Nicholas Miller had longed for luxury for as long as he could remember. Growing up in a shabby provincial town, he learned early that he wanted something more. His childhood unfolded in a cramped apartment with paper-thin walls, noisy neighbors, and an endless shortage of food. On television, he saw villas with ocean views, gleaming … Read more
Their daughter, Lena, vanished in 1990 — on the very night of her graduation. It was a warm June evening. Stars scattered across the sky, the house filled with the scent of lilacs and freshly baked vanilla cake — her favorite. Lena spun in front of the mirror in a blue dress, laughing, while her … Read more
Andrei slowly climbed the stairs to Yelizaveta Sergeyevna’s apartment. His mother’s friend had been calling for the third day in a row, insisting on a meeting. “A son’s duty”—those words had been etched into his memory since childhood. “Come in, don’t stand on the threshold,” his mother’s voice sounded as imperious as ever. “See what … Read more
“Let’s still go with the bright hall, the one with the big windows,” Marina said, enthusiastically scrolling through photos on the tablet, her finger sliding over the glossy screen as she zoomed in on details of the décor. “Look how full of light it is! And it’s perfect for an off-site ceremony. We won’t have … Read more
“You must be joking,” Tatyana said, staring at Ivan Petrovich with her eyes wide. He shook his head. “No, I’m not. But I’ll give you time to think. Because the offer really isn’t a usual one. I can even guess what you’re thinking right now. Weigh everything, think it through properly—I’ll come back in a … Read more
The sky hung low, as if pressed down by the weight of unspoken words and grief, tinted gray, almost leaden. It seemed to press not only on the earth but on the souls of those who stood at the edge of the fresh grave. Wet snow, heavy and sticky, fell onto the black lacquered coffin, … Read more
Alexei was sorting through documents when Svetlana walked into the kitchen and tossed medical papers onto the table. — The doctors said the surgery is inevitable. Six hundred thousand rubles, — she sank onto a chair, massaging her lower back. — We’re selling the dacha. — What dacha? — Alexei looked up from the papers. … Read more
— Olya, I’m leaving. Olga froze, a plate clenched in her hands halfway to the sink. A thin stream of water trickled from the faucet—the only sound in the heavy silence that followed his words. She turned slowly. Igor stood in the doorway already wearing his jacket, a travel bag at his feet. Not the … Read more
Anna slammed the archive cabinet door a shade harder than usual. Her phone had rung for the third time in an hour—the ringtone boring into her like a nagging drill. — Where are you hiding? — Mikhail’s voice cut through the storage room’s silence. — Playing your paper games again? — I’m at work, — … Read more
“Oleg, the payment is due tomorrow,” Vera’s voice was even, stripped of emotion — just a statement of fact, like reminding someone it would rain in the morning. She laid a neat stack of bills on the kitchen table. They landed next to his elbow like a silent reproach to his complete inaction. He sat … Read more