The first phone call from Sveta caught Irina by surprise. Her sister-in-law never called just like that—usually, their communication was limited to holiday greetings and rare meetings at family gatherings. But that June evening, when Irina was washing the dishes after dinner and Andrey was watching the news, the phone rang insistently.
“Andryusha, hi,” Sveta’s voice sounded anxious. “Sorry to bother you so late.”
Irina listened to the conversation while rinsing the plates. Sveta was talking about problems with her youngest son Misha—a four-year-old boy who had developed a high fever, and they didn’t have the necessary medicine at home.
“You understand, there’s still a week until payday, and the doctor prescribed expensive medication,” Sveta explained. “Maybe you could lend us some money temporarily? I’ll pay you back as soon as I get paid.”
Andrey agreed to help without hesitation. Three thousand rubles for children’s medicine was not a critical amount for the family budget. Irina didn’t object, although she mentally noted that Sveta’s husband, Nikolai Petrovich, worked as a foreman at a factory and should have a stable salary.
The next call came two weeks later. This time, Sveta asked for help buying groceries—her elder daughter Lena was going to summer camp, and they needed to prepare the necessary things. Another five thousand rubles transferred from Andrey’s account to his sister-in-law’s card.
“They have kids, you see,” her husband explained, noticing the slight bewilderment on Irina’s face. “You can’t abandon family in difficult times.”
Irina nodded but thought to herself that difficult times seemed to happen suspiciously often for Sveta. Nevertheless, she did not argue—helping relatives was considered normal.
July brought a new wave of requests. Sveta called every week, each time with different reasons. Sometimes money was needed for Lena’s medicines, who caught a cold at camp; other times urgent payment for utilities was required to avoid electricity disconnection. Then the refrigerator broke down, and food started to spoil in the heat.
Andrey responded to every request. Four thousand for medicines, seven thousand for utilities, twelve thousand for refrigerator repair. The sums grew, but her husband saw no need to discuss expenses with his wife.
“She’s my sister,” Andrey said when Irina cautiously hinted at the rising costs. “I can’t abandon family.”
By the end of July, Irina calculated the expenses and was horrified. Thirty-one thousand rubles in one month—almost half her salary as a sales manager. And they themselves had plans for the summer: to update the kitchen furniture and go to the sea.
“Andrey, maybe you should talk to Nikolai Petrovich?” Irina suggested during one evening conversation. “Find out what’s going on with their money.”
Her husband frowned and shook his head:
“Why get involved in other people’s business? Sveta will tell us if she wants to.”
“But we’re helping all the time. Maybe there are systemic problems?”
“They have problems—they have two kids and a small salary. The rest doesn’t matter.”
Irina wanted to argue, but her husband had already switched the TV to another channel, signaling the topic was closed. She stayed silent, though inside worry was growing.
August turned out even more expensive. Sveta called twice a week, and each time there were valid reasons for financial help. Preparing children for the new school year, buying school uniforms, paying for extra classes—the list of expenses seemed endless.
“Lena is going into fifth grade; she needs good uniforms,” Andrey explained after another conversation with his sister. “And Misha is starting preparatory classes.”
Fifteen thousand for uniforms, eight thousand for stationery, ten thousand for extra lessons. Andrey transferred money without hesitation, and Irina silently watched their savings melt away.
“Maybe we should set some limit?” the woman cautiously suggested. “Like no more than ten thousand a month.”
“A limit on helping children?” Andrey was outraged. “Do you hear what you’re saying?”
“I’m talking about family budget planning.”
“The family budget must include help for relatives.”
“But not on such a scale.”
“What scale? Are we going bankrupt?”
“Not yet, but at this rate, we could.”
Andrey looked at his wife disapprovingly:
“I thought you were a kind woman. Turns out I was wrong.”
The blow was precise and painful. Irina tried to explain it wasn’t about kindness but a reasonable approach to spending, but her husband wasn’t listening. The conversation ended with Andrey deliberately going to smoke on the balcony while Irina stayed in the living room, feeling guilty.
Meanwhile, Sveta’s requests became more cunning. She learned to present information so refusal was impossible. The children got sick at the worst possible moments, utilities threatened to shut off in the heat, appliances broke down right before holidays. Each situation required immediate resolution, and Andrey reacted exactly as his sister expected.
By the end of August, Irina noticed her husband becoming secretive about finances. Earlier Andrey openly talked about transfers to his sister, but now he often disappeared with the phone to another room. When she asked about the conversation, he answered evasively:
“Sveta was asking about our affairs.”
“And that’s all?”
“Yes, all. What else to talk about?”
But intuition told Irina the matter was not just polite inquiries. Andrey was clearly hiding something, and it concerned money.
Her suspicions were confirmed by accident. Irina logged into internet banking to check the card balance and found an eighteen-thousand-ruble transfer made the day before. When she asked her husband about the expense, he hesitated and reluctantly admitted:
“Sveta asked for help with repairing the children’s room. Lena’s ceiling is leaking after the rain.”
