“You must be joking,” Tatiana exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stared at Ivan Petrovich.He shook his head firmly.
“No joke. But I’m giving you some time to think it over because this proposal is far from ordinary. I can even guess what’s on your mind right now. Consider it carefully — I’ll return in a week.”
Tatiana watched him leave, feeling completely bewildered. The words he had just said simply wouldn’t settle in her mind.
She had known Ivan Petrovich for about three years. He owned a chain of gas stations and ran several other ventures. Tatiana worked part-time as a cleaner at one of those stations. He was always polite and kind to the staff. Overall, a decent man.
The salary at the station was respectable, attracting many job applicants. About two months prior, after finishing her cleaning duties, Tatiana sat outside with some free time left in her shift. Suddenly, the service entrance door opened, and Ivan Petrovich appeared.
“Mind if I sit?” he asked.
Startled, Tatiana stood up.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Why do you jump up? Sit down, I’m not biting. It’s a fine day, isn’t it?”
She smiled and sat back down.
“Yes, spring often feels like the weather is always good.”
“That’s because everyone is tired of winter already.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I wanted to ask you — why are you still working as a cleaner? Larisa had suggested you switch to an operator position. The pay is better and the work easier.”
“I’d love to, but my schedule doesn’t allow it. My daughter is small and often ill. When she’s well, a neighbor watches her, but when she gets worse, I have to be nearby. Larisa and I swap shifts as needed. She’s always been helpful.”
“I see… And what about your daughter?”
“Oh, don’t ask… Doctors don’t fully understand her condition. She has attacks where she can’t breathe and panics. The examinations are serious and costly. They say it might pass as she grows older, but I can’t wait.”
“Stay strong. Everything will be okay.”
Tatiana expressed her gratitude. Later that evening, she found out Ivan Petrovich had given her a bonus without explanation.
After that, she didn’t see him again—until today, when he showed up at her home.
Her heart nearly stopped upon seeing him. Hearing his proposal made it worse.
Ivan Petrovich’s son, Stanislav, was almost thirty years old. For seven years, he had been confined to a wheelchair after an accident. Despite doctors’ efforts, he never regained his ability to walk. He was depressed, withdrawn, and almost completely uncommunicative—even with his father.
Ivan Petrovich had an idea: to marry off his son for real. To give him a purpose, a reason to live and fight. Unsure whether this would work, he decided to try. He thought Tatiana might be the perfect candidate for this role.
“Tatiana, you will live in complete comfort. Everything you need will be provided. Your daughter will receive all necessary medical tests and treatment. I offer you a one-year contract. After a year, you may leave, no matter what. If Stanislav improves — wonderful. If not — I will generously compensate you.”
Tatiana was speechless, overwhelmed by indignation.
Ivan Petrovich seemed to read her thoughts and quietly spoke, “Please, Tatiana, help me. This is mutually beneficial. I’m not even sure my son will touch you. It’ll be easier for you—you’ll hold a respectable status, legally married. Imagine it as marrying out of circumstance rather than love. Please keep our conversation a secret.”
“Wait, Ivan Petrovich… is your Stanislav agreeable to this?”
The man smiled sadly.
“He says he doesn’t care. I’ll tell him I’m facing business and health problems… The important thing is for him to be genuinely married. He has always trusted me. So this is a deception for a good cause.”
After Ivan Petrovich left, Tatiana sat frozen, fury boiling inside. Yet, his straightforward and honest words eased the bitterness of the offer somewhat.
And when she thought about it… What wouldn’t she do for Sonya?
- She would do anything.
And he? He was a father too. He loved his son as well.
The shift was still ongoing when Tatiana received a call.
“Tatiana, hurry! Sonya is having a severe attack!”
“I’m coming! Call an ambulance!”
She arrived just as the medical team reached their gate.
“Where have you been, mother?” the doctor scolded.
“At work…”
The attack was indeed severe.
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Tatiana asked hesitantly.
The new doctor waved his hand wearily.
