Gently, Natasha traced her fingers across her cheeks, erasing the final remnants of tears. Though the burning sensation in her eyes lingered, her heart bore the weight of the cruelty embedded within harsh accusations. She exhaled deeply and glanced at Lena, her longstanding confidante and the sole person who never masked the truth under niceties. Lena sat quietly by the table, methodically swirling her tea with a spoon, silently waiting for Natasha to break the silence.
“Have you stopped crying yet?” Lena inquired without lifting her gaze. Her tone lacked empathy, replaced instead by sharp rationality and a hint of harshness, as though jolting Natasha awake through unvarnished honesty was necessary.
“Yes,” Natasha replied tersely, attempting a faint smile that came across more as a wince. The pain remained vivid and raw.
“Then, what’s your plan to fix this?”
Lena’s approach was always straightforward and unapologetic. She perceived the world through stark contrasts—no place for uncertainty or excuses. She detested hearing people rationalize with “I can’t,” “I’m scared,” or “Maybe.”
“Len, not everyone possesses your kind of resilience,” Natasha murmured, eyes cast downward.
“But this isn’t about strength,” Lena cut in sharply. “It hinges on self-respect and self-love. If you undervalue yourself, seeing yourself as unworthy of Mikhail and his family, you ensure others will perceive you the same way—helpless, adrift, incomplete. Stop behaving like a victim—do you want people to see you as anything less than a bride?”
“Right now, you project victimhood rather than the dignity of a bride.”
Startled, Natasha burst into a boisterous, almost hysterical laugh: “Do you want my future mother-in-law to suffer a stroke?”
Lena pushed further, refusing to let her dodge the issue. “How do you even interact with them?”
“With Misha around, she’s the perfect hostess—smiling, joking, even serving coffee. But I glimpsed her true nature once when she learned I grew up in an orphanage. It was like her mask slipped away—she began ranting about genetics, labeling my birth ‘unverified’ and questioning the health of her grandson. It was a verbal storm.”
“That’s cruel,” Lena sneered.
“Misha immediately defended me, standing firm that she had no right to speak about the person he loves that way. Since then, I think Emma Sergeevna has silently resented me, possibly from the outset.”
Lena shook her head dismissively. “What’s so prestigious about their family anyway? You mentioned Misha’s father isn’t from a wealthy background.”
“Exactly. He takes pride in his rural roots. But Emma Sergeevna always silences him when he mentions them.”
“Understood. What about your quest to find your relatives?”
A shadow crossed Natasha’s face. “It’s gone nowhere—no clues beyond a solitary woman who saw my mother at the train station.”
Ever since starting university, Natasha pursued her family search with relentless resolve, much like fighting for survival. Her history was peculiar: her mother brought her as a newborn to the orphanage and died right outside. She appeared impoverished and frail, but wrapped with her baby was an exquisite antique ring adorned with delicate engravings. This ring became more than a mere adornment for Natasha—it symbolized an unsolved mystery she carried on her finger.
She reached out to jewelry experts, who all confirmed that the ring was custom crafted using ancient techniques, though none could trace its origins or maker.
Next, Natasha talked to people who might recall something. At first, luck favored her—a janitor remembered seeing a woman with a baby headed to the orphanage. Then she canvassed the entire upscale neighborhood believed to be her mother’s home, only to be met with cautious denial and evasions.
- One neighbor noticed her resemblance to her mother.
- She learned her mother’s name might be Yulia.
- A market vendor recounted rescuing her mother during a potential suicide attempt.
That vendor, who once sold pies, shared a vivid tale: spotting a heavily pregnant woman sitting despondently near train tracks, seemingly waiting for a train to end her life. Recognizing the woman was near childbirth, the vendor intervened, took her home, and offered shelter and comfort. The woman told of a broken relationship, rejection by her child’s father, and a desperate fear of losing her baby.
The woman gave birth at home, refusing medical help, and survived barely, while Natasha was born healthy. Days later, the new mother planned to surrender Natasha to the orphanage and seek out the father, hoping he would accept his granddaughter. Unfortunately, she was found dead at the orphanage door soon after, having kept her home birth secret to avoid legal consequences.
When Natasha delved deeper, she found the hospital staff had warned Yulia not to conceive because of a heart condition. The baby’s father hid the truth from his family, hoping the child would secure his place as a son-in-law. But faced with Yulia’s illness, he abandoned her. Yulia’s explosive temperament and defiance were well known, and after a final confrontation at home, she disappeared for good.
Meanwhile, Misha remained Natasha’s constant supporter, urging her not to lose hope despite the absence of promising leads. His family managed a large farm business, with both Misha and his father deeply engaged. Emma Sergeevna, skilled in negotiations, played a pivotal role and could captivate anyone when she wished.
Natasha kept her ongoing search a secret from her future mother-in-law, anticipating hostility.
Emma Sergeevna, however, confided to a friend her disbelief at Misha’s choice of bride—a simple, unsophisticated girl she deemed unworthy and expected Misha to tire of her soon. She criticized Natasha’s lack of polish and ambition and vowed to expose her inadequacies.
- Emma planned to send Natasha to represent her at a crucial business meeting, expecting her to fail.
- The scheme involved feigning illness to avoid attending herself.
- Emma intended to apologize afterward, leveraging false sympathy.
Unexpectedly, Emma Sergeevna summoned Natasha to attend this meeting because Misha and his father were occupied elsewhere. Lying on a couch with a fever, she insisted Natasha sign a minor contract in her stead, urging her to act smart enough to avoid suspicion.
What Natasha did not realize was that Emma slyly placed a hidden recording device in her bag, planning to use it against her.
Trembling but resolute, Natasha rehearsed her lines to prepare for the daunting ordeal ahead.
The venue was an upscale restaurant. Despite feeling the dress was somewhat inappropriate, she entered and explained her mission. She was led to a private office where two men awaited—one elderly, the other middle-aged—who regarded her with shock and disbelief.
The younger man questioned the origin of Natasha’s ring. As she nervously answered, revelations unfolded: the man identified himself as Yulia’s father and introduced the other as her brother—her estranged grandfather and uncle.
Overcome with emotion, Natasha was supported as she nearly fainted, slowly absorbing the truth about her lineage and the long-lost connections rediscovered.
Just then, Emma Sergeevna appeared, feigning concern and introducing herself in a manner dripping with forced politeness, underscoring her role as the future mother-in-law and a matchmaker of sorts.
Natasha, now armed with knowledge and a hidden recorder as her silent witness, smirked insignificantly at Emma’s games, ready to face whatever came next.
Her perspective shifted—no longer was she alone except for Misha. She had found family in her grandfather and uncle. Even if her future mother-in-law was a formidable presence, Natasha had stepped into a new chapter, one demanding courage and adaptability.
Emma Sergeevna and the grandfather exchanged a glance; his eyes silently pleaded for rescue from the woman’s manipulations.
In summary, this story unfolds the struggles of a young woman navigating harsh judgments, family secrets, and unexpected responsibilities. Despite obstacles, Natasha’s determination to embrace truth and rebuild connections highlights the power of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.