A young woman, like a ghost, glided through the night streets. The Central Avenue marked her boundary. Beyond it began a world of fear and uncertainty. Every step forward could be her last—it seemed that from any corner Pavel might leap out, grab her hand, and force her back.
«Just as long as he doesn’t find me,» whispered Valentina, clutching a small bag of documents tightly in her hand.
She had no money at all. Her husband had long since turned her into his property: he locked the house, forbade her from going out, and would raise his hand at the slightest excuse. She had become for him something like a household object, to be used at his whim. Once, Valentina had tried to resist him, but every protest only intensified his cruelty. She hadn’t even considered appealing to her parents—she had tried that once. Then they met her with condemnation:
«What are you doing? Pavel is a reliable man! Divorce? And where would your father and I go? He was the one who bought this house!»
Her feeble attempts to explain the situation were mercilessly cut off:
«Nonsense! If your husband disciplines you with strictness, it means you’re to blame for everything. Think about what you’re doing wrong!»
And so she found herself back in hell, only now it was even worse. After that incident, it took her a week for the bruises to fade. Then she resolved firmly: she had to run away, at any cost.
The moment finally came. Pavel was away for two days, and the servants and guards were busy drinking in the kitchen. Without wasting a minute, Valentina gathered the most essential items and quietly left the house. The call to her husband had already been made, but her trail had grown cold.
Her strength was rapidly fading, her legs giving out. She just wanted to collapse onto the nearest bench and rest. Looking around, she spotted a suitable place.
«Miss, is everything alright?»
Valentina jumped and looked up. Before her stood a middle-aged man.
«Yes… everything’s fine,» she managed, forcing a smile that came out sadly.
«You seem so sad…»
He sat down beside her, and she, unable to hold back, burst into tears. She poured out everything that had built up inside. The man listened intently, furrowing his brow, then suggested:
«You know, there’s a cottage settlement nearby. They’re always looking for workers. Maybe you should try there?»
An hour later, Valentina stood before the entrance of a house that was in need of a live-in maid. The landlady, an energetic woman in her sixties, quickly assessed her with a glance and declared:
«Valka, I’ve explained everything. Decide now. I’m swamped with work. There will be a room— you can live here.»
«Agreed,» Valentina sighed.
The huge house became her new home. She happily cleaned every room and cooked for Nina Petrovna with genuine pleasure. The landlady turned out to be a kind person—she didn’t overburden her with work and treated her with respect. For that, Valentina was immensely grateful.
However, there were complications—Nina Petrovna’s nephew and his wife. The two regularly dropped by, clearly feeling like the rightful owners of their aunt’s wallet. It pained Valentina to watch them exploit the kindness of a lonely woman who had no one left but them.
Valentina was carefully polishing some crystal when she heard a voice:
«Valentina!»
She nearly jumped, almost dropping the glass. It was Natasha, the nephew’s wife.
«We’ve been here for half an hour, and the tea still isn’t ready?!»
«Sorry, but no one asked for it,» Valentina replied calmly.
Natasha snorted:
«No one asked?! You’re supposed to know on your own! Get to the kitchen! And remember your place—you’re the servant here. If you don’t like it, leave immediately!»
Biting her lip, Valentina headed to the kitchen. Inside, the atmosphere was boiling with indignation; she longed to retort sharply, but she held herself back. She couldn’t risk her position.
Passing by the landlady’s office, she overheard a loud conversation:
«Andrey, I’ve already told you: I won’t give you any more money!»
«Aunt, don’t you understand?! I have a debt! A serious debt! If I don’t pay it, they’ll cut off my head!»
«Andrey, how many times have I begged you to stop gambling? How many times have I asked you to get a job? But no—you’ve lost all of your father’s fortune in just two years!»
«A job?! The Dambrovskiys never worked for others! We always handled our own affairs!»
«That’s true! But notice, your ancestors worked hard and built their own business! And you? You’ve squandered everything your father left! And you know what? I’m not going to cover your credit card debts any longer! And on top of that, your father’s friends called to say you’re borrowing money from them. You’re disgracing the family!»
Andrey leaped up:
«Now everyone around is a snitch! What am I supposed to do?!»
«Make your own choices! You’re an adult, educated! You’ll manage somehow!»
Valentina quietly slipped back into the kitchen to prepare some tea.
«Natasha!»
The front door slammed loudly. The couple left the house.
Nina Petrovna, who had also gone out to see the departing guests, called:
«Valya, bring me some valerian.»
Valentina silently complied. Once the remedy was ready, she served it to the landlady.
«Please, have a seat,» Nina Petrovna requested.
The women sat down. The landlady began to recount her story—she spoke of how she had always been close to her brother, of how she had taken in his son after the tragic loss of his family. She had given Andrey everything possible, but unfortunately, no amount of education helped when there was emptiness in one’s head.
«Recently, he became deeply involved in gambling,» Nina Petrovna continued. «I helped him, saying ‘this is the last time,’ but he realized that there could be endless ‘last times.’ And I decided: the only way to help him is to stop giving him money. It’s very hard, my heart aches, but there’s no other choice.»
