«What are you doing? Put that down immediately!» Tatiana exclaimed, standing in the doorway of the room.
«I just wanted to see what apps you have,» replied Olya, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, trying to sound innocent. «What’s the big deal?»
Tatiana stood in the doorway, holding the collar of her blue terry robe. Drops of water dripped from her wet hair onto her shoulders, soaking into the fabric. She had just come out of the bathroom and found her future relative holding her own smartphone. Olya was sitting on the couch, curiously swiping through the phone screens.
«I didn’t do it on purpose! I was just curious what kind of phone you have,» Olya defended herself, but her eyes darted around like bouncing ping-pong balls.
Tatiana crossed the room with quick steps and snatched the phone from the girl’s hands.
«It’s not right to go through someone else’s things,» Tatiana said, doing her best to keep calm, even though she was already angry. «A phone is personal.»
Olya protested as if she’d been unfairly accused:
«What do you have to hide? If everything is above board, there’s no need to get so mad!» she said, lifting her chin and curling her lips in disdain. «Or is there something you don’t want my brother to see?»
This girl was her fiancé’s younger sister, and getting along with her had not been easy.
«It’s not about having something to hide. A phone is personal. My messages, photos, posts—all of that is part of my private life,» Tatiana replied evenly, trying not to lose her temper. «How would you feel if I took your phone without asking and started going through it?»
Yulia, Olya’s older sister, entered the room. She was wearing a loose sweater, her eyes darting between Tatiana and her sister.
«What’s going on? Why are you upset?» she asked Tatiana.
Olya immediately seized the opportunity for backup:
«I just looked at her phone, and she’s throwing a fit. Clearly, Tanya has something juicy hidden in there,» she said sarcastically.
Yulia moved closer and stood next to her sister.
Tatiana adjusted her hair and tried to explain once again:
«Imagine this: I take your phones and start snooping, looking at your chats with friends, personal photos, the websites you visit. Would you like that?»
The sisters exchanged glances.
«I have nothing to hide,» Yulia declared haughtily. «My thoughts and actions are completely pure.»
«Exactly!» Olya chimed in. «But you—if you’re this upset, that means you’re hiding something from my brother. He’s your fiancé, there shouldn’t be any secrets between you!»
Tatiana realized the conversation was going nowhere. These girls were purposely missing the point. She turned sharply, strode to the guest bedroom, slammed the door, and locked it. Only then did she allow herself to take a deep breath.
«Unbelievable. Just unbelievable,» she muttered. «How disgusting it is to dig through someone else’s things, then twist it so I’m the one to blame!»
She walked over to the bed and sat down. Drops from her hair fell on the screen as she unlocked her phone. Tatiana nervously wiped them off with the back of her hand.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated and Denis’s smiling face lit up the screen. She jumped, feeling as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, then couldn’t help but laugh at herself for the overreaction.
“Hey, my love,” she answered.
“Hi, Tanyush. How are you? What’s this I hear about a spat with my sisters?” Denis’s voice was warm.
Tatiana rolled her eyes. News traveled lightning-fast in this family.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I came out of the bathroom and your sister was poking around in my phone. I just told her that wasn’t okay.”
There was a pause on the line.
“That’s all?” Denis finally asked. “Olya said you made a scene out of nothing.”
Tatiana closed her eyes and counted to ten.
“There was no scene. I simply explained that you shouldn’t take other people’s things, especially a phone, without asking.”
“Well, if she wants to have a look, let her,” Denis replied carelessly. “You have nothing to hide, right?”
The same words, the same tone as his sisters.
“It’s not about having something to hide,” she spoke slowly, choosing her words. “It’s about respect for personal space. Everyone has a right to their own things, their own territory. And maybe even a few little secrets that are meant to stay theirs.”
“Secrets?” Denis’s tone changed instantly. “What kind of secrets, Tatiana?”
She mentally scolded herself for her poor choice of words.
“Denis, don’t get stuck on details. I mean normal, personal things. Maybe I want to buy you a surprise gift, maybe I have a private chat with a friend… whatever. My hair’s wet, I need to get changed and go to the city. My sister is waiting for me.”
“Are you sure it’s your sister?” he asked, attempting a playful tone.
Tatiana took a deep breath, fighting the urge to say something sharp.
“Denis, please, don’t get jealous now. We’re getting married in a few days, remember? I really need to go. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Kissing the screen,” she joked before hanging up, not waiting for his reply.
She shook her head, scattering droplets of water around. “It’ll work out,” she told herself. “It has to work out.”
About twenty minutes later, Tatiana left the bedroom. She had dried her hair as best she could and pulled it back into a bun. Dressed in jeans and a loose tunic, she headed for the door, eager to get away from the house as fast as possible.
“Wait up, I’m coming with you!” Yulia called after her, dashing out of the kitchen.
Tatiana stopped in the doorway, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
“Why? I have personal things to do.”
Yulia threw a light jacket over her shoulders and smoothed her hair.
“Denis asked me to look after you,” she announced with an odd hint of pride. “He said you’re upset and shouldn’t be left alone.”
Look after her? As if she were a child or, worse, someone unreliable who needed supervision.
