I was reaching for the plates on the shelf for the guests when I heard a snippet of conversation in the hallway. Nina, my cousin, was whispering to Artem, but clearly enough:
«She works at the bank, she gets bonuses, premiums… They say Marina has already paid for everything. Can you imagine what the party will be like?»
Artem yawned and snorted:
«Where else is she supposed to spend her money if she lives alone? Let her splurge. We want to have fun too.»
They didn’t even notice my presence—they were sure they were out of earshot. But I heard every word. Now it was clear: they came not just for tea. Their goal was obvious—to make me finance grandma’s anniversary at an expensive restaurant. They had decided beforehand that I had «already organized everything» and even made a down payment.
Holding back my emotions, I invited everyone to the living room and set the plates with treats in front of them. Aunt Natasha, always known for her directness, glanced around my interior and said with slight irony:
«Marinka, how cozy you have it! You can tell you don’t skimp on your home. By the way, we thought… Aren’t you the most suitable candidate to take on the organization of grandma’s anniversary?»
Her voice was soft, but each word carried a hidden taunt. Uncle Yura, usually more straightforward, added:
«Who if not you? You’ve almost paid off your mortgage, work is going well. Grandma deserves a proper celebration, and she herself doesn’t want to strain herself—after all, she’s over eighty.»
I inwardly smirked. In fact, my mortgage was far from paid off, and I had to literally beg for bonuses at work. But that didn’t matter to them—in their eyes, I always remain a source of endless funds.
Our family gathers once a year at Grandma Antonina’s, who lives in a spacious «Stalin-era building.» All the celebrations used to be at her place. But now, grandma declared she’s no longer ready to host large companies. Aunt Natasha and Uncle Yura, who were over fifty, immediately exchanged glances: they clearly did not plan to organize the party themselves. Their children, Nina and Artem, also had no desire to pay or spend time. In the end, the choice fell on me—the «well-off» granddaughter who, in their opinion, is unencumbered (childless, living alone) and therefore free from other expenses.
These relatives had long become real exploiters. Sometimes they’d ask for money «until payday,» which they never returned, or take a new blender under a plausible pretext, only to return it broken. I always gave in, and they, apparently, decided that I could afford everything.
This time, they came as a whole delegation: Nina, Artem, Aunt Natasha, Uncle Yura, and a couple of distant relatives. Sitting at my table, they began showing pictures of luxurious restaurants, discussing the menu and prices.
«Marina, look, a buffet table from the chef!» Nina, a woman in her thirties with impeccable makeup and the latest iPhone model, commented excitedly. «Imagine the content we could make for social networks? We’ll all look beautiful, we’ll put grandma in the center…»
I interrupted her:
«Wait a minute. Who will be paying? These are substantial amounts.»
Uncle Yura instantly put on a benevolent smile:
«We’re family! Everyone knows you’re not stingy. Plus, you’re so practical: you find good deals, know where to save. Just take care of it, and we’ll support you morally.»
Remembering how these same people ignored my requests for help when I scrimped and saved for the first deposit on my apartment, I sighed deeply. No one even offered to support me with words then. And now they demanded a «fancier» restaurant.
Aunt Natasha made a dramatic pause:
«Marinka, don’t you feel sorry for grandma? It might be one of the last family celebrations…»
I bit my tongue. Of course, grandma deserves a nice celebration. But why should I bear all the financial burden? Especially when I know that afterward, they’ll gossip behind my back: «Marina could have spent more…»
«Let’s do this,» I proposed calmly. «I’m ready to cover part of the expenses. But you should also contribute. Proportionally, as much as you can. So that I’m not financing everything alone.»
The room went silent. Nina was the first to break the silence:
«Well… All my funds are tied up in a vacation. I’ve been dreaming about the sea for a long time.»
Artem shrugged:
«My car needs repairs. I don’t have spare money.»
Uncle Yura muttered:
«We have a loan with your aunt… Times are tough now. It would have been much easier if you had paid for everything upfront.»
As usual. They were sure I was just «bargaining,» although the issue was fundamentally important. I stood up, pretended I wanted to pour more tea, and quietly said:
«Alright. I’ll figure something out. Of course, we will organize a top-level celebration for grandma.»
These words delighted Aunt Natasha, who immediately applauded:
«Smart girl! So we can rely on you.»
