Christina was left alone before she even turned thirty. Her husband, Paul, unexpectedly left the family for a young paramedic, Natalie. The girl had arrived in their village on assignment after finishing medical school. Paul was tall, handsome, and worked as a veterinarian on the local farm, quickly catching Natalie’s eye.
When Paul told Christina he was leaving, she felt the ground slip from under her feet. She begged him not to abandon her and their two little children—five-year-old Alex and three-year-old Tessa. But Paul was adamant: “I love Natalie. I won’t abandon the kids, I’ll support them.” And he walked away, leaving his wife in tears.
Christina struggled to recover but eventually pulled herself together. She decided her children should not see her weakness. Paul soon moved to a neighboring county and never returned. He sent only meager alimony payments, barely enough to make ends meet. At first, the children missed their father, but over time, they learned to live without him.
Christina worked tirelessly—during the summer in the local farm canteen, and in the winter, she worked at the dairy farm. She devoted herself completely to her children, too afraid to trust anyone else. Life moved on, but one day, she received terrible news: Paul and Natalie had died in a car accident. Christina wept with the children. Despite the pain he had caused, she truly mourned Paul’s loss.
Later, Christina learned that Paul had left behind a nine-year-old daughter, Pauline, from his second marriage. The girl’s grandparents were too old to care for her, and she was at risk of being sent to an orphanage. Christina hesitated for a long time but ultimately decided to take Pauline in. She became like a mother to the girl, but Alex and Tessa treated her with hostility. They couldn’t forgive her for the fact that her mother had caused their family to break apart. They ignored Pauline and sometimes even bullied her.
Despite everything, Christina never gave up. She tried to teach her children kindness and compassion. Over time, old wounds began to heal. Alex moved to London, and Tessa became a doctor. Pauline found her path in the fashion industry and moved to London, never forgetting her adoptive mother.
Christina remained alone in the village, and over the years, it became harder to manage the household. One day, Alex visited her with news: his son had just gotten married, and their apartment had become too cramped. He suggested selling his mother’s house to help his son with a down payment for his own place. Christina hesitated but, feeling sorry for her son, eventually agreed.
The house was sold quickly, and Christina moved to the city. At first, everything seemed fine, but soon her daughter-in-law started hinting that the elderly woman was taking up too much space. When Tessa learned about her mother’s move, she warned her:
— If your daughter-in-law kicks you out, don’t even think of coming to me. I’ll send you to a nursing home.
Christina couldn’t believe her own children could be so cruel. But soon, Alex directly suggested that she move to a care home. The elderly woman had no other choice.
On the day of the move, sitting in the car, she still hoped her children would change their minds. But when the car stopped, Christina was horrified to see they had arrived at a cemetery.
— Son, Tessa, why are we here? — she asked hopefully.
Tessa replied coldly:
— Mom, don’t worry. There’s a caretaker’s house here, and he agreed to look after you. The conditions are just like the village—there’s a stove, water… You’ll get used to it.
Her children’s words felt like a heavy blow. She stood motionless, unable to believe they could do this to her.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from behind:
— Mom Christina, is that you?
Christina turned and saw Pauline. The woman was shocked by what she heard and without hesitation said:
— Come with me, Mom Christina. You’ll live with me now.
— But, my dear, why would you take me in? — whispered the elderly woman.
— You gave me your love when I was lonely and unwanted. Now it’s my turn.
Pauline embraced her and helped her into the car. As they drove away from the cemetery, Christina glanced at her children one last time. They didn’t even try to stop her.
In her new home, Christina found the warmth and care she had always longed for. Though her own children had betrayed her, she realized that true family isn’t always about blood—it’s about love and kindness.