Driving slowly through the familiar streets of her hometown, Maria felt the weight of a decade spent in the capital, which had blurred many of her childhood memories. She relied on her navigator to reach her mother’s apartment, navigating the changed landscape of her past.
Before Maria could even ring the bell, the door swung open. Her mother, aged and weary, stood at the threshold.
“You finally came,” Galina Petrovna said curtly. “Come in.”
Crossing the doorstep, Maria found the hallway crowded with teenagers. Her half-siblings examined her with unmistakable curiosity.
“Kids, this is Maria,” her mother introduced. “Your sister.”
A girl of about fourteen inspected Maria openly from head to toe. The branded coat, designer handbag, and elegant shoes all revealed the image of a successful city dweller.
“She has such a beautiful car,” the girl whispered to her brother.
“Quiet, Lena,” their mother admonished softly.
A middle-aged man emerged from the kitchen. Maria’s stepfather nodded silently, his eyes flickering over her expensive watch and attire.
The living room featured worn furniture: an old sofa, threadbare armchairs, and a television that showed evident signs of age. Maria seated herself, taking in the humble surroundings.
“As you can see, we live modestly,” her mother began.
Maria nodded thoughtfully.
“Vladimir works as a foreman at the factory,” Galina Petrovna elaborated. “His salary is small, and the children need so much.”
- The teenage son sat detached in a corner, staring at a cracked phone screen.
- Lena nervously fiddled with the worn sleeve of her sweater.
“Mom, when will you buy me new sneakers?” the girl asked loudly. “Everyone in class has nice ones, but mine are old.”
“Not now, Lena,” her mother snapped sharply.
Maria remained silent, feeling the tension in the room mounting.
“You must be tired from the trip,” the stepfather inquired gently.
“A little,” Maria admitted.
“Is work in Moscow good?” her mother ventured.
“Yes, everything’s fine,” Maria replied.
“I heard your father left you the company,” Galina Petrovna said cautiously. “The business must be doing well?”
Maria sighed deeply. The previous day, she had met with the company manager, who had impressed her with the scale of the enterprise. The business turnover was in the tens of millions.
“Yes, it’s going well,” she confirmed.
Vladimir Sergeyevich exchanged a glance with his wife; a predatory spark flashed in their eyes.
“Maria, may we speak alone?” her mother asked. “In private.”
They retreated to the bedroom, where Galina Petrovna closed the door behind them.
“Daughter, you see our situation,” she whispered. “The children require so much. Lena needs a math tutor, and Andrey wants programming courses.”
Maria listened quietly.
“Vladimir faces layoffs at work,” her mother continued. “We don’t know what to do. And now you have such money…”
“Mom, I just arrived,” Maria interrupted gently. “Let’s first honor father properly.”
“Of course, but you understand—family means everything. Your father always said we must support each other.”
Maria nodded, unwilling to argue.
Returning to the living room, she found the family council assembled. Vladimir whispered to the children, who became silent when Maria appeared.
“Maria, how long will you stay in town?” the stepfather asked.
“I’m not sure yet. I have to sort through father’s affairs.”
“Is the house still big?” Lena inquired.
“Lena!” their mother snapped.
“Just curious,” shrugged the girl.
Andrey finally looked up from his phone.
“Is it true Maria’s father owned a construction company? Cool to be the boss.”
Maria observed this family and realized everything revolved around money—her money. No one asked how she coped with losing her father or showed concern for her plans.
“I think I’ll stay in a hotel tonight,” Maria said as she rose.
“What hotel?” her mother protested. “You’re home! Stay with us.”
“No, Mom. I’d rather rest alone.”
Galina Petrovna accompanied her to the door and hugged her firmly.
“Think about what I said. Family is sacred.”
Maria returned to the hotel with a heavy heart. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. The next day, she said goodbye to her father in a simple ceremony, where her mother and family kept their distance.
After the cemetery, Galina Petrovna approached Maria.
“Come for dinner tomorrow. Aunt Valya and Uncle Peter will be here. We need to discuss everything as a family.”
Maria nodded, unable to refuse.
The next evening in her mother’s apartment, relatives gathered around the table: Aunt Valentina and Uncle Peter, their faces serious.
“Sit down, Maria,” her mother invited toward an empty chair.
The mood was tense, with Lena and Andrey sitting quietly and occasionally shooting Maria sidelong glances.
“We’ve thought it over,” began Galina Petrovna. “Your father was a just man who loved family.”
Aunt Valentina nodded.
“Boris always spoke about family values, that relatives must support one another.”
“So, what exactly are you implying?” Maria asked cautiously.
Uncle Peter cleared his throat.
“Maria, you have inherited a great fortune, but your siblings live in need.”
“It’s unfair,” Aunt Valentina added. “One child is wealthy, the others poor.”
Tension grew as the discussion took an unpleasant turn.
“We believe,” her mother said, “that you should share your inheritance. At least half.”
“What?” Maria was stunned.
“What’s wrong with that?” Vladimir Sergeyevich shrugged. “A good daughter wouldn’t abandon her family.”
“Your father would want you to share with your siblings,” her mother insisted coldly.
