The phone trembled on the bedside table for a long time, but neither the man nor the woman stirred. It was six in the morning.
Alexey had suspected something like this might happen, which is why he had already silenced both his and his wife’s phones the night before. Though he tried to convince himself that everything was under control, a vague sense of unease lingered beneath the surface.
Persistent knocking interrupted the morning silence.
An hour later, after several unanswered knocks, the sound became louder—more aggressive.
Yana was the first to wake. She glanced nervously toward the hallway.
The pounding echoed through the quiet Saturday morning like thunder.
“Oh no, all the neighbors will wake up,” Yana thought, fearfully nudging her husband.
— Alexey, Alexey…
— Open up, you scoundrels! — came a thunderous voice from behind the door.
It was Irina Arkadyevna, Alexey’s mother.
— Or I’ll break it down!
Alexey stirred, groaning. He had always been a heavy sleeper, reluctant to wake up.
— Open the door! — Irina Arkadyevna demanded again.
Now fully awake, Alexey realized what was happening.
— Alexey, I’m scared, — Yana whispered.
— Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it, — he said, heading toward the hallway.
Yana didn’t stay behind. She hurried to check on their baby, little Semyon, who fortunately was still sound asleep in the nursery—the farthest room from the hallway.
Alexey opened the front door, and Irina Arkadyevna stormed in like a hurricane.
— I hate this! — she shouted from the threshold.
— Quiet! You’ll wake the baby! — Alexey hissed, grabbing her arm and guiding her into the kitchen, closing the door behind them.
— What are you doing, Mom?! — he snapped.
— You’re asking me? — she fumed. — Katya came home last night—with her things! That bastard dumped her!
— And what does that have to do with us? — Alexey asked, keeping calm. — That’s their business.
— Don’t pretend you don’t understand! — Irina raged. — This is your fault and that of your…
— My wife’s name is Yana, — Alexey interrupted coldly. — And if you don’t stop yelling, I’ll throw you out.
— You wouldn’t dare, — she retorted, though her tone dropped a notch. — You ruined your sister’s life.
— Katya did that herself when she chose the wrong man, — Alexey said firmly.
— You could’ve fixed it… — Irina persisted.
— Again: my wife’s name is Yana, — he repeated, more icily this time. — And what you’re asking for—it’s insane.
— Nonsense! — she snapped. — You and your…
She never finished.
Yana, still near the crib, sat in silence. Through the walls, she could hear the muffled voices in the kitchen and couldn’t help but reflect on the situation she had married into.
Later, Irina Arkadyevna confronted Yana directly.
— How much do you want? — she demanded, practically looming over the heavily pregnant woman. — Name your price.
— I told you, I’m not doing this, — Yana replied.
— How much?! — Irina screeched, her fists trembling. — My daughter’s future is at stake! I’ll… you…
The front door slammed.
Alexey returned.
Assessing the scene, he stepped in.
— Mom, again?!
He positioned himself between his wife and his mother.
— Alexey, please, talk to her. Help her understand how important this is for Katya…
— Enough, Mom! — Alexey snapped. — This is madness. Leave. And don’t bring this up ever again.
— I’ll curse you, — Irina hissed. — You have no idea how powerful a mother’s curse can be.
— I don’t believe in that nonsense, — he replied. — Now go.
Irina could see the finality in her son’s eyes. She lingered at the threshold, glaring at them both.
— If anything happens to Katya, I’ll never forgive you.
And with that, she left.
Yana let out a long, trembling breath as Alexey embraced her.
— It’s over, Yanochka. Don’t worry.
But it wasn’t.
The roots of the conflict ran deep.
In Alexey’s family, favoritism had always been obvious. He was his father’s pride and heir, while Katya, five years younger, was her mother’s everything.
Pavel Sergeyevich, their father, was 15 years older than Irina, and their marriage was clearly one of convenience. Irina never loved her husband—only his money and status.
Alexey resembled his father—both in mind and character. Katya, on the other hand, was her mother’s twin in every way.
After Pavel’s death, it was revealed that he had left behind enormous debts. The family inherited nothing. For Irina, her resentment only deepened. She saw her son as a reminder of the man who had “ruined her life.”
— I gave that man the best years of my life, — she often sobbed. — And what did I get? Nothing!
Alexey moved out young, built a career, and married Yana, a kind woman he met at work. Together, they bought an apartment with a mortgage. Irina showed no interest in his life. Katya was her focus.
Katya, meanwhile, seduced one of her late father’s former business partners—a wealthy married man. Patiently and strategically, she got him to leave his wife.
Eventually, Katya moved into his mansion. But her husband, Nikolay Alexandrovich, wanted a son—something his first wife never gave him.
Katya couldn’t conceive. Still, she lied, claiming she was pregnant. She wore a fake belly. Irina helped her look for a newborn boy to “buy.”
Then they learned Yana was pregnant—with a boy.
Alexey had casually mentioned this to his mother on the phone. He had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.
Irina called him for a “serious conversation.”
— Alexey, you must give your son to Katya, — she said plainly.
— What? Are you insane?
— She’ll pay any amount. He’ll grow up in luxury. Yana can have another—
— Mom, stop. This is horrifying.
But she didn’t stop. She began harassing both of them.
Eventually, Alexey cut all ties, blocked her number, and warned he’d report her to the police if she ever came near them again.
Their son, Semyon, was born healthy and loved.
But Irina wasn’t done. She bribed a doctor who falsely reported to Nikolay that Katya had a stillbirth—while he was away on business.
Katya pretended the boy was stillborn to explain away the absence of a baby.
At first, Nikolay believed it.
But suspicions grew. He took Katya to a trusted doctor—only to learn the truth:
She had never been pregnant. She couldn’t have children at all.
The fallout was immediate and brutal. He kicked her out. No joint property. No second chances.
That Saturday morning, Alexey knew it was time to sever ties completely. Not just for his own peace, but to protect his wife and child.
Irina Arkadyevna and Katya were left alone with their schemes and their bitterness.
And peace finally settled over Alexey’s home.
Please share this story if it moved you or made you think.
Sometimes, the deepest wounds come from those who are supposed to love us most.
Let me know if you want this turned into a short story, a script, or if you’d like help posting it somewhere for a wider audience.