I turned my back to her, hiding a smile: «Rely? We’ll see how you understand that.» I was well aware: if I went along with them, they would only be further convinced that they could use me even more. Therefore, when the relatives left my house, I called my old friend Oleg, a manager at a famous restaurant.
«Oleg,» I began, «I need your help. Prepare for a family comedy with an unexpected finale.»
Oleg laughed:
«Understood. It will be a grand celebration with an interesting twist.»
We discussed all the details. I booked the hall and made a down payment I could afford without damaging my budget. Meanwhile, I asked Oleg to accommodate all the «sophisticated» requests of my relatives: expensive champagne, exclusive appetizers, spectacular dish presentation. They love luxury, let them get it in full.
The day of the anniversary arrived. The relatives, like peacocks, arrived at the restaurant in their best outfits. Grandma Antonina, elegant and a bit nervous, brought her old friend, whom no one knew about in advance. But who would deny her such a small pleasure?
Everyone was sure everything had been paid for. Someone even whispered to me:
«Marina, as always, at her best! Apparently, she really invested from the heart.»
Polite waiters greeted us, led us to a private hall. The tables were loaded with appetizers, floral compositions decorated every corner, and live music created a festive atmosphere. Nina, in a sparkling dress, immediately took out her phone and started filming stories.
«Girls, look at this splendor! It’s all for our granny!»
Aunt Natasha literally glowed with pride, imagining herself the heroine of this story, which she would tell her friends. Uncle Yura, meanwhile, approached a bottle of expensive champagne and asked:
«Can we take a couple of bottles to our table?»
«Of course,» I replied with a smile. «Just don’t forget to pay afterward.»
«What?» he froze, surprised. «But isn’t it included?»
«Don’t worry, Yura,» Aunt Natasha reassured him. «Marina, of course, took care of everything. Or she has a corporate discount. We know how she organizes everything.»
I just shrugged, keeping a mysterious expression on my face:
«Don’t worry, we’ll sort everything out after the evening.»
The relatives continued to enjoy themselves, savoring every moment. Photos flew into social networks, glasses clinked, loud toasts were made. Everyone was sure their beloved «sponsor» had taken care of everything again.
When the main course was served, and some had already moved on to strong alcohol, I noticed how Nina quietly talked with Artem. He, frowning, began to study the menu. It seemed they started to suspect that the evening might turn into an unpleasant surprise.
Thunder struck when, after the cake, Oleg entered the hall in a flawless suit. Approaching our table, he loudly announced:
«Dear guests, I hope you enjoyed our service! Now we will prepare the final bill. Payment is possible in cash or by credit card.»
Nina almost dropped her phone. Artem spilled a drop of wine on the tablecloth. Aunt Natasha lost her smile, and Uncle Yura lowered his eyes.
«Wait,» the latter protested. «Didn’t Marina sort everything out in advance?»
Oleg courteously nodded in my direction:
«Marina made a deposit for reserving the hall. The rest—based on the number of guests and ordered dishes.»
Aunt Natasha tried to save face:
«But Marinka, you said you’d take care of everything…»
«I did,» I calmly replied. «I provided us a great place and service. But remember, I suggested splitting the costs? You then stated that you had no money. If you still don’t have it now, you’ll have to find a way to pay.»
Uncle Yura couldn’t stand it:
«How could this be?! You tricked us! We were counting on you!»
«On me?» I asked back. «And I was counting on your honesty. But every time it came to joint expenses, you found thousands of reasons why exactly you couldn’t contribute anything. Just like before, when you borrowed money ‘until payday’ and never returned it.»
Nina blushed and tried to defend herself:
«Come on, Marin, you have a good salary. Don’t be so stingy. It’s grandma’s anniversary after all!»
I raised an eyebrow:
«Stingy? Funny. How do you call those who constantly take money but never return it? Or those who use someone else’s things and then return them broken?»
Artem began to frantically calculate how much they would have to pay for the chosen dishes. His face turned grim. Aunt Natasha covered her mouth with a napkin, pretending to be suddenly overwhelmed by the exquisite dish, although she was clearly looking for a way out.
«Maybe,» she said in a thin voice, «we can find some compromise? For example, split the amount among everyone?»
«Of course,» I agreed. «That’s exactly what I proposed from the start. Everyone pays for what they ordered. Just now, you can’t pretend that I’m supposed to take care of everything.»