“Eighteen thousand for ceiling repair?”
“Not just the ceiling. We also need to replace the linoleum that got damaged by water.”
“Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“Didn’t want to upset you. I know you worry about expenses.”
“I worry because we’ve already spent more than eighty thousand this summer.”
“Not more than eighty. At most seventy.”
“Eighty-two thousand,” Irina said clearly. “I counted.”
Andrey fell silent, realizing his wife knew the exact figures. He tried to change the subject, but Irina was determined:
“Andrey, this has to stop. We can’t support an entire family.”
“We’re not supporting them. We’re helping in difficult situations.”
“They have difficult situations every week.”
“So what? That means life is hard for them.”
“Or they’re used to solving problems at our expense.”
“Ira, you’re saying terrible things about my sister.”
“I’m telling the truth. Sveta is using our kindness.”
“She’s not using it. She’s desperately asking for help.”
“Desperately every week? Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
“What seems strange to me is your attitude towards family.”
“Family? That’s not our family. That’s Sveta’s family.”
“Sveta is my sister. Her kids are my nephews.”
“Who should be supported by their parents, not us.”
“The parents can’t manage. We help.”
“We’re helping them not to manage. Why should Nikolai Petrovich look for extra work if he has a generous brother-in-law?”
“He works! Just the salary is small.”
“Then Sveta should work. Lena is a schoolgirl, Misha is in kindergarten.”
“Sveta can’t work. The children need attention.”
“Children or the husband wants the wife to stay home?”
“I don’t know. It’s their business.”
“Then supporting the children is also their business, not ours.”
The conversation reached a dead end again. Andrey didn’t want to admit that his sister manipulated him, and Irina couldn’t tolerate the constant expenses anymore. The family budget was bursting at the seams, plans were falling apart, and the extortion showed no end.
Worst of all, Andrey began hiding the real scale of help from his wife. He transferred money secretly and then made up explanations. Trust between spouses was undermined; the family was on the verge of breaking up.
And Sveta kept calling. Every week there were new reasons for financial requests, and every time Andrey agreed to help. Irina realized it could not continue this way.
The blow came from an unexpected source. In early October, Irina received a call from the bank. A polite manager’s voice informed her that a payment of forty-three thousand rubles on a loan registered in her husband’s name was overdue.
“What loan?” Irina asked, feeling her heart start to race.
“A consumer loan of eight hundred thousand rubles taken out a month ago. Andrey Sergeyevich is a guarantor for the mortgage loan but took an additional loan to cover the debt.”
Irina slowly sank into a chair. Eight hundred thousand rubles. A huge sum that her husband had not mentioned a word about. She asked to send the loan details by email and hung up.
The documents arrived half an hour later. The loan was indeed registered in Andrey’s name a month ago. Purpose — to pay off the mortgage debt. But what mortgage? They had bought their apartment long ago and fully paid it off.
Irina reread the papers and understood. Andrey had become a guarantor on the mortgage loan of Sveta and Nikolai Petrovich. When they ran into payment problems, he took a consumer loan to cover his sister’s debt. Eight hundred thousand rubles — this was not help; this was real financial madness.
She waited for her husband to come home from work and silently put the printed documents in front of him. Andrey looked at the papers and turned pale.
“Ira, I can explain…”
“Eight hundred thousand rubles,” Irina said evenly. “A loan at eighteen percent annual interest. Monthly payment is thirty-four thousand rubles.”
“I wanted to tell you but didn’t know how…”
“Didn’t know how to say that you jeopardized our financial future?”
“I didn’t jeopardize anything. We’ll manage.”
“Manage? Our combined income is one hundred twenty-five thousand a month. Thirty-four thousand goes to the loan, plus our usual expenses. What’s left?”
“Enough to live on.”
“To exist. What if we lose our jobs? Get sick? Need money for something urgent?”
“Let’s not think ahead.”
“We will. Because you already have.”
Andrey lowered his head, realizing there was no excuse. He had indeed signed documents without telling his wife a word. He broke all the principles of family life for his sister.
“Sveta said it’s the last time,” the husband muttered. “She won’t ask again.”
“Sveta said a lot of things. Remember how she promised to return the first three thousand?”
“That’s different.”
“It’s the same. Sveta is used to living at other people’s expense.”
“Not other people’s — family’s.”
“At our expense. Your sister doesn’t work; her husband earns decent money but somehow can’t pay the mortgage.”
“Nikolai Petrovich got sick, missed work…”
“Sick or fired knowing he has a generous brother-in-law?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly. You know nothing about their real situation.”
“I know they need help.”
“You know they know how to ask for money.”
Irina got up and paced the room. Eight hundred thousand rubles is not just a big amount. It’s financial bondage for years. A loan with a high interest rate that must be paid regardless of circumstances.
“Andrey, I can’t anymore,” the woman said wearily. “I can’t live with someone who makes such decisions without consulting me.”
