The wedding procession sped through the city, the driver turned on lively music and honked continuously. The bride was all anticipation, constantly adjusting her veil and fidgeting with her wedding bouquet. She was charming: light makeup, blonde curls styled into a beautiful hairstyle, and the veil added a touch of mystery. A happy smile wandered across her face. Sveta’s heart was ready to jump out of her chest; she couldn’t believe that very soon she would become the wife of the most beloved man in the world, her Alexei. And let it be that his parents are displeased, let no one believe in their sincere love, let them gossip that she spun a wealthy groom for a well-fed life and a metropolitan registration! She didn’t care about the gossip. People are just envious. Such love as theirs simply doesn’t exist!
The procession sped past the central registry office, and soon left the city. Sveta didn’t understand anything and turned to the driver:
“Excuse me, what’s happening? Where are you taking me, I can’t understand. The ceremony is at twelve, Alexei is waiting for me there. Turn around immediately! If this is a joke, it’s a very bad one!”
But the driver mysteriously replied:
— It’s a surprise! Just relax, it’s a long ride still. Better listen to the music!
Sveta panicked, started pulling at the door handles, but it was locked, she pleaded to stop the car, but all in vain. The driver drove crazily over bumps, trying not to look in the mirror at how the bride was getting nervous and starting to cry. It was unpleasant for him too, but he couldn’t do it any other way…
An hour later, the car stopped in the middle of nowhere. The driver turned off the music and grumbled:
-Get out. We’ve arrived.
Sveta didn’t understand anything, at the edge of an abandoned village, almost in a swamp, stood a dilapidated hut, everywhere were stumps and logs, crows ominously cawed. The girl was scared:
-Are you crazy? Why have you brought me here! I’ll call Alexei now and tell him everything, he’ll skin you alive! You’ve ruined our wedding! What is this swamp? Take me back!
The guy couldn’t take it anymore:
-Don’t yell at me. Actually, it was your would-be mother-in-law, Galina Vasilyevna, who ordered me to take you here instead of the registry office and leave you! Ask her about it. And the groom heard everything, nodded and kept silent! Just so!
Sveta cried and couldn’t believe it, she kept repeating:
-No, it’s not true! It can’t be. Alexei couldn’t! He loves me. I’ll call him right now.
She feverishly dialed the groom’s and mother-in-law’s numbers, but in vain, they were blocked. Then the driver received a message, read it, and handed the phone to Sveta:
— Here, read it if you don’t believe! I work for Galina Vasilyevna, and can’t disobey her, she’ll fire me in an instant.
The girl read the dreadful lines: “Have you already taken the frog to the swamp where she belongs? Hurry back. There’s still work to do.”
It finally dawned on Sveta, all this was not a stupid silly prank, but a terrible truth. Alexei’s mother decided to mock her like this, to teach her a lesson. To let her know that she, poor thing, had no place in their family. That she should go back to her backwater, from where she came. Did Alexei know all along? And did nothing to protect Sveta from disgrace?
The girl got out of the car, tears clouded her eyes, she shivered and stamped her feet, not knowing what to do now?
The driver took pity and said:
-Don’t be afraid, sit here, and I’ll come back for you, but first I have to report to Galina Vasilyevna. I’m sorry, I’m not to blame here. But you know, maybe it’s all for the best? The lady wouldn’t have let you live in peace anyway. Here, take my jacket, I’ll be back soon…
The car left, Sveta ripped off her veil, sat on a stump, and wept bitterly. In her head, she still couldn’t comprehend all this disgrace. She simply couldn’t believe that someone who had sworn love to her just yesterday could betray her like this? And she also wanted to surprise the groom at the wedding! To tell him that she was pregnant. She imagined how Alexei would be delighted, how he would twirl her and kiss her. And now what? How would she raise a child alone? On what?
Sveta replayed all the stages of her relationship with Alexei in her head and couldn’t understand when, at what moment he decided to treat her so vilely…
Svetlana grew up in a village, her father a tractor driver, her mother worked at the post office, they kept a farm and a garden, all as usual. Their family was considered exemplary from the outside, a rare case in the village where the man of the house didn’t drink. Everyone worked hard like bees, the home was always well-kept. Villagers envied Sveta’s mother, Evdokia, saying she was lucky to have married well. But few knew what really went on in their family. The head of the family, Boris, was not just strict, he was harsh by nature. Everyone walked the line. No one dared speak out of turn. If the mother sat down to rest, even a little, the father immediately lectured her:
-What are we sitting around for? Go check the yeast, feed the calves. Endless work, and here you sit like a lady!
