A week alone would make her compliant, like silk. But when he saw what had happened during that time, he froze just stepping over the threshold.

Nika hadn’t been herself lately. Serious cracks had appeared in her relationship with her husband, and she didn’t know how to handle this painful situation. It all started with small things — as it usually does. After work, Tolya began to notice her with venomous remarks. His jokes were full of anger, every word hurt … Read more

— Did you see the suitcases by the entrance? Those belong to your family. If you have any objections, I packed yours too, — the wife greeted her husband with an ultimatum.

Elena stood by the window, watching as Mikhail opened the taxi door and helped unload the suitcases. His sister Inna was the first to get out of the car, looking around like someone appraising real estate. Behind her came her husband Viktor and their teenage son Artyom. The traditional annual visit had begun. “Well, we’ve … Read more

— What’s this? — Ira was sorting through documents; she needed her husband’s passport, which she was looking for in his bag. But the passport “caught” something else too.

— What’s this? — Ira was sorting through some documents; she needed her husband’s passport, which she was searching for in his bag. But the passport “caught” something else as well. — I thought you wouldn’t find this… — muttered Andrey, blushing. That morning, Irina woke up alone. Andrey had left early — the usual … Read more

Set the table and clean up after us. I don’t boss around in someone else’s kitchen,” said the cheeky sister-in-law, but she got what she deserved.

Marish, how good it is that you’re already on vacation. There’s something I need to tell you… Her husband hesitated slightly. He always acted like this when he wanted to ask his wife for something. He knew her difficult character well. So he didn’t always have the courage to explain the whole request right away. … Read more

“Why did you change the locks?” — the father-in-law snapped. “Have you forgotten who did the repairs in the apartment? Now all of this is your property?”

“Do you even see yourself from the outside?” Oleg’s voice cracked, but it wasn’t anger — it was hurt, almost like a complaint. “You stand there, silent. Can’t squeeze out a word. So I’m supposed to be to blame for everything?” Anna stood by the window, her hands clenched tightly in the pockets of an … Read more

— “You are obliged to support my mother until the end of her life,” — ordered the husband, unaware that his mother had long ago decided to deprive him of the inheritance.

Lena carefully moved the tiny vase with a sprig of gypsophila to the center of the table so that nothing would block her view of her mother-in-law’s face. The café was quiet, almost like a temple, and even the sounds were muffled — as if it was forbidden to speak loudly or express emotions too … Read more

Love at First Sight — Maxim, look at that beautiful girl!

— Maxim, look what a beautiful girl! — Hello, I’m Natasha. What’s your name? The blue-eyed little girl with funny curls looked straight at the young twenty-five-year-old man. — I’m Nikolai, and this is my son Maxim. — Nikolai, do you have a wife? Nikolai’s wife, overhearing this, burst out laughing. Coming from a five-year-old … Read more

— They will move in with me, and you’ll take their apartment. — The daughter-in-law accidentally overheard how the mother-in-law was planning to give her apartment to her daughter

“Oh, Yanochka, how hard it is for me to be alone,” Olga Nikolaevna lamented, pouring tea for her daughter-in-law. “My heart is acting up, my blood pressure is all over the place. Yesterday it hit me so badly, I thought—this is it, the end for me.” Yana silently nodded, trying not to show irritation. It … Read more