Don’t you ever think you can order me around again!” he growled harshly, pushing his daughter away so forcefully that she stumbled backward, colliding painfully with the edge of a small cabinet.

Anna would never erase from her memory that vivid spring day. Friends had gathered at her cozy little apartment at the edge of the town Zarechnyy, excitedly preparing for her upcoming wedding. The air was deliciously infused with the aroma of warm apple pies her mother had lovingly baked, mingled with the sweet fragrance of lilacs that Tanya had brought. Birds sang joyfully outside, and a gentle May breeze gently rustled the thin curtains through the open window.
“Honestly, Anna, his family’s got some questionable traits,” her friends teased cautiously, trying to steer the young woman away from her romantic illusions. “We’ve all seen how Viktor handles liquor—remember the fuss his father caused at the factory gates?” Anna merely swirled the lemon slice in her tea thoughtfully, shrugging off their warnings. For her, at twenty, deeply in love, Viktor was perfect—handsome, charismatic, and strong. At just twenty-five, he had already become a supervisor at the machinery plant, where his father had begun as a modest mechanic. To her, Viktor’s occasional drinking was just youthful indiscretion.
“He’ll change,” Anna reasoned, recalling Viktor’s charming gestures: bouquets of roses, spontaneous car rides around town in his vintage Moskvich.
“Anna, think about it,” her closest friend Marina warned gently. “Remember how aggressive he became last New Year’s Eve, almost getting into a fight with Petya, the security guard?” Yet Anna clung to another memory—the very next day, Viktor had dramatically knelt beneath her balcony, begging forgiveness with carnations, serenading her romantically, to the delight of elderly neighbors.
Their wedding was spectacular, hosted at the city’s finest venue, complete with live music and fireworks reflected over the river. Viktor was charming and sober, dancing tirelessly with Anna, delivering heartfelt toasts. Anna dazzled everyone in her beautiful white gown, specially ordered from a nearby city. Her friends whispered admiringly about the blissful couple.
Initially, their marriage seemed idyllic. They settled into a lovely two-bedroom apartment, a generous gift from Viktor’s parents, thanks to his father’s promotion to workshop manager. Anna poured love into their new home, decorating windowsills with vibrant flowers and filling rooms with warmth. Viktor regularly surprised her with sweet gestures, small tokens, or bouquets of her favorite chrysanthemums.
By summer’s end, Anna discovered she was pregnant. Returning from a countryside weekend, her arms loaded with baskets of fresh apples and tomatoes, Anna felt suddenly dizzy. Viktor took meticulous care of her, jubilantly spinning her around when the pregnancy test confirmed their happiness.
However, their joy quickly faded. Within a week, Viktor spiraled into drunken outbursts, shouting anxiously about being unprepared for fatherhood. Afterward, he tearfully apologized, vowing sobriety and responsibility.
Anna’s pregnancy became increasingly challenging, punctuated by hospital stays. Viktor’s visits dwindled, replaced by late nights and alcohol. When Marina, their daughter, was born, Viktor didn’t even appear at the hospital. Instead, he spent days celebrating drunkenly in a friend’s garage. It marked the unraveling of their marriage.
Five painful years followed, marked by constant strife. Marina grew bright and lovely despite the turmoil, yet anxiety shadowed her childhood. Viktor squandered money at a bar called “Harbor,” and Anna, desperate to support her daughter, took an accounting job. Her mother-in-law, widowed after her husband’s death from alcoholism, assisted hesitantly with childcare.
Viktor became paranoid and aggressive, accusing Anna baselessly of infidelity, berating her frequently. Marina feared her father’s unpredictable temper, often hiding in closets or seeking refuge with Aunt Valya, their kindly neighbor.
Marina’s sixth birthday was intended as a cheerful gathering. Anna decorated their home festively, baking a “Bird’s Milk” cake with help from neighbors. But Viktor returned home intoxicated, disrupting the party violently. Marina’s birthday ended in tears, a broken cake scattered across the floor.
“Why ruin this day?” Anna whispered desperately.
“You dare talk back?” Viktor shouted, grabbing Anna’s hair.
“Daddy, stop!” Marina cried, bravely stepping forward. Viktor pushed her roughly aside, causing her to slam into a wardrobe. In a flash of desperation, Anna grabbed a crystal vase—her wedding gift—and struck Viktor forcefully.
He collapsed instantly, and a dark stain spread across the carpet. With trembling hands, Anna called the police, begging them to protect her innocent child.
Anna received a ten-year prison sentence, mitigated by her circumstances. Marina was lovingly raised by her grandparents, Stepan, a gentle carpenter, and Klavdia, who tended the family garden.
Two decades later, Marina built a contented life in a comfortable cottage neighborhood, “Pine Grove.” Her husband, Andrey, managed the local machinery plant, and their home echoed with their children’s laughter. Despite losing Andrey to cancer tragically young, Marina persevered, finding fulfillment as a piano teacher.
She met Mikhail, a spirited driving instructor whose cheerful demeanor and sincere heart gradually won Marina’s affection. Fate revealed more surprises when Marina accidentally encountered her estranged mother, whom she hadn’t seen since childhood. Forgiveness reunited their hearts.
Together, Marina and Mikhail created a new, harmonious family, teaching their children the importance of love and forgiveness. Music filled their home, as did joy, companionship, and trust. Marina reflected on life’s bittersweet journey, understanding clearly that true family is built not from genes or destiny, but from resilience, compassion, and the courage to forgive.