Yulia noticed the change in her expression and turned to Olya, who had just come out of the room:
“Look at that pout! She’s definitely not going to see her sister,” Yulia said theatrically, winking at the younger Olya. “Maybe our Tanechka’s got a secret date?”
Olya stifled a giggle into her hand.
There was no point arguing with these women anymore—she realized that whatever she said would just be twisted and used against her.
«If you want to come with me, then let’s go,» she said in an even tone. «But just so you know: I walk fast.»
Not waiting for a response, Tatyana turned and left the apartment. By the time Yulia darted out after her, she was already heading down the stairs, skipping steps as she went.
«Hey, slow down!» Yulia protested, trying to catch up in her stylish but uncomfortable ankle boots.
Tatyana didn’t even turn around.
«I told you, I walk fast. Either keep up or go back,» she called over her shoulder.
Yulia muttered something under her breath, annoyed, but picked up her pace, her heels clacking awkwardly on the steps.
Tatyana suddenly found it funny, but managed to hold back a smile and kept up her brisk pace. She walked with long strides, occasionally hearing the labored breathing of her future sister-in-law behind her.
«This is pure madness,» she thought as she crossed the courtyard. «What does ‘control’ even mean? Control who? Me? We’re not even married yet and his family is already keeping an eye on me. What will it be like after?»
By the time they reached the main street, Yulia finally caught up to Tatyana, flushed and annoyed.
«Are you walking this fast on purpose?» she grumbled.
«I always walk like this,» Tatyana replied calmly. «I’m meeting my sister at the mall in five minutes.»
Vera was waiting for them at the mall entrance, scrolling through something on her phone. When she saw her sister, she waved, but her smile faded a bit as she noticed the unfamiliar girl next to Tatyana.
«Hey there, sis,» Tatyana hugged Vera and stepped back. «Meet Yulia, Denis’s sister. Denis asked her to ‘keep an eye on me,’» she made quote marks in the air, hoping Vera would catch her irony.
Vera looked at Yulia in surprise, then glanced back at her sister, deciding it had to be some kind of joke.
«No way,» she laughed. «You two are getting married soon!»
«Turns out, in my fiancé’s family, the concept of trust is pretty unique,» Tatyana tried to sound lighthearted, but Vera, who knew her well, picked up the tension in her voice.
«Well then,» Vera took her sister’s arm. «Let’s go pick out a dress for your bachelorette party.»
When they stepped into the mall, Vera quietly whispered in Tatyana’s ear:
«We’ll talk later. Without the chaperones.»
Tatyana gave a barely noticeable nod, grateful her sister understood everything without words. Together they headed to the first boutique, with Yulia trailing behind, scrutinizing Tatyana.
While the sisters browsed the displays in the shoe boutique, Yulia stepped away for a moment and took out her phone. Tatyana noticed from the corner of her eye but kept admiring the elegant strappy heels.
«Do you think these will go with the dress?» she asked her sister, pointing to a pair with thin golden straps.
Vera nodded, but her attention was clearly on her future sister-in-law, who had turned away and was speaking in a hushed tone on the phone.
«Yeah, Denis, we’re at ‘Passazh’ mall… In the shoe store on the second floor… No, nothing’s happening… She’s just talking with her sister…»
Vera leaned over to Tatyana and quietly asked:
— Is she seriously reporting back to your fiancé about where we are?
— Looks like it.
— Tanya, what’s going on with you two? — Vera pulled her sister aside after Yulia finished her call and started scrolling through messages on her phone. — This is getting paranoid. You’re supposed to be getting married, not breaking up after twenty years together.
Tatyana sighed, lowered her voice, and retold what had happened with her phone earlier that morning.
— Can you believe it, I walk into the room and she’s sitting there going through my phone. And when I got upset, she and Yulia started accusing me of hiding something from them.
Vera frowned.
— I don’t like this, Tanya. It really seems like jealousy and paranoia.
— No, — Tatyana waved her hand. — Denis isn’t like that. He’s never been jealous, not once. We’ve been together a year and a half, I’d have noticed if he was that type.
— In a few days you’ll be his wife, — Vera reminded her, watching as Yulia covertly snapped a photo of them through the shop window. — Men often reveal their true colors when they think the relationship is already ‘in the bag.’
— That’s nonsense. His sisters are just…overly caring. They’re used to looking after him, so now they think they need to control his fiancé too, — she grabbed a pair of shoes from the shelf. — I’ll go try these on.
After hours of shopping, they decided to stop by a café. Vera went up to the counter to order, leaving Tatyana alone with Yulia.
— So, did you send your brother the report? — Tatyana asked, trying to keep her tone light and joking, even though she felt uneasy.
Yulia looked at her without a smile.
— I did, so what? Do you have something to hide?
— Are all of you obsessed with the word ‘hide’? — Tatyana leaned forward. — Listen, are you sure you’re not hiding something from your own husband?
Yulia suddenly blushed and quickly looked away.
— I don’t know what you’re talking about, — she replied coolly.
— Don’t worry about it, — Tatyana waved her hand, surprised by her sister-in-law’s reaction. — You do you.
At that moment, Yulia’s phone rang. She grabbed it instantly.
— Hello? Yes, Denis… We’re at ‘Moskva’ café on the third floor… Yes, of course…
Vera returned to the table with the receipt in hand, giving Tatyana a surprised look and whispered softly:
— Seriously? That’s the third check-in in two hours.
