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Vitaly Settles in With Coffee and Laptop to Finish Work, but an Unexpected Call from the Maternity Hospital Changes Everything: A Stranger Claims He’s the Father of a Newborn Girl After Anna’s Tragic Death During Childbirth—Now He Must Confront His Past and Decide the Future of His Daughter and Her Family

William settled comfortably at his desk with his laptop and a fresh mug of tea. There were a few things

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My Husband Said He Was Going on a Business Trip, but I Spotted His Car Outside My Best Friend’s Flat!

10November2025 Dear Diary, She told me she was heading out on a work trip, yet I spotted my own car parked

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— Mr Smith, You’ve Overslept Again! — the Bus Driver’s Friendly Voice Held a Hint of Reproach. — That’s the Third Time This Week I’ve Seen You Chasing the Bus Like the Clappers. The elderly pensioner in his crumpled jacket was out of breath, leaning heavily on the handrail. His grey hair was tousled and his glasses had slid down to the tip of his nose. — Sorry, Andrew… — he gasped, fishing some scrunched-up notes from his pocket. — My watch must be running slow. Or perhaps I’m just getting on… Andrew Grant — the bus driver with over twenty years behind the wheel, in his mid-forties, sun-kissed from the road. He knew most of his regular travellers. But this old chap stood out — always polite, quiet, riding at the same time every day. — Oh, never mind, hop in. Where to today? — To the cemetery, as usual. The bus trundled off. Mr Smith settled into his favourite seat — third row from the driver, by the window, clutching a battered plastic bag filled with odds and ends. There weren’t many passengers — weekday morning. A couple of students gossiped, a suited man scrolled through his phone. Just another ordinary day. — Say, Mr Smith, — Andrew asked, glancing at his passenger in the mirror, — do you really go there every day? Isn’t it difficult? — Nowhere else to go, — the pensioner replied quietly, staring out the window. — My wife’s there… been gone a year and a half now. Made her a promise — I’d come every day. Something tightened in Andrew’s chest. He, too, was married, adored his wife. He couldn’t imagine… — Is it far from your place? — Not really, half an hour by bus. Walking it would take me ages, my legs aren’t what they used to be. My pension just about covers the bus fare. Weeks went by. Mr Smith became a fixture of the morning route. Andrew grew so used to seeing him, he’d even wait a couple of minutes if the old man was running late. — No need to wait for me, — Mr Smith said once, cottoning on to Andrew’s little kindness. — The timetable’s there for a reason. — Oh, nonsense, — Andrew waved it off. — A couple of minutes won’t hurt anyone. One morning, Mr Smith wasn’t there. Andrew waited — maybe he was late. But he didn’t come. Or the next day. Or the one after. — Say, that old gent who goes to the cemetery — haven’t seen him in a while, — Andrew remarked to the conductor, Mrs Turner. — Who knows, — she shrugged. — Maybe family’s come visiting, maybe he’s unwell… But Andrew missed him — his quiet ‘thank you’ as he got off, his sad little smile. A week went by. Still no Mr Smith. During his lunch break, Andrew decided to go to the terminus — the cemetery gates. — Excuse me, — he asked the woman manning the entrance, — there was an elderly gentleman, Mr Smith… grey-haired, glasses, always carried a plastic bag. Have you seen him? — Oh, him! — she said, nodding. — Came every single day, to visit his wife. — He hasn’t been in? — Not for about a week. — Has he taken ill? — Nobody’s said anything… He did mention where he lives once, just up the road — Garden Street, number fifteen. And who are you, if you don’t mind me asking? — I’m his bus driver. Gave him a lift every