Four hundred eighty-two thousand rubles,” my mother-in-law set the notebook on the table, and I realized my marriage was over.

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  “Three thousand for utilities. Two and a half for groceries. A thousand for your medicines. Fifteen thousand for repairs, because you ‘accidentally’ flooded the neighbors downstairs…” Svetlana Petrovna’s voice was even, almost emotionless, but each figure landed on the kitchen table like a cold coin. She sat opposite her daughter-in-law, holding a battered checkered … Read more

The plan my husband and mother-in-law had fell apart after one call from the notary.

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  Irina rearranged the little cups of seedlings on the windowsill. Somewhere deep in the apartment, the muffled voices of her husband and mother-in-law drifted through the rooms. They were talking about something again—without her. Lately, these secret conversations had become the norm. “Ir, is lunch ready?” Sergey appeared in the kitchen doorway, phone in … Read more

— So, that’s how it’s going to be. Your celebration — you treat everyone. If you want to eat, cook it yourself. If you want to pay the courier, sell your watch. And as for me — I’M NOT HERE.

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The office smelled of expensive leather and the air purifier that hummed steadily in the corner. Timur leaned back in his chair, savoring the pleasant weight of his new status. Regional Director of Logistics at a major construction holding company. It sounded solid. He ran his palm over the smooth surface of the bog-oak desktop. … Read more

Does your mom live here now? Great—then I’m moving out!” — the daughter-in-law packed her suitcase after her mother-in-law rearranged all the furniture without asking.

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Oksana looked up from her laptop and froze. In the kitchen doorway stood Tamara Ivanovna with a huge suitcase and a triumphant smile. “Oxanochka, hello, dear! Well, I’m here!” her mother-in-law stepped into the apartment without waiting to be invited and began pulling off her coat. “My Yegorushka asked his mom to come help you. … Read more

My mother-in-law humiliated me in front of the guests, and I cut her allowance in front of everyone.

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  It all started with little things. So quietly you barely noticed—almost “family-like.” “Lena, sunshine, could you help me?” Galina Petrovna always called at the worst possible moment, as if she could sense when I’d just sat down after work. “The utility bill came in, and my pension won’t stretch to the end of the … Read more

— “Your husband can celebrate his birthday without you. You go and meet my daughter,” the mother-in-law declared brazenly.

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— “Your husband can celebrate his birthday without you. You go—go meet my daughter,” my mother-in-law declared brazenly. Victoria slowly lifted her eyes from the colorful gift boxes she had been carefully arranging on the table. In the doorway stood Evelina Markovna—her mother-in-law—wearing an expensive burgundy-wine-colored dress. Gift baskets — “Excuse me, WHAT?” Victoria set … Read more

“I’d like five jars of lecho. And three of adjika. And cucumbers with tomatoes, of course,” — the sister showed up again for preserves.

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— Well, hello there, hard workers! I’ve come for some treats! The bright voice burst into the kitchen through the open window, making Nina flinch. The tongs slipped from her hands and splashed into the pot of boiling water. The scalding droplets burned her wrist, but the pain faded to the background—Svetlana herself was standing … Read more

“We’ll do a DNA test.” She didn’t dare object. “Fine,” she answered lifelessly. “Go ahead.

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Zoya had always felt that her mother didn’t love her. It wasn’t that Yelizaveta Leonidovna ever said it outright or behaved deliberately cold. She never shouted, never reproached her, never said anything openly hurtful. Everything was like in other families, even better: nice clothes, new toys, trips to the sea. She always cooked delicious food, … Read more