“Leave that loser and come back to my son! You’re rich now, I’ll take you back!” the mother-in-law declared.
The early-morning call from her former mother-in-law greatly surprised Yulianna. She hadn’t had time to answer, and she had no desire to call back. Who knew what Zoya Nikitichna wanted this time? Maybe she’d remembered some imaginary debts she liked to invent just to squeeze more money out of her ex-daughter-in-law.
Yulianna owed nothing to either her ex-husband or his mother. After the divorce she had returned all the gifts Alexey had ever given her, everything that might tie her to the past. Keeping nothing for herself, Yulianna stepped into a new life — but Zoya Nikitichna couldn’t leave her in peace.
From time to time she reminded Yulianna of her existence, pouring a bucket of filth over her former daughter-in-law. Surely she was getting ready to spit out something nasty again.
Making sure her husband Sergey was still asleep, Yulianna poured herself some coffee and turned on the computer. Most of the work in the company that belonged to Sergey had now fallen on her shoulders.
Two months earlier her husband had been inspecting one of the sites they were about to hand over. Neglecting safety rules, he had fallen from a height and injured his spine.
Doctors offered little hope, saying that even if they operated, they could not guarantee Sergey would walk again. Yulianna didn’t give up and tried to keep his spirits up.
Even if he remained confined to a wheelchair, it wasn’t the end of the world. They loved each other, and they could overcome any hardship together.
After checking her work email and making sure nothing had gone wrong — all the important meetings were scheduled for the afternoon — Yulianna allowed herself a little respite. She prepared breakfast and started getting ready for the office.
She wanted to finish everything early and take her husband out for a walk. When Sergey woke up, Yulianna helped him into the chair and wheeled him to the kitchen. She cared for him, even though he was fairly independent.
“Shall we go for a walk today?” she asked, gently hugging her husband’s shoulders.
“If you like. Come back soon. I told the deputy not to overload you there — let him take most of the meetings.”
“I’d gladly agree, but you know no one does things better than you yourself. I hope I can finish quickly. Don’t get bored.”
Yulianna kissed her husband on the cheek and hurried to the underground parking lot — she was already running a little late. Once, she had found herself in a desperate situation. She would never forget that day.
Her mother-in-law had thrown her out of the apartment into pouring rain, taken all her money and valuables, and said the daughter-in-law should figure out for herself how to go on living. There was nowhere to turn for help.
Yulianna couldn’t call her parents and ask for money, because her mother had heart problems at that very time, and any worry could have harmed her.
Arranging to stay with a friend for a couple of days, Yulianna asked her boss for an advance on her salary. Sergey immediately responded, helped her with money, and found a rental apartment.
He didn’t leave her in trouble — he even promoted her so she could earn more. Yulianna remembered how he worried, asking if she had enough, if she was living comfortably. While paying off the car loan she’d taken out for her ex-husband, she had barely made ends meet.
It was Sergey who helped her find a good lawyer. Unwilling to part with the car or split it, Alexey finally agreed to pay the loan himself. Yulianna never quite understood how fate brought her and Sergey together, but she felt his love and care and opened her heart to this man.
She did her best not to betray his trust: despite their relationship, she worked diligently. And now… everything had fallen on her shoulders, but Yulianna didn’t complain. She believed in the best and knew every trial is given to us for a reason.
Zoya Nikitichna called again while Yulianna was at a meeting. She declined the call, then rang back as soon as she had a free moment.
Although nothing bound her to her former mother-in-law anymore, she didn’t want to bury her head in the sand. If the woman was calling so persistently, she must have her reasons.
“Yulianna, why aren’t you answering? I was starting to worry whether you were all right. Can we meet?”
Zoya Nikitichna spoke in a wheedling tone. It was clear she wanted something from her ex-daughter-in-law and was trying to ingratiate herself. But hearing her voice was unpleasant: all the bad memories instantly returned, bringing pain.
“Why? Do you want something? You can tell me over the phone.”
“Oh no! This isn’t a phone conversation at all,” Zoya Nikitichna protested. “Let’s meet and talk? There’s so much I need to tell you.”
Yulianna sighed heavily, scolding herself for such a soft nature. She decided to meet with the woman after all and make it clear that she should stop calling — that all ties between them had ended long ago, the day she was thrown out into the pouring rain.
Yulianna resolved to tell her former mother-in-law plainly that she could neither forgive nor let go of past grievances and that she no longer wished to maintain any contact.
They agreed to meet at five o’clock in the evening, Yulianna warning that she would only have a little time. After finishing her work, she headed to the café where Zoya Nikitichna was already supposed to be waiting.
She wanted to get home quickly, take a walk with her husband, and spend more time together. She had no intention of talking long with her mother-in-law — even if former — only to put a full stop where Zoya Nikitichna for some reason kept leaving an ellipsis, as though it hadn’t been she who had driven her out, as though she hadn’t interfered with Yulianna’s and Alexey’s relationship in the past.
“You’ve become such a beauty. A real lady. It’s a pity you weren’t like that before, but no matter,” Zoya Nikitichna smiled as soon as Yulianna sat down across from her.