day. Garden Street, number 15. An old block of flats, peeling paintwork. Andrew rang the nearest doorbell. A man in his fifties opened, looking grim. — Who do you want? — I’m looking for Mr Smith. I drive his bus… — Oh, the chap from flat twelve, — the neighbour’s face softened. — He’s in hospital. Had a stroke a week ago. Andrew’s heart dropped. — Which hospital? — The City Hospital, up on Florence Nightingale Avenue. Bad at first, but they say he’s slowly improving. After his shift, Andrew called in at the hospital, found the ward, and asked the nurse. — Mr Smith? Yes, he’s with us. And you are…? — A friend… — Andrew said awkwardly. — Sixth bed. But don’t tire him. Mr Smith lay by the window, pale, awake. On seeing Andrew, he looked puzzled, then his eyes widened. — Andrew? You? How did you…? — Well, I went looking, — Andrew said, setting a bag of fruit on the table. — When you didn’t come, I got worried. — You… worried about me? — Mr Smith’s eyes brimmed. — But I’m no one special… — Now, don’t say that. You’re my regular. I’ve grown used to you; I look forward to seeing you. Mr Smith lay silent, staring up. — I haven’t been to the cemetery in ten days — first time in over a year and a half, — he murmured. — I broke my promise… — Oh now, she’ll understand — your wife, I mean. Illness is illness. — I don’t know… — he shook his head. — I used to visit her every day, tell her the news, about the weather… Now I’m stuck here, and she’s all alone… At that, Andrew knew what he had to do. — Would you like me to go for you? I could visit your wife’s grave, pass on your news — let her know you’ll be back soon… Mr Smith turned towards him, hope and disbelief wrestling in his tired eyes. — You… you’d do that? For someone you hardly know? — Hardly! — Andrew smiled. — Eighteen months of early-morning bus rides? You’re family by now. The next day, on his day off, Andrew went to the cemetery. He found her grave — a photo on the headstone, a kind-looking woman. “Anne Smith, 1952–2024.” He felt awkward, but the words came anyway: — Hello, Mrs Smith. I’m Andrew, your husband’s bus driver. He’s in hospital at the moment, but he’s recovering, and sends his love. He promised he’ll visit again soon… He added how devoted Mr Smith was, how much he missed her. He felt a bit silly, but knew somehow it was the right thing. Back at the hospital, he found Mr Smith much brighter. — I went, — Andrew said simply. — Passed on your message. — And how… how is she? — the old man’s voice trembled. — Everything’s spotless — someone’s left fresh flowers, probably the neighbours. She’s waiting for you, Mr Smith. Mr Smith closed his eyes and wept quietly. — Thank you, son. Thank you… Two weeks later, Mr Smith was discharged. Andrew picked him up outside the hospital. — Shall I see you tomorrow? — Andrew asked as he dropped him off. — You will, — Mr Smith nodded. — Eight o’clock sharp, like always. And he was, next morning in his usual spot. But now, something between driver and passenger had changed — it was more than just a bus journey. — Tell you what, Mr Smith, — Andrew said one day, — how about I take you at weekends in my car? Just as a friend. My wife says if you’re as lovely as you seem, it’s only right to help. — Oh, I couldn’t ask you— — You don’t need to. We’d miss you otherwise. So it became their tradition. Weekdays — the bus; weekends, Andrew drove him himself. Sometimes his wife came too — they all became friends. — You know, — Andrew said to his wife one evening, — I used to think passengers were just passengers. But every face on that bus is a life, a story. — Exactly, — his wife smiled. — I’m glad you noticed. And Mr Smith told them, one day, — After Anne died, I thought life was over. I thought nobody noticed me. Turns out people do care. And that means the world. *** What do you think? Have you ever seen ordinary people perform extraordinary acts of kindness?

