— You just wanted a free vacation at my expense, but I’m not coming to rescue you! — The daughter-in-law taught her husband and mother-in-law a lesson for their greed
Lena was standing by the hallway mirror, fixing her new haircut, when she heard that familiar cough behind her. Sergey appeared in the doorway with that look she instantly recognized — a mix of reproach and barely contained irritation.
“How much did that cost?” he demanded abruptly, nodding toward her hair.
“Good morning to you too, darling,” Lena replied dryly, not turning around. “Three thousand.”
Sergey whistled, as if she’d confessed to stealing money from a church collection box.
“Three thousand for a haircut! Do you have gold in your hair or something? I could’ve trimmed it at home with clippers in five minutes.”
“You could have,” Lena agreed, finally turning to face him. “But the result would have matched.”
“What’s wrong with the result now? Hair is hair. At your age, no haircut will really help anymore.”
The words hung in the air like a slap. Lena felt something tighten inside her. She was thirty-four and still saw herself as an attractive woman. Or, at least, she tried to.
“Alright then,” she said quietly, walking past him into the kitchen.
Over breakfast, Sergey launched into his favorite subject — the family budget. He spread out printouts of her bank statements in front of him, like a detective laying out evidence.
“What’s this?” he jabbed a finger at one line. “’Golden Rose’, seven thousand. What kind of store is that?”
“Shoe store,” Lena answered, stirring her coffee with fatigue.
“Seven thousand for shoes? How many pairs do you have at home, twenty?”
“Fourteen. For all seasons.”
“And how many feet do you have? Two! So two pairs should be enough — one for work, one at home.”
Lena looked at him. Sometimes it seemed like she was staring at a total stranger. Where was the Sergey who three years ago gave her flowers for no reason, took her out to restaurants, and used to say she was beautiful? When did he become this nagging auditor counting her every penny?
“What about this?” he went on. “’Letual’, four thousand. More cosmetics?”
“I need good cosmetics for work.”
“Why? You’re not a model. Clients come to you for consultations, not to admire your looks.”
At that moment, Galina Petrovna, Sergey’s mother, glided into the kitchen. She had been living with them for six months—after her husband died, Sergey insisted she move in. Ever since, Lena had felt like she was walking on eggshells in her own home.
“Good morning,” the mother-in-law said, giving Lena a critical look. “What happened to your hair?”
“Got it cut.”
“Oh, I thought you just hadn’t slept well,” Galina Petrovna replied, sitting next to her son and immediately joining in. “Sergey is right, dear. Why such waste? I always colored my own hair — and men still chased after me.”
Lena remembered pictures of a young Galina Petrovna and held her tongue. There was no point arguing — her mother-in-law always found a way to jab at her.
“Mom’s right,” Sergey chimed in. “We’re living beyond our means. We need to save.”
“Save on what?” Lena couldn’t hold it anymore. “I’m not buying half-million coats or going to salons every weekend. Shoes, a haircut, makeup — those are necessary expenses.”
“Necessary!” Galina Petrovna scoffed. “In my time, women kept men without all that nonsense.”
“In your time, women also made borscht every day,” Lena shot back.
A tense silence settled. Sergey raised his eyebrows — the hint was clear. Galina Petrovna really did expect Lena to cook special meals, do her laundry, and look after her like she was an invalid, despite being perfectly healthy and always energetic when it came to criticizing her daughter-in-law.
“I don’t understand why you’re reacting so aggressively,” Sergey said. “We’re just talking about the family budget.”
“MY budget,” Lena corrected him. “It’s MY salary.”
“Our family, our budget,” he snapped.
After breakfast, Lena locked herself in the bathroom and stared in the mirror for a long time. When they got married, Sergey earned more than her. Over the past two years though, her income grew — she became a lead consultant at a law firm, while he stayed a mid-level manager. The more she earned, the more he controlled her spending. As if trying to keep some power left.
Several days passed in tense silence. Lena worked late, trying to spend as little time at home as possible. At home she faced loaded glances from her mother-in-law and new complaints from her husband.
