— You’ve over-salted it again,” Nadezhda Petrovna demonstratively pushed the bowl of borscht aside. “At my age, food like this was simply considered sabotage.”
Valeria clenched a napkin under the table. That borscht had taken three hours to make.
“Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time,” Valeria replied quietly.
“Apologies won’t make this slop edible,” her mother-in-law pulled a package out of her bag. “Here, I brought cutlets. At least feed your son something after work!”
Igor quickly exchanged a glance with Valeria and smiled at his mother.
“Thanks, Mom, but I like Lera’s borscht.”
“Of course you do. You’ve always been too kind. Remember how Katyusha used to make goulash? Your whole crew would run over to try it!”
Valeria took a deep breath, holding back words on the verge of escaping. Every family meal turned into a reminder of the wonderful Katyusha, who cooked better, earned more, and was the perfect housekeeper.
“Speaking of work,” Nadezhda Petrovna turned to Valeria. “Your school principal was complaining in the store yesterday that the deputy has completely spoiled the teachers. She says the young ones only think of themselves, and the students are left to fend for themselves.”
“We don’t have a principal, Nadezhda Petrovna. We have a director — Pyotr Andreyevich,” Valeria stirred her tea carefully. “And I haven’t heard of any problems at work.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that!” her mother-in-law waved her hands. “My friend Zinaida Nikolaevna worked as a teacher for forty years. Her class was always in perfect order. Now they’re hiring just anyone from ads…”
The doorbell interrupted the monologue. Valeria got up from the table, glad for the chance to leave the kitchen even for a minute.
“A letter for Valeria Mikhailovna Sokolova,” the postman handed over an envelope. “Sign here, please.”
Valeria returned to the kitchen with the letter in hand.
“What now? Bills, probably,” Nadezhda Petrovna took a clean plate from the shelf.
Valeria opened the envelope. Her eyes scanned the lines… a second time… a third… Everything blurred before her eyes.
“Lerusya, what’s wrong?” Igor touched her shoulder worriedly.
“Aunt Zoya has passed away,” Valeria handed him the letter. “The notary writes that she… she left me an inheritance.”
“Well, I thought you had no relatives left,” Nadezhda Petrovna appeared instantly beside them. “What did your aunt do? Probably left some debts?”
“She taught at the conservatory,” Valeria looked confusedly at the letter. “We rarely communicated…”
Igor read the letter, his eyes widening more and more.
“Fifteen million rubles?!” he exclaimed.
Nadezhda Petrovna snatched the letter.
“Let me see! This can’t be! Just think! Where would a music teacher get that kind of money?”
“Aunt Zoya published several methodical guides,” Valeria spoke as if in a dream. “And she had private students… But I had no idea…”
Igor jumped up and hugged his wife.
“Now we won’t have to rent an apartment! Imagine, we can buy our own place!”
Nadezhda Petrovna folded the letter.
“Don’t rush, son. First, you need to prove that this money really exists. You never know what they write there! And besides, you need a good financial advisor. Valeria doesn’t understand money at all.”
Igor smiled so widely it seemed his face might split.
“Mom, we’ll figure it out.”
Valeria whispered,
“What if it’s a mistake? Maybe Aunt changed her will… or…”
“No, it’s all clearly stated here,” Igor re-read the letter. “Notary Gromov is waiting for you at his office. The address and phone number are there. It’s official!”
Valeria looked at her husband, unable to believe it. Fifteen million rubles. Their own apartment. No more “random” visits from her mother-in-law checking the cleanliness of the shelves.
“I think you should be careful,” Nadezhda Petrovna pursed her lips. “There are so many scammers nowadays! I can go with Valeria to the notary. After all, I have more life experience.”
“No need to worry. I will handle my aunt’s inheritance myself.”
The visit to the notary confirmed the information in the letter. Valeria really inherited a large sum from Aunt Zoya. On the way home, she couldn’t stop thinking about the new opportunities opening up.
“Lerochka! Come in quickly,” Nadezhda Petrovna stood on the doorstep of their rented apartment holding a tray with a freshly baked pie. “I decided to treat you with my signature recipe.”
Valeria froze in the doorway. Her mother-in-law never called her affectionately and certainly never greeted her with baked goods.
“Hello, Nadezhda Petrovna,” Valeria cautiously entered the apartment, sensing a catch. “Where is Igor?”
“He’s still at work,” her mother-in-law fussed, setting cups on the table. “How did the meeting with the notary go? Was everything confirmed?”
Valeria nodded, taking off her coat.
“Yes, Aunt Zoya really left me an inheritance.”
“Wonderful!” her mother-in-law clapped her hands joyfully. “You know, I’ve always told Igor what a smart girl you are. With your brains, you’ll get far!”
Valeria blinked, trying to comprehend this sudden change.
“But you used to think my profession was hopeless…”
“Me? No way!” Nadezhda Petrovna waved her hands. “I was just worried about you. Young family, rented apartment… But now everything will be fine!”
The door slammed and Igor burst in with a huge bouquet of flowers.
“You’re already home!” He hugged Valeria tightly. “So, it’s true?”
“It’s true,” Valeria nodded. “The money will be in the account in a few days.”