Oleg, standing nearby, added:
«By the way, the final amount may increase if someone wants to extend the evening or order additional drinks. So I advise you to think ahead.»
Aunt Natasha made a pitiful face, and Artem muttered something indistinct. But it was too late—their game was over. Now they had to face a reality where not everything could be dumped on someone else.
«Marina, but we’re family, you can’t act like this…» Aunt Natasha tried to interject in a soft, almost plaintive tone.
«I can, if the family forgets about respecting my interests,» I replied calmly. «Or do you really think I’m your personal wallet?»
The waiters then brought the folder with the bill and carefully placed it on the table. All eyes immediately focused on it, as if it were a document ready to explode our already tense atmosphere. I slowly picked up the folder:
«So, the balance after my deposit is a substantial amount. But there are many guests here, so let’s divide the expenses. Grandma and her friend—that’s my gift, the rest we distribute among everyone.»
Nina gasped, her brightly painted lips contorted into a grimace, more like a snarl. Artem nervously crumpled a napkin, losing all his usual confidence. Uncle Yura, whose haughty tone had evaporated like smoke, began to bargain:
«Listen, Marinka, you know I have a limit on my card. Maybe you can take at least part of it, and I’ll pay you back later?»
I smirked:
«Pay back? Like last time, when you ‘borrowed for a week,’ and the debt hung for a year and a half? Thanks, but no.»
Aunt Natasha tried to take control:
«We can… somehow later…»
«‘Somehow’ no longer works,» I interrupted decisively. «You chose the restaurant, you ordered expensive dishes. Now pay for your decisions.»
The room fell silent, disturbed only by sounds from the next room: dishes clinked, and tables rustled. The relatives froze, as if caught off guard. Someone from the distant relatives stepped aside, hurriedly checking their phone or rummaging in their wallet. Mixed emotions could be read on their faces: from surprise to irritation.
At that moment, Grandma Antonina, who had been watching the events with silent sadness, decided to intervene. She gently coughed, drawing attention:
«Kids, don’t argue… Marinka, thank you for such an evening. And you, don’t be mad at her. She’s a good person, and if you wanted a celebration, be kind enough to pay for it.»
Her voice carried fatigue, as if she had long known where all this might lead, but preferred not to interfere. I leaned over to her and lightly touched her hand:
«Grandma, don’t worry. This celebration was made for you. It’s a pity it turned out this way, but sometimes you need to protect yourself, even from close ones.»
Grandma nodded, and understanding sparkled in her eyes. Perhaps she always suspected how they used me, but now the situation had become too obvious.
The relatives finally started to act: someone repeatedly tapped their card on the terminal, someone ran out to the ATM for cash. Nina’s usually photogenic face twisted in anger—she clearly didn’t plan to post stories about how much fun she had, but instead, likely imagined how she would tell everyone about this «shameful evening.»
When the last payment was made, and the waiters thanked us for the visit, I felt an incredible lightness. As if a huge stone that had been pressing on my shoulders for years had finally disappeared. Yes, family unity did not happen this evening, but I clearly defined the boundaries.
The relatives silently dispersed: Aunt Natasha was the first to dash out of the hall, barely holding back tears, and disappeared into a taxi. Uncle Yura walked, frowning, muttering something to himself about «betrayal.» Artem, usually so imperturbable, was now literally burning with anger but preferred to remain silent. Nina, catching up with them, continued to hiss:
«How could she do this to us? It’s shameful!»
I remained alone on the restaurant’s porch, watching as Grandma Antonina and her friend leisurely approached me. Her face expressed both sadness and gratitude.
«Thank you, granddaughter,» she said, taking my hand. «Of course, the scandal happened, but what a beautiful celebration it was. Maybe they will finally understand that family is not only about money but also about mutual respect.»
I hugged her tighter:
«Exactly, grandma. Maybe someday they will realize it. Or maybe not. But I will no longer allow them to use me.»
We stepped outside, where the evening city enveloped us with its noise and lights. Inside, I wrestled with conflicting feelings: bitterness from shattered expectations and relief from finally setting the record straight. Now I knew for sure: kindness should not be perceived as weakness. If the family needs a celebration, let them learn to appreciate those who create it, not just mindlessly demand it.
