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The Caretaker for the Widower A month ago, she was hired to care for Regina White—bedridden after a stroke. Thirty days she tended to her every need, turning her, changing sheets, monitoring IVs. Three days ago, Regina passed away quietly in her sleep. Doctors declared it a second stroke. No one to blame. No one—except the nurse. At least, that’s what the daughter believed. Zina brushed a thin white scar on her wrist—a burn mark from her first job at the local clinic. Fifteen years ago, she was young and careless; now, she was near forty, divorced, her son with her ex-husband. And with a reputation that was about to be ruined. “You dare come here?” Christina seemed to appear out of nowhere. Hair pulled so tight her temples paled, eyes red from sleeplessness—she looked far older than her twenty-five years. “I wanted to pay my respects,” Zina replied calmly. “Pay respects?” Christina hissed. “I know what you did. Everyone will know.” Christina stalked off—toward the coffin, toward her stone-faced father with his right hand in his jacket pocket. Zina didn’t follow. She didn’t explain. She’d realised already: no matter what, she’d be made the villain. Christina’s post appeared two days later. “My mum’s death is shrouded in mystery. The nurse who was supposed to look after her may have hurried her on. Police refuse to investigate. But I will find justice.” Three thousand shares. Comments mostly sympathetic. A few screaming, “Find that monster.” Zina read it on her bus ride home from the GP clinic—or rather, from her now-former side job. “Zinaida Palmer, you understand…” the head GP didn’t meet her eye. “This has caused a stir… Patients are worried. Staff are anxious. Temporarily—until things settle.” Temporarily. Zina knew that meant never. Her tiny flat—one room, a kitchenette, three floors up, no lift—greeted her with silence. All that was left after divorce: twenty-eight square metres, just enough to survive, not to live. Her phone rang as she filled the kettle. “Zinaida Palmer? It’s Elias White.” She nearly dropped the kettle. She remembered his low, hoarse voice—during that month caring for Regina, he seldom spoke, but when he did, she remembered. “Yes?” “I need your help. Regina’s… things. I can’t. Christina least of all. You’re the only one who knows where everything is.” After a pause, Zina said, “Your daughter accuses me of murder. You know this?” A long, heavy silence. “I know.” “And you’re still calling?” “I’m still calling.” She should have refused—any sensible person would have. But something in his voice—less a request, more a plea—made her say: “I’ll be there at two tomorrow.” The White family home stood outside town—two stories, spacious, echoing with emptiness. Zina remembered it differently, full of bustle, beeping machines, nurses. Now, silence covered every surface like dust. Elias answered himself. Nearly fifty, grey at the temples, broad-shouldered—now hunched. Right hand in pocket, she noticed something metallic outlined beneath the fabric. A key? “Thank you for coming.” “I’m not doing it for you.” He arched an eyebrow. “Then for whom?” For herself, she thought. To understand: why the silence? Why not defend her when he knew she was innocent? Aloud, she said, “For order. Where are the keys to her room?” Regina’s room smelled of lily-of-the-valley—sweet and suffocating. Perfume. The scent lingered, soaked into the walls. Zina worked methodically: sorting cupboards, packing clothes in boxes, organising paperwork. Elias stayed downstairs—she heard his footsteps, pacing corner to corner. On the bedside table: a photo. Zina reached to pack it—and froze. Elias, young, about twenty-five; next to him, a woman. Fair-haired, smiling—not Regina. Zina turned it over. “Eli and Laura. 1998,” the faded inscription read. Strange. Why did Regina keep her husband’s photo with another woman by her bed? She placed it in her bag and kept working. Kneeling near the bed, her hand brushed something wooden. A small box. No lock. She pulled it out; the lid flipped open. Inside—envelopes. Dozens, stacked neatly, all in a woman’s rounded hand. All opened and re-sealed with care. The top: “Elias Andrew White.” Sender: “L. V. Melnyk, Leeds.” Date: November 2024, last month. She rifled through—the oldest dated 2004. Twenty years. For two decades someone wrote to Elias—Regina intercepted the letters. And kept them. Not thrown away, but preserved. Why? Zina sniffed an envelope—the same lily-of-the-valley scent. Regina had handled them, read and re-read, the creases worn. She left the box on the bed and sat, hands trembling. This changed everything. “Mr. White.” He looked up from the kitchen table, untouched mug before him, gardens and terraces blurred beyond the window. “All done?” “No.” She put an envelope before him. “Who is Larissa Melnyk?” His face transformed—not pale but stone. His hand tightened in his pocket. “Where did you find this?” “Box under the bed. Hundreds. Twenty years’ worth. All opened and resealed by your wife.” He was silent a long, unbearable moment. Then rose, turned to the window, back to her. “You knew?” Zina asked. “Found out three days ago. After the funeral, sorting her things… Thought I could manage. Found the box.” “And you say nothing?” “What am I supposed to say?” He spun toward her. “My wife stole my post for twenty years. Stole letters from the woman I loved before her. “Kept them—as trophies, or punishment, I don’t know. And now am I supposed to—what—tell my daughter? She worshipped her mother.” Zina stood. “Your daughter accuses me of killing your wife. I lost my job. My name is being dragged through the mud online. And you stay silent—afraid of the truth?” He stepped closer, eyes dark, drained. “I stay silent because I don’t know how to live with this. Twenty years, Zinaida. For twenty years Larissa wrote—I thought she’d forgotten me, moved on, had children. But she…” He couldn’t finish. Zina raised the envelope. “Return address—Leeds. I’ll go.” “Why?” “Because someone needs to know the truth. If not you, then me.” Larissa Melnyk lived in a ground-floor flat at the edge of Leeds—windows lined with geraniums, a cat on the sill. Zina rang the bell uncertainly. A woman of Elias’ age opened. Blonde hair in a loose bun, crow’s feet at her eyes, cautious but not hostile. “You’re Larissa Valerie Melnyk?” “Yes. And you are?” Zina held out the envelope. “I found your letters. Every one. Opened, read, hidden away.” Larissa looked at it as if it might bite, then met Zina’s eyes. “Come in.” They sat in a cramped kitchen, tea cooling in mugs. “I wrote for twenty years,” Larissa