Irina and Sergey buy a new apartment after saving for fifteen years, but register it in Sergey’s mother’s name to save on taxes. Irina feels uneasy, but trusts her husband and his mother. After the mother suffers a stroke, Sergey’s younger brother, Eugene, secretly gets power of attorney and sells the apartment, claiming it legally belongs to their mother.
Despite protests, the sale goes through. Sergey and Irina lose most of their savings and are forced to rent. A court later partially voids the deal, allowing them to recover only part of the money. The mother cuts ties with Eugene after realizing he manipulated her.
Using the recovered funds, Sergey and Irina buy a smaller apartment with a joint mortgage—this time legally and transparently. They accept the painful lesson: shortcuts and “family trust” schemes can cost far more than money.