“What’s the point? They won’t be of help, only distress the child. You need to go to the capital for proper clinics and specialists.”
Forty minutes later, the medics left.
Tatiana called Ivan Petrovich.
“I agree. Sonya is having another attack.”
The next day, they were leaving.
Ivan Petrovich arrived himself, accompanied by a young, neatly-shaven man.
“Tatiana, bring only essentials. We’ll purchase everything else.”
She nodded.
Sonya stared with fascination at the large, shiny car.
Ivan Petrovich crouched before her.
“Do you like it?”
“Very much!”
“Want to sit in the front? You’ll see everything then.”
“May I? I’d love to!”
She glanced at her mother.
“The police will see and fine you,” Tatiana warned sternly.
Ivan Petrovich chuckled and flung the door open.
“Get in, Sonya! Anyone who tries to fine us, we’ll fine them instead!”
As they neared the house, Tatiana’s anxiety grew.
“God, why did I agree? What if he is strange or aggressive?”
Ivan Petrovich noticed her unease.
“Tatiana, calm down. The wedding is a week away. You can back out anytime. Also, Stanislav is good and smart but something inside him is broken. You’ll see for yourself.”
Tatiana helped Sonya out of the car, then froze as she looked at the house. It was no ordinary building — it resembled a castle. Sonya squealed with delight.
“Mom, are we going to live like in a fairy tale now?!”
Ivan Petrovich laughed and lifted Sonya in his arms.
“Do you like it?”
“Very much!”
Before the wedding, Tatiana and Stanislav met only a few times at dinner. The young man rarely ate or spoke. He sat physically present but mentally distant. Tatiana observed him cautiously. Outwardly attractive but pale, as if he hadn’t seen sunlight in ages. She sensed they both lived with pain. She appreciated that he avoided discussing the upcoming marriage.
On the wedding day, about a hundred people bustled around Tatiana. The dress arrived just the day before. She sank into a chair upon seeing it.
“How much does it cost?”
Ivan Petrovich smiled mildly.
“Tatiana, you’re too impressionable. Better if you don’t know. But look at this.”
He pulled out a miniature replica of the wedding dress.
“Sonya, want to try it on?”
Sonya squealed so loud they had to cover their ears. The little princess strutted around, gleaming with happiness.
At one moment, Tatiana glanced and saw Stanislav standing in his room’s doorway, watching Sonya with a faint smile.
Now, Sonya lived next to their bedroom — their bedroom. Tatiana had never dreamed she would ever be here.
Ivan Petrovich suggested they move to the countryside, but Stanislav declined politely.
“Thanks, Dad, but we’ll stay here.”
The bed was enormous. Stanislav kept his distance, showing no intention to close in. Tatiana, who had planned to stay alert all night, surprisingly fell asleep quickly.
A week later, they began talking in the evenings. Stanislav turned out to be incredibly intelligent, witty, and curious about books and science. He never tried to approach Tatiana. Gradually, she started to relax.
“Tatiana, it’s been hard since birth for Sonya, and yet she remains strong,” Stanislav whispered one night, holding Sonya’s hand.
Suddenly, Tatiana woke with a racing heart. She rushed to Sonya’s room, who was having an attack.
“Stanislav, help! Call an ambulance!”
Within seconds, he grabbed the phone. Ivan Petrovich entered, still half asleep.
“I’ll call Alexey myself,” he said calmly.
The ambulance arrived promptly. The doctors wore neat uniforms and had modern equipment. Later, the family doctor joined. They discussed long after Sonya’s symptoms subsided. Tatiana stayed with her daughter while Stanislav held her hand affectionately.
“Tatiana,” Stanislav asked softly, “has she had this since birth?”
“Yes… We’ve visited countless hospitals and done tests with no success. That’s why my ex told me not to disturb his life anymore.”
“Did you love him?”
“Probably. But that was a long time ago…”
“So you accepted your father’s offer…”
Tatiana raised her brow in surprise.
Stanislav smiled.
