“Mom, why don’t we call Dad on video to wish him happy birthday?” suggested the elder daughter, looking expectantly at Yulia.
“Really, Mom! My little sister and I will recite poems… And Dad is sending us presents from his business trip,” the younger one clapped her hands gleefully. The children adored their father and were deeply upset that he had to leave suddenly—and not just for a weekend—but on his own birthday!
“Yes, my darlings, I’ll call your father a bit later, and we’ll congratulate him together. He is busy now, working,” Yulia reassured them.
Yulia had attempted calling her husband multiple times, but he kept ignoring her calls. Then suddenly, his phone came alive with a rare video call from Boris himself.
“Kids, Dad is calling us! Looks like he heard that we wanted to congratulate him,” Yulia announced.
The eldest daughter quickly grabbed the phone from her mother and pressed the ‘accept call’ button, only to see something astonishing. She hurriedly handed the phone back to Yulia.
Three Days Before the Birthday
Yulia had meticulously planned how to celebrate her husband’s birthday. Every year, she organized a small surprise, knowing his love for gatherings with friends, late-night chats, flowing wine, and ending with a fresh strawberry pie instead of a creamy cake.
This year was no exception. She reserved a table at a new restaurant and invited close friends. Additionally, arrangements were made for the children to stay with Yulia’s mother, ensuring the party could continue late into the night.
Although their passion had dimmed slightly over seven years, Yulia knew it was time to rekindle the flames of their love. The cake was meant to be served privately after the main celebration, paired with an intimate dance that she had rehearsed for a month, hoping to impress Boris deeply.
Everything went as planned until three days before the event when Boris returned home gloomier than a stormy sky.
“Did something happen?” concerned Yulia asked.
He sat down next to her, gathering his thoughts. “I know you always prepare for my birthday, but this time we need to postpone. If you had plans…”
Yulia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Of course, I had plans! Everything is ready!” she stammered.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t be home that day. The boss is desperate — I have to fly to Kazan immediately. It’s an unplanned assignment but very profitable. The project will fail without me. I’m the most experienced person on the team,” Boris explained. “I tried to find someone to replace me, but during the holiday season and so suddenly, it’s impossible. I don’t know what else to do. Unless you come with me.”
“Where would we go? The baby just recovered, and I won’t drag her on trains. No way. Plus, Mom hasn’t recovered from Dad’s death yet. I’m afraid to leave her alone with the kids for long,” Yulia answered softly.
“I understand all that,” he sighed heavily, struggling to speak. “I arranged with the boss for the trip to be as short as possible — only three days. I promise we’ll celebrate when I’m back. Just us, no guests, with our little family.”
“Alright. We’ll celebrate later. I’ll cancel the restaurant reservation, though I already paid a non-refundable deposit. It’s awkward in front of friends. But it’s pointless to celebrate without the birthday man,” Yulia replied, clearly disappointed.
He hugged her, and they sat silently for a moment.
“Also, Yulia, if you can, take Mom to the center and submit the documents for the car. You have my power of attorney. It’s about to expire, and I’m always busy. Besides, your mother’s been quite unreliable since Dad passed,” Boris added.
Yulia nodded. Her father had died six months prior, and her mother had suffered greatly, even hospitalized due to heart problems. Recently, the woman inherited an apartment, a dacha, and an expensive foreign SUV—one her late father never managed to drive. Since only Boris was legally allowed to drive in the family, they faced decisions about the inheritance.
Selling it meant paying hefty taxes. Keeping it was costly for her mother, a poor provider now. Boris suggested an alternative:
- Transfer the father-in-law’s car to him so he could drive the family around.
- Sell his old car and give the proceeds plus savings for a new vehicle to Yulia’s mother.
Yulia’s mother was initially reluctant to accept money from her son-in-law, but ultimately agreed to receive part of it as a birthday gift, while saying, “First, the chairs… then the money.”
They planned to visit the center after the celebration, on Monday.
Yulia canceled the reservation and apologized to their guests. That Saturday was an ordinary day. The children stayed home, playing and pestering their mother to call their father, who was working hard.
Despite everything, Yulia’s habit of celebrating didn’t fade. Repeatedly, she tried calling Boris.
“The subscriber is unavailable”—busy, working. Fine, then,” she thought.
Meanwhile, in the calm city of Kazan, Boris hummed a tune in the shower, believing everything was perfect. Though off-key, he sang with joy. His phone, left in the bedroom, did not register Yulia’s persistent birthday calls. Boris felt relieved to have escaped his wife and children.
His girlfriend Mila passed by, noticing the ringing phone. Furrowing her brows, she sensed something off about a call labeled “Sister” from Boris’s contacts.
“Borya?” she shouted, opening the bathroom door slightly. “Your ‘Sister’ is calling. Probably to wish you.”
“Ignore it,” he replied over the water noise. “I’ll call her back later. Not the best time to chat here. Come here and rub my back instead.”
“Okay, dear,” Mila smiled, closing the door and tapping to redial via video call.