Oh, Mr. Stephen, late again! The bus drivers voice has that friendly tone, but theres just a hint of

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010

And Then She Realised Her Mother-in-Law Wasn’t Nearly as Awful as She’d Always Thought The morning of December 30th was no different from any of the past twelve years Nadya and Dima had spent together. Everything happened as usual: he left early in the morning to go hunting and wouldn’t be back until midday on New Year’s Eve, their son was with Grandma, and once again Nadya found herself alone at home. Over the years, she’d grown accustomed to this routine. Dima was an avid fisherman and hunter, spending every weekend and holiday deep in the woods, whatever the weather, while she waited back at home. But today, for some reason, she felt uncharacteristically sad and lonely. Normally, she’d dedicate these days to housework and cooking—it was always easy to find things to do. New Year’s was tomorrow, and as usual, they’d be spending it at her mother-in-law’s, just like every year for the past twelve years. Nothing new, nothing different. But today, she didn’t feel like doing anything, and it seemed that everything was falling out of her hands. So when her best friend called, it was a welcome distraction. Her oldest schoolmate, Irka, was always cheerful, recently divorced, and often hosted get-togethers at her place. This time was no different. “Home alone again?” her friend stated rather than asked. “Dima off in his forests again? Come over later—a great bunch is coming. Why mope at home?” Nadya didn’t promise anything and honestly didn’t plan to go, but by the evening, the loneliness became overwhelming. She started recalling the past years and felt especially hurt today that her husband wasn’t around. Through all those years, her life had amounted to home, work, and her son. That was it. They never went anywhere. Dima found visiting others boring—fishing and hunting were the only things on his mind, and Nadya didn’t want to go alone. As a result, they never took a holiday, spending every vacation in her mum’s village. She was grateful that her husband got along with her mother, but she still wanted to see the sea and the world beyond her everyday routine. That evening, she thought, “Why not join my friends tonight? At least I won’t be alone.” She went to Irka’s, enjoyed herself surrounded by old school friends, and had a wonderful evening. Most importantly, Grisha was there—her first school love. Somehow, almost without realising it, the two of them spent the night together. Nadya didn’t know how it happened—it wasn’t as though she’d drunk much, but an avalanche of memories overwhelmed her and swept her away. The next morning, she felt ashamed and awkward, eager to forget the whole awkward incident, and literally ran away from Grisha’s flat. At home, she was met with a surprise—the first thing she saw was Dima’s coat: he had returned early. Her legs went weak with fear. If her husband discovered she hadn’t come home that night, she could already picture the inevitable row and how he’d leave her—she knew he wouldn’t forgive her, and honestly, she couldn’t blame him. She scolded herself for her recklessness, for nearly destroying her own family—she did love her husband, after all. But then the phone rang, bringing her back to reality. It was her mother-in-law. “I’m not sure what’s going on with you two, but Dima rang last night and couldn’t reach you. I told him you were at Auntie Kate’s—she was unwell and you were helping her. So don’t let me down now…” Help from her mother-in-law was the last thing Nadya ever expected. Their relationship had always been strange—no arguments exactly, but Zinaida Petrovna had never been fond of her daughter-in-law. She’d opposed their wedding from the start, thinking they’d rushed into things, and even after the wedding, she’d made Nadya’s life difficult. For the first few years, they’d all lived together, and after they finally got their own place, their contact had dropped to the bare minimum—they kept a polite neutrality, meeting mostly at family gatherings. But now Nadya felt grateful, no matter what the future held—as long as her husband never found out the truth. That evening, they went to her mother-in-law’s together, and while in the kitchen alone, Nadya tried to bring up what had happened—to confess and thank her. But her mother-in-law waved it away. “Don’t worry about it. Do you really think I’m immune to this stuff? I know what it’s like, being married to a man who sees nothing beyond his hobbies. I’m no saint myself. My Petru—” she nodded towards her husband—“has spent his whole life out in the woods too. Of course it hurts. Just don’t make it a habit, you know what I mean?” Nadya understood. And she also realised her mother-in-law wasn’t nearly as horrible as she’d always thought—she really did understand after all. So the story ended well, and Nadya decided then and there: never again would she spend the night out without her husband’s knowledge. Taken from the web

And she also realised that her mother-in-law was not nearly as spiteful as shed thought all these years.

