— Have you completely lost your mind demanding money from me for this? — shrieked the mother-in-law and lunged at her daughter-in-law with fists but tripped and smashed her forehead.

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Larisa stepped across the threshold of the apartment on Mayakovskogo Street for the first time—not as a guest, but as a daughter-in-law. The suitcase in her hand felt heavier than usual—not because of the belongings inside, but because of the weight of expectations. She had dreamed of this moment during three years of relationship with … Read more

A young orderly was sent to play the role of a dying grandmother’s grandson. He saw a photo of his mother among her pictures.

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Dima had dreamed of becoming a doctor for as long as he could remember. But life seemed determined to throw obstacles in his way. First, his father died unexpectedly — a loss that knocked the solid ground out from under his feet. Then his mother fell ill: nerves and the constant struggle of working two … Read more

Anna froze in the doorway, clutching her suitcase. The hallway smelled of coffee and… someone else’s perfume.

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Anna froze on the threshold, clutching the suitcase. The hallway smelled of coffee and… someone else’s perfume. Men’s slippers stood on the floor—not Sergey’s. Plaid ones, with pompoms. His style was minimalist: black, no patterns. She shifted her gaze to the coat rack. Next to his coat hung an olive-green down jacket—they didn’t have one … Read more

— We’ll sell their apartment, get ourselves a fancy place, and give them a room in a dorm! — the mother-in-law didn’t know the recorder was on.

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— Dima, look what I have on my phone, — Lena held out her smartphone to her husband, frowning. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, lighting up their cozy living room. Dima looked up from his laptop, lazily glancing at the screen filled with some unknown audio files. — Some unnamed recordings. Weird, — he shrugged. … Read more

The surgeon was preparing for an operation — and suddenly recognized in the patient… his own father, who had disappeared 20 years ago!

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Young and talented surgeon Ivan Sergeyevich Murashin, who had already established himself as one of the most promising specialists in his clinic, had long been accustomed to the instability and unpredictability of his work schedule. For him, night calls had become almost a second name — they meant one thing: he was being called back … Read more

— You’re fired! Get out of the company, you talentless fool! — the mother-in-law threw at her with malicious delight, pushing her daughter-in-law out of the office door.

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“Oh, damn, I nearly shit myself laughing at that meeting!” Marina threw her shoes into the corner and collapsed onto the sofa without even bothering to take off her jacket. “Can you imagine? They were accusing you right in front of the whole department of embezzlement! And you — damn it — an experienced accountant, … Read more

— Good thing you came! I have no money to pay for the apartment, and the groceries have run out. (The crafty grandmother taught me how to fend off unwanted guests)

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Verochka, open up, it’s family!” — the girl immediately recognized the voices of her relatives. “Aunt Zina, what are you doing here?” “We came to work. You know how things are getting worse and worse in our backwater. So Petya and I decided to go to Moscow to earn money and help my daughter.” “And … Read more

A widowed woman, crushed by grief, took in a stranger with a baby, and only after some time discovered who the child’s father was.

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Elizaveta Andreevna was walking down a deserted street toward the train station, clutching her bag tightly to her chest. It was early morning — the city was just waking up, but to her, everything around seemed frozen, as if submerged in aquarium water. Rare passersby, rare cars, even the pigeons on the sidewalk — all … Read more

The cleaner’s daughter came to the bank for an inheritance… The financier laughed, but when he opened the safety deposit box, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

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When she entered the central bank, no one paid any attention to her. Among the crowd of business people in strict suits, carrying briefcases, important documents, and confident looks, the girl in a cheap dress and worn shoes looked out of place — like a shadow accidentally wandering into the world of light. The security … Read more