“Say what you wanted — I don’t have much time.”
“My dear, I wanted to ask your forgiveness for how badly I treated you in the past. I should have accepted my son’s choice and not schemed against you. It was hard for me, and I didn’t notice what a good, reliable person you really were. Now I see how wrong I was.
Forgive me for all the harsh words I once spoke to you, for driving you out and accusing you of theft, for turning my son against you. I’m ashamed of how I acted and hurt you, when I should have been someone close and dear to you — a second mother.”
If Zoya Nikitichna had planned to gain absolution, she could have apologized over the phone. Knowing her, Yulianna sensed there was some hidden agenda in this meeting. She waited patiently to see what would come next.
“So… yes, I truly am ashamed. Now, when I replay everything in my mind, I’m angry at myself.”
“There’s no need to dwell on the past. Just take some lessons from it and try not to act that way again. If you invited me only for this, I’ll go — I’m in a hurry.”
“No, no, wait!” Zoya Nikitichna grabbed her former daughter-in-law’s hand, not letting her stand and leave. “I heard you’re having trouble with your husband. It was on the news. It must be hard to go through.
You’re still so young. You don’t even have children. How are you going to live on? I feel so sorry for you. I feel guilty for interfering in your relationship with my son and ruining your marriage.
You truly loved each other, and I spoiled everything — and now I want to make it right…”
“Fix it?” Yulianna repeated, hardly believing her own ears. “What is it you want to fix? I’m married, and I’m happy — in spite of everything. I’m not complaining about my life. It’s wonderful. What happened to my husband is an ordeal, but we’ll face it together.”
Zoya Nikitichna forced a smile, more like a predator’s grimace. She gave an irritated snort and lifted her chin in that familiar way. Her true nature was straining to break through, but she tried to suppress it so as not to blurt out something vile again.
“Right now it seems to you that you’ll manage everything, but that’s not so. You must understand he won’t be able to give you much. First, you’ll start to hate him, and then yourself for agreeing to stay by his side.
At the moment you romanticize it, but later it will get worse. When the children come, and he gives you no help at all, you’ll howl with frustration and surely regret the choice you made. Yulianna, I’ve realized my mistakes, I understand them now. I don’t want you to be miserable for the rest of your life because of me.
Lyosha still hasn’t forgotten you. He doesn’t want a new relationship, says he lost the only woman he ever loved. You two have every chance to reunite. Leave that pathetic man and come back to my son! You’re wealthy now, I’ll welcome you! Everything will be completely different. You won’t have to regret your choice or fuss over a useless husband.
If you divorce, you’ll get a considerable share of his property. That will be enough for you and Lyosha to buy an apartment and live separately. Everything will work out for you, and you’ll give me grandchildren.”
Looking at Zoya Nikitichna, Yulianna suddenly wondered if the woman was in her right mind. How could she dare to say such terrible things? If she herself was so mercenary, did she think everyone else was the same?
And she even emphasized she would accept her back into the family because of her wealth. Smirking, Yulianna stood and looked at her ex-husband’s mother.
“You can’t imagine how grateful I am that you ruined my relationship with Alexey. Only with Sergey did I understand what it means to love and be loved.
Only by his side did I find real happiness. Despite your attempts to convince me that I won’t cope and will regret it, I’m not going to step back. I love my husband. I’ll be with him until the very end, through sorrow and joy.
You can say and think whatever you like. You won’t change my mind. From now on, please don’t call me or seek meetings. If you cross my path again, I’ll find a way to put an end to it. That your son couldn’t meet another woman is his problem, not mine. Goodbye.”
Feeling her heart pounding in her chest, Yulianna headed for the parking lot. There was no anger — instead, revulsion and pity splashed inside her. Deep down she felt disgusted that such people lived on this earth, and in part, sorry for them.
Chasing profit, her mother-in-law had squandered all humanity. She spoke such dreadful things, never considering that one day something similar might happen in her own life. What would she do if Alexey suffered an accident?
Would she abandon her son and cast him off? Yulianna’s head was spinning, but she tried to shut off the negative thoughts and not dwell on bad things. Trying to understand what went on in such a corrupt person’s head wasn’t worth it — not even for a second should she risk becoming like her.
Yulianna got home early, and she and her husband went out for a walk. Feeling the support of his beloved wife, Sergey tried to do everything to get back on his feet. He agreed to surgery and, during rehabilitation, through the pain, did everything the doctors recommended.
Though Yulianna urged him not to rush, telling him she would stay no matter what, Sergey wanted to get better for her. He valued the care and support of the woman he loved, who stood by his side.
Six months later, the first results appeared. Bit by bit, he could move short distances, but that was not the limit.
Yulianna rejoiced at every step her husband took and was always there to hold his hand firmly and keep him from falling. She loved sincerely with all her heart, and heaven rewarded that love with its blessing.
As for Zoya Nikitichna, she had to face something she had never expected. Coming home drunk from work, Alexey got into an accident and ended up bedridden.
Caring for her son, the woman recalled her conversation with her former daughter-in-law and wept, thinking she herself had brought misfortune upon them. But now, she could change nothing.
