Olga was slowly stirring the buckwheat on the stove when the front door slammed so hard the glass in the display cabinets rattled. The September morning had only just begun, but her husband had already dashed off somewhere and come back in a near-frenzy. “Wife, have you lost it? Why doesn’t your card work?! I … Read more
“She’s My Mom.” The chandeliers threw constellations across the marble, a galaxy stitched together by money. Richard Caldwell—real-estate emperor, widower, and man who solved problems with wire transfers—had turned his ballroom into a catwalk. Twelve models flown in from Paris, Milan, New York stood like jeweled chess pieces, gowns whispering when they breathed. It was, … Read more
— Oh, it’s so nice here! So spacious! — Tamara Pavlovna’s voice rolled through the hallway like thunder out of a clear sky. — Not like my little den. Lord, her again. Marina froze with a rag in her hand. The kitchen cabinet already shone, but she kept scrubbing—maybe if she didn’t react, her … Read more
— And what is this? Igor carelessly tossed a pitiful, crumpled scrap of paper onto the kitchen table in front of Sveta. A receipt from a cosmetics store. He held it between two fingers, as if he were disgusted to touch the evidence of a monstrous crime. His voice was calm, even tired, which infuriated … Read more
The Fiancé, the Keys, and the Sister-in-Law: Unexpected Decisions in Love — Who are you? — a low male voice sounded unexpectedly from the bedroom as Anastasia flung open the door to her apartment. — That’s more my question, — she replied coolly. — What are you doing in my bedroom? Advertisements A … Read more
— “Are you trying to give Mom a heart attack on purpose?” Nikolai flared up, tossing the TV remote onto the table like it was a grenade. — “Don’t be dramatic,” Elena replied wearily, not pausing from washing the dishes. “Let her at least stop rummaging through my cupboards first.” — “She wants what’s best … Read more
“Katya, where is my blue tie?” Dmitry shouted from the bedroom. Ekaterina was standing in the kitchen, stirring oatmeal. Seven years of marriage, and every morning felt like Groundhog Day. He rushed off to the office chasing success and money, while she stayed between the stove and the washing machine. “In the closet on … Read more
Lyuba closed the door and leaned her back against it. The apartment greeted her with its familiar quiet and the scent of fresh renovations. Her parents had done their best—the two-room place in a modern neighborhood was any graduate’s dream. “Finally home,” Lyuba whispered, kicking off her shoes in the hallway. The doorbell rang unexpectedly. … Read more
Artyom, my husband, warned me almost a month in advance about the upcoming anniversary of his most respected colleague. The celebration was scheduled for Saturday, in the luxurious banquet hall of “Eden,” the most pretentious restaurant in the city. For the world of big finance and champagne toasts, it was just another event, but for … Read more
Andrei set the last box of dishes on the kitchen table and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The move was finished—at last he and Lyuda were the full-fledged owners of their own country house. Two years of construction, endless weekend trips out to the plot, arguments with contractors, choosing materials, sleepless nights over the … Read more