Tatyana just shrugged, trying to look unfazed, but there was a growing unease inside her.
Back at home, Tatyana avoided both sisters, who were chatting animatedly in the living room. She nodded at them as she passed by, then hurried to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She tossed the shopping bags onto a chair carelessly.
The room was quiet and cool. She took her phone from her pocket and looked at it differently now, as if this harmless gadget had suddenly become the root of all her problems.
She sat down on the bed, eyes fixed on her phone. What happened to Denis? He never used to act this way. For a year and a half, they’d shared everything—their days, their dreams. So why now, right before the wedding, did he suddenly think he should be watching over her? Where did this sudden mistrust come from?
Fragments of thoughts and odd suspicions swirled through her mind. She remembered Vera’s words: men often reveal their true selves once they think they’ve put a ring on you.
Suddenly, a silly plan formed in her mind. Tatiana quickly grabbed her phone and dialed her sister’s number.
«Vera?» she whispered, barely audible, afraid one of her sisters-in-law might be listening at the door. «I need your help.»
«I’m listening…»
«I had this thought…» Tatiana lowered her voice even more and continued.
Vera fell silent on the other end, realizing what her sister meant.
«Are you sure?»
«Can you send me a few messages? Don’t put any names—just… you get it…»
«Okay, tell me everything later if you want… Just be careful.»
After ending the call, Tatiana placed her phone face up on the table and waited. Within minutes, the first message arrived. Then the second, the third.
Her lips curved into a slight smile as she read:
«My darling…»
«I’m so happy…»
«I can’t wait…»
«Kisses…»
Without hesitation, Tatiana typed her reply:
«Same here… Miss you terribly…»
Then she got up and giggled, leaving her phone on the table with the chat open, and headed to the bathroom.
That evening, Denis came home from work earlier than usual. His footsteps in the hallway sounded heavy and sharp—Tatiana instantly sensed something was wrong. She was just finishing setting the table for dinner when he walked in, tossing out a short:
«Hey.»
Olya and Yulia were already sitting on the couch, exchanging odd smirks. Tatiana gave a barely noticeable smile as she kept arranging the plates.
«How was your day?» she asked.
Denis didn’t answer. He just took off his jacket and hung it over the back of a chair, never taking his intense gaze off Tatiana.
«We should get going,» Olya suddenly announced as she got up from the couch. «Yulia and I promised Mom…»
«Yeah, yeah,» Yulia chimed in, getting up a bit too quickly. «It’s late, we’ve got to run.»
As she walked past her brother, Olya stopped and whispered something in his ear. Denis nodded, his face growing even darker.
«Alright, we’re off,» Olya sighed dramatically as she headed for the door.
«Post handed off, post accepted,» Tatiana joked, but Denis clearly didn’t find it funny.
The door closed behind her sisters-in-law.
Tatiana pretended not to notice the tension. She calmly headed to the kitchen, turned on the kettle, and grabbed the jar of coffee.
«Do you want some?» she called over her shoulder. «Or maybe tea? It’s been such a long day.»
Denis slowly approached the kitchen doorway and leaned against the door frame.
«How was work?» Tatiana kept up the casual chat as she scooped coffee into the cup. «Did you finish your reports?»
«Who is he?» Denis suddenly asked harshly.
Tatiana turned and looked at him, confused.
«Sorry, what?»
«Don’t pretend!» His voice grew louder. «Who is this guy you’re texting? ‘My darling,’ ‘kisses’… Who is he?»
Tatiana realized instantly what had happened. While she was in the bathroom, Olya had obviously checked her phone and saw the messages that Vera had sent. And of course, she immediately reported it all back to her brother.
The experimental test worked even faster than she had expected.
«About what?» She put on a surprised face.
«Don’t pretend!» he snapped, slamming his hand on the table. «You have someone else! And you’ve been lying to me this whole time!»
«Can you please clarify what you mean by ‘someone else’?» Tatiana asked calmly, though inwardly she scolded her nosy sisters-in-law more than once. «I honestly don’t understand what you’re talking about.»
«Our wedding is on Saturday!» he said bitterly. «The wedding! And you…»
«Yes! The wedding!» Tatiana jumped for joy and tried to hug him. «Finally, we’ll be husband and wife!»
But Denis pulled away, looking at her coldly.
«Did you have someone before me?» he asked bluntly.
«Of course I did. Just like you did. We’re both adults, Denis. We each had a past before meeting each other. What’s so strange about that?»
Denis opened his mouth to say something, then suddenly closed it, turned around, and left the kitchen.
At that moment, Tatiana’s phone, which was lying on the table, chimed with a new message. She glanced at the screen and couldn’t help but smile—Vera had sent a funny sticker captioned, «How’s your experiment going?»
Just then, Denis, who was coming back into the kitchen, noticed her smiling.
«Is it him again?» he hissed through his teeth.
Tatiana grabbed her phone and quickly moved to the side.
«Denis, stop it!»
«You’ve got secrets from me?» He took a step toward her.
«There are no secrets!» Tatiana protested, backing away. «Well, maybe small ones. Every girl has a few.»
«Small secrets?» Denis suddenly lunged at her and snatched the phone from her hand. «Let’s see how small they really are!»