The mother immediately got up and silently went to work. The same applied to Sveta. Reading books, wasting time, going to the club for a disco, was all improper. The father also controlled her school grades himself, and grumbled if he saw bad ones. And he was very sparing with affection, never hugging, never comforting. He always told Sveta:
— Once you finish school, we’ll match you with Kolka, I’ve already spoken to his parents. You’ll work on their farm. He’s a good boy, industrious, not lazy. So consider, I’ve already arranged your fate.
Sveta tried to resist:
“Daddy, I want to study, and I don’t like Kolya at all, he’s rude and redheaded. I want to go to the city, get an education, work there.”
Her father became furious and slammed his fist on the table:
“What, you dare to defy your father? Who do you think you are? Who’s waiting for you in the city? Your mother has spoiled you, filling your head with nonsense. The conversation is over, I have already decided. If I hear about the city one more time, I’ll lock you up to think things over. A woman’s lot is to manage the house and bear children. Understood?”
Sveta cried, pleading with her mother to intervene, but she only shook her head:
“What are you thinking, my daughter? You know how stern your father is. He won’t listen to me. But don’t be upset, your father only wants the best for you. Maybe it’s not so bad? We’ll have a wedding, and you’ll live happily with Kolya…”
Sveta was a stubborn girl, and firmly decided that she would run away to the city and make it on her own! The idea of marrying a man she didn’t love, and living a life like her parents, seemed dreadful to her. And that’s exactly what she did. She worked on the farm, saved a little money for the trip, and packed her bag for the road. Just then, her father noticed her, he yelled, wanting to lock her up, but Sveta broke free and ran. And then her father yelled in anger:
“Ah, so? Well, go then! Just know, there are no princes there. You’ll come crawling back, and I’ll never let you in! You’re foolish, daughter, you’ll regret it yet!”
So, Sveta found herself in the capital. Right from the train station, she went to a vocational school; she had always dreamed of becoming a seamstress. She was admitted easily and was given a room in a dormitory. It was hard, of course, but her roommates helped her out, sharing everything they had. Sveta was very upset with her parents. Other students had relatives who brought them bags of groceries and gave support. But not her. Her father had such a difficult character; he had stopped communicating with her, sticking to his principles. Her mother would have visited, of course; a couple of times she managed to send Sveta packages through acquaintances. But clearly, her father wouldn’t allow her to visit her daughter, saying, “She disobeyed, let her manage on her own.”
After finishing school, Sveta got a job at a small tailor shop. She rented a modest apartment on the outskirts. In the evenings, she read women’s romance novels about love and sighed, imagining she too would meet a prince, fall in love. Her excellent sewing skills really helped Sveta out. Not having money for beautiful outfits, she made them herself. Thus, the girl always looked fashionable and interesting. She met Lesha quite by accident, just like in a movie. The guy was standing in front of her in the line at the supermarket cashier, and he dropped his wallet, Sveta immediately picked it up and without hesitation ran outside. The guy was already getting into his car. She handed him the wallet:
“Phew, I barely caught up. Here, you dropped this! Take it.”
The young man was taken aback and began to thank her:
“Wow, really. Thank you so much! I’m sure not everyone would do the same… I’m pleasantly surprised. My name is Alexey. And yours? Maybe we should be on a first-name basis?”
That’s how they met. Lesha offered to have coffee, treated Sveta to pastries. They started talking. It turned out that his parents owned their own travel agency. The guy had been abroad a lot, and he passionately talked about what he had seen, and the girl listened, breathless. She fell in love with Lesha at first sight; he even looked like the prince from her dreams. Just as confident, smiling, exuding masculinity. Their romance was very passionate. Lesha took her to exhibitions and concerts, to museums and the cinema. He opened a completely different capital city for Sveta. Patiently taught her how to behave in society, the rules of etiquette. And she absorbed it all like a sponge. Their feelings were mutual, Sveta knew this. The fiancé whispered such tender words of love to her, gave gifts. Everything was going perfectly until his parents found out about their romance. Galina Vasilievna was furious; she tried everything to dissuade her son from the wedding, convincing him that he could have nothing in common with a rough country girl. She even showed up at the tailor shop a couple of times, openly humiliating Sveta. The woman was convinced that she had ensnared Lesha, wanting to register in their luxurious apartment and live at their expense. Proving otherwise was simply impossible. And then one day, a scandal occurred. It was the first time Lesha had stayed the night at Sveta’s. And in the morning, they were awakened by a knock on the door. Enraged, Galina Vasilievna burst in like a fury. And began to shout:
“You shameless girl! Already jumped into bed? Cover yourself up! Standing there, in a single shirt! Where’s my son?”
The girl got angry:
“I’m at my own home, I can wear what I want. And don’t yell at me. Lesha and I love each other, and we’ll be together whether you like it or not.”
