Mark moved the pot with the wilting azalea off the windowsill, making room for something new. He moved with that smooth, focused grace that had first drawn me to him. But now every one of his movements stirred a dull, inexplicable anxiety in me. “Why did you move it?” My voice sounded weaker than I … Read more
The plate with dinner flew into the trash can. The sharp crash of porcelain against plastic made me flinch. “Even the dog won’t eat your cutlets,” my husband laughed, pointing to the dog who demonstratively turned away from the piece offered to him. Dmitry wiped his hands on an expensive kitchen towel I had bought … Read more
“Here, take it.” A crumpled thousand-ruble bill flies onto the kitchen table and freezes at the very edge, as if hesitating whether to fall onto the floor. I look at it, then at Stas. He is already fastening his impeccable cufflinks, reflected in the glossy cabinet surface. “I think this will be enough for a … Read more
“The salad turned out delicious. This new sauce suits it perfectly.” Artyom spoke with his mouth full, but even that couldn’t hide his smug smile. He was generally pleased today. With himself, life, dinner. Marina only smiled slightly in response, picking up a leaf of arugula and a piece of sun-dried tomato with her fork. … Read more
No, Oleg, just listen to this!” Marina’s voice—my husband’s sister—rang through the entire kitchen, drowning out the sound of the television. “She says the new installer has ‘pure chaos in his head.’ Chaos! Alina, darling, that’s called deconstructivism.” I silently stirred the salad, feeling her heavy, appraising gaze on me. Oleg, my husband, coughed awkwardly. … Read more
“Mom is moving in tomorrow,” Kirill said, eagerly putting a piece of roasted chicken into his mouth. He said it as casually as if reporting tomorrow’s weather forecast. There was not a hint of doubt or question in his voice, only the statement of a fact wrapped in the smug complacency of someone who had … Read more
Marina stood by the window of her country house, watching the morning sun gild the apple trees in the garden. Six months ago, she could never have imagined waking up to birdsong instead of the city’s noise. The divorce had been difficult, but it brought unexpected freedom. After selling the apartment and dividing the property, … Read more
— Marina, open the safe immediately! — the mother-in-law stood in the doorway of the study, clutching some documents in her hands. Marina Sergeyevna froze with her morning tea cup in hand. She had just been peacefully having breakfast in the kitchen when suddenly Tamara Ivanovna — the mother-in-law who hadn’t shown up for half … Read more
Ethan Cross, a self-made billionaire in his late thirties, rarely flew commercial. But today was different. A sudden mechanical issue had grounded his private jet, and unwilling to miss his keynote speech at a global tech summit in Zurich, Ethan reluctantly accepted a first-class seat on a commercial flight. He didn’t mind the luxury—the champagne, … Read more
Ethan Carrington was a man accustomed to control—control over markets, negotiations, and above all, the meticulously crafted life he led. As the CEO of a San Francisco-based tech giant, he dominated boardrooms and made headlines. Yet, despite his towering success, one part of his life remained unresolved: his brief marriage to Isabel. They tied the … Read more