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0558

THE FOOL Everyone thought Anna was a simpleton. She’d been married to her husband for fifteen years. They had two children: Alice, fourteen, and Sam, seven. Her husband barely bothered to hide his affairs—he cheated on her first on the second day of their marriage, with a waitress, and there was no counting how many followed. Her friends tried to open her eyes, but Anna simply smiled and stayed silent. Anna worked as an accountant at a toy factory. The salary, according to her, was tiny, but the workload was never-ending—even working weekends. During financial reporting season, she might not come home at all. Her husband, meanwhile, earned very well. Still, Anna was a hopeless homemaker. No matter how much money she had for groceries, the fridge was always empty, and the best she ever managed for dinner was borscht or pasta and meatballs. That was life. Everyone around them gossiped, especially when they saw her husband Val with a new flame. He would often come home, as they said, “dry as a bone.” “That Anna’s such a fool, why does she put up with such a cheat?” On the day Sam turned ten, her husband came home and announced he wanted a divorce. He’d fallen in love, he said, and family life no longer suited him. “Don’t take it personally, Anna, but I’m filing for divorce. You’re cold as a fish. At least if you were a good housewife, but you’re not even that.” “Alright, I agree to the divorce,” Anna replied. Val nearly fell off his chair; he’d been expecting a scandal, hysterics, tears—anything but calm acceptance. “Fine, then you pack your things and I’ll stay out of your way. Leave your keys under the mat; I’ll be back tomorrow.” Anna looked at him with a silent, strangely knowing smile. This was all odd, Val thought, but brushed it off—he was imagining his new, happy life, free of children and a tiresome wife. The next day, he returned home with his new flame, checked under the mat for the key—nothing. That annoyed him a little. “No matter, I’ll just change the locks. Easy,” he shrugged to himself and tried his old key. Didn’t fit. He knocked on the door. A burly man in slippers and a dressing gown answered. “What do you want, mate?” “This is my flat, actually,” Val said, not very confidently. “I’d argue with that. Got any documents to prove it?” No, of course he didn’t. He started fumbling for his passport, remembering the address should be inside. The man glanced at it, frowned, then handed it back. “When was the last time you looked at this?” Val nervously flipped the page; there were two stamps—a registration and a deregistration, the latter dated two years ago. How could this have happened? He didn’t push his luck with the bouncer at the door. He tried ringing Anna, but her number was disconnected. He waited for her at the toy factory gates—only to find out Anna hadn’t worked there for a year. His daughter was studying abroad. He thought at least Sam would be at the local school, but the school told him Sam had been transferred—last year. Sorry, confidential. Devastated by all that had happened, Val slumped onto a bench and buried his head in his hands. How had simple, quiet Anna pulled this off? And how had she managed to sell the flat? “No matter, I’ll sort this out at the divorce hearing,” he muttered, grimly. On the day of the hearing, he arrived furious, ready to expose Anna as a fraud and reclaim all that was his—only to learn the hard truth. Two years ago, he’d signed a general power of attorney for Anna, during an affair with stunning Eliza. He’d brushed off the details when Anna, needing paperwork for their daughter’s studies, had suggested it. Advised by his solicitor, he’d unwittingly handed over everything he owned. When Eliza heard he no longer had a flat, she disappeared fast. “Well, at least I’ll get her with child support,” Val consoled himself. But instead of a summons for spousal maintenance, he received a court order regarding a paternity dispute. Anna revealed both children were not Val’s—she’d seen him cheat on their wedding day and embarked on revenge of her own. First, she cheated back, then she hid every penny he gave her for the house, feeding the children at her mum’s and saving up. Anna’s mother had tried to stop her: “Revenge will destroy you, ruin the children,” but Anna would not be swayed. She even did DNA tests, though she already knew who the children’s real father was. Val took the loss of his flat better than the news that the kids weren’t even his. Beware the women you wrong—for a wronged woman’s wrath knows no bounds.

Everyone always thought Emily was a bit of a dimwit. Shed been married to her husband, Martin, for fifteen

