Olya, are you doing everything yourself again?» Elena Anatolievna’s voice came with strained care, although in her eyes, as always, there was discontent. «Why didn’t you call me? I would have helped.»
«Almost everything is ready,» Olga glanced at the stack of plates that only needed to be set. «The potatoes are boiling, the salad is ready. Just need to dress it and serve it on the table.»
«Well, don’t overwork yourself,» Elena Anatolievna shook her head, «It’s important for Viktor Andreevich and me that you’re in good shape. But you, as always, do everything yourself…»
«Mom,» Kirill sharply interjected, «enough. Olya can manage on her own. Don’t bother her.»
«Of course, she can manage,» Elena Anatolievna smiled at her son, but then turned her gaze back to Olya. «You obviously come from a good family, it’s clear. And your father… such a respectable man. Right, Kirill?»
«What difference does it make?» Kirill frowned. «Olya is wonderful on her own. No need to keep bringing up her family and money.»
«Alright, alright, I won’t,» the mother-in-law pretended to be embarrassed. «Every mother wants her children to live in prosperity, right?»
«We live just fine, Mom,» Kirill looked at her sternly, letting her know that the topic was closed for him. «By the way, where’s Dad? Didn’t he call everyone for six?»
«In the garage, as usual,» answered Elena Anatolievna and suddenly remembered something. «Oh, right, I need to change for dinner…»
She quickly left the kitchen, leaving Olya and Kirill alone. They exchanged glances. Olya sighed quietly. She didn’t want any more conflicts, but every time her mother-in-law started talking about her father’s money, bitterness grew inside her. She respected her elders, but the constant insinuations about her family’s financial well-being became unbearable.
«Olenka, don’t pay attention,» Kirill said quietly, gently touching her hand. «My mom… well, you know her character.»
«Kirill, I understand,» Olya replied tiredly, «but it annoys me that she only sees money in my family. Yesterday she asked if my dad would invest in a cottage for us. Before that, she hinted at a new car. As if that’s all she’s interested in.»
«It’s just her chatter,» Kirill shook his head. «Don’t mind it. I told you, we live modestly, by ourselves. And we don’t expect handouts.»
«Still, it’s unpleasant,» Olya took the forks to set them on the table when suddenly she heard the front door open.
Into the kitchen walked Viktor Andreevich – a stout man with a penetrating gaze. Seeing Olya, he smiled broadly.
«Well, daughter, how are you? Need anything? Be careful not to strain yourself; you might hurt yourself.»
«Thank you, Viktor Andreevich, I’ve already finished everything,» Olya felt a jolt from his ostentatious care.
«Understood. And how’s your father, Mikhail Konstantinovich?» Viktor Andreevich reached for a plate of ham. «Still busy with his business?»
«Dad’s fine,» Olya replied dryly. «Thanks for asking.»
«And when will he visit us?» her father-in-law raised an eyebrow. «We’d gladly welcome him. I have a couple of ideas… regarding investments. Maybe he could advise on what’s best…»
«I’ll pass it on,» Olya decided not to delve into the conversation. «But, Viktor Andreevich, you know he’s very busy.»
Kirill cautiously took his wife aside.
«Don’t be upset,» he whispered. «Dad’s always looking for where to invest money. He hears the word ‘business,’ and that’s it – his eyes light up.»
«It’s okay, I’m used to it,» Olya mentally smirked. «But it’s tiring. They do understand that I’m not a mediator between them and my father?»
«Yes, but they seem to think you can persuade him to do anything. They want a ‘big break.’ Don’t be angry, okay?»
«I don’t care,» Olya shrugged. «I just fear that they’ll cross the line. And what will you do if that happens?»
«I won’t let them bother you,» Kirill said quietly. «I promise.»
The next morning, Olya and Kirill went to his sister Sveta’s to congratulate her on her birthday. Sveta wasn’t throwing a party, but they needed to give her a gift.
«Sveta, look what we brought you,» Olya placed the bag on a stand by the entrance. «We hope you like it.»
«Wow, are you serious?» Sveta smiled, but surprise flickered in her eyes. «I told you I don’t celebrate. Why did you bother?»
«We just wanted to please you,» Olya smiled gently. «Kirill and I picked it out ourselves.»
«Well, thank you,» Sveta quickly tore open the package and pulled out a new tablet. «This is a surprise! Not everyone can afford such technology these days.»
«Our parents helped a bit,» Olya calmly replied. «Enjoy it in good health.»
«And mom keeps asking,» Sveta smirked, «when you and Kirill will finally move into your own apartment? She says: ‘Olya’s father is a man of means, he could help with the renovation.’ Funny, right?»
«Sveta,» Kirill sighed, «mom sometimes speaks without thinking. We don’t want to ask Olya’s dad for money. This is our life, and we’ll decide how to arrange everything.»
