The Mute Dishwasher Saved the Millionaire’s Wife, Who Lost Her Parents and Voice Because of Him»

ДЕТИ

Tanja, you always scream so loudly!» Marinka burst out laughing, and her friend Valya joined in.

It was painfully offensive. Tanya had been working here for over six months, and her colleagues constantly teased her. Understanding why exactly Marinka and Valya chose her as their target, Tanya, nevertheless, could not respond in kind. Tanya was mute.

She closed the door behind her and isolated herself from the noise coming from the street. There was a quarrel brewing outside: Sasha, the administrator adored by all the female staff, was upset by Marinka’s behavior.

«Do you take some pleasure in tormenting Tanya?» he asked seriously.

Marinka looked at him in surprise.

«Who’s tormenting her? It’s just a joke!»

«Your jokes are strange,» noted Sasha. «It’s like laughing at a child who can’t respond.»

Marinka looked around for support among her colleagues, but everyone averted their eyes. They were all eager to laugh at Tanya before, but now suddenly Marinka was the guilty one.

«If you don’t see it, then yes, you are tormenting her,» Sasha said without a shadow of a doubt. «And we all know why.»

He was aware that Marinka fancied him and even told others they were dating. He was tired of her audacity and decided to put an end to it.

«Really? And why is that?» Marinka smirked mockingly. She guessed what Sasha might say but didn’t want to hear it.

«Do you really want to know? Won’t you be disappointed?» Sasha continued calmly.

Marinka was forced to choose between confidence and fear: if she said she didn’t want to know, she would lose on all fronts and fall in her colleagues’ eyes.

«Speak, since you have something to say. What do you find in that weak fool?» she retorted.

«She is smarter and more worthy than she appears,» Sasha disappointed her. «Unlike you, she doesn’t respond to attacks and looks smarter because of it. Everyone knows you think you’re a beauty queen, but Tanya is clearly better, and everyone understands that.»

«Get glasses, there’s nothing beautiful about her,» Marinka snapped back.

But the fact that the colleagues who had laughed with her were now on Sasha’s side—she couldn’t help but notice. She jumped up and ran out of the restaurant, shouting as she left:

«Screw you all!»

Someone among the colleagues remarked:

«She tried to look cool for you, Sasha, and you just… threw her in the mud.»

«I responded as I should have,» said Sasha. «Tanya can’t answer for herself, so someone needs to stand up for her. We’re not animals to trample the weak. Alright, break’s over, let’s get back to work. Don’t forget, we have a big event tomorrow!»

Colleagues buzzed and returned to work, and the chef, the only person over 50 in this restaurant, stopped Sasha:

«You did a good thing standing up for Tanya, just don’t hurt her with it. You know Marinka, she holds grudges.»

Work continued in full swing.

It seemed that everyone had already forgotten about the incident: the restaurant staff chatted and laughed. By midnight, the hall was fully prepared for tomorrow’s celebration. The next day, the restaurant was rented out for a wedding—after all, the local tycoon was marrying off his daughter.

Tanya stayed late, although she didn’t like staying late, but never refused because she needed money for surgery.

«Tanya, wait, let’s talk,» Marinka’s voice called out.

Tanya stopped, seeing Marinka and two other girls in front of her.

«Well, why don’t you call for help? Oh, right…» Marinka continued sarcastically as Sasha’s figure appeared behind Tanya. He looked sternly at Marinka.

When Tanya and Sasha were outside, he addressed her:

«Tanya, I’m sorry this happened. It’s a pity you can’t speak—then you could have definitely answered them.»

«I can actually speak, just quietly,» Tanya whispered.

Sasha froze, looking at her.

«Don’t think I’m deceiving you,» Tanya continued. «There was a serious accident in my childhood that injured my throat. When I ended up in an orphanage, no one paid attention to my problem. Later, as I grew up, I sought medical help and started treatment. I’ve already had two surgeries. I can now speak a little, but it’s very difficult. I need one more surgery, it’s not urgent and costs money, but I need to gather it.»

«Wow, you look completely different to me now.»

«Please don’t tell anyone. I can speak for no more than five minutes, then I need a long rest.»

«Tanya, what happened then?»

«My parents and I were driving, and a large car crashed into us. My parents died. I survived, and the driver of that car was unharmed—he was a very influential person.»

«It can’t be…»

«It can. I then decided to become a doctor because the ambulance took a very long time. If it had arrived faster… Anyway, I decided to help people. I’m still preparing. I have time. And that man… I learned about him when I grew up. I was nine when it happened, I remembered him and his wife. Later, I found information about the accident. The report said that my father had alcohol in his blood, but he never drank, he had a heart condition.»

As they talked, they arrived at the house.

«We’re here. Thank you, Sasha, I wouldn’t like to conflict with Marinka either.»

«Don’t worry. If you don’t mind, I’ll tell everyone your story, and they’ll leave you alone.»

«Are you crazy? They’ll mock you.»

Sasha smiled:

«Let them laugh if they dare.»

Tanya was even tired of whispering.

«Alright, be silent until tomorrow,» Sasha said, putting his finger to his lips.

Tanya nodded, smiled, and disappeared behind the door.

The restaurant was livelier than ever before.

