Oh, I’m really not feeling well today… and there’s dust in the apartment again, it’s awful. You’re not busy tomorrow, are you? You’ll come and help me clean up a bit, won’t you?

“Oh, I’m really not feeling well today… and the apartment is all dusty again, it’s awful. You’re not busy tomorrow, are you? You’ll come and help me tidy up a bit, right?” “Sorry, but tomorrow is my birthday…” “But you’re free in the morning! Come to me around seven, you’ll be done by eleven at […]

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Where do you suddenly get off throwing your weight around here, Dima? You asked me to let you stay until you sorted out your job and housing! And if I feel like it, my dad will come over and throw you out of here!

Where do you think you’re going? I told you, you’re staying home.” Dima stepped out of the kitchen into the narrow hallway and, getting two steps ahead of Lera, planted his broad palm against the doorjamb. His body completely blocked the way out. In the dim light of the single bulb his figure looked massive, […]

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Some homemaker you are,” the mother-in-law sighed loudly. “When Dima was sick, everything in my place was sparkling. Have you even picked up a rag at all?

And you still call yourself a homemaker,’” the mother-in-law sighed loudly. “When Dima was sick, everything in my place sparkled. Have you even picked up a rag once?” “Now is not the time for cleaning, the child’s temperature is almost forty.” “A fever is not the end of the world,” retorted Antonina Andreyevna. “Besides, you […]

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They’re not my children. If you want to help your sister, do it not at my expense. If you want to babysit your nephews, go to your sister’s place and babysit there

Just for a couple of hours, Dan, really!” Marina’s voice over the phone sounded both pleading and demanding. “It’s a rush job, you understand. And I really need the money right now…” Polina froze with her mug of coffee in her hands. The words printed on the porcelain — “My home is my castle” — […]

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They’re not my children. If you want to help your sister, do it not at my expense. If you want to babysit your nephews, go to your sister’s place and babysit there.

Just for a couple of hours, Dan, really!” Marina’s voice over the phone sounded both pleading and demanding. “It’s a rush job, you understand. And I really need the money right now…” Polina froze with her mug of coffee in her hands. The words printed on the porcelain — “My home is my castle” — […]

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I don’t get it! Why on earth should your sister and your mother be living in our bedroom while you and I sleep on the sofa in the living room? What kind of reshuffling of sleeping places is this supposed to be?

“Ilya’s mom and Lenka are coming on Friday. I’ve already bought their tickets,” Igor mentioned offhandedly, without taking his eyes off his phone as he lazily scrolled some feed. He was sitting at the kitchen table in a relaxed pose, one of those evenings when the world feels simple and predictable. Veronika, who was wiping […]

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I didn’t choose you for passion. I needed a woman who would be normal. Home, order, children. No drama. You were perfect for that—quiet, compliant.

“I didn’t choose you for passion. I needed a woman who would be normal. Home, order, children. No whims. You were a perfect fit—quiet, compliant. A nanny, free of charge and enthusiastic. And women for love—they’re different. They know how to live beautifully, don’t dump their problems on you, and look… well, definitely not like […]

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Have you come to scold me, mother-in-law? Wasted effort. Your son is a traitor and a cheat, and this apartment is my legal property and mine alone.

“Are you kidding me or what?” Sasha’s voice rang like a tight string. “I came home and you didn’t even make anything? Nothing, Katya!” Katya stood by the window, watching how the drizzle smeared the lights in the courtyard. Her fingers still smelled of medicine and adhesive bandages — during her shift at the infirmary […]

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