— What are you doing here, you nag? We didn’t invite you! You’re not part of the family, so beat it! — the mother-in-law barked, having gathered the relatives for Easter… at her daughter-in-law’s dacha.

“What did you come barging in for, you cow? We didn’t invite you. You’re not part of the family, so get out!” the mother-in-law snapped, having gathered with the relatives for Easter at her daughter-in-law’s dacha. And ten minutes later, everyone was running off, slippers flying. Sunbeams slid across the light wallpaper, glinting off the […]

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Your little beauty can celebrate her birthday without you—go pick up Yulenka!” she heard her mother-in-law say, and she froze…

While tidying the entryway, Milana heard her mother-in-law’s voice and looked out the window. Her husband was sitting on the front steps, talking to his mother over a video call. She went back to sorting the shoes, deciding not to eavesdrop, but Nina Yevgenyevna was speaking loudly enough that it was impossible not to hear […]

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After emerging from her coma, the wealthy patient instructed the doctor to tell her husband that she had supposedly died.

In the doctors’ break room hung the cloying, bittersweet smell of burnt coffee and frayed nerves. The air was thick as jelly, saturated with night shifts, anxious monitor beeps, and quiet despair. Nina Petrovna—a woman built like a solid samovar, with a face where sternness had long since taken up permanent residence—slowly stirred the third […]

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— “I’ve found someone else. Pack your stuff and get out of my apartment,” the husband declared, but the wife only laughed.

Lena suspected her husband was unfaithful. Lately he’d been acting too strangely, too distant. Only two years into the marriage, and they already felt like strangers. Her mother-in-law had warned her, said her son was fickle and that Lena should think a hundred times before deciding to marry him. Back then Lena believed she could […]

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“Your ‘beauty’ can celebrate her birthday without you—go and meet little Yulia!” she heard her mother-in-law say, and she was stunned…

While tidying up the entryway, Milana heard her mother-in-law’s voice and looked out the window. Her husband was sitting on the front steps, talking to his mother over a video call. Milana went back to sorting the shoes, deciding not to eavesdrop, but Nina Yevgenyevna was speaking loudly enough that it was impossible not to […]

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“Yes, it’s my apartment. No, my mother-in-law’s debts are not my problem. And yes—I’ve filed for divorce. I’m done being your ‘insurance policy.’”

— “Are you trying to give Mom a heart attack on purpose?” Nikolai flared up, tossing the TV remote onto the table like it was a grenade. — “Don’t be dramatic,” Elena replied wearily, not pausing from washing the dishes. “Let her at least stop rummaging through my cupboards first.” — “She wants what’s best […]

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“It’s your mother’s apartment—why should I be the one paying for it?” I asked my husband in surprise when he asked me for money for the next mortgage payment.

“Irina, I wanted to talk to you about something important,” Igor tapped his fingers nervously on the table, avoiding his wife’s eyes. Irina tore herself away from her laptop and looked at her husband closely. Something in his voice put her on guard. “About what?” she asked, closing the lid. “You see, my mom needs […]

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When Olga fell ill, her husband still showed up at the hospital for a while and then stopped. Well, “husband”—officially they never even registered their marriage. Uma, Olga’s friend, scolded her for that:

Uma, when she found out about the move, didn’t even try to hide her delight. “See? You’ll snag yourself a man right away.” “How can you say that!” “What? He’s a widower, and you’re basically one too. Don’t miss your chance, girlfriend!” Olga felt uncomfortable: did other people think that way too? Why do people […]

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