«Well, right,» Sveta nodded, examining the tablet. «Although mom sometimes asks questions I wouldn’t dare to ask. So, maybe your dad will throw in a couple million so you can live like human beings?»
«What do you care about my father’s money?» Olya blurted out unexpectedly, and her voice was sharper than she intended. «Sorry, Sveta, but if he owes you nothing, he owes us nothing either. It’s his money, and I don’t take extra from my parents.»
«Come on,» Sveta waved it off, «I was just joking.»
But Olya noticed something unpleasant, greedy in her gaze, as if Sveta was assessing someone else’s property and thinking about how to snatch her share.
«Okay, let’s end it here,» Kirill stepped towards the door. «Sveta, we’re going home now, to our parents. Anything to pass along?»
Sveta just shrugged and closed the door behind them.
On the way home, Olya tried to calm down, but the irritation wouldn’t leave her.
«Kir, how much longer can we endure this?» she burst out as they approached the entrance. «Every day the same thing: ‘Millions, millions, ask for it, come on, persuade!’ I can’t listen to this anymore.»
«I understand,» Kirill said quietly, «but they’re my family. I can’t abandon them. I’ll talk to them to stop, but… they do this with the best intentions. They want us to live better.»
«‘With the best intentions’ is just an excuse,» Olya stopped on the staircase and looked at her husband. «They see me only as a wallet, and my attempts to explain that I don’t want to sponsor them are ignored. You see how humiliating this is?»
«Olya, don’t be so angry at them. What matters is that we love each other. And parents… well, what can you do. We’re all different.»
Olya said nothing. She entered the apartment and began to take off her outerwear, glancing towards the kitchen where she could hear her father-in-law and mother-in-law’s voices.
«Hello, daughter!» Viktor Andreevich called out cheerfully. «We were thinking, we want to open a small auto parts store. Maybe you could call your father, huh?»
«Dad’s currently abroad,» Olya tried to speak calmly. «And honestly, he’s no longer investing in questionable projects.»
«Why questionable?» Elena Anatolievna interjected. «We’ve thought everything through: the location is good, there’s demand. We just need a starting investment to buy the goods. About two million rubles.»
«It’s a matter of principle,» Olya repeated a bit louder. «I won’t ask my father for money for your venture.»
«Is that so?» the mother-in-law frowned and looked at Kirill. «Son, what do you think?»
«I’ve already said: we don’t want to borrow from Olya’s father. It would be strange. We have no guarantees the project will pay off.»
«So, they think we’re incapable of anything?» Viktor Andreevich looked expressively at his wife. «Well, nothing, we’ll manage on our own, Lena.»
«Manage then,» Olya stepped into the hallway. «I won’t be cooking today, sorry. I’m not in the mood.»
With these words, she went to the bathroom. She had no more strength to endure their conversations.
In the evening, Kirill tried to resolve the conflict. He entered their room (they were temporarily living with his parents while Olya’s apartment was being renovated):
«Olenka,» he called quietly. «Let’s discuss. I understand how hard it is for you. Mom and Dad… they can be too straightforward. But don’t be mad at me, please. I can’t change them overnight.»
«Kir, I’m not mad at you,» Olya replied bitterly. «I’m mad at them. At their endless conversations. At the way they pretend they’re ‘just curious’ about Dad, but really just wait to pull money out. And everyone pretends that’s normal.»
«I’ll talk to them tomorrow.»
«Talk,» Olya shrugged. «But I doubt it will help. You’ve already tried many times.»
«Yes,» Kirill lowered his eyes. «But understand, they’re also my family. I want you two to get along.»
«And I want that. But I can’t close my eyes to how they behave. They don’t care about me as a person. They’re only interested in money.»
«Maybe you could try to be a bit more tolerant?»
«Kirill, I’m tired of being tolerant. Do you want me to keep quiet when they say something like: ‘Daughter, you could ask, your dad is rich’? I can’t do it anymore.»
He was silent. It was clear that he was torn between his feelings for his wife and his attachment to his parents.
The next morning Olya woke up to loud conversations in the kitchen.
«Why is she so stubborn?» Elena Anatolievna’s voice carried. «Is it so hard for her to ask her father to help us? We’re supposed to be one family.»
«Yes, one family,» Viktor Andreevich chuckled. «Did you hear how she cut us off yesterday? ‘I won’t ask Dad.’ As if we’re beggars. Are we embarrassed in front of the neighbors or what?»
«Maybe she’s deliberately ignoring us? Wants to show her superiority…»
Olya felt anger boiling inside her but held back, continuing to listen.
«Kirill says he loves her,» the father-in-law grumbled, «and she looks down on us. Pretends to be nice, but won’t even lend a helping hand.»
«Alright, let’s go, Viktor,» said Elena Anatolievna. «No point sitting here. We’ll tell our son we’re fed up.»