But instead of “Sister,” a little girl about six years old answered.
“Mommy… Why is there a strange lady on the screen?” the child asked in surprise, looking strikingly like Boris.
Mila guessed the girl was a niece, waving cheerfully.
“Hi! What’s your name?”
The girl promptly handed the phone to her mother.
Mila now saw an ordinary woman with ash-colored hair clipped at the back and a tense wrinkle on her forehead. To ease the mood, Mila spoke warmly, “Hello! I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time!”
“Excuse me, who are you?” asked Yulia.
“I’m Mila, Boris’s girlfriend — well, your brother’s. He’s currently in the shower, preparing for the evening. I’m sure you know that today is his birthday, and we planned to go to a restaurant. It’s a pity you can’t join… Perhaps we could congratulate him together via video call? It’s a special day, and I’m sure he would appreciate it.”
Yulia absorbed all of this without blinking, though the wrinkle on her forehead deepened.
“So, Mila, you say… Boris’s girlfriend?” she quietly echoed.
“Yes. We’ve been together for almost a year. I’ve wanted to meet you, but for some reason, Boris never organized it. I’m ready to fly to Moscow or you could come to Kazan! It’s a beautiful city. I’d love to show you around. I’m glad you called. Otherwise, we’d still know nothing about each other. Boris is secretive but kind. I think we’re about to enter a new stage soon.”
Yulia forced a smile; everything was crystal clear.
She didn’t reveal that she wasn’t Boris’s sister but his wife. Luckily, the children remained silent.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s make it a surprise. I’m glad we finally know each other. Please don’t hang up. I’ll put on a party hat, take the cake, and with the kids, we’ll blow out the candles and sing happy birthday, okay?”
“Yes!” Mila beamed like a star. At that moment, she looked happier than the birthday man.
“Borya! Are you coming out?” she asked. “We need to leave soon.”
“Yeah… Didn’t wait for you, my sunshine, my love. I guess I’ll leave the sweet treat for tonight,” Boris said.
Stepping out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Boris found Mila on the bed with the phone, her smile radiant as if she had won the lottery.
“Who’s on the line?” he frowned.
“Your ‘sister’ — she’s lovely, and the kids agreed to wish you happy birthday live,” Mila replied, turning the phone so Boris could see.
“Surprise!” they shouted simultaneously, and Boris froze.
Yulia sat in front of the camera wearing a party hat, flanked by the girls also donning hats.
“Dad! Happy birthday!” the daughters chimed. Boris had nowhere to hide, feeling like he wanted to sink through the floor.
Yulia held up their marriage certificate carefully.
“Girls, now let’s shower Dad with confetti!”
Then, calmly, she addressed Boris:
“My love, husband, happy birthday.”
She lifted the document and tore it into small pieces as Mila looked on, stunned and confused.
“We won’t be giving you the car; it stays with Mom. But your car and the apartment… they were acquired during the marriage and will have to be sold,” Yulia paused.
“I hope Mila has her own place. Because now, you live with her. Also, I’m filing for child support — our children deserve that much.”
The image vanished, leaving a black screen and silence, with Boris’s heartbeat echoing in the quiet.
“So you’re married,” Mila finally realized. “And the contact name in my phone was to hide that? Clever…”
Boris offered no reply.
“But that’s not even the main thing… You have children! Two precious girls! What more could you want? A beautiful wife, children who call you Dad…” Mila’s eyes reflected disappointment.
“Mila, listen, it’s not like that. I just didn’t want to be honest…”
“With me?” she cut in.
Mila gathered her things to leave. The weekend hadn’t gone as planned for anyone, and she no longer wished to share a roof with Boris.
“Mila! Don’t go… Please be smarter!” Boris pleaded.
“You told me you’re alone, completely alone! You said it’s so bitter and lonely to celebrate a birthday by yourself, while everyone else has families,” she snapped.
Boris tried to speak, but Mila ignored him, understanding everything and choosing to leave.
Now, the birthday truly had no one to celebrate with.
Yulia didn’t know how to explain to her daughters. Unprepared for such a serious talk, she only turned to her mother, who understood without words.
“Yes, dear… I’ll take care of the granddaughters while you go out and have some fun,” her mother encouraged.
Yulia donned that very new dress, called her husband’s friends, and invited them to celebrate the birthday of a new chapter in her life. Some declined, but many came.
That evening, Yulia enjoyed herself more than she had at eighteen. At the end of the night, she gladly ate the very pie prepared for Boris. The friends supported her and unanimously condemned Boris’s actions.
On Monday, instead of heading downtown, Yulia went to a lawyer and filed for divorce. Boris was left homeless and responsible for child support for two daughters.
Could it have been worth it? Probably not. Yet, there’s no turning back now.
In summary, what began as a joyful birthday plan transformed into an unexpected revelation that shattered a family’s illusion. The story shows how secrets can unravel even the strongest bonds, reminding us of the importance of honesty and transparency in relationships.