On Thursday night, as they sat in front of the TV, Lena made up her mind.
“Sergey,” she began cautiously. “Maybe we should travel somewhere, just take a break? It’s been a while since we went anywhere together.”
Sergey glanced up from his phone, scrolling the news.
“Travel? With what money?”
“I got a bonus. We could go to Turkey, a nice hotel. All inclusive.”
“How much will that cost?”
“For two… maybe a hundred to two hundred thousand.”
Sergey whistled again.
“That’s a lot. But the idea’s good. But since you’re suggesting it, you pay.”
Lena felt something break inside. She offered this vacation to reconnect, but again, all he cared about was money.
“Fine,” she said quietly. “I’ll pay.”
“Great! Settled!” Sergey cheered. “Mom!” he yelled towards the kitchen. “We’re going to Turkey!”
Galina Petrovna appeared in the doorway with a towel in her hands… Continued just below in the first comment
Lena stood in front of the hallway mirror, adjusting her new haircut, when she heard a familiar cough behind her. Sergey appeared in the doorway with that unmistakable expression—somewhere between annoyance and barely contained indignation—that Lena could spot instantly.
“How much did that cost?” he asked bluntly, nodding toward her head.
“Good morning to you too, darling,” Lena replied dryly, not turning around. “Three thousand.”
Sergey whistled, as if she had just confessed to stealing from a church donation box.
“Three thousand for a haircut! Do you have gold growing on your head or something? I could have given you a trim at home with the clippers in five minutes.”
“You could have,” Lena agreed, finally turning to face him. “But then you’d get a result to match.”
“What’s wrong with that result? Hair is just hair. At your age, no haircut is really going to change anything.”
His words hung in the air like a whip crack. Lena felt something tighten inside her. She was thirty-four, and still considered herself an attractive woman. Or at least she tried to.
“I see,” she said simply, brushing past him and heading to the kitchen.
Over breakfast, Sergey picked up his favorite topic: the family budget. He spread out printouts of her card statements in front of him, like a detective laying out evidence.
“What’s this?” he said, jabbing his finger at one entry. “’Zolotaya Roza’—seven thousand. What kind of store is that?”
“A shoe store,” Lena replied wearily, stirring her coffee.
“Seven thousand for shoes? How many pairs do you have at home? Twenty?”
“Fourteen. And that’s for every season.”
“And how many feet do you have? Two! So two pairs would be enough—one for work, one for home.”
Lena looked up at him. Sometimes, she felt she was looking at a total stranger. Where was the Sergey who used to bring her flowers for no reason, take her to restaurants, and say she was the most beautiful girl? When did he turn into this nitpicking accountant, counting every ruble she spent?
“And what’s this?” he persisted. “’L’Etoile,’ four thousand. More cosmetics!”
“I need good cosmetics for work.”
“Why? You’re not a model. Clients come to you for advice, not to admire your looks.”
At that moment, Galina Petrovna, Sergey’s mother, drifted into the kitchen. She had been living with them for six months now—after her husband died, Sergey insisted she move in. Ever since, Lena felt like her own apartment had become a minefield.
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“Good morning,” her mother-in-law said through pursed lips, giving Lena a critical once-over. “What happened to your hair?”
“I got it cut.”
“Oh, I thought you just hadn’t slept well.” Galina Petrovna sat beside her son and immediately joined the conversation. “Sergey is right, dear. Why spend so much? I colored my own hair my whole life—never had a problem, and the men still chased after me.”
Lena remembered photos of a young Galina Petrovna and stayed silent. There was no point arguing—her mother-in-law would always find a way to get a jab in.
“Mom’s right,” Sergey chimed in. “We’re living beyond our means. We need to save money.”
“What am I supposed to cut back on?” Lena finally snapped. “It’s not like I’m out buying fur coats for half a million or spending every weekend at the beauty salon. Shoes, haircuts, makeup—these are just basic necessities.”
“Necessities!” Galina Petrovna scoffed. “Back in my day, women didn’t need all that fuss to keep a man’s attention.”
“And in your day, women also made borscht from scratch every single day,” Lena retorted.
