“Marina, could you weigh me two kilograms of green apples, please?” a petite, blonde woman asked the shop assistant.
Marina smiled warmly and quickly fulfilled the request, handing over the bag.
“Thank you, dear. You’re always so thoughtful. By the way, the plums you recommended last time were a hit with my son, Nathan,” the woman said with satisfaction.
Marina listened with curiosity as Linda Thompson talked about Nathan, her son, who was a skilled diver. Linda often visited the shop to buy groceries and would proudly share stories of her son’s accomplishments. Marina couldn’t help but wonder what Nathan was like in person. Soon, fate gave her the chance to find out.
One evening, a pleasant-looking man entered the shop, greeted Marina politely, and paid for his bread. That same evening, he waited for Marina to close the shop and offered to walk her home. It turned out to be Nathan, the man his mother so often spoke about. Their connection deepened, and two months later, Marina and Nathan were married.
However, the happiness Marina had longed for didn’t last.
—
From the very beginning of their marriage, her mother-in-law made it clear who ruled the household. Linda interfered in everything, from meal preparation to finances, taking control of Marina’s salary. Nathan remained indifferent to Marina’s struggles, and Linda’s demands only grew.
The little house in the countryside, which Marina had received from the state after leaving foster care, was her only place of solace. However, Nathan insisted she sell it to fund renovations for their apartment.
“I’m not selling the house,” Marina said firmly, which enraged Linda.
Nathan spent less and less time at home, leaving Marina to juggle work, school, and caring for their infant daughter. One day, Marina came home to find Linda yelling at the baby, and she knew she couldn’t stay any longer.
—
Packing up her belongings, she fled with her daughter to the countryside. There, a kind neighbor, Agnes Parker, took them in. Marina’s house was in terrible condition after a storm, but unexpectedly, help came from Agnes’s grandson, Ryan. He repaired the roof, organized the household, and soon became a regular presence in their lives.
One day, Nathan showed up in the village, demanding Marina return with their daughter. However, Ryan stepped in to defend her. After a tense confrontation, Nathan left empty-handed.
—
From that point, Marina’s life began to change. She and Ryan grew closer, and their relationship blossomed into a deep and genuine love. A few months later, Marina finalized her divorce from Nathan and married Ryan.
Now, Marina had finally found the family she had always dreamed of. Together with Ryan and her little daughter Anna, she was building a new, happy life, splitting their time between the city and their peaceful home in the countryside.
