Emily turned off the annoying alarm clock and looked sadly at the gray sky covered with leaden clouds. It had been raining for the third day in a row.
Glancing at how peacefully her daughter was snoring, wrapped in a warm blanket, the woman smiled and quietly kissed Evie on the cheek. The little girl had fallen ill again. All night, the suffocating cough had kept both the child and her mother from sleeping. But this was no surprise. They lived in an old, damp room in a communal apartment.
In the summer, the living conditions were somehow bearable, but with the onset of cold weather, water literally trickled down the walls in thin streams. The building had been in emergency condition for about five years, but naturally, no one hurried to respond to the tenants’ numerous complaints, citing the lack of available housing to relocate the old Khrushchev-era block.
It was very hard for Emily to raise her daughter. There were times when the desperate woman thought about giving Evie up for adoption online. But looking at her little girl, Emily knew she could never do it. She had to work from morning until late at night just to make ends meet.
At 17, she became a complete orphan. She had lived her whole life with her single mother in this tiny room and dreamed of a better life with a reliable and beloved person.
And it seemed she had finally met him—the one she had waited for all her life. Ethan was a soccer player with great promise. But what attracted Emily to him was not his professional career, but his sincerity and kindness. Six months later, the young man proposed to her. Emily burst into tears for some reason, unable to believe that after losing her mother, she finally had a loved one who would be by her side for life and never betray her.
But fate had other plans. Just before Ethan’s departure for training camp, Emily found out she was pregnant. She decided not to tell him the joyful news right away and waited for his return to prepare a romantic dinner and surprise the future father. But they were never destined to see each other again.
Her beloved didn’t even bother to call; he only sent a message: “Don’t wait for me. I’ve fallen in love with another woman, and I’ll never return to our city.”
To say she suffered would be an understatement. In that moment, it felt like she had died, vanished from the face of the earth. Only a faint kick in her side reminded her that she wasn’t alone—that a tiny life was growing inside her, for whom she simply had to pull herself together and live on.
Soon, Emily gave birth to a lovely little daughter who eased all her sorrows and gave meaning to her life.
As for men, she simply ignored them. She decided once and for all that she would let no one else into her heart and would devote her life to her daughter.
— Good morning, Vera Vasilyevna. How was your night? I brought you some sweet tangerines, — Emily smiled as she entered the elderly woman’s hospital room.
— Emily, you’re at it again. You’re barely standing from the wind yourself, not eating enough, and yet you bring me treats. You’re a kind soul, but so unhappy, — the old lady said.
— It’s nothing. You’re sick; you need the vitamins more, — Emily brushed it off, placing the simple gifts on the bedside table.
The young woman was very pleased with this side job. A month ago, Anthony Fedorovich, a longtime friend of the elderly woman, had called and said he urgently needed a caregiver for just a couple of hours a day. Hearing the salary, Emily gladly agreed. After all, for the same money, she had to scrub floors and wash dishes in a café for a whole month.
— Sit down, Emily. I have something serious to discuss. I’ve been watching you for a long time, and today I’m even more convinced of my choice. I feel I’m leaving this world soon. But before I go, I want to change your fate.
I’m wealthy, but unfortunately, I have no heirs. I have a luxurious house in the Moscow suburbs—it’s the former estate of our family manor. So, I’ll transfer the house to you, but with one condition that you must fulfill.
— Vera Vasilyevna, are you feeling unwell? What wealth? What estate? — Emily asked in fright and pressed the call button for the staff, realizing the poor woman was delirious.
A minute later, a young doctor appeared in the room. He wanted to check the patient’s blood pressure, but she waved him off, asking him not to interrupt the conversation.
— Emily, I’m telling the truth. And now Anthony Fedorovich will arrive with the documents. He’s been my lawyer for many years.
As if to confirm her words, a fit, silver-haired man entered the room, smiled at Emily, and kissed Vera Vasilyevna’s hand.
— Do you agree to my client’s proposal? — he asked Emily in a businesslike tone, who understood nothing.
— What proposal? — the woman asked, confused.
— I’m transferring my house to you, but with one condition. You must move in immediately after my death and care for my relative. Don’t worry; he won’t cause much trouble. It’s important that you’re always nearby, — the old lady explained.
— But that’s impossible. I have to work. I have a daughter, — Emily still couldn’t believe what was happening, not fully understanding what this strange old lady wanted from her.
— Everything is possible. I have family jewels. The diamonds alone would last you three lifetimes. In our family, it wasn’t customary to sell them; they were passed down from generation to generation. But apparently, some curse has been placed on our lineage. It turned out I have no blood heirs and never will. I’m leaving the jewels to you as well; you can do with them as you wish. I advise not selling them all at once. You can’t keep that kind of money in the house or even in a bank.
The lawyer turned and only now noticed the doctor standing at the door with his mouth open.
— Please leave us. Vera Vasilyevna doesn’t need your help right now. He hurried away, and the man turned to Emily.
— Do you agree?
— I—I don’t know, — the stunned woman muttered.