Less than a week later, Andrey and Natasha appeared at the doorstep once again. This time, he was unrecognizable—quiet, submissive, full of remorse. He swore he had quit gambling and was ready to start life anew. Nina Petrovna was transformed with joy, not knowing where to seat her beloved nephew. She invited him into the living room and offered him some coffee.
Valya was washing dishes, but she kept her ear open.
«Aunt, isn’t your birthday coming soon?» Andrey began.
«Oh, Andryusha, what birthday… I won’t celebrate it,» the woman sighed.
«Why?» the nephew asked, genuinely surprised.
«I’m at an age where even thinking about birthdays is unappealing—as if they never happened at all.»
«Then let’s just meet and chat? Natasha and I will definitely come!»
Nina Petrovna brightened:
«What a wonderful idea! It’s been so long since we gathered without any special reason. Valentina will bake something delicious for us!»
Valya smiled, though inside she was filled with anxious apprehension.
They planned the celebration for a week later. In the meantime, Andrey dropped by a couple more times—an exemplary nephew. But Valentina grew increasingly uneasy. She wanted to protect Nina Petrovna from any potential new pain. Although, perhaps, people really do change? She just hadn’t encountered such cases before.
In the morning, the landlady was bustling around the house like a whirlwind, radiating happiness:
«You know, Valyush, today I feel not 73, but only 50! And there’s so much more ahead! Dear God, I just hope Andrey gets his act together. Did you see how he transformed?»
«Of course, Nina Petrovna, it’s very nice to see.»
«Well then, show me what delightful treats you have for us today!»
Valya hadn’t even fully set the table when the guests arrived. They brought flowers and a stylish statuette. Andrey told a long story about the gift, and Nina Petrovna clapped her hands in delight.
In the middle of the meal, Andrey went to the kitchen, followed by Natasha. They brought out a box of pastries.
«Val, please arrange them on the plates.»
Natasha turned to Valentina and began speaking in French, convinced that a mere maid wouldn’t know the language.
«Andrey, don’t mix it up: those with the little green flowers—I specifically poisoned them. After all, green is his favorite color.»
«Have you lost your mind? Such matters shouldn’t be discussed in front of others!»
«Andryusha, come on! How should she know?»
He pulled his wife close.
«Soon we’ll be rich. I want to go to the seaside! And I also need those earrings!»
They left, leaving Valentina in shock. She understood French perfectly well, but decided not to show it. Instead of throwing out the pastries, she paused to think.
«Valentina, what are you doing there, like a sleepy fly? Maybe I’ll arrange the pastries myself? And at least pour some tea? What does the aunt pay you for?»
Valentina turned away, her mind in utter turmoil. When she finally brought the tea, Natasha had already placed one of the dangerous pastries on Nina Petrovna’s plate—of course, one with a green flower—and chattered incessantly.
Approaching the landlady, Valentina bent down and whispered:
«Under no circumstances should you eat the pastry.»
Nina Petrovna looked at her in surprise, her face blanching. Something in Valentina’s eyes frightened her.
«Oh, my head hurts… I think I’ll lie down.»
Andrey jumped up:
«How can that be? Such a delicious pastry, and you didn’t even try it! Valyusha, put them in the fridge, okay? Later we’ll say you refused them because you’re on a diet.»
Andrey looked at his aunt as if she were a wonder, while Natasha tugged at his sleeve:
«Let’s go, let her rest. It’s better if they’re without us.»
As soon as the door closed behind them, Nina Petrovna burst out of the room:
«Valya, explain immediately!»
Valentina took a deep breath:
«They tried to poison you.»
«Valya, that’s absurd!»
And she recounted everything she had overheard in the kitchen. Nina Petrovna took her valerian, then called someone. Within half an hour, the house was filled with police officers. Andrey and Natasha were detained. After this incident, Nina Petrovna suddenly shriveled up, as if she had lost her own child. She bequeathed all her property to Valentina.
Six months later, a knock on the door was so loud that the walls trembled.
«Valentina, your parents are here!»
Valya sighed, understanding that the encounter was inevitable.
«Valyachka, you’ve done well for yourself!» her mother declared as she entered like a hostess, stopping in the middle of the room.
«Hello, Mom.»
«It’s all your fault—your husband, that scoundrel, is to blame!»
«He’s no longer my husband.»
«Your husband kicked us out of the house, and now you live in luxury and don’t even remember us!»
«Have you ever truly cared about me?» Valentina replied calmly.
Her mother didn’t even pause:
«Not you to dictate how we live! Because of you, we lost everything! You’re responsible…»
Valentina interrupted her, standing up:
«Enough! You lost what you got because of me. You have an apartment, you’re healthy and young. Go work, build your life!»
«So you live here like a queen, and we must toil?» her mother smirked.
Valentina smirked back:
«Times change. When I was enduring hell, you only thought about money. Now, let’s try a different approach. Leave—and let me be ashamed.»
She wasn’t about to squander money aimlessly. First, she became a shadow to the gardener, learning everything about maintaining the vast garden. Then she enrolled in landscape design courses to further her knowledge. Later, she opened her own business right in the settlement. Word of mouth did its work.
One of her clients turned out to be her future husband. Despite her desire to distance herself from her parents, Valentina still invited them to the maternity hospital discharge celebration for her firstborn.
