I can’t take it anymore. I needed a son, and we have our third daughter. This is not how I imagined my life,” Sergei stood at the threshold with his worn sports bag, avoiding eye contact with his wife. Irina froze with a spoon in her hand. The porridge on the stove continued to quietly … Read more
Finally, my father decided to have an honest conversation with me and my sister. — Nadya, Olya, sit down. I want to tell you how Irina, my second wife, came into our home. — Dad, we already know everything, — I interrupted him. — When you were five years old, I remarried. I remember that … Read more
Styop, maybe we shouldn’t go today? I could say I’m not feeling well,” Alina nervously tugged at the corner of the tablecloth, avoiding her husband’s eyes. Stepan stepped over to his wife and gently took her hand. “Alinka, we’ve already talked this through. If you turn down every Sunday dinner at my mother’s, she’ll only … Read more
Lera, not those blueprints again! My mom already made the decision,” Dmitry waved dismissively without even glancing at the plans laid out on the table. Valeria sighed and let her hands fall to her sides. Yet another attempt to convince her husband had failed. An architect with honors, she sat before the project of their … Read more
Ulyana slowly ran her hand along the freshly painted wall. The empty room was filling with the soft glow of the evening sun, casting long shadows on the perfectly smooth floor. This was their child’s room. Still empty, but already theirs. A warmth spread through her body. Five years. A full five years of her … Read more
One phone call turned Anastasia’s life upside down, revealing the secrets and lies of her marriage. But fate had an unexpected twist in store — in the labyrinth of betrayal, she would find her path to true happiness. “He said to tell you he has a sweet little thing just like you. Only younger. And … Read more
Vera absentmindedly poured coffee into a large mug and froze, staring out the window. Spring had been strange this year: snow, then rain, then sudden warmth that made city flowerbeds bloom with tulips too early—only to be followed by another cold snap. She rubbed her shoulders as if trying to warm up, even though the … Read more
The twilight of October gently enveloped the city as I set the table for dinner. The familiar cups with worn edges, the old embroidered tablecloth — everything in this kitchen had remained unchanged for the past three decades. Viktor entered, carefully closing the door behind him. The warm October evening prompted him to roll up … Read more
Ulya, how could you forget to buy olives? Mom loves them in the salad!” Anya exclaimed, dramatically sighing while waving the grocery bag. Ulyana just sighed, wiping her hands with a kitchen towel. The sun was setting outside, casting the last rays over the well-kept garden of their country house. The holiday dinner was supposed … Read more
Ninochka, you know… I would have never thought that your son would choose some unknown girl to marry!” said Polina Anatolyevna, taking a sip of fragrant jasmine tea. “Don’t rub salt in my wounds. This wedding will not happen! My son will realize how wrong he is and will cancel everything,” Nina Vasilyevna declared confidently, … Read more