“My ex said, ‘We’ve got nowhere to live with my new wife, let us stay at your summer house.’ I let them in… then I called the police and filed a report for breaking and entering.”

by

“— Found out? — the voice on the phone was sickeningly familiar. Soft, insinuating, the very one that once promised me forever. I stayed silent, staring at the frost patterns on the windowpane. A call from my ex-husband, Dmitry, after almost two years of near-forgetting — nothing good could come of it. It was always … Read more

“Katya, has Sasha told you yet?” the mother-in-law rattled off. “Listen! There will be forty people. So we’ll start cooking at night. I’ll come ahead of time, at six in the evening the day before.”

by

 — Katya, has Sasha told you yet? — the mother-in-law rattled off. — Look! There’ll be forty people. So we’ll start cooking at night. I’ll come early, at six in the evening the day before. — What? At night? — the daughter-in-law smirked. — No, I didn’t sign up for that. — Oh, hold on. … Read more

“You’re fired! Get out of this company, you talentless fool!” Alla Viktorovna spat the words with malicious delight, shoving her daughter-in-law toward the office door.

by

Marina burst into the apartment, kicked her shoes into a corner, and flopped onto the sofa without bothering to take off her jacket. “Oh God, I nearly died laughing in that meeting!” she gasped. “Can you imagine? They accused you of embezzlement right in front of the whole department! You — a seasoned accountant, audited … Read more

“Mom, did you forget what day it is today?” Tears welled up in Andrey’s eyes, but he held them back. After all, he had just turned twelve. At that age, a boy felt ashamed to cry like a girl.

by

“Mom, did you forget what day it is today?” Tears welled up in Andrei’s eyes, but he held them back. After all, he had just turned twelve. At that age, a boy was ashamed to cry like a little girl. “Wednesday. Why? Do we have a doctor’s appointment or something?” Anzhelika tore her eyes away … Read more

The young woman, carrying twins she had not yet learned to accept, was on her way to end their lives. But fate had other plans. On the road, she encountered an old woman who didn’t even have enough money for a train ticket.

by

Svetlana felt like the happiest woman alive. In just a single year, her world had transformed beyond recognition. Only twelve months earlier, she had lived under the same roof as her aunt, who treated her less like a niece and more like a servant. The woman never lifted a finger around the house or garden—she … Read more

“Your crazy wife nearly pushed me down the stairs today! Get home right now and deal with her! Avenge your mommy!”

by

“You finally came? I thought I wouldn’t live to see it.” Andrei stepped over the threshold of his mother’s apartment, shaking off the weight of a long workday. The air was familiar, dense, heavy with the smells of valocordin and fried onions. All he wanted was to collapse into the old armchair, drink tea, and … Read more

“You don’t do anything for our family—you’re always running to your mother, and now you’re planning to transfer your entire salary to her? Maybe you should just move in with her for good?”

by

“Starting next month, my entire salary will go to my mom. She needs it more.” The words fell into the kitchen silence as casually as crumbs from the table. Stas didn’t even think it necessary to lift his gaze from his phone screen, which cast a cold bluish light across his serene face. He simply … Read more

Kisul, did he forget to tell you? This is my husband’s premarital apartment” — the wife’s husband’s mistress didn’t expect a catch

by

Lera turned off her phone and leaned back in the armchair in her friend’s living room. Outside, the July sun blazed, but inside something was slowly tearing apart. I don’t know how else to explain this feeling… It was as if she had been living with a stranger all these months. Artyom changed so gradually … Read more

“The wealthy mother-in-law bribed the driver of the wedding procession, and he took the bride to a swamp. She didn’t yet know that retribution awaited ahead.”

by

The wedding procession sped through the city, the driver turned on lively music and honked non-stop. The bride was all in anticipation, constantly adjusting her veil and fiddling with her wedding bouquet. She was charming: light makeup, blonde curls styled into a beautiful hairdo, the veil adding a touch of mystery. And a happy smile … Read more

Mom told your parents not to come anymore, she doesn’t like them,” — but the husband and mother-in-law got an unexpected surprise

by

The wedding was modest but joyful. Alina, in a white dress bought on sale, radiated happiness, and Dima couldn’t take his eyes off her. Alina’s parents couldn’t come — her father was in the hospital after surgery, and her mother didn’t want to leave him alone. But Dima’s mother, Valentina Petrovna, made a great effort: … Read more