«Give it back right now!» Tatiana tried to get her phone back, but Denis was taller and stronger. «That’s my phone! You have no right!»
«I know you’re flirting with someone behind my back!» he shouted, trying to activate the screen.
«What’s wrong with you?!» Tatiana finally wrenched the phone from his hands. «I don’t recognize you!»
«Give me the phone!» he demanded, taking another step toward her.
«No!» Tatiana backed away. «You’re being paranoid!»
With those words, she turned and, upset with her fiancé, walked off to the bedroom.
The next morning, as soon as Denis left for work, Tatiana approached the wedding dress hanging in the closet. Her slender fingers gently touched the snow-white fabric and traced the lace pattern on the bodice.
«What a beautiful day it was supposed to be,» she thought sadly, running her hand over the soft silk.
The scene with Denis from yesterday wouldn’t leave her mind. She just couldn’t understand how her innocent experiment had turned into a real nightmare—her fiancé, who used to seem so reasonable and calm, had become a jealous paranoiac just days before the wedding.
The sound of the front door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. Tatiana tensed, expecting Denis had come back, but instead three women walked into the apartment—Elizaveta Kirillovna, his mother, followed by her two daughters, Olya and Yulia.
«Reinforcements have arrived,» Tatiana thought with irony as she closed the closet door.
Elizaveta Kirillovna stopped at the entrance to the room, her attentive gaze running over her future daughter-in-law’s figure.
«Girls, go to the kitchen and make some tea,» she instructed, not taking her eyes off Tatiana. «We need to talk privately.»
Olya and Yulia, clearly disappointed that they wouldn’t get to listen in, reluctantly left. Still, Tatiana caught the meaningful glances the sisters exchanged.
Once they were alone, Elizaveta Kirillovna stepped closer. Tatiana could smell her perfume mixed with a hint of cigarette smoke.
«Don’t be foolish, girl,» she began abruptly. «Your wedding is coming up soon, and here you are flirting around. That’s not right at all.»
«Please clarify what you mean by flirting and who exactly you think is being foolish,» Tatiana replied in a level voice, looking her mother-in-law straight in the eye.
Elizaveta Kirillovna gave a short, dismissive laugh and her thin lips twisted into an unpleasant smile.
«You know exactly what I mean.»
«I don’t speak your language,» Tatiana retorted crisply. «I’m used to people telling me things directly to my face. So explain—what flirting, and who’s being foolish?»
Her mother-in-law narrowed her eyes, as though sizing up an opponent.
«I know everything,» Elizaveta Kirillovna’s voice turned icy. «You’re out there fooling around with someone before the wedding. Lying to my son. I bet you have a few men lined up on the side…»
Tatiana felt ashamed, not for herself, but for them—ashamed that they could even think this about her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Olya and Yulia peeking out of the kitchen, clearly trying to eavesdrop. A sly smile played on Yulia’s face, and that smirk finally pushed Tatiana over the edge.
«I have great respect for you, Elizaveta Kirillovna,» she said slowly, «but you shouldn’t twist things to suit yourself. If someone’s seeing men on the side, maybe you should ask your daughters about it.»
Tatiana herself was surprised by her boldness. Elizaveta Kirillovna turned and looked at Olya and Yulia, who emerged from the kitchen and stood there, their faces showing mock outrage.
Her mother-in-law held out her hand to Tatiana, demanding.
«Give me your phone.»
«What?»
«Your phone,» Elizaveta Kirillovna repeated. «I want to see who you’ve been messaging.»
«I’m not going to…» Tatiana began, but she was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Taking advantage of the moment, Olya ran to the nightstand, grabbed Tatiana’s phone, and handed it triumphantly to her mother.
«Here you go, mom,» she said, her voice brimming with pride.
«Give me back my phone!» Tatiana lunged toward Elizaveta Kirillovna, but her mother-in-law quickly stepped aside.
Olya laughed as she watched the scene, her laughter sharp and cutting, like the sound of breaking glass.
«Give me my phone right now!» Tatiana demanded, trying to squeeze past Yulia, who blocked her path with her body.
«See, I told you,» Yulia smirked. «Why are you so nervous if you have nothing to hide?»
Elizaveta Kirillovna had already unlocked the phone and was quickly scrolling through the messages. Her wrinkled fingers expertly navigated the touchscreen. Tatiana tried to push through, but Olya suddenly stepped in front of her too, forming a living barrier with her sister.
«Let me through!» Tatiana’s voice rose into a shout. «What do you think you’re doing?»
Oh my God! Suddenly, my mother-in-law shouted, her face twisting into a triumphant grin. “A kiss! See! I knew it! That’s it!”
Tatiana spun around sharply toward her. Elizaveta Kirillovna was holding the phone like evidence in a courtroom—as if it was the most undeniable proof. Her eyes gleamed with victory.
“Look, girls!” she turned the screen toward her daughters. “’My darling’, ‘Kisses,’ and she replied: ‘Same, I miss you terribly!’ And this is just three days before the wedding!”
Olya and Yulia moved closer, their curiosity evident as they peered at the phone. Their faces showed open satisfaction, as if all their suspicions had just been confirmed in the most dramatic way.
