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Marina had always known that she was that daughter—the serious one, the responsible one, the one everyone could rely on. While Olya flirted with boys and painted delicate watercolor flowers, Marina buried herself in textbooks, enrolled in finance school, and later found a job at a bank. While her younger sister begged their parents for … Read more

Sunday lunches at Nikolai’s parents’ house always lasted forever. Tamara usually had the table set by noon, and no one left before five. After four years of marriage, Svetlana had grown used to the ritual. Gennady sat at the head of the table. He cut the bread into thick, uneven slices and arranged them like … Read more

Marina was setting the table, placing exactly three plates on it. Styopa hovered nearby, trying to sneak a piece of bread from the basket. Denis was washing his hands, and the sound of running water from the bathroom blended with the quiet murmur of a cartoon playing in the next room. “Mom, when are we … Read more

Irina stood by the kitchen window, watching the janitor rake up the last yellow leaves scattered across the courtyard. October had always felt special to her. Her birthday fell in the middle of the month, and for years she had dreamed of celebrating it properly. For the first time in seven years, it finally seemed … Read more

Irina stopped in the bedroom doorway and stared at the bare walls for several seconds. The place where the bed had stood that morning was now completely empty. The dresser containing her belongings was gone. Even the old floor lamp she had brought from her parents’ house had disappeared. She walked slowly into the room, … Read more

The room went completely still. Eighteen people—Danil’s relatives, friends, and colleagues—were staring at Margarita. Some quickly looked away, while others cleared their throats in discomfort. Margarita slowly placed her glass on the table. Her fingers did not tremble. “Say that again,” she said evenly. “Say what again?” Danil smirked, glancing around at the guests. “I … Read more

“Tell me something, Veronika. Why do you even bother coming here?” Boris Arkadyevich stood in the middle of his office with his hands buried in the pockets of his expensive trousers. He looked at her as though she were a stain on the polished floor. “To collect a salary? You’re supposed to work for that. … Read more

“Sell the country house, and we can save our marriage. Refuse, and you can start packing,” Ilya declared, fully expecting Ksenia to be frightened. He said it calmly, almost casually, while sitting at the kitchen table and staring at his phone. Warm air drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of sun-heated leaves and … Read more

Natalia heard a key turn in the lock and glanced at the clock. Oleg was not supposed to return from Nizhny Novgorod until the day after tomorrow. He had called earlier from the installation site and said the equipment had been rejected again, so the crew would have to stay longer. Her work laptop stood … Read more

Katerina set a skillet of hot fried potatoes on the table and sat down across from Trifon. He ate quickly and silently, never lifting his eyes. She watched him and waited. She could feel that a conversation was coming. “Katerina,” Trifon began, pushing his plate aside. “I’ve been thinking. We need to change the way … Read more