A tense silence followed. Sergey raised his eyebrows—the message was received loud and clear. Galina Petrovna really did expect Lena to cook special meals for her, do her laundry, and generally take care of her like she was ill, even though Sergey’s mother was perfectly healthy and seemed to have unlimited energy when it came to criticizing her daughter-in-law.
“I don’t understand why you’re reacting so aggressively,” Sergey said. “We’re just talking about the family budget.”
“My budget,” Lena corrected him. “It’s my salary.”
“Our family, our budget,” he shot back.
After breakfast, Lena locked herself in the bathroom and stared at her own reflection for a long time. When she and Sergey got married, he was making more money than her. But over the past two years, her income had grown—she was now a senior consultant at a law firm, while he was still a middle manager. And the more she earned, the more he tried to control how she spent her money. It felt like he was trying to hold onto power in any way he could.
The next few days were filled with a heavy silence. Lena worked late, avoiding home as much as possible. At home, she faced meaningful looks from her mother-in-law and a steady stream of new complaints from her husband.
On Thursday evening, as they sat in front of the TV, Lena finally made up her mind.
“Seryozha,” she began carefully. “Maybe we should go on a trip together? It’s been ages since we had a vacation just the two of us.”
Sergey looked up from his phone, where he was scrolling through the news.
“A trip? And where are we supposed to get the money for that?”
“I got a bonus at work. We could go to Turkey, stay at a nice hotel. All-inclusive.”
“How much is that going to cost?”
“Well, for two people… probably between a hundred and two hundred thousand.”
Sergey whistled in surprise.
“That’s a lot. But it’s not a bad idea. Except—you’re the one suggesting it, so you should pay for it.”
Lena felt something snap inside her. She wanted this vacation to bring them closer, but once again, all he cared about was the money.
“Fine,” she said quietly. “I’ll pay.”
“Great! It’s settled then!” Sergey cheered up. “Mom!” he called toward the kitchen. “We’re going to Turkey!”
Galina Petrovna appeared in the doorway with a towel in her hands.
“Turkey? That’s wonderful! I’ve always dreamed of seeing the sights there.”
“We’re going,” Lena clarified. “Sergey and I.”
“Oh dear, what about me? You’re just going to leave me here all alone?” Galina Petrovna pulled such a pitiful face that Lena instantly realized—this battle was lost before it even began.
“Mom, come on…” Sergey started, but his mother cut him off.
“Seryozha, I understand—the young ones want some time alone. But I’ve been so lonely since your father passed… And besides, it’ll be much more fun for all three of us!”
Lena watched the scene unfold like a bad play. Galina Petrovna wasn’t actually upset—she was calculating. She knew perfectly well that Lena couldn’t say “no” outright without seeming like a heartless daughter-in-law.
“Of course, Galina Petrovna,” Lena replied. “Let’s all go together, the three of us.”
The next day, Lena stopped by to see her friend Irina, who worked at a travel agency.
“Look,” Irina said as she flipped through catalogs, “here’s a great option. A five-star hotel in Antalya, all-inclusive, pools, entertainment. But it’s pretty pricey—for three, it’ll come to three hundred fifty.”
“Show me something cheaper,” Lena asked.
“Now, this is an interesting option,” Irina pointed at her screen. “A four-star hotel, but great reviews.”
Lena nodded, but deep down, she was already hatching a different plan. And waiting for her at home was an unpleasant conversation.
“Lena,” Sergei said when she came home from work. “Mom and I talked things over…”
“And what did you decide?” she asked, though she already had a feeling she knew.
“Well, you said yourself it’s expensive for three. So Mom and I thought—maybe you could stay home? We need a break, and honestly, we spend a lot on you already. You wouldn’t mind, right?”
Lena slowly took off her coat and hung it up. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff.
“So, I pay for the vacation, and you’re both going without me?”
“We’re just saving money!” Galina Petrovna chimed in. “Instead of three tickets, we’re buying two. And really, darling, it’s better if you relax at home where it’s peaceful. You get tired at work, why exhaust yourself on vacation too…”
“I see,” Lena replied.