Mustering all her strength, Tatiana shoved Yulia aside and lunged at her mother-in-law. In one swift move, she snatched the phone from Elizaveta Kirillovna’s hands, causing her to step back in shock.
“Enough!” Tatiana yelled.
“How dare you talk to my mother that way?” Yulia protested angrily, but Tatiana wasn’t listening anymore.
“You are a vile woman, Elizaveta Kirillovna,” Tatiana’s voice was suddenly calm and icy. “And your daughters are petty bitches who feed your sick fantasies.”
Olya and Yulia exchanged glances and unexpectedly burst out laughing, only fueling Tatiana’s anger further.
“You think this is funny?” she addressed them. “Probably because you’re used to it. Used to being called bitches. Used to rummaging through other people’s bags, through their phones, spying and eavesdropping. You’re simply mean, low people. Get out of my apartment!”
Olya laughed loudly, unable to hide her amusement, while Yulia smiled, covering her mouth with her hand. Elizaveta Kirillovna, however, was not laughing.
“You little brat,” she spat, and before anyone could react, she swung and hit Tatiana hard across the cheek.
The sound of the slap rang through the room. Even Olya and Yulia fell silent, watching in shock. Tatiana stood frozen, her hand slowly going up to her burning cheek. She couldn’t believe she had just been struck. Not once, not even as a child, had anyone ever laid a hand on her. Not even her own mother had ever used physical punishment.
Tatiana slowly backed away, pressing her hand to her burning cheek. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall—not here, not now, not in front of these women. Without another word, she turned on her heel and hurried to the bedroom. She slammed the door shut and locked it tight.
Only now, alone in the room, did Tatiana allow herself to cry. Tears streamed down her face, leaving hot tracks on her skin. She slowly sank to the floor, wrapped her arms around her knees, and began to sob silently.
“What is happening?” she whispered through her tears. “How did everything fall apart so quickly?”
Muffled voices filtered in from behind the door. Elizaveta Kirillovna was scolding her daughters sternly, but there wasn’t a trace of remorse in her tone. On the contrary, she actually seemed pleased with herself.
“No need to be gentle with her,” fragments of her words reached Tatiana. “It’s her own fault…”
Tatiana spent the rest of the day in her room. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about how complicated everything had become in the last few days. One and a half years of smooth sailing in their relationship—and then this. It felt like Denis had become a completely different person just before their wedding.
Finally, around six in the evening, she heard the front door open. Heavy, familiar footsteps in the hallway—it was Denis.
«Tanya? Are you home?»
She didn’t answer. The footsteps came closer to the bedroom, the doorknob turned, but the door was locked.
«Tanya, please open the door.»
Tatiana slowly got up from the bed. Her eyes were red from crying, her hair a mess. She walked to the door but didn’t hurry to unlock it.
«What happened?» Denis asked from the other side of the door. «Mom called. She said you had some kind of conflict.»
«Conflict,» Tatiana thought bitterly. Such a calm word for what had actually happened.
At last she turned the key and opened the door. Denis stood in front of her, still in his work clothes, a worried expression on his face. When he saw her tear-swollen eyes, he frowned.
«What happened?» he repeated, stepping towards her.
Tatiana stepped back, not letting him come any closer.
«You already know everything, don’t you?» Her voice was tired and distant. «You know your mother hit me? That your sisters laughed while watching it happen? And you’re still asking what happened?»
Denis was clearly stunned by her words. His face went pale.
«Mom… hit you?» he repeated in disbelief. «That can’t be. She would never…»
«She did,» Tatiana cut him off coldly. «Right here in this room.»
«Listen, I know my mom. She’s a calm, reasonable woman. If something like that really happened… well, you probably provoked her.»
Tatiana stared at him in disbelief. Then, surprisingly even to herself, she laughed—a dry, cold laugh with not a trace of amusement.
«Provoked her?» she echoed with bitter irony. «Your sister grabbed my phone and handed it to your mother. Your mother was going through my messages while I begged her to give it back. And when I called it out for what it was, she hit me. And you think I provoked her?»
Denis looked embarrassed, but he didn’t rush to apologize for his relatives.
«I… I’m sorry it turned out this way,» he finally said, looking down. «But you have to understand, they’re worried about me. Especially after what they found on your phone.»
«After what?»
«Well… those messages,» he hesitated. «What was in them? Who were they from?»
«It’s none of your business,» she snapped.
«How is it not my business?!» Denis suddenly raised his voice. «Of course it is! In two days, you’ll be my wife, and now I find out you’ve been fooling around with someone else!»
«Are you sure about that?»
«Yes!» Denis shouted. «Those messages… They explain everything. Your weird behavior these last few days, how nervous you’ve been. You’re seeing someone else!»
Muffled voices and restrained laughter drifted from the next room. Tatiana automatically turned her head and caught sight of two figures slipping by the half-open door.
«Olya and Yulia are here?»
Denis shrugged as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
This family was just tormenting her.
«Ask them to leave,» she said resolutely.
«What?» Denis responded, surprised.
«Ask your mother and sisters to leave our apartment. Right now.»
Denis looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language.
«But why? We’re all family…»
«We’re not a family yet,» Tatiana cut him off. «And now I’m not even sure if we ever will be.»
