Has anyone from my side called you today?” Alexey asked his wife. “Because they’ve already driven me nuts! I’m seriously fed up!”
“I don’t get it. What do they want from you? And why would they call me?” Nastya replied, puzzled.
“Not from me—from you!” Alexey smiled.
“From me?” she asked, surprised. “What could they possibly want from me?”
“My mom’s completely losing it! I even argued with her today! She nearly drove me crazy. I honestly wanted to strangle her! In the end, I yelled, told her to get lost, and went home.”
“Wait, what happened? What does she want?” Nastya asked, still confused.
“She somehow found out we have a second apartment, even though I never told a soul! She even learned we’re renting it out! At work, only my boss knows we bought that place—no one else! Could your family have spilled the beans?”
“No way! They don’t even talk to yours!” Nastya shrugged. “But I still don’t understand why she’s asking you through me?”
“Well, I told her it’s your apartment, that you inherited it from distant relatives—just to get her off my back! But now she wants us to either sell it or gift it to Inna! Can you believe that? I was shocked when she started telling me this like it’s no big deal. ‘Oh, it’s just an apartment—just give it away,’ she said.”
“Yeah,” Nastya sighed. “With your mom, there’s never a dull moment. But how did she even start that conversation? Didn’t you ask where she heard about the apartment?”
“Of course I asked! But she didn’t answer, so I lost it, told them all off, and left.”
A few hours earlier, Alexey was quietly working in his office when his older sister called.
“Hello! Hi, Inna! Are you calling about something or just to chat? I’m kind of busy,” he said.
“It’s important. Hi! When will you be free after work?”
“Around seven. What’s up?”
“Come by mom’s—I’ll be there. We need to talk urgently. It’s serious, can’t wait.”
“Can’t you just tell me? Maybe I can help over the phone? I don’t want to go to mom’s. What happened?”
At that moment, their mother, who was nearby, grabbed the phone.
“What do you mean you don’t want to come to me, son? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hey, mom! Listen, I’m busy working. I’ll call you back when I’m free. Bye!”
“I’m not done talking to you! Answer my question!” Svetlana Olegovna demanded.
“Am I a kid? I said I’m busy. Bye! I’ll call when free.”
He hung up, stood, and paced around his office, furious. Only his mother could ruin his mood so quickly. He tried to keep contact with her minimal, because every conversation ended in shouting matches—just like since childhood.
He couldn’t focus the rest of the day. Near seven, he called Inna back.
“So, what did you want?” he asked immediately. “Is mom around? I won’t talk if she’s there!”
“No, she’s not,” Inna replied annoyed. “I’m just at the store. Lyosh, please stop by today. We need a serious talk. I don’t want to discuss it on the phone. Will you come?”
Alexey hesitated, then said, “Alright, I’ll come. But can you at least give me a hint what it’s about? And why mom’s place? Maybe meet somewhere else, like a café? You can tell me there.”
“No café. It’s a family matter. We’re waiting for you. Come soon.”
Alexey already knew the meeting wouldn’t end well. But if he didn’t come, they’d pester him endlessly.
When he arrived, his mom and sister greeted him. His father wasn’t home, and Alexey didn’t care; his relationship with his father was even worse.
“Well, I’m here. What’s the urgent talk about? What do you want this time?” he asked.
“Tell me, dear,” started Svetlana Olegovna. “Why am I hearing from complete strangers that you have a second apartment? And why didn’t I or Inna know anything?”
“What? What apartment?” Alexey pretended to be surprised. “Are you all just making things up to find fault now?”
“Don’t play dumb! I know it exists! Your sister’s got nowhere to live, and you have an apartment you’re hiding! Is that how I raised you? To keep secrets from family?” she snapped.
“Wait,” Alexey said. “First, how did you even find out? And second, why do you think it’s mine?”
“Did you think we wouldn’t find out?” Inna added. “Did you think you could hide it from us?”
“Why should I report to you? And who told you about the apartment?”
“That doesn’t matter! The point is you didn’t tell anyone! Are you so comfortable with Nastya that you’re buying apartments around the city? And you ignore your own family?”
“Help family? Are you serious?” Alexey smirked. “You wanted me out of your life! Didn’t you tell me recently you don’t want a son like me? That you’d rather have a dog or a cat instead? Those were your words, mom, right?”
“I’m not talking about that now! Just answer my question!”
“Yes, we have an apartment. But it’s not mine—it’s Nastya’s! She inherited it! Happy now? Need to know anything else?”
“I want you to gift that apartment to Inna! She needs a place for her kids!” Svetlana Olegovna declared.
Alexey laughed.
“Should I gift her my car too? And transfer my paycheck card? Why stop there?” he joked.
“Stop joking, Lyosha. I’m serious! And don’t act out! You know your sister has two kids, and soon we won’t fit here all five of us!”
“That’s not my problem, mom!” Alexey snapped. “I didn’t make your daughter wander around and have kids with different men so she wouldn’t know who’s who! Don’t dump your problems on me! And as for that apartment—forget it! It belongs to my wife and has nothing to do with you, or you, sister,” he said, turning to Inna, “and certainly nothing to do with you, mom!”
“Well then sell it, sell it and at least give half the money to your sister!”
“Are you hearing me right? Or is your head not working?” Alexey said. “What part of what I just told you didn’t you understand?”
“I understood perfectly! And I don’t want you repeating yourself! I just want you to help your sister!”
“Enough! Both of you, leave me alone! I’m going home! And don’t call me anymore—this conversation is over! Inna, get a job! Stop expecting everyone to pity you! People manage with three, four kids and work. Don’t expect anything from me!”
Alexey stood up from the kitchen table where the argument took place and headed for the door.
But his mom wasn’t ready to let him go. She followed, hurling insults like always.
“So that’s how you are, huh? Ungrateful! I raised you, I took care of you, and this is how you repay me? You owe me for all the years I sacrificed! And don’t you dare turn your back on me when I’m talking to you!” Svetlana Olegovna shouted, grabbing his jacket sleeve.
Alexey turned with the clear urge to slap her but stopped himself.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t even think about it! You think I wouldn’t hit my own mother? I’d do more than that! You ruined my entire life! Always whining that you didn’t want me, that I was unwanted! I’m out of your life now, living separately! I moved away ages ago! What more do you want? Live your life, just leave me alone! Imagine I don’t exist! Here,” he pointed at his sister, “this is your favorite, the one you pinned all your hopes on! Take it up with her!”
“Alright,” his mother said. “You give Inna your second apartment, and we all disappear from your life! You’ll never hear from us again, I promise!”
“Want to see this?” Alexey raised his left arm, bent at the elbow, and slapped his right hand against it loudly. “This is the last you’ll see of me! You, her, and dad! You can pass that worldwide ‘no’ sign to him from me! Don’t call or message me again! You’re not family to me! I have a family—my wife! You’re strangers! And one more time you grab my hand, mom, I swear I’ll hit you for real!”
With that, he left his parents’ apartment, slamming the door behind him.
No sooner had he reached the car than his mom called him—he rejected the call, then she called again and again. After her, his sister started calling, too. Alexey didn’t want to talk to either.
All the way home, he couldn’t calm down. He was furious—at them, and at himself for even coming. He knew every visit ended in a fight. He’d vowed many times never to go back. But once again, he gave in.
After that, Alexey cut all ties with those relatives. Once, he even pretended not to recognize his mom and sister on the street, treating them like strangers.
None of them ever called or bothered him again.
Later, Alexey had a son and a daughter. When they asked about grandparents, he told them he was an orphan—that his parents had long passed away.