A call from my mother caught me while I was working on reports at the office. She never called during work hours—she knew I was busy. Her voice sounded uncertain, as if she herself didn’t quite know what to ask. “Anyuta, I have a delicate matter to discuss with you…” I put down my pen … Read more
In the very heart of a cozy, warm restaurant, decorated with the soft glow of candles and the aroma of fresh pastries, a meeting full of unexpected turns took place. That evening, Alina, a beautiful, confident woman and owner of a chain of upscale restaurants, was sitting at one of the tables, enjoying the moment. … Read more
A Life Devoted to Saving Others: The Journey of a Surgeon Whose Heart Was Stronger Than Betrayal From childhood, fate led Alexander along a path paved with white coats, sterile operating rooms, and heavy decisions on which lives depended. He did not just become a surgeon — he became a legend in his field. Dozens, … Read more
Larisa was sitting in the kitchen as usual—in a tank top, with stretched-out knees on her pants, staring at her phone. She wasn’t scrolling or zoning out, just looking at it like it was an icon. There was a zero blinking, then a three, then a bunch more zeros… three million. Real money. In her … Read more
Nadya did not know what it was like to feel the warm touch of a mother’s hand, to hear her father’s laughter, to see eyes reflecting love. Her childhood did not begin with a lullaby, but with the cold walls of an orphanage, where every day was like the one before — monotonous, devoid of … Read more
Gennady was sitting at his desk, sorting through reports on quarterly results. The numbers demanded attention, but his concentration kept slipping away—there was too much piled up at work. He picked up the next folder when Veronika entered the room. “Gena, can I have a minute?” she asked, stopping at the doorway. “Of course,” he … Read more
Ah, you insolent brat!” Irina Viktorovna shouted loudly and fiercely, frowning angrily. Her hand swiftly lashed out at Natasha’s head, and a sharp slap rang out across the table like a gunshot. Taken by surprise, Natasha flinched and dropped her spoon onto the plate. A wave of bitterness and anger instantly overwhelmed her — this … Read more
— There’s dust on the shelves again. — Valentina Petrovna ran her finger over the dresser and grimaced with disgust. I stood frozen by the sink, towel in hand. This was already the third day in a row she had burst into our home without warning, as if inspecting a candidate for the perfect daughter-in-law, … Read more
Olya watched with visible pleasure as his self-confidence evaporated. It seemed that during the time they had been talking, his face had gone through the entire spectrum of human emotions — from superiority to obsequiousness. How wrong she had been about him, how petty and insignificant he turned out to be, as soon as the … Read more
Victoria stood by the kitchen window, watching the neighbor children playing in the yard. Sunlight fell onto the wooden countertop where samples of wedding invitations lay. In two months, her wedding with Kirill was scheduled, and each day brought new concerns. The three-room apartment on the fifth floor of a panel building had been her … Read more