While Tatiana dusted the living room dresser, the sound of keys in the lock caught her attention. Her husband, Igor, unexpectedly returned home an hour early, bringing with him the inevitable news concerning his sister, Marina.
From the hallway, Igor called out, “Tanechka, we’re expecting a visitor in two days. Marina is coming to stay with us.” Hearing this, Tatiana froze mid-motion with the rag in her hand. The last time Marina had lived with them was three years ago, and that fortnight had been etched into Tatiana’s memory as one of the most stressful periods within their household.
Carefully, Tatiana asked, “Is she staying for a long time?”
Igor explained, “Mom wants us to help Marina settle in the city. She’s twenty-seven and still hasn’t found her direction. The city might offer her better opportunities.” Tatiana sighed, recalling Marina as a tall blonde with pouty lips who often treated others as if they were her servants. Marina never held a job and had lived off their mother’s small-town pension, supplemented by money from her brother.
Realizing resistance was pointless, Tatiana agreed, “Alright, I’ll prepare a room for her in the living room.”
Marina arrived Thursday morning, heavily laden with two large suitcases and a cosmetics bag. Although still striking in appearance, her eyes reflected exhaustion from small-town living and a yearning for change.
Happily embracing her brother, she exclaimed, “Igoryok! I’ve missed the real city life so much!” Tatiana quietly observed their reunion, noticing Marina’s indifferent nod in her direction, as if she were merely part of the furniture.
“Show me my room,” Marina requested, weary from her journey. “Is there anywhere to eat? I didn’t have breakfast.” Over the coming days, Marina’s routine quickly became predictable. She would wake around noon, spend extended time getting ready, and then demand breakfast. Tatiana, working remotely from home, frequently paused her tasks to prepare meals for the visitor.
- Marina complained about the coffee quality.
- She asked Tatiana to wash her blouse for a trip downtown.
- She requested an iron to smooth her wrinkled dress.
Igor noticed Tatiana’s growing stress but chose to ignore it. He continued handing Marina money daily for expenses—taxi rides, lunches, or shopping sprees.
One evening, when Marina was out meeting new acquaintances, Tatiana cautiously suggested, “Igor, maybe we should encourage her to look for a job? She’s been here two weeks, yet all she does is amuse herself.”
Brushing it off, Igor replied, “Let her get accustomed. She’s always lived in a small town. She needs time to explore the city and discover what suits her best.” Though Tatiana kept silent, internally she simmered with frustration. Their family budget was draining fast, and their home was turning into a hotel for a spoiled girl who didn’t even say ‘thank you.’
A week later, Marina returned home gleeful after meeting friends Alena and Sveta, married and comfortable. She eagerly told Igor about their luxurious lives,
“Alena is married to a businessman, living in an upscale apartment. Sveta’s husband is a doctor with a private clinic. They vacation every year—Turkey, Greece.”
Marina then revealed, “They invited me to join them on a trip to Cyprus! It’s beautiful there, and cooler than summer. We could get a twelve-day package.” Silence filled the room as Igor registered the idea.
“Marina,” he said slowly, “you don’t have the money for that.”
She sat beside him, grasping his hand, “Igoryok, if I say I can’t go, my friends will think I’m poor. Rumors will spread in our small town.”
Tatiana overheard their conversation while washing dishes. Anger shook her hands as she realized where this was headed.
Igor inquired about the cost. Marina estimated 100,000 rubles—eighty thousand for the trip and twenty thousand pocket money. Tatiana recognized the exact amount they had been saving for repairs to her grandmother’s summer house.
Despite this, Igor agreed to help. After Marina enthusiastically left to confirm plans with friends, Tatiana confronted him, her face pale with fury.
“Igor, are you serious? Spending 100,000 rubles on your sister’s whims?”
Igor defended, “She needs help. If I refuse, she’ll throw a tantrum and leave, ruining what we’ve been trying to do.”
“Efforts? She hasn’t even tried to find work. Our home is her hotel, and I’m her servant!” Tatiana snapped.
Igor dismissed her concerns, “She just needs to adjust.”
Tatiana’s voice wavered, “Adjust in three weeks? We were storing that money for the summer house—the roof leaks, porch decays.”