— I see no reason for you to refuse my client’s offer. As far as we know, you live with your child in an emergency building under deplorable conditions. You’re forced to work from dawn till dusk, and your daughter spends most of her time in kindergarten.
Now you’re being offered to live in the countryside in a cozy large house, with the opportunity never to work again, to know no poverty, and to devote all your free time to raising your daughter.
In exchange for all this, you only need to serve a bowl of soup to a man who can’t manage on his own. It seems to me there’s no point in hesitating. You should agree while you have the chance.
— Emily, my heart will be at peace only if you live in my estate. Please agree. Fulfill my last wish, — Vera Vasilyevna said weakly.
— Yes, of course I agree, — the woman smiled, wiping away a tear. — It’s just all so unexpected. Thank you so much.
Emily hugged the old lady, deeply regretting that this unfortunate woman’s days were numbered. She was in a fog as she signed some documents and a lifelong care and maintenance agreement for a person unknown to her.
The woman didn’t pry into Vera Vasilyevna’s soul or ask about him. It was obvious that it was her helpless husband; they probably had no children, which was why they were alone in their old age. Emily only now remembered that Vera Vasilyevna had never really talked about her personal life, only about her career as an opera singer who had once been famous throughout the country.
— Miss, can I give you a ride? — Emily flinched in surprise and turned to see the doctor—the same one who had entered the room earlier that day.
— No. I’ll take the subway. It’ll be faster.
— So, is our old lady really that rich? — the young man suddenly asked.
— I don’t think so. You can see the state Vera Vasilyevna is in, — Emily herself didn’t understand why she lied to this man. Maybe because his gaze sent a chill that pierced right through her.
— Yeah, right, — the doctor sneered maliciously, got into an expensive foreign car, and quickly drove out of the hospital grounds.
A few days later, Vera Vasilyevna died. The woman passed quietly and peacefully in her sleep, with a smile on her lips.
— Don’t cry, my dear. She lived a bright, interesting, and long life. She was a kind woman. She left a warm mark in our hearts forever, — Anthony Fedorovich said sadly, hugging Emily.
— I’ll handle the funeral arrangements, and you prepare to take possession of the inheritance and move to your new life.
A month later, Emily and her daughter stood in the courtyard of the huge house, gazing in delight at the local beauties. The woman still couldn’t believe her luck. It seemed like a pleasant, vivid dream—that any moment she would wake up in her damp, wretched little room and run off to scrub floors until late at night.
— And where is the person I’ll be caring for? — she asked Anthony Fedorovich uncertainly.
— Probably in the house. He’s very withdrawn. He hardly ever goes outside and isn’t talkative. I think Ethan Petrovich won’t cause you any particular problems or trouble.
Now I’ll hand over the deceased’s jewels to you, and with a sense of duty fulfilled, I’ll head back to the city. If you allow, I’ll visit once a week. And if you need anything, call anytime, day or night.
Emily gathered her courage, held her breath, and crossed the threshold of the house. In the large living room by the window sat a man in a wheelchair. Hearing someone enter, he turned sharply, and the woman covered her mouth with her hand to keep from screaming in surprise.
It was Ethan. The very same—her first and last love, Evie’s father.
— Hello! — he smirked. — So you sniffed me out and found me after all. You wasted your time. Get out of here.
— Ethan Petrovich, control yourself. How can you talk to a woman like that? Especially since Emily Viktorovna is your new guardian. You’ll be living under the same roof. I advise you not to complicate life for her or for yourself, — Anthony Fedorovich said indignantly.
— Well, look at that! I guess I underestimated you. Anthony Fedorovich, I insist that I be placed in a nursing home tomorrow. I have no intention of living under the same roof with her, — Ethan paled.
— As far as I understand, you’re acquainted? I suggest not making hasty decisions. I’ll come by the day after tomorrow. I hope you’ll find common ground, and you, Ethan Petrovich, won’t make any foolish, impulsive choices. Emily, here are the jewels that Vera Vasilyevna bequeathed.
The lawyer took a neat casket from his briefcase, placed it on the chest of drawers, and hurried away, leaving the bewildered Emily alone.
— Ethan. Will you at least explain what’s going on? How did you end up in Vera Vasilyevna’s house? And why are you sure I was looking for you? One message was enough for me to cross you out forever—and all men from my life.
I feel happy with my daughter, and believe me, I would never stoop so low as to seek a meeting with a man who wiped his feet on me. Where is your beloved woman, the one you trampled my heart for? Why don’t I see her here? Did she leave you?
— There was no other woman, — Ethan sighed wearily. — Forgive me if I hurt you. I knew my aunt was leaving everything—including me—to some kind and good woman, but I never expected to see you here.
I suffered a serious injury many years ago at that training camp. That same day, they operated on me in one of Japan’s best clinics. But after that, I never felt my legs again. The doctor threw up his hands and said surgery could do no more. Now it all depends on my body.
I was young, but I understood it was like a death sentence. That’s when I decided to disappear from your life. I sent the message. Lied about meeting someone else. After discharge, I came to live here with my aunt. That’s all. I’ll never agree to you emptying my bedpan, so I won’t change my mind and demand to be placed in a home.