said. “Every month. Sometimes more. No reply. I thought—he hated me. For letting him go.” “Letting him go?” She gripped her mug. “We were together three years. From university. He wanted to marry. I… I was scared—just twenty-two, life ahead, why rush?” “I said wait. He waited. Six months. Then she came—Regina. Beautiful, certain, knowing exactly what she wanted. And I…lost.” Zina said nothing. “When they married, I moved to Leeds. Thought I’d forget. I didn’t. After five years, I started writing. Not to win him back—just so he’d know. That I existed. That I still thought of him. “And he never replied.” “Never,” Larissa gave a bitter smile. “Now I know why.” Zina produced the photo. “This was on her bedside table. ‘Eli & Lara, 1998’.” Larissa’s fingers shook as she took it. “She kept this… by her bed?” “Yes.” Silence. “You know,” Larissa said softly, “I hated her, my whole life. The woman who stole my love. But now… now I pity her. “Twenty-five years with a man, always fearing he’d remember another. Reading my letters, hiding them. That’s hell—her own, self-made hell.” Zina stood up. “Thank you for telling me.” “Why are you doing this?” Larissa asked, rising. “You’re not family or a friend.” Zina stalled. “I’m blamed for her death. Elias’s daughter… she thinks I wanted her place.” “And you want to prove your innocence?” Zina shook her head. “I want to understand the truth. The rest will follow.” Zina called Elias on the way back—said she was returning. He waited on the porch, dusk painting the grass in long streaks. “You were right,” she told him as she approached. “Larissa wrote for twenty years. She never married. She waited.” He didn’t answer. His hand in his pocket tightened, relaxed. “There’s something in your safe,” she said. “You keep touching the key—as if you fear it’ll disappear.” Pause. “Come.” The safe was in the study, the old sort from the Thatcher days. Elias unlocked it and retrieved an envelope—the handwriting, harsh and jagged, Regina’s. “She wrote this two days before she died. I found it while searching for funeral papers.” Zina took it. Inside—a page covered in cramped writing. “Elias, if you’re reading this, I’m gone, and you’ve found the box. I always knew you would, someday. I knew—and still couldn’t stop. I began stealing her letters in 2004. Five years after our wedding. You grew distant, silent. I thought you stopped loving me. Then I found her first letter in the mailbox. And I knew. She never let you go. I should have shown you the letter. Should have asked. But I was afraid—afraid you’d leave, choose her. So I hid it. Then the next one. And the next. For twenty years, I stole your post. Twenty years I read someone else’s love for you. Hated myself daily. But I couldn’t stop. I loved you so much, I destroyed everything—your chance to choose, her hope, my own conscience. Forgive me, if you can. I know I don’t deserve it. But I ask anyway. Regina.” Zina let the letter drop. “Does Christina know?” “No.” “She should. You know that?” Elias turned away. “She adored her mother. This will ruin her.” “She already is,” Zina said softly. “She lost her mum and fears she’ll lose you. So she blames me. She needs a villain; otherwise, she’d have to face her own grief, and that’s something you can’t fight.” Elias was silent. “If you tell her the truth—she might hate you, for a while. But later she’ll understand. If you lie—she’ll never forgive you. Not you. Not herself.” He turned, eyes wet. “I don’t know how to talk to her. Since Regina fell ill… we stopped speaking.” “Then you’ll learn. Today.” Christina arrived an hour later. Zina saw her from the window—getting out, retying her ponytail, freezing as she saw her father on the porch. They talked for ages. Zina heard only voices, not words. At first Christina yelled, then cried, then fell silent. The door finally opened. Christina emerged, Regina’s letter in hand, face blotchy with tears, but her eyes—changed, not angry but lost. She approached Zina, who braced for accusations. “I deleted the post,” she said. “And posted a correction. And… I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Zina nodded. “I understand. Grief makes people cruel.” Christina shook her head. “Not grief—fear. I was terrified of ending up alone. Mum left. Dad changed. You were there. You saw her final days. You knew her differently. I thought—you meant to take her place. To steal Dad. “I don’t want to steal anything.” “I know. I do now.” Christina reached out, awkward as if she’d forgotten how. Zina shook her hand. “Mum… was she unhappy? All her life?” Zina thought of the letter—of twenty years of fear and jealousy, of love turned prison. “She loved your dad. In her own way. Wrong, maybe. But she did.” Christina nodded, then sat on the porch steps and wept, quietly, soundlessly. Zina sat beside her. Not hugging—just present. Two weeks passed. Zina was reinstated at work—after Christina personally phoned the head GP. Reputation is fragile, but sometimes, you can piece it back together. Elias called that night—like the first time. “Zinaida Palmer. Thank you.” “For what?” “For the truth. For not letting me hide.” Pause. “I’m going to Leeds,” he said. “Tomorrow. To see Larissa. Don’t know what I’ll say or if she’ll see me. But I have to try. Twenty years is too long to be silent.” Zina smiled—he couldn’t see, but perhaps he heard. “Good luck, Elias.” “Elias. Just Elias.” A month later, he returned—with company. Zina discovered by chance; saw them at the local market. Elias carrying shopping bags, Larissa picking tomatoes. An ordinary scene—just two people shopping. But there was a lightness, a synchronicity—more than routine. Elias noticed her, raised a hand—his right hand, no longer hidden. Zina waved back and went on her way. That evening, she opened her window. May carried the scent of lilac and petrol from the road—a familiar, living smell. She thought of Regina—her lilies of the valley, her secret box of letters, a love that became a prison. Of Larissa—twenty years of waiting, unanswered letters, faith undimmed. Of Elias—his silence, the key in his pocket, the man who finally chose. And then she stopped thinking. She simply sat by the window, listened to the city, and waited—not quite knowing for what. Her phone rang. “Zinaida Palmer? It’s Elias. Just Elias. We’re having dinner here tonight. Larissa’s making pie. Care to join us?” Zina looked round her flat—twenty-eight square metres of quiet. At the open window. “I’ll be there in an hour.” She hung up, grabbed her keys, and left. The door softly clicked behind her. Above the city, the sunset glowed gold and warm—a promise of a gentle tomorrow…