Footsteps approached Kirill and Olya’s room, and suddenly there was an irritated voice of Kirill himself:
«Mom, Dad, can you stop? Why does every morning start with these conversations?»
«Because it’s important, son,» Viktor Andreevich snapped back. «Family is the most important thing, and we should all support each other.»
«And they could help, with their means,» added Elena Anatolievna. «How are we worse?»
«Are you serious?» Kirill, apparently unable to hold back any longer, raised his voice. «Do you think Olya ‘owes’ you her father’s money?»
«Don’t twist my words,» Elena Anatolievna raised her voice. «We just want a little support, not…»
At that moment, the door to the room burst open, and there stood Olya, disheveled, in a robe, but with a firm gaze.
«So,» she said clearly. «I heard everything. You always talk about family, but family is built on respect, not on ‘give us money.’ You only accepted me because of my father’s wealth, right?»
«Olechka, what are you saying?» the mother-in-law theatrically threw up her hands. «We love you very much. We even offered you to live with us while the repairs are going on, so you’d feel at home.»
«Thank you,» Olya replied coldly, «but since the wedding, all I hear is: ‘Ask your dad for money, he’s rich.’ How do you think that makes me feel?»
The father-in-law and mother-in-law froze in confusion. Kirill stood by, arms crossed.
«Well…» Elena Anatolievna drew out, «we just wanted the best for you two. So you’d have your own apartment, a car.»
«Thank you, of course,» Olya nodded, «but we’ll decide how Kirill and I will live. And if you’re so eager to do business – do it at your own expense. Don’t see me as a source of endless resources.»
«Ah, I see,» Viktor Andreevich muttered, «so we mean nothing to you…»
«I didn’t say that,» Olya replied sharply, «I just want you to stop pressuring me. It’s disrespectful.»
The conversation ended there. The father-in-law waved his hand dismissively, and the mother-in-law pursed her lips.
The rest of the day passed in a tense atmosphere. Kirill tried to smooth over the conflict between his wife and parents, but encountered misunderstanding from both sides. Olya tried to keep her distance, but Elena Anatolievna kept circling around, as if wanting to say something sharp but fearing to worsen the situation.
In the evening, when Kirill returned from the gym, he found his mother in the kitchen – she sat at the table, surreptitiously wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. Seeing her son, she tried to act as if everything was fine, but her face betrayed her inner tension.
«Mom, what’s wrong?» Kirill asked quietly.
«Nothing, son,» Elena Anatolievna averted her gaze. «Just tired. There’s always some tension with Olya, as if she’s avoiding us. And we just wanted you to be happy…»
«Mom, I understand that you’re worried,» Kirill sat down next to her. «But you provoke her by constantly asking about her father’s money. Olya is already trying to be polite, helps around the house. But she’s not obligated to beg her dad for something for you.»
Elena Anatolievna spread her hands:
«Who’s talking about begging? But she doesn’t seem to understand what ‘family support’ means. As if she begrudges it… We were just hoping for mutual understanding!»
«‘Hoping’ is one thing,» Kirill frowned, «but insisting and demanding are quite another. I love you, you’re my parents, but Olya is my wife. It’s unpleasant for her when you constantly talk about her father’s money. Let’s try not to return to this topic, okay?»
At that moment, Olya appeared at the kitchen doorway with a cup of tea in her hands. She nodded silently to Kirill, indicating that she was ready to talk. Kirill stood up and gestured for her to come closer.
«Sit down,» he offered. «Let’s discuss everything calmly and honestly.»
Olya, trying to maintain an even tone, placed the cup on the table and addressed her mother-in-law:
«Elena Anatolievna, I understand that you want only the best for us. But understand me too: I grew up in a family where everyone is responsible for their own decisions. My father earned his money through hard work, and I don’t have the right to dispose of it as if it were my own. And it’s unpleasant for me when you or Viktor Andreevich see me only as a ‘wallet.’ It’s degrading for both me and you.»
The mother-in-law pondered, sighed, and seemed to calm down a bit:
«Maybe we are pushing too hard. We’re just getting older, we want you to settle down faster, have kids. And we’ve long dreamed of a cottage… Well, alright, if you think so.»
«I’m not against my father helping us someday on his own initiative,» Olya moved the cup, «but it should happen naturally, not under pressure. And it’s not just about money. It seems to me that you see me not as a person, but as a tool for achieving your goals. It hurts.»
There was a pause. Kirill shifted his gaze from his mother to his wife. He understood the feelings of both sides and decided to soften the atmosphere.
«Mom,» he said quietly, «Dad,» Kirill noticed that Viktor Andreevich had approached and was standing in the doorway, «let’s admit: we all are different, and everyone has their own views on help. But we’re family. If we start respecting each other’s boundaries, there will be fewer quarrels. You can expect advice from Olya, participation – but not demand money.»