Denis ignored her words and instead went back to what was really on his mind:
«So, what’s his name? This… admirer of yours?»
Tatiana couldn’t believe what was happening. The man she loved, the man she was about to marry, had completely changed. This possessive tone, this groundless jealousy, this blind faith in his family’s words over hers… Who was this person standing in front of her?
There was giggling again behind the door. Olya and Yulia were clearly enjoying the scene.
Tatiana took her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Denis.
«Open the latest messages,» she said calmly.
Denis hesitantly took the phone. His fingers nervously slid across the screen, opening the conversation.
«‘My darling’,» he read aloud. «‘I’m so happy.’ ‘Can’t wait.’ ‘Kisses.'»
With every message he read, his face grew darker.
«Now,» Tatiana said quietly, «look at the number and call it. From your own phone.»
Denis blinked in confusion, but obeyed. He wrote down the number and dialed it from his own phone. One second, another—someone picked up on the other end.
«Hello?» came a woman’s voice—one that Denis instantly recognized.
«Vera?» he said uncertainly, staring wide-eyed at Tatiana.
«Yes, Denis, it’s me,» Tatiana’s sister replied calmly. «I hope you’ve realized what you’ve done. Congratulations—you’re a complete idiot.»
Denis stared silently at his fiancée, not knowing what to say.
Tatiana took the phone from his hands and ended the call.
«I never expected you would order your sisters to spy on me and report my every move. I never expected your mother to rummage through my phone. I was shocked when a grown woman with two adult daughters hit me, having absolutely no moral right to do so. I am stunned that my fiancé—the man I was supposed to marry tomorrow—would accuse me of cheating just because he feels like it.»
She paused, looking Denis straight in the eyes.
«I’m amazed at how little you trust me and how blindly you believe your sisters and your mother. And you know what, Denis…»
Tatiana fell silent, searching for the right words. Denis swallowed nervously.
«What?» he couldn’t help but ask.
Tatiana turned to him and said calmly, almost indifferently:
«I don’t need a husband like that. I need a husband who loves me and won’t betray me at the first opportunity. So right now, you get up and leave—along with your mom and your sisters.»
At that very moment, his mother-in-law, Elizaveta Kirillovna, burst into the room.
«What nonsense are you spouting?!» she screamed.
Tatiana whirled around to face her.
«Shut up! I didn’t give you the right to speak!» she shot back.
At those words, Denis’s mother turned pale as a sheet, as if someone had thrown a white cloth over her face. Her mouth opened, but not a single sound came out. Denis, on the other hand, went red with anger but stood frozen, still trying to process what his fiancée had said.
«You have a habit of eavesdropping,» Tatiana continued, locking eyes with Elizaveta Kirillovna. «You heard everything perfectly well. That’s why you need to stand up, turn around, and get out of my apartment.»
Olya and Yulia appeared in the doorway, giggling with their hands over their mouths like schoolgirls listening in on a grown-up conversation.
«Hysterical,» Olya sniffed, hiding behind her sister.
«A total psycho!» Yulia chimed in, still giggling.
To everyone’s surprise, Denis spun around to face his sisters, furious.
«BOTH OF YOU, BE QUIET! GET OUT!» he roared so loudly that even Tatiana jumped.
Olya and Yulia exchanged frightened glances, their smiles instantly vanishing. In perfect sync, they backed away and disappeared down the hallway like two scared little animals.
Denis slowly turned back to Tatiana. His expression suddenly changed—anger was replaced by something that looked like regret.
«Tanya, please,» he said, his voice soft and almost pleading. «Let’s just forget everything. It was a stupid joke. We can fix this.»
In that moment, he was unrecognizable—not the Denis she knew, not the Denis she had fallen in love with.
«This isn’t a joke, Denis. This is you,» she replied with cold calm. «Everything that happened—this is you. Your sister going through my phone—that’s you. Your mother, spitefully rummaging through my phone—that’s you again. And you demanded an account from me, you accused me of cheating,» there was such piercing bitterness in her voice that Denis couldn’t help but lower his eyes. «I don’t trust you anymore. You’re nothing to me, an empty space. You’re not a man. You’re just a chapter in my life. I already told you—there won’t be a wedding. Get out.»
The mother-in-law finally snapped out of it. Elizaveta Kirillovna straightened up, squared her shoulders, and looked at Tatiana with utter disdain.
«If you had nothing to hide, why make such a scene?» she asked.
Tatiana turned slowly and gave Elizaveta Kirillovna a cold look.
«You opened your mouth again? It’s time for you to be in the hallway,» she said calmly. «Do you think I’m a girl you can boss around? I’m not your daughters, who will crawl for you, who will betray their husbands, who will report their every move. No, and I am not your daughter-in-law. If you didn’t catch everything I said, clean out your ears, replay it in your mind. Now—turn 180 degrees and go to your daughters, or else…»
«Or else what?!» Elizaveta Kirillovna raised her voice, taking a threatening step forward.
Denis suddenly stepped between his mother and Tatiana.
«Mom, please leave,» he pleaded softly. «I’m begging you.»
Elizaveta Kirillovna shot her son a disapproving glare, but gave in. Muttering something under her breath, she left the room, loudly slamming the door.