The Widows Carer Its been a month, they said. Only a month since they hired her to look after Margaret

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A Stranger at the Door Ben had been in love with Anna since their school days. He wrote her notes and did everything he could to get her attention. But Anna liked David, the tall, blond volleyball player on her team. She never noticed awkward Ben, who wasn’t great at his studies either. Soon, David started dating Helen, a girl from the class next door. After graduation, Ben tried to win Anna’s attention again. He even proposed to her at the school prom… But Anna quickly replied “No!” She didn’t even want to think about him. After university, Anna became an accountant. Her boss was a handsome brunet, ten years her senior. Anna admired his professionalism, striking looks, and intelligence. They developed feelings for each other, and Anna didn’t mind that her chosen one was married with a young son. Mr. Eric promised to get a divorce and swore he loved only Anna. Years went by. Anna got used to spending weekends and holidays alone, always waiting for her lover to keep his word so they could finally be together. One day, Anna saw Eric with his wife at the supermarket. She was pregnant, and he held her hand with care. Then he picked up the shopping bags, and they walked out together. Anna watched the scene with tears in her eyes. The next day, she quit her job… New Year’s was approaching. Anna had no desire to shop for food, decorate her home, or celebrate. One day, she came home and found the house cold—the boiler had broken. Anna lived in a detached house. She tried calling a repairman, but with the holidays approaching, everyone wanted huge fees, especially when they found out she lived on the outskirts of town. Feeling hopeless, Anna called her friend. Her friend’s husband worked in this area and might be able to help. Larissa promised to ring her husband straight away. A couple of hours later, Anna heard the doorbell ring. Standing on the doorstep was a stranger… but when she looked closely, she recognised him. It was Ben, her classmate. “Hey Anna, so what’s happened here?” “What… how did you know?” “My boss called and said to head to this address because you’re freezing. Did you drain your radiators so the pipes wouldn’t freeze?” “No, and I don’t even know how.” “Blimey, you could’ve been left with no heating at all. Good job it’s not freezing outside.” Ben quickly drained the system, tinkered with the boiler, and then left. An hour later, he returned with the necessary parts. Soon the house was warm again. Ben washed his hands and then asked, “Anna, your tap’s leaking and the light’s flickering… Can’t your husband fix it?” “I don’t have a husband…” “Oh? Still looking for Mr Right?” “There’s no such thing… I haven’t got anyone,” Anna suddenly admitted. “Then why did you turn me down?” Ben smiled. She didn’t reply… After fixing the tap and changing the bulb, Ben headed home. Anna found herself thinking about her childhood, her youth, and the chubby boy who had once adored her. Ben had changed, becoming a tall, fit man with deep brown eyes. But his smile was just the same. She hadn’t even asked if he was married. Then, on December 31st, someone rang the doorbell. Surprised, Anna went to answer—she wasn’t expecting visitors. Ben was on the doorstep, wearing a new suit and holding a bouquet. “Anna! I’ll ask you again—will you marry me, or wait for Prince Charming until you’re old and grey?” Anna burst into tears and nodded joyfully. On the second try, the proposal was accepted… A Stranger at the Door