Igor said, “The house can wait. Marina’s chance for a fresh start might never return. She needs connections.”
Feeling betrayed, Tatiana whispered, “Selling my summer house to fund her luxury is mad.”
“She’ll vacation even if that means it,” Igor admitted in anger, then realized his words.
Tatiana, incredulous, responded, “So my summer house is the bargaining chip for your sister’s pleasures? Understood.” She walked away, shutting herself in the bedroom, leaving Igor speechless.
That night, Tatiana lay awake, anguished over Igor’s willingness to risk their property for Marina’s indulgences. In the morning, when Igor left for work and Marina slept, Tatiana took action. She posted an urgent ad on a classifieds site to sell Igor’s black Skoda, pricing it well below market value and using his phone number—all done silently while he was unaware.
Calls started flooding Igor’s phone before dawn and continued nonstop throughout the day. Confused, Igor denied selling the car, but the ad was unmistakable.
At home, Tatiana calmly prepared dinner as Marina chatted about her vacation plans.
Igor confronted Tatiana, “What’s going on with these calls?”
Calmly, Tatiana responded, “I posted the car for sale. If your sister is more important than your car, then you can take the bus.”
Marina, mid-chew, looked up in surprise.
“This isn’t a joke,” Tatiana said. “Yesterday, you talked about selling my summer house for Marina’s vacation. I thought starting with your property made sense.”
Igor protested, “I overreacted. I didn’t mean it.”
“But that’s exactly what you meant. Ready to sacrifice everything for your sister’s whims. Now your car too.”
Marina tried to diffuse the tension, “Igoryok, please don’t argue.”
“No,” Tatiana insisted firmly. “Your brother thinks your trip is so important he’s willing to sell the summer house and the car.”
Igor pleaded, “Take down the ad. The calls won’t stop.”
“I’ll remove it once you apologize and abandon this crazy trip idea,” Tatiana said.
“But I promised Marina!” Igor said.
“I was promised your love and respect. Where is that respect when you’re ready to sell my property?”
Conflicted, Igor looked between Marina and Tatiana and at last acknowledged the truth. Marina had become a pampered dependent focused solely on self-indulgence, and Igor’s attempts to support her threatened his marriage.
“Marina,” he quietly told his sister, “I can’t fund your trip.”
“What?” Marina jumped up. “You promised! I already told my friends!”
“Sorry, but I won’t spend all our savings on your vacation.”
Marina shouted, “You’re a traitor! I never thought my brother would do this! Mom will be shocked!”
Igor answered calmly, “Mom will understand. Family means me and Tatiana.”
Furious, Marina exclaimed, “I won’t stay here! I’m leaving tomorrow!” and slammed her door.
Turning off the stove, Tatiana exchanged a look with her husband. Igor apologized quietly for almost allowing his sister’s manipulation to destroy their life together and asked her to remove the ad.
She agreed. The following day, Marina packed and left in a taxi, giving only a cold nod to Tatiana and a parting comment to Igor about letting their mother know of his treatment. He replied, affirming his love for their mother but commitment to family wise boundaries.
Holding Igor’s hand, Tatiana asked if he regretted his decisions.
“No,” he answered. “I nearly lost what matters most because of someone who doesn’t value it.”
The couple spent the evening drinking tea, concluding Igor would never again allow anyone—even family—to dictate how their money is spent.
Key Insight: True family life relies on mutual respect and prioritizing your immediate loved ones over indulgences driven by others’ whims.
Igor and Tatiana later received a message from Igor’s mother, apologizing for Marina’s behavior and thanking them for their patience. She acknowledged Marina’s history of demanding others fulfill her wishes and hoped this difficult episode would teach her a valuable lesson.
Their savings remained intact, allowing them to finally repair the summer house for comfortable weekend retreats. Meanwhile, rumors suggested Marina secured a job as a sales assistant in her hometown and rented a room, perhaps beginning to appreciate what she truly has.
Ultimately, Igor recognized that a genuine family foundation stems from respect for one’s spouse rather than giving in to the caprices of even close relatives. Going forward, he vowed never again to jeopardize his marriage for the sake of another’s selfish desires, even if those desires were his sister’s.
Through this episode, the couple learned the importance of setting boundaries, prioritizing their partnership, and protecting their shared life.