Viktor Andreevich looked at everyone and, shaking his head, said:
«Maybe we really were too pushy trying to implement our ideas at someone else’s expense. Sorry, daughter…» his voice carried a strange mix of offense and embarrassment. «I’m just used to grabbing any opportunity. You understand, Kirill, there’s a crisis, maybe something would have worked out…»
«It’s alright,» Kirill responded, «you’re proactive people, and that’s good. But, Dad, it’s better if you find an investor yourself or take out a loan. Don’t burden Olya with this.»
The mother-in-law nodded, still looking tense, but without her usual haughtiness:
«Just don’t be mad at us. We wanted the best, but it turned out… how it turned out,» she waved her hand.
Olya felt that the atmosphere in the room had lightened. It was still unpleasant to remember the past, but she decided to make a step forward:
«I’m not angry. I appreciate that you are Kirill’s parents and want him well. Just let’s agree: I don’t mind if you ask me to help with cooking, cleaning, or something else around the house. But constantly talking about money – that’s a taboo, okay? You can pursue your own ventures, I respect your plans, but please, no more hints about my father.»
Viktor Andreevich looked around at everyone present and quietly said:
«Agreed. We’ll try not to bring up this topic again.»
«Please do,» Olya agreed. «And I’ll try to react more calmly, without harshness.»
Kirill breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that without an honest conversation, the situation could have finally spiraled out of control. Now, they just had to hope that both sides would really make an effort to change their attitude towards each other.
The next day, the apartment was quiet, but not oppressively so, rather cautiously. The father-in-law and mother-in-law tried to be more polite, and Olya, in turn, responded with smiles and even offered help herself: either with grocery shopping or sorting through old things. Kirill looked at his wife with gratitude, understanding how hard it was for her to maintain her composure.
At the same time, the young couple actively began looking for a rental apartment – the renovation was dragging on, and they both wanted to separate to avoid new conflicts. A couple of weeks later, they found a suitable option: a small one-bedroom apartment in a quiet area, where they could live together, not worrying about the parents.
«Congratulations,» Elena Anatolievna said with a strained, but still a smile, when they announced their decision. «I hope you settle in well. If anything, we’re always nearby.»
«Thank you, Mom,» Kirill responded, noting how Olya nodded in agreement. «And you come to visit us. Just no hints: we’ll manage somehow ourselves.»
The mother-in-law shrugged, apparently regretting the unfulfilled plans, but kept silent. Viktor Andreevich was more reserved: he simply nodded and offered to help with the move if needed.
The move went quickly, and in the first week of living in the new apartment, Olya felt that she could breathe more freely. Here, she and Kirill could decide how to live without the constant fear that someone behind them would again start talking about her father’s money.
Conversations about the father-in-law and mother-in-law in the new home were rare, and if Olya noticed sadness in Kirill – he still loved and respected his parents – she tried to support him. Kirill, in turn, increasingly appreciated that his wife held no grudges, simply wanting to build their future without unnecessary stress.
One evening, Kirill’s father unexpectedly rang the doorbell. His unexpected visit made them both wary, but Viktor Andreevich’s expression was calm.
«Hello, kids,» he cleared his throat. «Hope I’m not disturbing?»
«No, no,» Kirill hugged him. «Dad, is everything alright?»
«Just wanted to check on you,» he explained. «I know how much hassle there is in a new place. And… I wanted to apologize. We really went too far. Learned something after talking to people, and your mom’s gradually calming down too. Just wanted to say that we’d be glad if you invite us over sometime. But no hints, no requests. I promise.»
Olya felt how Kirill slightly squeezed her hand in approval.
«Of course, come over,» she said softly, smiling slightly. «Hopefully, this time everything will be kind.»
Viktor Andreevich nodded. He looked a bit lost, as if searching for the right words:
«We want you to be happy. I’m serious about that.»
He winked, trying to cheer himself and them up. Kirill laughed:
«Thanks, Dad. We’ll always help too, if needed, just remember. But only within our means.»
«Well, good. Alright, I’ll leave, Lena’s waiting at home. Goodbye, Olya.»
When he left, Olya exhaled with relief:
«Hopefully, this isn’t just a pretense but a real step forward.»
«I think he’s genuinely trying. And Mom, I think, will soften too.»
«Let’s hope,» Olya looked up and smiled at her husband. «At least, we can finally build our life in peace.»
«Agreed,» Kirill replied. «I love you, Olenka. Thanks for not giving up and giving me a chance to set boundaries with my parents.»
Perhaps more challenges awaited them, but they already knew that their family would no longer have conversations like «let’s ask your dad for millions.» And if someone decided to return to the old topic, Olya and Kirill now had a clear, unified response: no.
And in that «no,» there was more unity than in all the previous attempts to please relatives at any cost