There was a stranger at the door. James had been in love with Emily since they were in secondary school.

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The Rented Bride: When Her Wedding Is Cancelled, Polina’s Shocking Decision Leads Her from Heartbreak and London Dreams to Love, Intrigue, and Unexpected Family in an English Country Home

THE BRIDE FOR HIRE The wedding’s off! I startled my parents with those words one evening over supper.

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When Friends Arrived Empty-Handed to Our Housewarming Feast, I Closed the Fridge Door “Are you sure three kilos of pork shoulder is enough, Steve? Last time they devoured everything, even mopping up the bread with sauce. And Lucy asked for a takeaway ‘for the dog,’ then posted a photo of my roast on Instagram like it was her own masterpiece.” Julia anxiously fiddled with the kitchen towel, surveying the war zone her kitchen had become. It was only midday and she was already shattered. Up at six: a trip to the farmers’ market for the freshest meat, then the supermarket for premium booze and nibbles, followed by endless slicing, boiling, and roasting. Her husband Steve was peeling potatoes at the sink, his silent aggravation mounting along with the pile of peels, though he tried not to show it. “Jules, it’s half a kilo of meat each for four guests—and us. That’s plenty. You’re going all out: red caviar, smoked salmon, salad bowls the size of bathtubs. We’re not throwing a wedding—just finally celebrating our move! Late, but still.” “You don’t understand,” Julia said, stirring a thick sauce. “It’s Sarah and Mark, and Lisa and Tom—our oldest friends. We haven’t seen them in years, and they’re coming all the way from another side of town. I’d die if the table looked meagre. People would think we’ve gotten snobby since buying this flat and started scrimping.” Julia was always this way. It was in her bones, inherited from her gran, who could rustle up a feast from nothing. For her, an empty table was a personal insult. If you’re having guests—host a banquet! If it’s a party—the table should be groaning under the weight. She’d spent a week planning the menu, hunting recipes, squirreling away cash for the posh cognac Mark liked, and that fancy French wine Sarah always preferred. “Would be nice if they brought something for once,” Steve grumbled. “Last time at Tom’s birthday, we brought a nice gift, our own booze, and you baked a cake. And them? Remember just popping by their place? Builder’s tea and stale digestives.” “Oh, don’t be petty, Steve,” Julia chided gently. “They had a tough time then—mortgage and renovations. Things are fine for them now. Mark just got promoted, Lisa’s got a new fur coat. Maybe they’ll actually bring something. Cake or fruit? I hinted to Sarah that dessert should be theirs, so I didn’t bother making one.” By five the place sparkled and the dining room table looked like the window of an upscale food hall. Centre stage: gleaming homemade terrine, circled by dishes of prawn cocktail, luxury Olivier salad (with real roast beef and crayfish, not cheap ham!), and a spread of home-cured meats. That famous pork shoulder was slow-roasting in the oven with country potatoes and mushrooms. In the fridge: a bottle of “Finlandia” vodka, expensive cognac, and three bottles of wine chilling. Julia, exhausted but content, donned her best dress, fixed her hair, and waited for the doorbell. “I’m nervous,” she admitted to Steve. “First gathering in the new flat—I want everything to be perfect.” The bell rang—five o’clock, on the dot. Punctual, as ever. Julia opened the door to a lively crowd. Sarah in that infamous new mink, Mark in a designer leather jacket, Lisa loud with makeup, Tom already somewhat tipsy. “Congrats, homeowners!” Sarah whooped, bursting inside in a cloud of sickly-sweet perfume. “Show us the palace!” They bustled in, flinging coats at Steve, who scrambled to hang them up. Julia smiled, eyeing their hands—completely empty. No gift bag. No cake box. Not even a token bottle of wine or a bar of chocolate. “Where’s—” Julia started, but bit her lip. Maybe something was waiting in the car? Hidden in a pocket? “Wow, Jules, you’ve lost weight!” Lisa kissed her on the cheek, wandered in without removing her shoes, then eyed the living room critically. “Decor’s, well… a bit basic, but clean. Paintable wallpaper? Gosh, makes