with Timofey. And you pay Anna Pavlovna her share – seven and a half million plus interest, which is quite a sum.”
“But I don’t have that kind of money! It’s all invested in the business!”
“Then you’ll sell some of your stores,” Anna shrugged. “Or I’ll go to court, and then ALL your assets will be frozen until the matter is resolved.”
Elena Pavlovna looked from her sister to her daughter-in-law. Panic and rage flickered in her eyes.
“You have no right! I’m his grandmother!”
“Grandmother?” Galina leaned toward her. “A GRANDMOTHER?! You almost killed him! You were putting pills in my tea to cause a miscarriage! Yes, I know! I kept the packaging and sent it for analysis!”
“That… that can’t be proven…”
“Your fingerprints are on the blister pack. And the testimony of the pharmacist you ordered those drugs from online.”
At that moment the door opened. In came Maxim with Timofey and a tall grey-haired man – Valery Petrovich.
“Grandpa Valera!” the boy rushed to the man. “And who’s that?”
“That’s…” Valery raised his eyes to his ex-wife. “Just some people your mom and dad know. They’re just leaving.”
Elena Pavlovna stared at her ex-husband, her son, her grandson. Timofey clung to Grandpa Valera, Maxim held Galina close.
“Mom,” Maxim said quietly. “Sign the papers and go. It’s the best thing you can do.”
“After everything… after everything I’ve done for you…”
“What have you done?” Maxim gave a bitter laugh. “Controlled my every step? Chosen my friends, my university, my job? Drove my father to a heart attack with your tantrums? Tried to kill my son?”
“I wanted what was best for you!”
“NO!” Valery Petrovich suddenly shouted. “You wanted what was best for YOURSELF! For your pride – a successful son. For your status – a daughter-in-law from a rich family. The child didn’t fit into your plans, so you decided to get rid of him!”
Elena Pavlovna stood, swaying slightly.
“You’re all… all traitors…”
“We’re a family,” Galina hugged Timofey. “A real family. And you’re a toxic person who poisons everything around you. The papers are on the table. Sign them.”
Elena Pavlovna went over to the table. Her hands trembled as she signed.
“I’ll go to court… I’ll contest this…”
“Try,” Anna gathered up the documents. “I have the best lawyers. And all the proof of your fraud with the inheritance. By the way, that’s also a criminal charge – large-scale fraud.”
Elena Pavlovna headed for the door. At the threshold she turned around.
“You’ll regret this…”
“GET OUT!” Galina flung the door open. “And don’t ever come back!”
When the door closed, silence fell over the apartment. Then Timofey tugged his mother’s hand.
“Mom, who was that mean lady?”
“Nobody, sweetheart. Just someone from the past who will never come back.”
A month later, Galina was sitting in a café with Anna Pavlovna. The older sister of her mother-in-law turned out to be an amazingly pleasant woman.
“You know, Lena has always been like this. Since childhood. She thought the world should revolve around her. She wrapped Father around her finger, pushed me away from the inheritance. Valery put up with her for twenty years until he had a heart attack.”
“How is he, by the way?”
“He’s fine. Happy he can openly spend time with his grandson. He and Timofey spent all day yesterday building a model set.”
“And Elena?”
“She sold two of her stores, paid off her debt to me. Went to Spain. They say she bought a villa and lives like a recluse. Out of pride she doesn’t talk to anyone – after all, everyone found out about her schemes.”
Galina took a sip of tea.
“You know, sometimes I wonder – maybe I was too harsh?”
“Dear,” Anna covered her hand with her own. “She tried to kill your child. She poisoned you with pills. She threatened to have your husband fired. You were protecting your family. And you were right to show her your ANGER. Lena is used to everyone bending to her. You stood up to her. Good for you!”
Galina went home with a light heart. The apartment smelled of pancakes – Maxim was teaching Timofey how to make them. Valery Petrovich sat at the table, reading a story from a big book.
“Mom!” Timofey ran to her. “We’re making pancakes! And Grandpa Valera brought a new book!”
Galina picked her son up, kissed the top of his head. She looked at her husband, at her father-in-law. Her real family. The one she had fought for and won.
A message came in on her phone from an unknown Spanish number. One line: “You ruined my life.”
Galina smiled and deleted the message. Elena Pavlovna had ruined her own life. Galina had only refused to let her ruin someone else’s.
“Come sit, dinner’s ready!” Maxim called. “The pancakes will get cold!”
And Galina sat down at the table with her real family. The one she had protected with her ANGER, her STRENGTH, her refusal to submit. Sometimes anger is exactly what saves you from toxic people. Not compliance, not attempts to negotiate, but the righteous fury of a mother defending her child.
And somewhere in Spain, in a luxurious but empty villa, sat a woman who had lost everything because of her own cruelty. Elena Pavlovna got what she deserved – loneliness, disgrace, and the realization that money cannot buy forgiveness. Especially when there’s nothing left to forgive