So many visitors came as never before in one evening. Tanya also came at the start of the celebration. As congratulations and speeches continued, all the staff watched. Tanya glanced at the guests when suddenly her attention froze.

«As a father, I want to gift the newlyweds an apartment,» announced a man with obvious pride. «And I’ll gift a house when they give me grandchildren.»

Tanya turned pale, stepping back. Sasha immediately approached her.

«Tanya, are you alright?» He looked at her worriedly. Tanya silently pointed to the man whose voice she had just heard. Sasha immediately understood. «Is that the one?»

Tanya nodded.

«Honestly, I’m not surprised,» said Sasha. «There are legends about him in the city, and many of them are about his cruelty and the victims of his schemes.»

Just then, Marinka approached.

«Tanya, when you and Sasha are together, do you moan in whispers?» she giggled and smiled, walking away.

The wedding was in full swing. Tanya heard the steady noise of music and fun. At some point, a fuss began, turning into panic. She looked into the hall: the oligarch’s wife lay on the floor. Around her were the bride, groom, and the perpetrator of the commotion. A crowd of people seemed bewildered.

Tanya approached. Someone called for an ambulance, others screamed. The woman’s face turned crimson, then blue from suffocation. Tanya carefully examined the guests, but no one even tried to help. The woman’s eyes rolled back, and she heard the bride’s scream, «Mom!» That scream returned to Tanya as an echo of memories.

She quickly grabbed a bottle of alcohol and a knife, moving toward the woman. The bride froze in place.

«The ambulance will be here in fifteen minutes!» someone shouted.

Tanya shook her head negatively and started her actions. The bride, hugging her father, watched. Tanya acted calmly and confidently, and after a few minutes, the woman breathed, albeit with difficulty.

Afterward, the rescued woman consciously looked around, her gaze stopping on Tanya, who barely perceptibly smiled.

«She saved her life,» someone whispered.

Doctors arrived and took the woman under their care.

Tanya got up and went to the dishwashing area. Soon all colleagues gathered there.

«Tanya, where did you learn that? We thought you wanted to stab her!» someone exclaimed in admiration.

Embarrassedly smiling, Tanya looked at Sasha.

«Oh, what did she do that was so special,» Marinka snorted demonstratively. «Anyone could have done that.»

«Well, why didn’t you go to save her?» someone winked at her.

«I’m a waitress, not a rescuer! And some should wash dishes better, the pile is growing,» Marinka replied, pointing to the dirty dishes.

Unnoticed, a man joined them. It was that very rich man, who had ordered the banquet. «Is it true?» his stern gaze was fixed on Tanya. She remained silent. «I’m asking, is it true? Why are you silent?»

Sasha intervened:

«She can’t speak because of an accident in her childhood.»

The man ran his hand over his face, deep in thought:

«So it was you, in that accident? You recognized us. Why did you help?»

Tanya just shrugged and turned away.

The man, after standing for a minute, left. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

«What was that?» someone said from the crowd. «He didn’t even say ‘thank you.'»

«What accident was that, Tanya?» colleagues asked curiously.

Tanya just pleaded with her eyes at Sasha, who, spreading his arms, started to usher everyone out:

«Alright, enough. The wedding isn’t over, everyone back to their places!»

After the guests dispersed, the manager called Tanya to him.

«Tanya, I have news for you. You’ve been asked to resign,» he said. She looked puzzled and reached for a notebook.

«Why? I really need this job,» Tanya wrote, hoping for an explanation.

«Tanya, understand, my hands are tied. I’m just a subordinate,» he explained sadly.

Tanya cried all the way home. Sasha walked beside her, clenching his teeth in anger.

«Talk about a twist: saved a person from death, and they fire her for it,» he muttered bitterly.

Approaching their yard, they saw two SUVs.

«Look, it’s him with security,» Sasha noted.

Tanya, pursing her lips, headed toward the men. One of them stepped towards her.

«Can we talk?» he offered, casting a glance at Sasha, who shook his head negatively.

«I won’t leave her alone with you,» Sasha said firmly.

The man smiled.

«Alright, you can stay. As you understand, I did exactly what I was supposed to do. But that day, I wasn’t drunk and didn’t crash into your car on purpose—it just happened that way. I couldn’t go to jail then: my daughter was young and business. Your parents couldn’t be brought back… I’ve thought about you often, though I thought if you hadn’t found me, maybe it wasn’t necessary. Thank you for saving my wife. And you were fired so you could focus on your treatment and studies. Don’t worry about money, everything is arranged in your name,» he explained and added after a pause: «My wife and daughter are everything to me. I would never leave them. I apologize for what happened.»

He got into the car, leaving a note in Tanya’s hand.

As the SUVs drove away, Sasha quietly remarked:

«It feels like he had to force himself to say all that.»

Half a year later, the restaurant buzzed with wedding fun. The staff didn’t know until the day of the celebration who was getting married. Learning, some were surprised:

«It can’t be that fool marrying Sasha, and in our restaurant too!»

Marina, slamming the door, went to ask for days off—she didn’t want to serve that wedding. But nearby, approaching the restaurant together with Tanya, was the very woman whose life she had saved. This time Tanya was speaking out loud, and they both seemed happy.