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Put the apartment in my name. And quickly. I want to start renovating it!” declared my mother-in-law, tossing the keys to my inherited apartment on the table.

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Elena wearily set the grocery bags down on the table. Another long shift, another dinner after nine in the evening. She hadn’t even finished unpacking the groceries when the doorbell rang. Nina Borisovna was standing on the doorstep, her thin lips pressed together. “They raised the rent again!” the mother-in-law blurted out instead of a … Read more

The medical staff couldn’t take their eyes off the newborn, but within a minute they faced an unexpected moment that gave everyone present goosebumps.

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The maternity ward of the Saint Thorn Medical Center was unusually crowded. Although the delivery was completely normal by all standards, there were immediately twelve doctors, three senior nurses, and even two pediatric cardiologists present. Not because of a life threat or diagnosis — simply… the scans caused confusion. The fetus’s heartbeat was mesmerizingly regular: … Read more

She hadn’t spoken for three years—until one day a man entered the bank branch and dropped to his knees before the cleaning lady.

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How Aleftina ended up in the office — no one quite remembered. She appeared as if she had always been there: a quiet, inconspicuous woman or girl — it was hard to tell. Some considered her young, others thought she was older, but her appearance was hidden beneath a scarf tied in a rustic way … Read more

The dog growled threateningly at the baby every night. And when the parents discovered the true reason for her behavior, their lives changed forever.

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Since early morning, the sky had been dumping dense flakes of snow onto the ground — sticky, thick, as if someone above was generously sprinkling flour from a shovel without caring where it would fall. A lone car was slowly making its way along the snowy country road, like a dot amid the endless winter … Read more

— “There will be decent people at the anniversary! Stay home and don’t embarrass yourself or me!” — said the mother-in-law reproachfully.

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Sonya flinched when she heard those words. At first, she thought she had misheard. After all, Sonya had been organizing the celebration for the past two weeks. Actually, the entire last month. “Excuse me, Vera Pavlovna, I didn’t quite understand,” Sonya said, setting aside the guest list she had been working on all evening. “What’s … Read more

On the day I turned eighteen, my mother threw me out the door. But years later, fate brought me back to that house, and in the stove, I discovered a hiding place that held her chilling secret.

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Anya had always felt like a stranger in her own home. Her mother clearly favored her older sisters — Vika and Yulia — showing them much more care and warmth. This injustice deeply hurt the girl, but she kept her resentment inside, constantly trying to please her mother and get at least a little closer … Read more

— Anton, maybe we shouldn’t go? — Elena looked at her husband anxiously. — Your mother has guests today, and that means…

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— Anton, maybe we shouldn’t go? — Elena looked at her husband anxiously. — Your mother has guests today, and that means… — Lena, stop it, — Anton adjusted his shirt collar. — We were invited — we have to go. And anyway, maybe everything will be fine. Elena just sighed. In three years of … Read more

Kolya, are you serious?” Natalia looked at her husband, not recognizing him. “Do you even hear yourself?

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— Kolya, are you serious? — Natalia looked at her husband and didn’t recognize him. — Do you even hear yourself? — Natasha, I already promised, — Nikolai answered grimly. — Please, don’t make me look like a blabbermouth in front of my family. — But why did you promise something behind my back? — … Read more