it look like my office. Should’ve gone with silk finish!” “We like minimalism,” Steve said diplomatically. “Table’s ready—come through.” They paraded into the lounge. Mark’s eyes lit up. “Wow, what a spread!” he grinned mischievously. “Julia, you are a legend. Knew we’d be fed right. We’ve starved ourselves all day for your roast!” Everyone took a seat. Julia dashed off to fetch hot starters. In her mind, one thought whirred: Maybe they’re giving us money? In a card? That’s why their hands are empty? Returning with the tray, she found her guests already elbows-deep in salads, not even holding back for a toast. “Mmm, top-notch salad!” Tom smacked his lips. “Steve, let’s get the glasses filled—thirsty work, this.” Steve poured vodka for the men, wine for the women. “To the new flat!” Mark toasted. “May your walls stay up, your neighbours behave. Cheers!” He downed his shot, used his sleeve as a napkin (never mind the linen ones provided), and stabbed at the smoked salmon. “Oi, Jules,” he added through a mouthful, “vodka’s a bit warm—should’ve stuck it in the freezer.” “It’s from the fridge, Mark—five degrees, just as it should be,” Julia replied, already seething inside. “Come off it—it should be ice cold! Never mind, it’ll do. Got any cognac? Fancy a chaser.” “I do,” Julia replied. “But maybe eat first?” “One doesn’t stop the other!” Tom guffawed. They got stuck in with gusto, food vanishing at an alarming rate. They ate as if they’d spent the week surviving on water and dry toast. And the critique kept coming. “This fish pie’s a bit dry,” Sarah sniffed, piling her third helping. “Skimped on mayo, or what?” “I made it myself, so it’s not as fatty,” Julia explained. “Oh, why bother! Buy a tub from the shop. Brilliant, quick, job done! And this caviar’s tiny—pink salmon? Should’ve gone for king.” Julia exchanged a look with Steve, whose knuckles were white around his fork. “So, tell us your news,” Steve tried. “Sarah, didn’t you just get back from Dubai?” “Oh, it was a dream!” Sarah gushed. “Five-star hotel, all you can eat, mountains of lobster, rivers of Champagne. I bought a real Louis Vuitton—two grand! Mark moaned, but hey—you only live once.” “Women, eh? Spend and spend,” Mark agreed, helping himself to more cognac. “I’m about to buy a new car. Saving up. We don’t waste money on things like renovations.” “What do you mean, ‘waste’?” Julia blinked. “Well, walls are walls, aren’t they?” Lisa explained. “We moved in ten years ago, never redecorated—just keep it all granny-style. But we go abroad every year, have proper meals out, wear branded gear. You lot, always obsessed with concrete. Boring lives.” “Talking of restaurants,” Tom interrupted, wiping greasy lips on a napkin and tossing it onto the tablecloth, “we went to The Ivy last night—amazing! The bill was a whopper, but worth it. Not like home cooking. Jules, will the roast be much longer? Salads don’t count as proper food!” Julia stood to clear plates, shaking inside. They boasted of designer bags and thousand-pound dinners, but arrived at her door empty-handed—not even a potted plant or a Dairy Milk. She retreated to the kitchen. Sarah slipped in behind, feigning helpfulness, really after a gossip. “Jules, you’ve outdone yourself…” she whispered. “But I can tell you’re a bit… stretched. This wine’s a bit average, isn’t it? Only have stuff like this at barbecues. Could’ve got something better for your guests.” “It’s French, twenty quid a bottle,” Julia said through gritted teeth, stacking the dishwasher. “Twenty?! You were robbed! Sour as vinegar. Listen—have you got some food for us to take home? Hangover city tomorrow, can’t be bothered to cook. Cold meat, salads—whatever. There’s so much, no way you’ll finish it before it goes off.” Julia froze, a plate in her hand. Slowly, she turned to Sarah. “You want me to pack you a doggy bag?” “Yeah, why not? Everyone does that—it’s budget-friendly! By the way—is there pudding? Kinda fancy something sweet. Did you bake a cake?” “You were bringing dessert, remember?” Julia reminded her quietly. “Me?! I never said that! I’m on a diet—don’t buy treats. Thought you’d make your Napoleon, you’re the pro. Or at least buy something decent. We came empty-handed ‘cos we reckoned you’d have everything. You’re loaded now—with a flat and all.” Julia set the plate down, the clink sharp as a gunshot. “So you thought we have