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019

I called out the window, “Mum, why are you up so early? You’ll catch your death out there!” She just turned, waved her shovel in greeting, and called back, “I’m doing this for you lazy lot!” — But the next day, Mum was gone… I still can’t walk by our front garden without tears… Every time I see that path, my heart aches like someone’s grabbed it. I took that photo on January 2nd… I was just passing by, saw the footprints in the snow — and stopped. Snapped a picture, not even knowing why. And now it’s the only thing I have left of those days… We celebrated New Year’s as we always did, the whole family together. Mum was up early on the 31st, as usual. I woke to the smell of frying and her voice from the kitchen: “Come on, love, rise and shine! Give me a hand with the salads, or your dad will gobble all the ingredients before we’re done!” Down I came, still in my pyjamas, hair a mess. She was by the stove in her favourite apron — the one with peaches that I gave her when I was in school. Her cheeks were rosy from the oven. “Let me have a coffee first, Mum,” I whinged. “Coffee later! Chop the veg first — small, like I taught you! Not those rugby ball chunks from last time!” she laughed, tossing me a bowl of roasted veg. We chopped, and talked about everything under the sun. She reminisced about her own childhood New Years — no fancy salads, just a herring under a fur coat and a few precious tangerines Dad brought home from work. Then Dad arrived with a massive Christmas tree. “Here you go, girls — take a look at this beauty!” he boomed from the porch. “Blimey, Dad, did you clear out the entire forest?” I gasped. Mum just shrugged. “It’s lovely, but where’ll we put the thing? Last year’s was half this size.” But she still joined in decorating. My sister Lera and I strung up the lights, and Mum brought out the old ornaments — even the glass angel she quietly told me she’d bought for my first Christmas. “Remember this?” she asked. “Course I do, Mum,” I lied, just to see her face light up. My brother rolled in that evening — loud as ever, arms full of shopping bags, gifts, and bottles. “Got proper bubbly this year, Mum! None of that cheap stuff from last time.” She laughed and hugged him. “Just don’t get plastered, you lot!” At midnight, we all headed outside. Dad and my brother set off fireworks, Lera shrieked with excitement, and Mum stood next to me, her arm tight around my shoulder. “Look at it, love — isn’t it beautiful?” she whispered. “We’ve got a good life, haven’t we…” I hugged her back. “The very best, Mum.” We drank champagne from the bottle, laughed when a firework shot straight into the neighbour’s shed, and watched Mum, tipsy in her old snow boots, dance as Dad swept her off her feet. We laughed until we cried. New Year’s Day, we lounged all day. Mum made more food — dumplings, jellied beef. “Mum, you’ll feed us to bursting!” I moaned. “Oh hush, you’ll eat it all. New Year lasts a whole week!” she swatted me off. January 2nd, she was up early again. I heard the door bang, peeked out — she was outside with the shovel, clearing the snow. In her old puffer, headscarf tied up. She worked with care — a narrow, perfect path from the gate to the porch, piling snow neatly against the house. I called from the window, “Mum, what are you doing out there? It’s freezing!” She swung her shovel and hollered, “Otherwise you lot will be wading through drifts till spring! Put the kettle on, will you?” I smiled and headed for the kitchen. She came in half an hour later, cheeks bright red, eyes sparkling. “All sorted,” she said, settling in for coffee. “Looks good, don’t you think?” “Perfect, Mum. Thank you.” That was the last time her voice sounded so lively. On the morning of January 3rd she woke up and whispered, “Girls, my chest feels funny. Not bad, just uncomfortable.” I panicked. “Mum, let’s call an ambulance?” “Oh don’t be daft, love. I’m just tired, been rushing about too much. I’ll rest, it’ll pass.” She lay on the sofa, Lera and I sat with her. Dad rushed out for tablets. She tried to joke: “Don’t look at me like that, I’ll outlive all of you yet!” Then she went pale, clutched her chest. “Oh… I don’t feel right…not right at all…” We called the ambulance. I held her hand, whispered, “Hold on, Mum. They’ll help you, everything will be alright…” She met my eyes and murmured, “Love you all so much…don’t want to say goodbye.” The paramedics came fast but…there was nothing they could do. A massive heart attack. It all happened in minutes. I sat on the hallway floor, sobbing. I couldn’t believe it. Just yesterday she was dancing under the fireworks, laughing, now… Barely standing, I went to the garden. The snow had barely fallen. Her footprints were still there — small, neat, perfect. From gate to porch and back. Just as she always left them. I stared at them for ages. I asked God, “How can it be that someone walks this earth, leaves their footprints, and the next day they’re gone? Footprints remain, but the person doesn’t.” It felt like she went out on January 2nd for the last time — just to leave us a clear path. So we could walk it, even without her. I never brushed the tracks away. Told everyone not to — let them stay until the snow covers them forever. That was the last thing Mum did for us. Her quiet care for us showed, even when she was gone. A week later, a heavy snow buried them. I keep that photo with Mum’s last footprints. Every year, on January 3rd, I look at it, then at the empty path by the house. The pain is still sharp: somewhere under all that snow, she left her final footprints. The ones I keep following, still…

I called out the window, Mum, what are you doing up so early? You’ll freeze! She turned and waved

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My Lovely Daughter-In-Law – “Mum, I’m Marrying Emily. The Baby’s Due in Three Months.” My Son Gave Me the Shock of My Life… She Was Just Seventeen, He Was Off to Join the Army, and Soon We Were Planning a Wedding with a Pregnant Bride. Years Later, After Betrayals, A Divorce, and a New Wife Named Joanna, I Can’t Help but Miss Emily—The First Daughter-In-Law Who Still Feels Like Family.

MY ENGLISH DAUGHTER-IN-LAW Mum, Im marrying Emily. In three months, well have a baby, my son told me

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The Bride’s Mother Seated Me at the Worst Table with a Smirk: “Know Your Place,” She Said.

The brides mother slid me into the worst table with a smug grin. Know your place, she whispered.

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“Mum, I’m Ten Years Old Now, Aren’t I?”: A Heartfelt Tale of Promises, Parents, and the Search for a Dog in England

Mum, Im ten years old now, arent I? said Michael suddenly as he returned home from school. So what?

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The Adventure Awaits: An Invitation to Explore the Unknown

Rain pattered against the sill of the cramped twobed flat in Battersea. Andrew watched the droplets sketch