That night, Lena couldn’t sleep. She lay next to her snoring husband, thinking about how she’d quietly become the family cash cow. She earned the money—they spent it. She suggested a family trip—they excluded her from it. And somehow, they managed to make it look like they were doing her a favor.
The next morning, Lena went back to Irina.
“I want to change the reservation,” she said.
“Is something wrong with the hotel?”
“The hotel’s great. But switch it to something… simpler. And much cheaper.”
Irina raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“How much simpler?”
“As basic as possible. A hostel—preferably a student one, noisy, no amenities at all. And cancel the transfer—let them find their own way.”
“Lena, are you serious? That’ll be awful.”
“That’s exactly what I need,” Lena replied.
A week later, Sergei and Galina Petrovna were happily packing their suitcases. They were sure they were headed to a luxury hotel and were making plans to lounge by the pool and feast on shrimp.
“Thank you, dear,” Galina Petrovna said. “You’re so kind, so generous. We’ll be sure to bring you back some souvenirs.”
“Yeah,” Sergei nodded. “We’ll relax properly and come back full of energy.”
Lena saw them off at the airport and even waved goodbye. Then she went home and, for the first time in six months, felt free in her own apartment.
The first phone call came a day after they landed.
“Lena!” Sergei shouted over the phone, with a wild commotion in the background. “What the hell did you book for us?!”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” she replied calmly, sipping her coffee in her spotless kitchen.
“This isn’t a hotel! It’s some kind of shack! Students living everywhere, music blasting all night, mold in the shower!”
“And where’s the transfer?” Galina Petrovna’s voice cried from the background. “The taxi driver tricked us and took all our money!”
“That’s odd,” Lena said. “The agency told me it’s a very popular spot among young people.”
“What young people?! I’m forty-three!” Sergey shouted. “Book us a proper hotel!”
“I can’t. The money’s already spent.”
“Then come here yourself! Sort this out in person!”
“I’m not coming,” Lena replied calmly.
“What do you mean you’re not coming?! You started this—you deal with it!”
“You wanted a vacation at my expense, but I’m not coming to rescue you!” Lena said, and hung up the phone.
The phone rang a few more times, but she didn’t answer. Eventually, the calls stopped.
For a week, Lena lived like she was in paradise. She went to the theater, met up with friends, slept in until noon on weekends. The apartment was spotless and quiet; no one criticized her breakfast or tracked her spending.
Sergey and Galina Petrovna returned home right on schedule. They looked exhausted and angry.
“You did it on purpose!” Sergey pounced the moment he stepped through the door. “You sent us there on purpose!”
“Sent you where?” Lena asked innocently.
“To that cursed hostel! We had to find a Russian-speaking guide and pay extra for a normal hotel! We spent a fortune!”
“Oh, I thought you wanted to save money,” Lena replied.
“We ended up spending twice as much!” Galina Petrovna wailed. “This is outrageous!”
“That’s usually what happens when you’re stingy,” Lena commented philosophically.
Sergey looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.
“You’ve changed,” he finally said.
“Yes,” Lena agreed. “I’ve changed.”
“I’m filing for divorce,” he announced.
“Perfect,” she answered. “The papers are on the bedroom table. I’ve already sorted everything out.”
This time, both Sergey and Galina Petrovna were stunned.
“What do you mean you’ve sorted it out?” he asked, confused.
“Just as it sounds. I filed the paperwork and divided the assets. The apartment stays with me—it was bought before the marriage. The car is yours—it’s in your name. We have no shared debt or children, so it’s straightforward.”
“But where am I supposed to live?” For the first time, Galina Petrovna sounded genuinely lost.
“That’s not my concern,” Lena replied. “You have your own apartment.”
“But it’s rented out! There are tenants!”
“Then you’ll have to work something out with them.”
Lena grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Sergey stammered.
“To a friend’s, while you pack your things. I think a week should be enough.”
At the door, she turned back.
“And by the way,” she said, “thank you for the vacation. I had an amazing rest.”
The door closed quietly behind her. For the first time in a long while, Lena smiled.