“I knew it!” Igor twirled her around the room. “Look what I brought!”
He pulled a glossy car magazine from his briefcase.
“The Toyota Camry is a great option, but I’m leaning more toward a BMW. Their new series is just fire!” Igor excitedly flipped through the pages. “Sergey and I discussed all lunch about which one to get!”
“A car?” Valeria looked at her husband in surprise. “But we wanted our own apartment…”
“Of course,” Igor nodded. “But a small part of the money for a decent car… To go look at apartments, for example!”
“I told you, my son has always dreamed of a good car,” Nadezhda Petrovna said, cutting the pie. “A worthy man should drive a worthy car!”
Thus began a new chapter in their family life. Nadezhda Petrovna appeared at their apartment almost every day, always with a treat or a gift. Igor made a whole shopping list that included not only a car but also a trip to Europe, new furniture, and a home theater.
“Darling, your skin looks tired,” Nadezhda Petrovna carefully examined Valeria’s face at breakfast. “I signed you up for a facial massage. Now, with your means, you need to take care of yourself!”
“Thank you, but I didn’t ask for that,” Valeria pushed the cup aside. “And the money hasn’t come yet. It’s not worth planning expenses ahead.”
“Oh, come on,” Igor waved his hand. “Mom’s just taking care of you!”
“And I also thought about renovating your apartment,” Nadezhda Petrovna continued. “My neighbor Zinaida Nikolaevna knows a great designer. He charges little but makes it look like in magazines!”
Valeria reminded her,
“But we’re renting this apartment. What’s the point in investing in renovations?”
Her mother-in-law leaned closer.
“Oh, I don’t mean this one. I mean our future apartment. I found a great option. A three-room, second floor.”
Valeria froze.
“Ours?”
“Of course!” Nadezhda Petrovna clapped her hands. “You don’t think I’ll leave you alone with such capital, do you? Young, inexperienced… You need good family advice. And I’m just retiring; I’ll help manage the household.”
Igor nodded happily, supporting his mother. At that moment, Valeria’s phone rang.
“Funds have been credited to your account,” a dispassionate voice from the bank announced. “Check the information in the mobile app.”
Igor and Nadezhda Petrovna stared at her with undisguised expectation.
“The money has arrived,” Valeria said quietly.
“Great!” Igor jumped up. “I’ll visit the car dealership today!”
“Wait,” Valeria raised her hand. “No rush. I want to think everything through first.”
“What’s there to think about?” Igor laughed. “We have money, we can afford what we’ve always dreamed of!”
“Exactly,” supported Nadezhda Petrovna. “But I advise you to set some aside for the future. Open a deposit in my name so the money works.”
Valeria shook her head slowly.
“I want to manage the inheritance myself. This money belongs to my aunt, and I’m not going to spend it on cars or open deposits in someone else’s name.”
Nadezhda Petrovna pursed her lips offendedly.
“What an ungrateful creature you are! I’m trying here, baking pies, giving advice…”
“That’s exactly why,” Valeria raised her voice, “you never treated me kindly. For five years I’ve listened to how useless a wife I am. And now suddenly I’m ‘dear Lerochka’!”
A few days later, Nadezhda Petrovna showed up at the door with a huge car dealership catalog.
“Look, Igoriesha,” her mother-in-law opened the glossy pages. “Your smart wife can afford any of these beauties. It’s just within her means!”
“Mom, don’t start,” Igor sighed. “Lera said she wants to think it over.”
“What’s there to think about?” Nadezhda Petrovna threw up her hands. “Your wife is pure gold! So smart, so generous! She understands a man needs a decent car.”
Valeria felt something inside snap. Five years of mockery, and now this hypocritical praise.
“I won’t give you money! Stop brown-nosing!” Valeria snapped, looking straight into her mother-in-law’s eyes.
A ringing silence hung in the room. Nadezhda Petrovna paled, then her face twisted with anger.
“How dare you!” her mother-in-law jumped up, clenching her fists. “Ungrateful! Selfish! My son did everything for you for five years, and you…”
“He did nothing for me,” Valeria interrupted. “I worked alongside him, endured your mockery and bullying!”
“Lera, what are you saying?” Igor approached his mother. “This is family money! We are husband and wife, everything should be equal!”
“Equal?” Valeria smirked. “Where was the talk of equality when your mother called me a useless teacher? Or when she scrubbed my dishes because I ‘don’t know how to keep things clean’?”
Valeria opened the closet and took out a suitcase. Methodically, she began packing her things.
“What are you doing?” Igor asked, confused.
“Leaving,” Valeria answered calmly. “To Kristina’s. I’ll stay the night there and look for a place tomorrow.”
“You can’t leave!” Nadezhda Petrovna shouted. “What about the family? What about Igor?”
“And what about Igor?” Valeria zipped the suitcase. “For five years, I lived with a man who couldn’t protect me from his own mother. Who now only thinks about how to spend my money.”
Valeria headed to the door. Behind her were screams and threats. But Valeria no longer listened.
Soon Valeria moved into a new apartment. Messages from Igor came less and less. Ahead was a new life — without toxic relationships, without constant inspections and humiliations. With money or without, but now she was truly free.