Denis immediately turned to Tatyana. It looked like he had run out of patience. He grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking her:
«Stop the hysterics!» he growled, almost shouting. «The wedding is in one day! Do you hear me? The wedding!»
Tatyana couldn’t take it anymore. With a sharp movement, she pushed Denis away and slapped him across the face as hard as she could. The sound of the slap echoed off the walls.
«Don’t you get it yet?» she was shouting now. «Do you think I’m joking? I’m not your sister, not your mother, not your girl, not your fiancée. Get out! Right now! This instant!»
Denis pressed his palm to his cheek, where a red mark was already showing. His eyes widened in shock.
«You… you hit me,» he said as if something unbelievable had just happened.
«I’ll say it again,» Tatyana said clearly, catching her breath. «There will be no wedding. Give back the keys to my apartment and get out.»
«This is our apartment,» Denis objected…
«MINE!» Tatyana yelled. «GET OUT!»
Tatyana darted to the closet, flung the doors open so hard they hit the walls. Her hands, shaking with fury, grabbed Denis’s clothes—shirts, pants, sweaters—and hurled them across the room.
«Take your stuff!» she screamed, ripping jackets and shirts off the hangers. «Now!»
Denis stood in the middle of the room, stunned by the sudden transformation of calm, reasonable Tanya into this fury. A shirt landed at his feet, followed by a tie, and then some trousers.
«Stop it!» Denis tried to reason with her, bending down to pick up his things. «You’re acting like a lunatic!»
«I hate you!» Tatyana yelled, tossing the last pair of pants out of the closet. «I hate you and your damn family!»
She kicked the pile of clothes lying on the floor so that they scattered all over the room. Denis rushed to gather them, looking around in confusion, as if he couldn’t believe this was really happening to him.
«You’ve lost your mind,» he muttered, trying to stuff shirts and pants into a sports bag he pulled out from under the bed. «Completely crazy, seriously!»
Hearing these words, Tatyana was instantly by his side.
«What did you say?» she hissed, coming closer to him. «Say that again!»
Denis stepped back, getting tangled up in the very pants he was trying to pick up from the floor.
«Tanya, that’s not what I meant…» he began, but it was already too late.
Tatyana pulled her leg back and kicked him as hard as she could. Denis lost his balance and crashed to the floor, scattering the pile of clothes he’d just gathered all around him.
«That’s for calling me crazy!» she yelled, staring down at her fiancé sprawled on the floor.
Standing in the bedroom doorway were three figures—Yelizaveta Kirillovna and her daughters, who watched the unfolding scene with varying degrees of shock written across their faces. They stood frozen like theater spectators, stunned by the unexpected twist in the drama.
«Oh my God…» Yelizaveta Kirillovna whispered, pressing her hand to her chest.
Noticing them, Tatyana turned and marched directly toward them, pushing all three out into the hallway.
«What are you standing around here for?» she shouted. «The show’s over! Everyone out of my apartment!»
Yelizaveta Kirillovna opened her mouth, getting ready to say something, but Tatyana wouldn’t let her get out a single word:
«SILENCE!» she commanded, pointing her finger forward. «I don’t want to hear a single word from any of you! OUT!»
Olya, standing behind her mother, peeked out from over her shoulder and muttered:
«What an idiot…»
«A real psychopath!» Yulia chimed in, not bothering to hide the disdain in her voice.
To their surprise, Elizaveta Kirillovna suddenly spun around and gave Olya such a smack on the back of the head that Olya cried out in pain.
«Shut your mouth!» she hissed, grabbing her younger daughter by the shoulder. Then she turned to Yulia, seized her by the elbow, and forcefully pushed her out onto the stair landing. «Both of you—outside! Right now!»
The daughters, stunned by their mother’s sudden mood change, hurried towards the exit.
Meanwhile, Denis, still on all fours, tried to gather up the scattered belongings, muttering curses under his breath. Tatyana grabbed the bag he was stuffing clothes into and threw it out the apartment door.
«Here’s your stuff! And now get out!» she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him toward the door.
Denis tried to resist, straightening up and grabbing his fiancée’s hands:
«Tanya, listen, let’s talk calmly… This is all just a misunderstanding…»
«A misunderstanding?!» she broke free and shoved him toward the door. «A misunderstanding was us meeting a year and a half ago! A misunderstanding is that I even agreed to marry you!»
Elizaveta Kirillovna, now standing on the stair landing, watched as Tatyana pushed her son out the door. Her face turned pale, her eyes grew sad. She suddenly looked strangely subdued, as if she had just realized something important.
«Tanya, sweetheart…» she began, taking a step forward.
«No!» Tatyana snapped, pushing Denis out onto the landing. «I never expected such betrayal from you or your mother. Now get out of my life, all of you!»
She slammed the door in their faces and turned the key in the lock.
Chaos erupted in the hallway outside Tatyana’s door. Olya and Yulia were screaming, their shrill voices overlapping in a discordant cacophony. Denis darted between his sisters and his mother. Tatyana pressed her back against the closed door, listening to the commotion she had left behind.
«Tanyusha, sweetheart, please let’s calm down!» Elizaveta Kirillovna’s voice sounded surprisingly gentle, almost pleading. «Open the door, let’s talk like adults!»
«Psychopath!» Olya shrieked. «That’s who you almost brought into our family, brother!»
