Swap apartments temporarily with my daughter! She just had a son!” — the mother-in-law “forgot” that temporarily means forever

Marina was slowly wiping the glass surface of the dining table when she heard the familiar sound of keys in the lock. Ilya had come home from work earlier than usual. She straightened up, fixed her hair, and greeted her husband with a smile. “Hi, dear,” she said, approaching him. “How was your day?” “Fine,” […]

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— Still stuck being a secretary, huh? Couldn’t manage anything better? — my ex smirked, not knowing I was now the wife of his boss.

Anna Sergeyevna always came to work fifteen minutes early. Not out of zeal or a desire to impress—just because it felt right. While other employees were hastily finishing their coffee in the hallway, she was already sorting the mail, preparing documents for signature, and checking the director’s meeting schedule. Her workstation—a small desk outside the […]

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— They came empty-handed — so drink water, — the relatives finally drove the hostess crazy.

Galina Petrovna heard the familiar sound of car doors closing and involuntarily tensed. Friday, half past six in the evening. Like clockwork. She didn’t even approach the window—she already knew what she would see: Nikolai’s blue Logan, from which his whole family was already climbing out, and behind it, Svetlana’s battered Lada with her brood […]

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Rushing home along UDO Street, she gave up her seat on the bus to an elderly woman. But as soon as icy fingers grasped her wrist…

The road home stretched out like an old film reel stuck in a projector—slowly, with crackling sounds, with the feeling that every kilometer demanded something new from her: trembling fingers, pain in her chest, tears she did not allow herself to shed. Svetlana was rushing along UDO Street—a street that led to the past, to […]

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The negotiations with the client ended an hour and a half earlier than planned. It happens — when people immediately understand each other, there’s no need to waste time on idle chatter.

Negotiations with the client ended an hour and a half earlier than expected. That sometimes happens—when people immediately understand each other, there’s no need to waste time on idle chatter. Irina stood in the middle of the parking lot, twirling her car keys in her hands. Where to go? It was too early to go […]

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Nina was dragging herself up the stairs, the keys to their one-room apartment digging into her palm. How tired she was.

— Ninochka, hello,” said the mother-in-law, entering the hallway. “How are you? How’s the renovation going?” “Almost done,” Nina replied, closing the door. The mother-in-law slowly walked around the apartment, peeking into every room, then sat down at the kitchen table. Nina noticed how carefully she was inspecting everything. “Is there any tea?” Valentina Petrovna […]

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— “I’ve already promised Mom that you’ll sign the apartment over to her,” my husband informed me as a done deal.

Yulia looked up from her laptop screen when her phone vibrated. Kirill usually didn’t call from work. — “Yul, I have news,” her husband’s voice sounded tense. “Not very good ones.” — “What happened?” Yulia pushed the reports aside. — “Mom called an hour ago in a panic,” Kirill sighed heavily. “Her landlord decided to […]

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— Stop, my dear! And who told you I was planning to pay your father back? I’m your husband! I thought it was a gift from him to our family!

— Maxim, Dad called today. Kristina said this just as he was lounging back into the soft cushions of their new sofa, scrolling through his phone with a satisfied expression. The warm evening glow from the floor lamp fell across his face, highlighting the smug, well-fed smile of a man who believed he had made […]

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