Sveta hoped that Lesha would stand up for her, but he just hurriedly dressed, while Galina Vasilievna continued to shout:
“Son, what have you forgotten in this flea pit? What have you come to, huh? Get home immediately. And forget the way here. And know, this wedding will not happen! We didn’t raise and educate you to marry this seamstress.”
Lesha tried to smooth things over:
“Mom, why are you so upset? How did you even find me here? Don’t yell, calm down. Wait outside, I’ll come down soon.”
Sveta widened her eyes:
“Is that all? So, you think your mother’s behavior is normal? She humiliated me, insulted me, and you’re silent? Maybe I really don’t mean anything to you, say it?”
Tears choked her, as if a bucket of slop was poured over her head. The fiancé tenderly hugged her and whispered:
“What are you, dear, don’t take it so close to heart. Yes, mom is a difficult person. It’s hard for her to accept that I want to get married, she’s just jealous, understand? Don’t worry, she’s always like this. But then she’ll cool down, calm down, I’ll talk to her. We will definitely get married. I love you, honestly. Do you believe me?”
And Sveta forgave him right there, and believed. Breaking up with Lesha was beyond her strength. She believed everything would work out, how could a mother ruin her son’s life? Although, remembering her own father, she understood that it happens…
Sveta didn’t realize immediately that she was pregnant. Just one day during lunch break her coworker brought fried fish, and as soon as Sveta smelled it, she got sick to her stomach. Then she bought a test, and everything became clear. There was a week left until the wedding, and the girl decided to present this news right at the celebration! She really wanted this baby, as it was from the man she loved, desired. The girl already imagined how they would walk with the stroller, bathe the baby together, raise him. After all, that’s how a true strong family should be.
And now? She’s crying on a stump, all bitten by mosquitoes and midges, and freezing, with darkness ahead. No wedding, no fiancé, nothing…
When the driver came back for the unfortunate bride, she was completely incoherent, her eyes swollen from tears, her forehead burning, clearly, she had a fever. Sveta was shaking, she could barely mutter her address, and everything went dark in her eyes. She lost consciousness…
The girl woke up to bright light, blinding her eyes. She was lying in her bed, wrapped up to her neck in a blanket, a wet towel on her head, and her friend Lily bustling around. Seeing that Sveta had come to, she exhaled:
“Thank God! You woke up. It’s good that the guy who brought you here yesterday called, found the number in your phone. I was so scared. You had a high fever. I was about to call an ambulance, but Oleg told me everything, how that bastard Lesha dumped you. We decided it was all from the nerves. We found some antipyretic and a sedative in the medicine cabinet, had to inject. And then you fell asleep. You slept for a day. I even listened to see if you were breathing. You really scared me, Sveta!”
The girl remembered everything, and a lump rose to her throat again, but she didn’t start crying, instead, a wave of anger washed over her.
Lily chattered:
“What are you going to do now? You need to sign up for an abortion before it’s too late. How will you manage alone with a child? Your salary barely covers the rent and food. That jerk Lesha! And we’ll find you an even better fiancé. You’ll see.”
But Sveta frowned and shook her head negatively:
“I’m not going anywhere. I won’t kill the baby, I already love him, don’t you understand? I couldn’t live as if nothing happened after that. Nothing, I’ll survive on my own, and raise the child. And I don’t need anyone. Thank you, Lily, for taking care of me. I felt so bad, I don’t remember anything.”
A friend shook her head and said: “Listen, maybe you should go home then? You said it yourself, your family isn’t poor, your parents will thaw out, they’ll help. It’ll be easier for you.”
Sveta frowned again and snapped back: “No way! My father told me straight up, if I show up with a problem, he won’t let me through the door. You don’t know him; he’ll never forgive me. He’d even make my mom suffer, saying, ‘Look what a disgrace you’ve raised.’ No, I’ll deal with this myself. It was stupid of me to listen to fairy tales about love. I thought I found a prince, but it turned out like in that fairy tale—where Ivanushka drinks from a hoof and turns into a little goat! Turns out, Lyosha is a goat too. Well, God be with him, let him live how he wants. Time to get up, I have work tomorrow, need to make something to eat, no time to mope.”