«Just shut up already!» Denis suddenly barked, and for a brief moment, silence filled the hallway.
Tatyana heard Denis step up to the door. His knuckles rapped gently against the wooden surface.
«Tanya…» his voice softened, turning pleading. «Please open up. I understand everything now. I was an idiot. I’m begging you, my love, open the door.»
Tatyana quickly stepped away from the door and shouted:
«I forgave you yesterday! I forgave you the day before too! And even this morning I forgave you! Enough! You won’t get another chance!»
Her eyes landed on the coat rack in the hallway, where her wedding dress hung in its garment bag. Pristine white, adorned with pearl embroidery, it had cost more than she could afford, but Denis insisted his bride should be the most beautiful. ‘Only for him,’ she thought bitterly. That dress was meant to symbolize her happiness, but now it just reminded her of her humiliation.
With determination, Tatyana tore off the garment bag, grabbed the dress by its hanger, and marched back to the door. Yanking it open, she faced Denis and his family, their faces frozen in shock.
«Here!» she shouted, throwing the dress over the staircase railing. «Take your stupid dress!»
The white fabric floated in the air like the wings of a wounded bird, landing softly somewhere below the staircase. Elizaveta Kirillovna gasped, clasping her hands to her mouth.
But Tatyana didn’t stop there. She dashed back into her apartment and returned with a box—the shoes inside were elegant, crystal-embellished, and worth a fortune. A gift from Denis.
«Take these too!» she hissed, hurling the shoes after the dress. The box flipped in the air, and the shoes tumbled out, landing with a dull thud one floor below.
The whole family stood to the side, watching the scene play out with open horror. Olya clung to Yulia, her usual mockery replaced by shock. Yulia had turned pale, pressing her lips together. Elizaveta Kirillovna looked like she might faint any second.
And now, the last thing—the ring. Tatyana stared at the thin band that had seemed so beautiful just this morning. She slowly slipped it off her finger, felt its weight in her palm, then drew back and hurled it straight at Denis.
«Find yourself another fool!» she shouted, slamming the door shut.
The last thing she saw was Denis’s face, pale with fear and staring back at her.
Voices rang out behind the door again, but now they sounded muffled, like they belonged to another world. Denis stepped right up to the door—she could feel his presence just beyond the fragile barrier.
«Tanya, what about the wedding?» His voice was almost panicked. «The banquet hall is paid for, the cars, the photographers… That’s a lot of money, Tanya!»
It’s all over. What does it matter how much money’s been spent? Life is more important.
She walked into the living room and sank onto the couch. Her soul felt bitter, revolted, heavy with sadness, yet somehow—free.
Tatyana picked up her phone, and as if on cue, her sister’s name appeared on the screen. She hit the speakerphone button.
«Hello,» Tatyana said, exhausted.
«So, how’s your jealous Othello?» Vera’s voice was upbeat, teasing.
Tatyana sighed heavily:
«I kicked him out.»
There was a surprised exclamation on the other end of the line:
«Wow! That’s amazing! I was actually wondering when that would happen…» Vera paused for a second, then laughed and added, «I even made a bet with Irika that it’d be tomorrow. Looks like you beat me to it—I lost the bet!»
Tatyana couldn’t help but smile, turning her head toward the corridor where Elizaveta Kirillovna’s voice still echoed, now scolding her daughters.
«Oh, to hell with it,» Tatiana said, surprising herself with how easily the words came out. «I don’t need a ridiculous husband, especially one with such a crazy family.»
Vera burst out laughing, and her laughter was so infectious that Tatiana couldn’t help but smile as well.
«But what about the honeymoon?» her sister asked unexpectedly.
«What honeymoon, for heaven’s sake?»
«The hotel by the sea is already paid for,» Vera reminded her. «It would be a shame not to use it.»
Tatiana pondered, tapping her fingers on the armrest of the couch.
«I’ll think about it,» she finally answered, and after saying goodbye to her sister, she hung up.
Leaning back against the couch, Tatiana sat motionless for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling. Then, as if coming to a decision, she picked up her phone again and opened her messages. Quickly, she typed out a text to Yulia’s husband: «Are you sure she’s loyal to you?» and, without a second thought, hit send.
A vengeful smile appeared on her lips. If Yulia loved meddling in other people’s relationships so much, let her sort out her own now.
«To hell with the wedding,» Tatiana whispered to herself, setting the phone aside. «Better to be single than live with someone like that…»
Somewhere outside, her almost-fiancé and his family might still be discussing what happened, making plans to win her back. But she knew there was no going back.
«Now then,» Tatiana smirked, «time to get ready for the honeymoon. Without a husband.»
Her phone rang again. Denis’s name flashed on the screen. Without hesitation, Tatiana hit «decline» and added his number to the blacklist. At that very moment, a message popped up from Yulia’s husband: «What are you talking about?»
Tatiana huffed. The seeds of doubt had been planted. The cycle was complete.
«Let them all fight it out amongst themselves,» she thought grimly as she headed to the kitchen. She was hungry. Life went on, and ahead of her was a paid vacation by the sea. Alone.
It finally got quiet behind the door. The family had left at last. Tatiana turned on some music, started making her own dinner, and hummed along to the tune.