everything. That we’re flush with cash.” “Of course! You’ve got a mortgage, fancy place—must be rolling in it. We’re the poor relations, saving for the Maldives. Anyway, hurry up with that roast—the men are banging cutlery for it.” Julia recalled lending Sarah money for a “last-minute holiday,” only to wait months for repayment (no thanks ever). How Steve had helped Mark move flat, putting in petrol—and how the hospitality was never returned. They’d come to every celebration, eating her out of house and home, but hosted rarely—in which case you’d get supermarket sausage rolls. She glanced at the oven—her masterpiece roast, golden and fragrant, half a day’s labour. At the fridge—the mammoth berry meringue cake, five times the price of a supermarket dessert. She closed the oven; switched off the gas. Walked over to the fridge and pressed the door shut. “There’ll be no roast,” she said loudly. “What? Burned it, did you?!” Sarah gawked. “No. It’s perfect. But you’re not having any.” Julia strode into the lounge. The men were pouring another round, debating politics. Steve looked utterly miserable. “Dear guests,” Julia announced, voice steely, “the party is over.” Everyone fell silent. Mark paused mid-toast. “What do you mean?” he asked. “We haven’t even had the main! You promised roast!” “I did,” Julia nodded. “But I’ve changed my mind.” “How’s that?” Lisa blustered. “We’re starving! Salads are just garnish—bring the meat!” “The roast is in the oven, and there it will stay. Now, kindly gather your things and see yourselves either home or to The Ivy—where you can spend a fortune and be properly fed.” “You pissed?” Tom bellowed. “Steve, sort your wife out! We’re your guests!” Steve slowly stood, glanced first at Julia, then at their “friends.” He saw the trembling in his wife, the unshed tears. And he understood. “She isn’t drunk,” Steve said firmly. “She’s just had enough. You came to our home empty-handed, drank my cognac, trashed Julia’s cooking, called our wine vinegar, and our home an office. And now, you demand more?” “Oh, we were joking!” blurted Sarah. “Just forgot the cake, that’s all! But at least we brought the party!” “Partying at our expense?” Julia retorted. “No, thanks. I stood at the stove for hours. Spent half my salary on this meal. I wanted you to feel special. But you… You’re leeches. Freeloaders. Swanning around Dubai—but can’t be bothered with a £2 bar of chocolate.” “So that’s how it is? Choking on your roast, are you?” Mark snapped, upending a chair. “Come on, let’s get out of this miserly dump! I’ll never set foot here again!” “Off you go,” Steve said, opening the door wide. “Don’t forget your empty Tupperwares.” They thundered out, cursing and moaning. Sarah shrieked that she’d never speak to Julia again; Lisa griped about a ruined evening; the men swore all the way down the stairs. As the door clicked shut, silence settled on the battered table—wine stains, crumpled napkins, messy plates. Steve slipped his arm round Julia’s shoulders. “You alright?” he whispered. “My hands are shaking,” she admitted. “Am I really a miser? Should I have just fed them and kept quiet?” “You’re not stingy. You finally started respecting yourself. I’m proud of you. Honestly, I’d have kicked them out myself, if you hadn’t. They crossed a line, Jules.” She sighed, relaxing into him. “And the roast?” Steve ventured, eyes twinkling. “Because it smells so good I could eat right now…” Julia laughed—truly, for the first time all evening. “It’s ready. And the cake’s here too—huge, with berries.” They sat down, pushed aside dirty dishes, and served themselves: slow-roasted pork, luscious cake, that ‘sour’ Bordeaux wine. “To us,” Steve said, raising his glass. “And to our home—may it welcome only those who come with open hearts, not empty hands.” That meal, in the quiet, was the best of their lives. An hour later, Julia’s phone buzzed—Sarah, from McDonald’s: “Enjoy your roast, you miserable cow! We’re choking down burgers thanks to you. You should be ashamed!” Julia smiled, pressed “block,” then did the same for Lisa, Mark, and Tom. Her contact list was four names shorter. But her world felt lighter—and her fridge was full of good food, now destined only for those who truly deserved it. This story reminds us: friendship is a two-way street, and sometimes a closed fridge door is the best way to preserve your own self-respect.

