In the nineties, Grigory organized a construction company and gradually gained momentum. Soon, he succeeded. He built high-rise residential buildings and private houses in cottage settlements. He even built himself a three-story house.
His wife, Galina, was thrilled after moving into the prestigious home. She had long forgotten about the Soviet times when she worked at a factory and cramped in a dormitory room with twins, eagerly awaiting the move to a new home that was under construction. Back then, a three-room apartment seemed like a palace to her. A room for her son and daughter each, and a separate bedroom for her and her husband.
Now in this cottage, she, as the mistress, walked through the rooms and assigned tasks to the housemaid, pointing out the flaws.
That’s how people change.
Out of boredom, Galina started visiting a nightclub and made similar friends. Within a year, Galina met a man and spent several days with him. He held a government post but enjoyed having fun with young women, preferring married ones for safety reasons. He suggested that Gala go abroad with him and live in his house, managing the servants.
Galina easily agreed, realizing that this was her new step towards luxury. She divorced Grigory, refusing to share their assets with him. She didn’t need them, considering what was waiting for her ahead. And she left without saying goodbye to her children.
Left alone, Grigory hired tutors for his children.
When Grigory’s children, Leonid and Olga, graduated from college, he began to think about financially securing them so that he could eventually retire comfortably.
In his old age, he invited his son and daughter for a discussion.
“Olya, you won’t be able to manage anything. Your husband Arkasha has his own business, and a good home will be enough for you. I have already looked at one, and tomorrow I will go see it with you and Arkadi. If you like it, I’ll register it in your names. In addition, I will transfer a decent sum to you, my daughter, for my granddaughter Zhannochka.”
“Papa, will the rest go to Lenya?” Jealousy flared in Olga’s soul.
“He’s already helping me in the business, so I’ll pass it on to him. Why would you need it, Olya, you have Arkasha, but there are three of us, and he’s alone. It’s unfair.”
“So he’ll be earning, but I want to as well?”
“You, my daughter, don’t have the education for it, and only parasites take advantage of others’ labor. Be content with what you have.”
Olga was offended and went upstairs to her husband and daughter. There, she decided to start packing quietly.
“What’s wrong, Olya?” Arkadi didn’t understand.
“Father is kicking us out. Now he only needs Lenya. Help me pack.”
“Where to, at this hour? I’ll go and sort things out with your father.”
“Don’t bother, Arkasha. He’s decided to buy us a house and be done with it, but the rest goes to my brother.”
“Well, that’s fair, Olya. He helped me start a business when we got married. He invested a lot of money and refused to be an owner. Everything is even, don’t be jealous of Lenya. But I’m ready to replace father in his firm if necessary.”
“You’ve become kind-hearted, Arkasha. Then go and bow down to my father.”
“Olya, I knew you as gentle, kind, and responsive. I was lucky with your father. And if Lenya gets married, they might also be three or four, depending on how things go. Have I convinced you of the fairness of his actions? You’re kind, and I love you for it.”
Olga slightly smiled but remained of the same opinion.
Years went by. Arkadi and Olga’s daughter Zhanna grew up. She even graduated from an economic institute. Olga was against it, but the stubborn daughter went to help Leonid in the company, doing accounting.
“Zhanka, why don’t you work with your father?”
“He has you, so both of you manage. Grandpa, before leaving to his hometown to Grandpa Misha, told me to help Uncle Leon in everything.”
Leonid never married. Grigory, his father, passed away, and only Leonid and Zhanna went to the funeral in Siberia. Olga pretended to be sick. Arkadi realized that his wife had never forgiven her father.
After Grigory’s death, Leonid began to fall ill. At first occasionally, but then more and more frequently. The clinic found nothing during examinations. Only later, they discovered he had cancer, and by then it was too late to do anything. Zhanna was already married to Kirill, and they were raising a son. Kirill was Leonid’s right hand, helping him in everything and they lived in Leonid’s house, as Zhanna had wanted after their wedding.
After Leonid’s death, when everyone was at the funeral, Olga came to his house. She rummaged through all the papers to find the will. And she found it.
Sitting on the floor, she read it, and felt unwell. The heir listed was her daughter Zhanna. The pain in her chest made Olga groan. Not her daughter, but she should have the right to her brother’s inheritance. How could he?
Olga did not notice Zhanna entering Leonid’s room, followed by Kirill.
“Mom, what’s wrong with you? Did you read the will? It’s void, you can tear it up and throw it away.”
“What did you say, daughter? So, everything will be mine: the house, the firm? I am the first heir. I will sell everything.” Olga cheered up.
“Mom, where will we live?” Zhanna was seeing this side of her mother for the first time.
“That’s for you to figure out, Zhannochka. You didn’t want to work with father, now you’ve paid for it,” Olga got up from the floor, straightening her trousers and blouse.
“Mom, you better sit down. The will is void because Uncle Lenya later registered everything he owned in a deed of gift to me. So you can’t evict us.”
Olga turned pale and nearly collapsed from her chair. She ended up having to call an ambulance. That’s what her greed led to.
Now Olga is bedridden at home, taken care of by a nurse. Zhanna is so upset with her mother that she doesn’t even visit.