An early call from her former mother-in-law caught Yulianna off guard. She didn’t answer, and she had no desire to call back. What could Zoe Nikitichna possibly want from her? Maybe she was suddenly remembering some made-up debts—another trick to squeeze extra money from her ex-daughter-in-law. But Yulianna owed no one anything—neither her ex-husband nor his mother. After the divorce, she returned everything she had ever received from Alexey: gifts, belongings, everything that reminded her of the past life. Without exception. Leaving behind everything that connected her to that time, she stepped into a new future.
However, Zoe Nikitichna did not want to let go of the past. She periodically burst into Yulianna’s life, showering her with anger and reproaches. Most likely, she was about to pour another round of hurtful words on her now.
Making sure that Sergey, her current husband, was still asleep, Yulianna poured herself some coffee and turned on her laptop. Now, a significant part of the business affairs in Sergey’s company rested on her shoulders. Two months ago, her husband was inspecting a construction site—the final stage before completion. Violating safety protocols, he fell from a height and suffered a serious spinal injury. The doctors gave no hopeful prognosis: even after surgery, there were no guarantees he would be able to walk. Yulianna did not lose hope and tried to support her husband. Even if he ended up in a wheelchair—for her, that would be no obstacle. They loved each other, and together they could handle anything.
After checking her work email and confirming everything was in order—important meetings were scheduled for the afternoon—Yulianna calmed down a bit. She prepared breakfast and began getting ready for work. She wanted to finish quickly and take Sergey out for a walk. When her husband woke up, she helped him move into his chair and took him to the kitchen. Although he could do some things on his own, she didn’t spare any time caring for him.
“Shall we go for a walk today?” she asked, gently hugging him by the shoulders.
“If you want. Just come back soon. I already told the deputy not to overload you. Let him take the main part of the meetings.”
“I want to, but you know—no one can do it like you. I’ll try to finish quickly. Don’t be bored.”
Kissing Sergey on the cheek, Yulianna hurried to the car in the underground parking—she was already a bit late. The memory of that difficult day flashed before her—the day she found herself out on the street without any means to live. Her mother-in-law had thrown her out into the rain, taking all her money and belongings, declaring that from now on Yulianna would have to decide how to live on her own. She couldn’t rely on anyone. She couldn’t call her parents for help—her mother’s heart condition had worsened, and any stress could have serious consequences. Yulianna arranged with a friend to stay a few days, then asked her boss for an advance on her salary. Sergey immediately responded back then. Not only did he give her money, but he also helped find housing and soon even promoted her so she could earn more. He genuinely cared—asking if she had enough money, if she was comfortable. At that time, Yulianna was paying off a car loan taken out for her ex-husband, and it was extremely hard for her. Sergey found a good lawyer, and in the end, Alexey, unwilling to share the car, agreed to pay off the remaining amount himself. How fate had brought her and Sergey together—Yulianna could never fully understand. But she felt his care and sincerity, and gradually opened her heart. She tried not to betray his trust, honestly doing her work despite their personal relationship. And now, when everything had fallen on her shoulders, she didn’t complain. She believed every trial was no accident but part of the path leading to something important.
Zoe Nikitichna called again while Yulianna was in a meeting. Yulianna declined the call and only called back when she had a free minute. Although there was nothing left between them long ago, Yulianna didn’t want to hide like an ostrich. If her former mother-in-law was calling so persistently, it meant she had reasons.
“Yulianna, why aren’t you answering? I’m already worried—is everything okay with you? Maybe we could meet?”
Zoe Nikitichna’s voice sounded sickly sweet. It was obvious she wanted something and was trying to win her over. But hearing that voice was unpleasant—it instantly brought back painful memories.
“For what? Do you need something? Tell me over the phone.”
“No, this is not a phone conversation,” protested Zoe Nikitichna. “Let’s meet, I need to talk. I have a lot to say to you.”
Yulianna sighed heavily, mentally scolding herself for her softness. But she still decided to agree to the meeting—to finally put an end to it once and for all. She wanted to tell her former mother-in-law straight that past grievances were not forgiven, that she did not want to continue any contact. To remind her: it was Zoe Nikitichna who once threw her out in the rain, destroyed her life back then, and didn’t let her happily build a family.
Having agreed to meet at five in the evening and emphasizing she had little time, Yulianna finished her work and headed to the café where Zoe Nikitichna was supposed to be waiting. She was eager to return home soon—to spend the evening with her husband, take him for a walk, be near him. So she planned for the meeting to be short. Not for reconciliation, but to put an end to the endless attempts by her ex-mother-in-law to interfere in her life again—as if she herself had not once put a firm stop, leaving behind only bitterness and emptiness.
“You’ve become so beautiful, a real lady! It’s a pity you weren’t like this before, but never mind—it’s even better this way,” Zoe Nikitichna smiled as soon as Yulianna sat opposite her.
