Marina adjusted the blanket over the sleeping Dima’s face and slowly climbed the stairs. The key turned with difficulty in the lock. The hallway was dim, with an unfamiliar woman’s jacket hanging on the coat rack and women’s boots on the floor. From the bedroom came muffled voices — her husband Denis’s voice and an … Read more
Anya Karpenko woke up at half past six in the morning from the sharp slam of the front door. Igor, as usual, was leaving for work without even saying goodbye. She turned to the other side, buried her face in the pillow, trying to get back to sleep, but her thoughts wouldn’t let her — … Read more
Boris Petrovich Buzyakin, the 60-year-old head of the family, billionaire, philanthropist, and a man with a long list of titles, slowly descended to the dining room for breakfast. Already gathered at the table were: his eldest son — 32-year-old Vadim Borisovich, daughter-in-law Alevtina, 27, their five-year-old son Egor, and Buzyakin’s older sister — 63-year-old Pavla … Read more
Lisa knew that planning a wedding was a nerve-wracking business. She had read articles about it, listened to friends. But no one warned her that the biggest problem wouldn’t be the cost of the restaurant or choosing a photographer, but her future mother-in-law, Valentina Petrovna. The woman seemed to have made it her mission to … Read more
— I’m telling you, Seryozha: it’s either me or her! — Galina Petrovna’s voice echoed through the kitchen like an air raid siren. Sergey sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose. — Mom, please don’t start again… — You’re still on her side?! — she raised her voice. — Have you forgotten who … Read more
— Vasily, do you see this? — Anna Sergeyevna stood in the middle of the vegetable garden, pointing at a gray gas pipe that snaked right through the potato beds. — What pipe? — her husband tore himself away from fixing the fence and came closer. — What kind of miracle is this? — There … Read more
Olga glanced sideways at her husband, who was carefully carrying a large box with a laptop. Maksim literally glowed with happiness. A smile hadn’t left his face since they left the shopping center. The man kept adjusting the bow on the package as if it were a precious jewel. “Can you imagine how happy mom … Read more
— Yanochka, dear, why didn’t you tell me right away that you now have money? — Hello, Yulia Konstantinovna. I don’t understand what you mean? — How so? Kirill said that your mother transferred a nice sum of money to your account. Yana was a terrible careerist. Work consumed her completely: early mornings, night reports, … Read more
— Katya, did Sasha already tell you? — the mother-in-law rattled on. — Look! There will be forty people. So we’ll start cooking at night. I’ll come early, at six in the evening the day before. — What? At night? — the daughter-in-law smirked. — No, I didn’t sign up for that. — Just wait. … Read more
The day was ordinary, like many others — fatigue weighed down after a long meeting, my head buzzing from the endless flow of information. In my bag were packages: buckwheat, milk, napkins for my son’s school. I was walking home, almost at the entrance to the building, when suddenly I heard a quiet voice: — … Read more