Lena looked at Maria with hopeful eyes, Andrey waited expectantly.
- Aunt Valentina spoke up, “This is a family duty. You lived in Moscow for ten years, never helped. Now’s your chance to make up for it.”
- Uncle Peter supported, “That’s right — fairness above all. The children deserve equal shares.”
Maria scanned the room; everyone awaited her answer.
“I am not obligated to give anything,” she said softly.
“How can you say that?” her mother frowned. “It’s your family!”
Maria responded firmly, “If father wanted to split the inheritance, he would have stated so in his will. He never mentioned you or said he loved you. Who could love people who became strangers? I am his only daughter.”
Galina Petrovna’s anger boiled over.
“So, you don’t care about us?”
“Not exactly…”
“No? Then prove it! Give the kids their share!”
Vladimir Sergeyevich leaned forward.
“Maria, think carefully. You have millions, we struggle to get by.”
“Lena will soon enter university,” Aunt Valentina added. “There’s no money for her education.”
“And Andrey needs a computer for his studies,” Uncle Peter chimed in.
Maria noticed the children’s eyes filled with a mix of resentment and hope.
“Decide,” her mother demanded harshly. “Either you share your inheritance or you lose your family forever.”
Silence fell. Maria rose slowly.
“No,” she said firmly.
Galina Petrovna jumped up so abruptly she knocked the chair over.
“What?! Have you lost all conscience? How can you look at these kids and refuse them?”
“Ungrateful selfish woman!” Aunt Valentina shouted, waving her arms. “You haven’t been here for ten years! Not even for Mother’s birthday!”
“Heartless,” her stepfather shook his head in disgust. “I thought you had some humanity left.”
Lena burst into tears, hiding her face in her hands.
“I hoped… we all hoped… and you…”
Andrey stared silently, his adolescent fury evident as his dreams crumbled.
Maria calmly answered, “Father left the inheritance to me because I’m his daughter. That’s how it’s meant to be.”
“How dare you?!” her mother sobbed clutching her chest. “We are your family, your blood! Are money and relatives so easily separated?”
“Look at how we live!” Lena sobbed, pointing at her shabby clothes. “How greedy you are… I thought my older sister would help.”
“Now we see your true face,” Uncle Peter declared, standing and looming over Maria. “We thought city upbringing would have changed you.”
“You’ve become callous,” Aunt Valentina hissed. “Worse than a stranger!”
Andrey suddenly spoke, voice trembling with rage. “You came back in a fancy car! Your bag costs as much as our monthly food! We don’t even have money for new clothes!”
“He’s right,” Vladimir Sergeyevich nodded. “You live in luxury while we merely survive.”
Maria headed for the door, but her mother blocked her path.
“Stop!” Galina Petrovna yelled, grabbing her daughter’s hand. “If you leave now, don’t ever come back! You are no daughter to me! Not at all!”
“I’ll tell everyone how greedy you are!” Aunt Valentina threatened, shaking with anger. “Everyone will learn how you abandoned your own family!”
“I’ll tell the neighbors! In shops, clinics! Everyone will know!” her mother promised.
“And your business will suffer,” Vladimir Sergeyevich warned, raising his voice for the first time. “I have connections. We’ll make your life here difficult.”
“Leave!” Lena cried through tears. “Go away and don’t come back! We’ll manage without you!”
“Family disgrace!” Uncle Peter added. “Your father must be turning in his grave!”
Maria pushed past her mother and moved to the door. Behind her rose a chorus of shouts:
“I curse you!” Galina Petrovna screamed. “May you never know happiness!”
“You’ll be left all alone!” Aunt Valentina shrieked. “Completely alone!”
The door slammed shut, but their cries echoed through the walls.
The following day, Maria moved into her father’s house. She changed the locks and tidied up the rooms. The home was spacious and cozy.
A year passed without a single word between her and her mother. During encounters, Galina Petrovna turned her back deliberately. The children’s resentment remained, and neighbors whispered behind backs.
- “See how greedy she is,” they murmured. “She abandoned family for money.”
- “Completely heartless,” old women shook their heads.
Yet, none of this affected Maria. The company prospered, attracting new orders. She built homes for many and created jobs. Her father’s business thrived under her care.
She never forgot the reason her parents divorced. Her father had devoted himself to building the company, often with little money. Her mother left him for Vladimir, who was better off then. The breakup hit her father hard, but he poured all his love into Maria. Initially, he took her in, sent her to study in the capital, and helped her establish herself. He never mentioned her mother’s new family.
Now, her mother wished to pretend the past never existed, aiming to seize the fortune her father had painstakingly built. However, Maria refused to see her father’s empire dismantled so easily.
Evenings found Maria sitting in her father’s chair, flipping through his photographs. She knew she had acted rightly, preserving his legacy for herself.
Family ties had been irreparably broken, with no regret on Maria’s part. Entrusted with her father’s enterprise, she honored his trust and did not betray it.
Key Insight: Maria’s story reveals the complexity of family relationships intertwined with wealth, demonstrating how personal loss and loyalty shape one’s decisions amidst pressure and expectation.