— Not even your daughter will stop you? — Emily asked quietly. — Maybe you want to take part in raising Evie after all?
Ethan’s face changed; he looked out the window at the girl playing carefree in the yard. It was clear how hard it was for him in that moment.
— No. I don’t want to be a burden to you or our daughter. That’s it. Conversation over, — the man said and wheeled off to his room.
Emily couldn’t recover. She spent the whole day in a stupor. She couldn’t allow Ethan to go to a nursing home because of her. After all, she knew what kind of life awaited him there.
The woman decided to renounce the inheritance and the lifelong guardianship agreement. That would be better for everyone, including herself. Ethan had changed a lot over the years. He had become a stranger, distant. The Ethan she had loved was gone and would never return.
The woman prepared dinner. Silently brought it to Ethan’s room, fed her daughter, put her to bed, and lay down herself. That night, sleep wouldn’t come. She tossed and turned for a long time; for some reason, she felt eerie and uncomfortable in this huge, unfamiliar house. Sinister rustles were heard everywhere, and the owl’s cry outside the window only added to the horror. She finally drifted into uneasy sleep deep into the night.
Hearing a crack and the sound of breaking glass in the room, the woman jumped out of bed and screamed in terror. At that moment, Evie woke up too. Throwing herself at her mother’s neck, the girl burst into loud sobs. Seeing the silhouette of a man in the room, Emily froze in horror, realizing this was the end. At that instant, the light turned on in the room, and another uninvited guest jumped through the window.
— You? — the woman gasped, recognizing the doctor.
— Hi! — he grinned with a beastly snarl.
— Where are the stones?
— What stones? — the woman whispered, understanding why the doctor had come.
— Don’t play dumb. If you want to stay alive along with your spawn, spit it out quick—where are the diamonds?
But Emily clearly understood that the doctor wouldn’t leave witnesses alive, no matter whether she gave him the jewels or not. She remembered that the casket was still on the chest of drawers in the hallway. Apparently, the thieves didn’t know their prize was so easily accessible.
— And we’ll hang the kid by her leg out the window right now; then Mommy will be more cooperative, — the second bandit laughed so hard the walls shook.
— Help! Ethan, help! — Emily screamed, clutching her daughter, knowing that even if he wanted to, Ethan couldn’t help them.
— Calling your cripple? Go ahead, scream louder, — the doctor smirked.
Ethan hadn’t slept that night. He heard the window break on the second floor. He heard the men’s conversation and Emily’s scream. The man knew that somewhere in the kitchen, behind the refrigerator, there was an alarm button that his aunt had once mentioned. The police wouldn’t arrive in such a remote area for at least a couple of hours.
Wheeling silently out of his room, he headed to the kitchen. But only when he reached the refrigerator did he realize he could never reach the button. To do that, he would have to stand up and reach behind the fridge.
Hearing Emily’s desperate scream again, he closed his eyes in pain and, not believing in himself, lifted himself on his arms from the chair—and in the next moment, stood on his feet. Taking an unsteady step, he reached the goal, and in the next instant, a loud alarm wailed throughout the area.
— What is that? — one of the intruders shouted in fright and quickly jumped out the window. The doctor followed without a word.
Emily, not letting go of her daughter, ran down the stairs. Seeing Ethan lying on the floor, she rushed to the man.
— Did they leave? — he asked.
— Yes. They ran the moment the siren went off. How did you activate it? And why are you on the floor?
— Emily, I can feel my legs. But I couldn’t stand for long; there’s great weakness in them, — Ethan admitted.
— Really? — the woman rejoiced. — That’s wonderful! We’ll go to the clinic in the morning.
— Were they looking for the jewels? — Ethan asked.
— Yes. Looking for them. They probably didn’t even suspect the diamonds were in the living room on the chest of drawers. It was the doctor from the clinic where Vera Vasilyevna was. He overheard our conversation and apparently lost his peace, following me. We need to report to the police right away. But none of that matters—the main thing is you stood up, — the woman rejoiced like a child.
— Forgive me for everything, — the man smiled.
— Sweetie, were you very scared? Don’t be afraid. Daddy won’t let anyone hurt you, — Ethan took his daughter’s hand, making it clear she was under reliable protection.
Six months later, a small group of guests gathered at Vera Vasilyevna’s estate. Among them was Anthony Fedorovich, who smiled the whole time, happy for the newlyweds.
— Congratulations, my dears. Vera Vasilyevna got her way after all; everything worked out.
— What do you mean? — Ethan raised an eyebrow.
— Did Aunt know about my relationship with Emily?
— Of course she knew. As they say, there are no chance meetings. Every encounter is a test, a punishment, or a gift from fate, — the lawyer noted philosophically.
— In our case, it’s a gift from fate, — the young couple said in unison and laughed.
Needless to say, they were happy—I think not. It showed in their eyes, in every cell of their body and soul.
Emily and Ethan had endured difficult trials but finally found each other again—this time forever.
0 comments