“Ira, let’s discuss…”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You made your choice. You chose your sister.”
“I didn’t choose. I just helped.”
“Helped at the expense of our marriage.”
“The marriage has nothing to do with it.”
“It does. Family finances are a shared responsibility.”
“I’m taking responsibility.”
“You can’t. The loan is in your name, but we will pay it together.”
“We will. And we’ll manage.”
“We won’t. Because I’m leaving.”
Andrey raised his head and looked at his wife with fear:
“Ira, don’t say nonsense.”
“I’m not saying nonsense. I’m making a decision.”
“Because of money?”
“Because of deceit. Because you put your sister’s interests above your wife’s.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did. And you proved it with an eight hundred thousand loan.”
“That’s help for family.”
“That’s betrayal of family.”
“What betrayal? I didn’t betray anyone.”
“You betrayed me. Made a decision that affects our future together.”
“Our future is shared.”
“It was shared. Now you have obligations to the bank and your sister.”
“We have obligations.”
“You do. I wasn’t involved.”
“But we are family.”
“Family is when decisions are made together.”
“I couldn’t wait. Sveta threatened eviction.”
“Let them evict. That’s not our problem.”
“How not our problem? The kids will be homeless.”
“The kids will stay with their parents, who should solve their own problems.”
“The parents can’t manage.”
“Then let them sell the apartment and buy something cheaper.”
“They can’t sell. Mortgage.”
“They can. Selling with encumbrance.”
“They will lose money.”
“They will lose what they couldn’t earn.”
“Ira, that’s harsh.”
“It’s harsh to drag relatives into your financial problems.”
“Not drag. Ask for help.”
“Demand support.”
“Not demand…”
“Demand. Because they know you won’t refuse.”
“I won’t refuse because it’s right.”
“Right is being honest with your wife.”
“I was honest.”
“Hiding an eight hundred thousand loan?”
“Not hiding. Just didn’t have time to tell.”
“A month no time?”
“Looking for the right moment.”
“The right moment for such news is immediately after signing.”
“Knew you’d be against it.”
“I was against it. And rightly so.”
“Right is helping family.”
“Right is saving your own family.”
“Our family won’t fall apart because of a loan.”
“It already has. From distrust.”
Irina went to the bedroom and took out a suitcase. The decision was made instantly, but its roots ran deep—in months of deceit, manipulation, and ignoring her opinion. The loan was the last straw.
The next day she went to the bank and learned she could freeze access to their joint accounts. The procedure took several hours, but the result was worth it. Andrey could no longer spend family money on his sister.
A week later, Irina filed for divorce. There was practically no property to divide—the apartment was in her husband’s name, as was the car. But she didn’t claim any material benefits. She only wanted freedom from the financial obligations her husband had taken on.
Andrey tried to dissuade his wife, promising not to help his sister anymore and swearing he would pay the loan himself. But trust was completely broken. Irina understood that if she stayed, in a month or two Sveta would call again with another request. And her husband would again be unable to refuse.
On moving day, Irina packed only personal belongings and documents. The apartment stayed with Andrey along with the loan obligations and the need to pay off his sister’s debts. The woman rented a small one-room apartment in another district and began a new life.
A month later, Andrey called asking for a meeting. He looked haggard and tired. He said Sveta was asking for help again—this time to pay utilities. But Andrey had no money; the loan payments consumed most of his salary.
“Maybe you’ll come back?” her husband asked in a broken voice. “It would be easier together.”
“No,” Irina answered calmly. “I won’t.”
“But we loved each other.”
“We did. But love wasn’t enough.”
“Not enough for what?”
“For you to choose me over your sister.”
“I didn’t choose.”
“You did. Every time Sveta called.”
“It’s different now.”
“You have no money now. When you do, you’ll help again.”
“I won’t.”
“You will. Because you don’t know how to say no.”
“I’ll learn.”
“It’s too late. The choice is made.”
Andrey left, and Irina stayed in her small apartment, sipping cold coffee and looking out the window. It was sad, but not regrettable. She freed herself from financial manipulation, deceit, and having to endure disrespect for her opinion.
Six months later, a friend told her Andrey had sold the apartment to pay off the loan. He moved to a rented room and spent most of the sale money on his sister’s next needs. Sveta still didn’t work, Nikolai Petrovich found a new job, but the salary was small.
“Let him pay off the debts himself now. I’m no one to him anymore,” Irina smirked when she heard the news.
The woman got a new job with a higher salary, started saving for her own apartment, and for the first time in a long while felt financial freedom. No one demanded help, manipulated her feelings, or made decisions for her.
And Andrey was left with the consequences of his choice. The loan, the rented room, and the sister who kept calling with requests. Only now there was no money to help—all earnings went to debt payments. Sveta quickly lost interest in her brother, who ceased to be a source of financial support.
Irina did not gloat, but she felt a certain satisfaction. Justice had prevailed—everyone got what they deserved.