The memory still brings a rueful smile to my face, all these years laterthe day when a table heaving

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A Good Woman – What Would We Do Without Her? “You Only Pay Her Two Thousand a Month!” “Elena, We Put the Flat in Her Name…” Nikolai struggled out of bed and shuffled slowly into the next room. In the glow of the nightlight, he squinted at his wife, listening for her breath. “Seems fine,” he sighed, then wandered into the kitchen and downed some kefir, stopped by the bathroom, then returned to his lonely room. Sleep wouldn’t come. “We’re both ninety now, Elena and me. How long have we lived? Soon we’ll meet our maker, and there’s no one left beside us.” Their daughters gone—Natalie, not even sixty, and Max had long since passed, living too fast. Their granddaughter Oksana lived in Poland for twenty years now, likely with grown children of her own. She never mentioned her grandparents. He didn’t remember falling asleep. A gentle touch woke him. “Nikolai, are you okay?” Elena peered down, worry etched on her face. “I thought you’d stopped moving.” “Still alive! Go to bed!” She shuffled off, the light flicking on in the kitchen. A sip of water, a stop in the bathroom, and then she climbed back into her bed. “Someday I’ll wake up and he’ll be gone. Or maybe I’ll be first.” Nikolai even organized their own funerals, who else would do it? Oksana had forgotten them; only their neighbour Ivanka visited, holding the spare flat key. She got a thousand each from their pensions, handled all the groceries. At ninety, climbing even a few steps was impossible. In the morning, sunlight peeked through. Nikolai smiled at the cherry tree’s green crown from the balcony. “We made it to summer!” He guided Elena onto the balcony. “See? The tree’s green. You said we wouldn’t make it, but here we are.” They recalled their youth—first dates, school days, memories that never fade. Ivanka dropped by, smiling at their banter. “What could ninety-year-olds possibly need?” Nikolai joked. “If you’re still joking, things aren’t so bad! What should I get you?” “Chicken for soup?” “Alright, I’ll make noodle soup.” After breakfast, Nikolai suggested more balcony sunshine. Elena agreed and Ivanka promised to bring porridge and start lunch. “What would we do without her?” Elena sighed. “And you only pay her two thousand a month.” “We did leave her the flat,” said Nikolai. “She doesn’t know that,” Elena replied. They ate chicken soup, just as Elena used to make for their children, Natalie and Max. “Now strangers cook for us,” Nikolai sighed. “Seems that’s our fate.” “Enough, Elena. Let’s nap a bit!” “Whoever said the elderly are just like children was right,” she joked as they settled in: mashed soup, naps, afternoon tea. Nikolai woke restless, weather on his mind. On the kitchen table: two glasses of juice, kindly left by Ivanka. He carried them carefully to Elena, who was lost in thought. “Cheer up, have some juice!” Neither could sleep. “I don’t feel right,” Elena admitted. “Promise you’ll give me a good send-off.” “Don’t talk like that. How could I live without you?” “One of us will go first.” “Enough! Let’s go to the balcony!” In the evening Ivanka brought cheese pancakes. After TV, Elena stood up. “I’m tired, I’ll go to bed.” “Let me walk you.” She took a long look at her husband. “Why do you look at me like that?” “Just because.” Memories flooded back. He tucked her in, headed to his own room. Troubled, he couldn’t sleep. In the night, he checked on Elena—she lay with open eyes. “Elena!” He took her hand. “Elena, what’s wrong? Elena!” Suddenly, he too struggled to breathe. He gathered important papers, returned to Elena, and lay beside her, drifting to dreams of youth and light. In the morning Ivanka found them lying peacefully, smiles frozen on their faces. She called the ambulance. The doctor shook his head in awe. “They passed together. Must have loved each other deeply…” They were taken away. Ivanka slumped into a chair, then saw the paperwork—a will in her name. She wept, her head in her hands. Like and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Shes a good woman. What would we do without her? And you only pay her sixteen hundred pounds a month.