“Father thinks I don’t know anything. But I’ve always read him like an open book. I worried about who he would find for me. When I saw you, I was surprised. You don’t seem like someone who’d do this for money. Now, everything feels as it should.”
He looked at her.
“Please don’t cry. We will heal Sonya. She’s strong — unlike me.”
“Why do you feel broken? You’re smart, handsome, kind…”
He smirked, “Be honest — would you marry me if things were different?”
Tatiana thought briefly and nodded.
“I believe loving you would be easier than many who pretend to be heroes. But it’s not even that. I just… can’t explain.”
He smiled gently.
“No need. For some reason, I trust you.”
A few days later, Tatiana found Stanislav working on an odd device.
“It’s an exercise machine,” he explained. “After the accident, I was supposed to use it for three hours daily. I gave up but now, I feel ashamed—especially in front of Sonya and you.”
Someone knocked. Ivan Petrovich’s head appeared in the doorway.
“May I come in?”
“Come in, Dad.”
He froze when he saw Stanislav’s activity, swallowed, then turned to Tatiana.
“Tell me, did you have a difficult childbirth?”
“Yes, why?”
“The doctor says Sonya was probably pulled out abruptly, injuring the temporal bone. Externally healed, nothing visible, but inside it presses on a nerve.”
Tatiana sank into a chair, tears streaming.
“No… What now?”
Ivan Petrovich reassured her.
“Don’t cry. The doctor said it’s not a sentence. Surgery will remove the obstruction, and Sonya will be healthy.”
“But it’s the brain… It’s dangerous…”
Stanislav reached to hold her hand.
“Tatiana, listen to Dad. Sonya can live free of attacks.”
“How much will it cost?”
Ivan Petrovich looked amazed.
“That question is no longer yours to worry about. You’re part of the family now.”
Tatiana stayed in the hospital with Sonya. The surgery was a success. They were expected to return home in two weeks.
Home.
Yet Tatiana could no longer tell where her true home was.
Stanislav called daily. Their conversations were long — about Sonya, themselves, trivial matters. It felt as if they had known each other forever.
Time passed, and the year-long contract neared its end. Tatiana avoided thinking about what came next.
They returned one evening. Ivan Petrovich appeared tense and somber.
“Something happened?”
“I don’t know how to say this… Stanislav has been drinking for two days.”
“What? He never drinks!”
“That’s what I thought. He was making progress, then he snapped. Says nothing’s working.”
Tatiana entered the room. Stanislav was sitting in the dark. She turned on the light and began clearing bottles from the table.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m not drinking anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m your wife, and I don’t like to see you drinking.”
Stanislav looked confused.
“Well, it’s temporary… Sonya’s healthy now, so there’s no need to stay with an invalid.”
Tatiana straightened up.
“You mean with an idiot? Stanislav, I thought you were strong and smart and that you could handle this. Was I wrong?”
He lowered his head.
“Sorry… I guess I failed.”
“I’m home now. Maybe we can try again?”
The year came to a close. Ivan Petrovich was anxious. Stanislav was just beginning to stand with walkers. Doctors predicted he would soon walk and maybe run.
Tatiana had to leave.
“Should I offer more money?” Ivan Petrovich joked nervously to his wife.
At dinner, Tatiana, Sonya, and Stanislav came together.
“Dad, we have news,” Stanislav said.
Ivan Petrovich tensed and looked at Tatiana.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Tatiana and Stanislav exchanged glances.
She shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
“Stop torturing me!”
“You’re about to become a grandfather. Sonya will have a brother or sister.”
Ivan Petrovich fell silent, then suddenly leaped up, hugging all three tightly, tears flowing. It was as if he feared it was a dream.
His tears were those of joy, relief, and the happiness that his family had finally become whole.
In summary, Tatiana’s difficult decision, born from desperation, carved a path to unexpected healing and unity for the whole family. What began as a reluctant agreement blossomed into genuine care, hope, and love binding them together in ways none had anticipated.