The Earrings!” the mother-in-law snapped. “The ones I gave you for the wedding. Take them off. Right now.” “Lyudmila Borisovna, I… I don’t understand,” Kristina began. “Why are you—” “Just take them off,” the woman cut her short. “They’re my earrings. I changed my mind about giving them to you. And I want them back.” … Read more
Nadya was wiping her hands on her apron when the doorbell rang. The third time that day. First the mailman, then some electrician who’d gotten lost. “Misha, the door!” she shouted toward the living room. No answer. He’d cranked the TV up again—ever since retirement, had he gone completely deaf or what? Nadya walked to … Read more
“Who the hell are you?” Alla stared, bewildered, at the striking young blonde. The blonde was wearing Alla’s favorite white robe. “Why the hell are you wearing my robe? Who are you, anyway? What are you doing in my house?” Alla clenched her handbag and glared at the woman with hatred. It was finally sinking … Read more
When jokes turn into weapons and laughter becomes a shield, a woman begins to understand the true cost of her marriage. Sometimes the awakening comes through pain. Chapter 1. The Anniversary The cake with fifty candles shimmered in the dim light of the restaurant hall, and I felt something inside me tighten into a … Read more
“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
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
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
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
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—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