“Tell me why you called. I have very little time.”
“Dear, I came to you with a request… for forgiveness. I realized how cruelly I treated you in the past. I should have accepted your choice, accepted you as a daughter, and not created obstacles. Back then, I didn’t see what a kind, strong, and reliable woman you are. Now I understand how badly I was mistaken. Forgive me for all the hurtful words, for throwing you out in the rain, for false accusations of theft, for poisoning your marriage with my son. I am ashamed. I should have been your support, not your enemy. I should have been a second mother, not a destroyer.”
If Zoe Nikitichna wanted forgiveness, she could have simply said so on the phone. But Yulianna knew her too well. Such sudden contrition did not inspire trust. Something else was clearly hidden behind this staged sincerity. She waited silently, understanding: now the main part would begin.
“Really, I’m terribly ashamed. I worry, I’m angry at myself for everything I did.”
“The past is better left in the past,” Yulianna replied calmly. “Learn your lessons, try not to repeat such mistakes. If you came just for that—I thank you, I understand. I must go.”
“Wait, don’t go!” Zoe Nikitichna sharply grabbed her hand, not letting her stand. “I heard… about your husband. They showed it on the news. It must be so hard… You’re still so young, you have no children. How will you live now? I feel so sorry for you… And you know, I feel guilty. I ruined your first marriage, interfered, turned my son against you. You loved each other, and I ruined everything. And now… I want to fix it all.”
“Fix it?” Yulianna repeated, barely containing her astonishment. “What exactly do you want to fix? I’m married. I’m happy. Yes, something happened to my husband, but we are going through it together. And I regret nothing.”
Zoe Nikitichna tried to smile, but the smile was crooked, almost malicious. Her face tensed, and for a moment, her usual caustic nature showed through. She immediately swallowed it, trying to maintain a mask of humility, but her eyes revealed that pride was raging inside.
“You think now that you’ll manage,” she continued dryly. “But time will tell. He won’t be a full husband, a father. Sooner or later, you’ll begin to hate him… and then yourself for staying. You romanticize now, but life is not a fairy tale. When the children come, when he can’t help, when you have to bear all the burden alone—you will break. I don’t want you to suffer because of my mistakes. Alexey still can’t find himself. He says he lost his only love. You have a chance to be together again. Leave this… helpless man. Come back to Alexey. You are well off now—I will welcome you with open arms! Everything will be different. You won’t regret it. And if you leave Sergey, you’ll get a share of his property. That will be enough to start a new life. You and Alexey can buy an apartment, have children… I will be a grandmother. Everything will be fine.”
Yulianna looked at her like a ghost of the past—foreign, incomprehensible, devoid of humanity. How could anyone seriously offer such a thing? How could anyone think that love is measured by money and benefit? That a person who has lost the ability to walk automatically loses the right to love? She quietly smiled and slowly stood up.
“You have no idea how grateful I am to you. It is because of you that I realized my first marriage was doomed. Only with Sergey did I learn what true love is—without conditions, without calculation, without betrayal. I’m not going anywhere. I will be with him, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow. You may say whatever you want—my decision will not change. I ask you one last time: do not call me again, do not seek meetings. If you try to interfere in my life again—I will do everything to prevent it. That your son cannot build a new life is his personal tragedy. Not mine. Goodbye.”
Her heart was pounding hard, but not from anger—from the heaviness, from disgust at such words, at such cruelty. She almost felt sorry for this woman. Sorry that she had gone so far from humanity, ready to trade fate, love, and family for profit. And how scary to think: what would she have done if the same thing that happened to Sergey had happened to her own son? Would she have abandoned him? Denied help? Turned away?
Yulianna went outside, took a deep breath, and tried to push those thoughts out of her mind. To think like such a person is to risk becoming like them. Better to focus on the light, on what truly matters.
She returned home earlier than usual. Sergey was already waiting, and they went for a walk. He felt her support—and it gave him strength. He agreed to the surgery, went through rehabilitation, overcoming pain, step by step following doctors’ recommendations. Yulianna urged him not to rush, saying she would always be with him—but he wanted to stand up for her, for their future.
After six months, the first results appeared. Sergey could already move independently short distances, leaning on a cane. Yulianna rejoiced at every step, held his hand, supported him—physically and spiritually. She loved him sincerely, wholeheartedly, and that love seemed to be marked by fate itself.
And Zoe Nikitichna had to face what she never expected. One late evening, coming home drunk after a shift, Alexey got into an accident. The doctors said he would hardly walk again. Now she herself was at her bedridden son’s bedside, caring for him, crying, and recalling Yulianna’s words. One thought kept spinning in her head: “Did I bring this upon myself?” But it was already too late. No tears, no regrets could bring back the past.