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I Grew Up Trying Not to Disappoint My Mum – and Without Realising, I Started to Lose My Marriage My mother always seemed to know best. Even as a child, I learned to read her moods by her voice, the way she closed a door, the hush in our home. If she was happy, everything felt right. If not, I’d clearly done something wrong. “I don’t ask for much,” she would say, “just don’t let me down.” That “just” weighed heavier than any rule. When I became an adult and got married, I thought my life was finally my own. My husband was calm and patient, someone who avoided arguments. At first, my mum liked him. Then she began to have opinions about everything: “Why are you home so late?” “Don’t you think you’re working too much?” “He doesn’t help you enough.” At first, I laughed about it. I told my husband she was just worrying. Then I started making excuses for her. Then, I started accommodating her. Without realising, I was living with two voices in my head. One quiet, reasonable, wanting closeness – my husband’s. The other, my mother’s, always certain, always demanding. When my husband wanted us to go away alone, my mother suddenly became unwell. When we had plans, she needed me. When he told me he missed me, I’d say, “Please understand, I can’t leave her.” And he understood. For a long time. Until, one night, he said something that unsettled me more than any argument: “I feel like there are three of us in this marriage, and I’m the third.” I lashed out. I defended her. I defended myself. I said he was exaggerating, it wasn’t fair to make me choose. But the truth was, I had already chosen. I just hadn’t admitted it. We stopped talking. We fell asleep back to back. We spoke about chores, but never about us. And when we argued, somehow my mum always knew. “I told you,” she would repeat, “men are all like that.” And I believed her. Out of habit. Until I came home one day, and he was gone. He hadn’t left in anger – just his keys and a note: “I love you, but I can’t live with your mum between us.” I sat on the bed, not knowing who to call first – my mum or my husband. I phoned my mum. “Well, what did you expect?” she said. “I told you…” That’s when something in me broke. I realised I’d spent my whole life afraid of disappointing one person… and lost another who only wanted me by his side. I don’t blame my mother entirely. She loved me the way she knew how. But I was the one who failed to set boundaries. I was the one who confused duty with love. Now I’m learning something I should have learned long ago: Being a child doesn’t mean staying small forever. And a marriage can’t survive when there’s a third voice between you. Have you ever had to choose between not letting down a parent and saving your own family?

I grew up with a constant desire not to disappoint my motherand somewhere along the way, I began to lose

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The Sunday Dad: A Story “Where’s my daughter?” Olesya repeated, her teeth chattering—either from fear, or from the cold.

Wheres my daughter? repeated Alice, her teeth chattering from fright as much as from the chill in the air.

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086

“I’m Ashamed to Take You to the Banquet,” Denis Didn’t Even Look Up From His Phone – “There Will Be People. Normal People.” Twelve Years of Marriage, Two Kids, and Now I’m Embarrassed: How Nadia Rediscovered Herself, Her Talent, and Her Dignity, While Her Husband Lost Everything He Never Valued

I feel utterly embarrassed to bring you to the dinner, Mark mumbled, eyes fixed on his mobile.

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The Hardest Part of Living with a Puppy Isn’t What Most People Think: It’s Not Walks in the English Rain, Sleepless Nights, Giving Up Holidays, or the Endless Fur—It’s Realising One Day Their Boundless Love Will Fade, and Letting Go of the Dog Who Taught You to Love Unconditionally

The hardest part of life with a puppy was never quite what people imagined, as I look back on those days now.

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A Stranger at the Door Ever since their school days, Matthew had been hopelessly in love with Anna—writing her sweet notes, doing anything to catch her eye. But Anna only had eyes for Dan, the tall blonde star of their school volleyball team. The awkward Matthew, with his struggles in class, didn’t stand a chance. Dan soon began dating Elaine, a girl from another class, and after graduation, Matthew tried again to win Anna’s heart—even proposing to her at the leavers’ prom. But she flatly turned him down, not wanting to entertain the thought. Years passed. Anna landed a job as an accountant, working for an attractive manager ten years her senior, James. She admired his charisma and intellect, not caring that he was married with a young son—he promised her he would leave his family, swearing she was his only love. Eventually Anna got used to spending holidays and weekends alone, waiting for James to keep his promises. One day, Anna spotted James tenderly shopping with his pregnant wife. Heartbroken, she handed in her notice. As New Year’s Eve approached, Anna couldn’t bring herself to celebrate—the house was cold, the boiler had failed, and every repairman wanted a fortune to travel out to her home in the suburbs. In desperation, she called her friend Laura, whose husband worked as a heating engineer. Laura promised to send help. Two hours later, the doorbell rang. A stranger stood on the doorstep, but as Anna looked closer, she recognised Matthew, her classmate from years ago. He quickly set about draining the system, fixing the issue, and returned later with replacement parts. Soon, Anna’s house was warm again. Noticing a leaky tap and flickering bulb, Matthew asked with a grin why her husband hadn’t fixed them—only to learn that Anna was single. “Still waiting for Mr. Perfect?” he teased, reminding her of his long-ago proposal. With the repairs finished, he headed home. On New Year’s Eve, a surprise knock at the door brought Matthew back, smartly dressed with a bouquet of flowers in hand. “Anna, I’ll ask you once more—will you marry me, or wait for Prince Charming until you’re eighty?” Anna burst into tears and nodded happily. His proposal was accepted on the second try, finally bringing their story full circle.

There was a stranger at the door. Ever since we were at secondary school, Id fancied Emily.