— Where’s the soup I made yesterday? — Sveta asked indignantly. — I threw it out, — her mother-in-law replied briskly, stirring something in the pan. — It was too watery. I made a new one — richer and thicker. A man needs to be well fed! Sveta and Lesha lived in a small but … Read more
Right after graduation, Liza submitted her university application. She was confident she would get in — her Unified State Exam scores were high, even above the average passing score from last year. The summer turned out to be hot. A friend suggested spending a couple of weeks in Gelendzhik at her aunt’s place. The thought … Read more
Lera locked the car, and she and her husband hurried toward the office entrance. Rain came pouring down from the sky, turning the street into streams of water. Colleagues who arrived a bit later lingered by the parking lot, unwilling to step out into the cold downpour. They glanced helplessly at their watches—the workday was … Read more
— It’s my anniversary! — the mother-in-law reminded. — And that means I’m expecting a gift from you. Why don’t you give me the same wonderful refrigerator, only a little earlier? — But… it costs… quite a bit… — Olga was a bit taken aback by such a direct hint. — Don’t worry about it! … Read more
— Mish, we’ve been living together for three years now—maybe we should get ourselves a kitten? Julia turned to her boyfriend, who was slouched on the sofa, absentmindedly flipping TV channels with a blank expression. He turned to her and frowned. — What else are you dreaming up? Shall we get a piglet next? And … Read more
— You’ll all be cleaning staff! Just know this — I’ll fire you to hell!” Vladimir barked, slamming the door to his office loudly. “Those freeloaders have really gotten cheeky,” he muttered to himself. “They don’t want to work but expect to get paid! Meanwhile, the company is on the edge, losing money!” Deep down, … Read more
“This can’t be…” Katya whispered, horrified as she looked at the slightly open bedroom door. She didn’t see her husband, but those unfamiliar eyes mockingly staring right at her — she would never forget them. Shock. Stupor. Complete confusion about what to do and refusal to accept the reality of what had just happened. She … Read more
My name is Svetlana, but everyone just calls me Sveta. I am twenty-six years old. And even now, despite the years, I cannot forgive my mother. Not because she was cruel or indifferent—quite the opposite. She did what she believed was right, protecting me and our family. But it was her choice that left a … Read more
“Hi, dear, tired today?” asked Mikhail, helping his wife take off her coat and boots. “A little,” Olga replied. “And my head feels kind of heavy today. I don’t know if I’m getting sick or what…” “We should take your temperature,” her husband fussed. “You lie down for now, and I’ll bring the thermometer. I’ve … Read more
“Listen, son-in-law, no beating around the bush,” said my father-in-law, placing a thick stack of bills on the table. He looked me straight in the eye, as if appraising not a person, but a product. “Here is one million rubles. Divorce Alena and disappear from our lives. Forever.” I silently looked back and forth between … Read more