Liliya was amazed: “Wow, you’re tough, friend! A rock. I couldn’t do that. Alright, I have to run, call me if you need anything…”
Days flowed by. Sveta felt miserable and bad, constantly wanting to cry, it seemed like the whole world knew about her disgrace and judged her. BUT the girl held on, didn’t allow herself to mope, and worked tirelessly. She took orders at home, often stayed overtime, trying to earn even a little for her baby’s dowry. But, as luck would have it, her health failed in the second trimester; she had to be hospitalized twice, and the money she earned was spent on food and medical treatment. Her situation was desperate. Labor was approaching, and the landlord threatened to evict her if Sveta didn’t pay… Sveta went to the maternity hospital with a heavy heart, dark thoughts swirling, and the future seemed bleak…
Labor was difficult and exhausting, but all went well, and a boy was born, whom Sveta named Sergey. She pressed her bundle of joy to her chest, cried, kissed the baby, and realized she would never give her miracle to anyone. A nurse came in, and Sveta suddenly asked: “I remember, in the next delivery room, a woman had a difficult labor, and then everyone was rushing around. Is everything okay with her? She probably had twins, her belly was just huge when they wheeled her in.”
The nurse sighed: “Unfortunately, the mother died. She had blood problems, we couldn’t stop the bleeding. It’s the first time this happened in our maternity hospital. And the babies, as if by sin, have a severe allergy to formulas; only breastfeeding suits them. The poor grief-stricken husband is looking for a wet nurse, but it’s not that easy.”
Without a second thought, Sveta offered: “If needed, I can feed the babies. I’m suffering, I have a lot of milk, my breast hurts like hell and feels like it’s going to burst. Why let it go to waste.”
The nurse was delighted and brought the babies. It was a boy and a girl. Sveta fed them, they suckled greedily and were fully satiated. They immediately closed their eyes and dozed off. The nurse began to thank her: “Oh, thank you, it’s so good. Otherwise, they were crying poor things, they’re hungry, they eat a little formula, and immediately spit it all up. It was really a disaster.”
Sveta thought, what a tragedy in the family, the children left without a mother, and she was still complaining about her own life. A couple of hours later, a worn-out man, dressed expensively, obviously well-off, but with eyes as if death resided in them, entered her room. He sat down by Sveta’s bed and spoke in a hoarse, quiet voice: “Hello, Svetlana. My name is Alexander. This was my wife, Anechka, she died in childbirth, and the twins, Stepka and Alisa are also mine. They told me you fed them, and you have a lot of milk? You can’t imagine how you helped me. I’m still in shock from what happened, I can’t recover. The funeral is ahead. And then there’s this allergy. Even the most expensive formulas don’t suit them. Please help me, I beg you! I’ll pay you any money. Become a nurse and nanny for my children. I know, you also had a boy born, that’s okay. You can live with us. I’ll provide you an excellent comfortable room, ensure outstanding nutrition. Understand, I can’t lose the babies too… I understand you have your own family and your husband will be against it. Then let him live with us too. It’s not for long, as soon as we can start feeding the babies, I won’t burden you. Think about it, don’t refuse right away.”
Sveta was very happy because such an option was also a salvation for her. It solved all her problems with money and living. She agreed right away: “I don’t have a husband, so no one will be against it. I agree. Don’t worry, I have a lot of milk, hopefully, it won’t go to waste, there’s enough for everyone.”
Thus, after being discharged, Sveta moved to Kruglov’s huge three-story mansion. There lived Sasha’s parents, an elderly couple, Yefim Petrovich and Alla Igorevna. Sasha himself with the children and his younger sister, Angela. Sveta and her son were given a wonderful spacious room. Cribs for the twins were also placed there, so it was convenient for her to watch over the children and feed them. Initially, it was very difficult for the girl to care for three babies at once, she was running around like a squirrel in a wheel, jokingly feeding everyone in turn, one cries, just calm down, the other starts screaming, it was overwhelming. And the family members met the wet nurse coldly. They told Sasha that it was worth hiring a professional nanny of age, who knows what this young stranger is, and what to expect from her. But Alexander saw how Sveta tried, as soon as he came from work, he immediately took the babies and fussed over them himself. He was very grateful to Sveta for caring for his children, they were gaining weight excellently and growing on her milk. He paid her regularly, bought everything necessary at once for the three children. The relationship between Sveta and Sasha’s sister was particularly difficult. Angela behaved arrogantly, showing her displeasure that the nanny sat at the common table. She thought her place was among the servants. Once she even decided to frame the wet nurse. She created a scandal, claiming her expensive ring from her jewelry box was missing, and in the house, besides Sveta, everyone was familiar. She yelled: “What, brother, warmed a snake on your chest? Soon she’ll cart off all our goods. She probably stole the ring. We need to search her room, I’m sure the ring will be found there. Why did you bring her into our house, tell me? It’s not hard to breastfeed children, especially for such money!”
Sveta was upset, hurt, and did not remain silent: “You know what? This is too much. I didn’t beg to live here, I decided to help the babies. And I won’t tolerate such rudeness and lies. Go