When the Heart Makes a Choice
“Roma, Romochka, we have twins!” came Tanya’s joyful and excited voice on the phone. “They’re so tiny—only about 2.5 kilograms—but healthy, can you imagine? Everything’s fine!”
“At the ultrasound they said it was twins, right…” grumbled Roman, as if the news hadn’t surprised him. “Boys?”
“Yes, boys! They’re so cute!” Tears of happiness streamed down the young mother’s cheeks. She was finally holding her children in her arms…
Tanya’s pregnancy was not an easy journey. From the very beginning, the father of her children, Roman, wasn’t thrilled about the news. They worked together: Tanya as an accountant and Roman as a driver at a small enterprise. They couldn’t be described as passionately in love, but being young, they often crossed paths and eventually began a relationship. At that time, Roman was still recovering from a breakup with his fiancée—a wedding with Lida was already set, but an act of infidelity shattered their future. He had seen with his own eyes how she was kissing his friend, and after that, the wedding was canceled. Roman sought comfort, and Tanya was there for him.
She had never attracted much attention from men: her bright red, unruly hair, freckled cheeks, and a tendency to be a bit overweight made her not the most popular girl. From childhood, she had tried to fight her extra weight, but sometimes cakes and chocolates would win the battle. Roman became her first serious man, and Tanya plunged headfirst into these feelings.
But while the relationship meant everything to her, for Roman it was different. He didn’t want to make it public, waited for Tanya outside the office building after work, and avoided crowded places. However, in a small town, secrets don’t last long. People started talking, and to irritate his ex-fiancée, Roman began openly declaring that he was in love with Tanya. The girl heard about it, believed it, and naturally melted.
Tanya lived in a small apartment with her solitary aunt. They weren’t particularly close, but the aunt tolerated her because Tanya brought groceries from home and cooked. When her aunt discovered a pregnancy test with two lines, she immediately went on a little investigation—visiting Roman’s mother. When Marta Olegovna learned about Tanya’s pregnancy, she was utterly shocked.
“Son, it turns out you have a fiancée!” Roman’s mother greeted him with words full of surprise.
“What fiancée?!” he frowned. “Yes, I’m seeing a girl, but it’s nothing serious!”
“But nothing? What about the fact that she’s pregnant?” her tone was strict.
Thus, Roman learned that he was soon to be a father. He wasn’t ready, but there was no way out: the wedding took place. More precisely, it was just the civil registration and a modest dinner at his parents’ house.
Tanya was happy, not noticing either her husband’s coldness or the sideways glances from his sister. She believed that he would come to love her, now that they had a family.
But Roman didn’t hide his indifference. He didn’t show any tenderness, didn’t care about his wife’s well-being, and certainly didn’t look forward to the birth of the children. He began staying late at work. Tanya tried to ignore it, but one day everything changed.
In a store, a striking blonde approached her.
“Now I understand Romka,” Lida said mockingly, casting an appraising glance at Tanya. “It’s clear why he doesn’t hurry home.”
“What do you mean?” Tanya asked, tensing.
“He doesn’t want to be there. He doesn’t love you. Don’t you understand?”
Those words cut her to the core. Tanya wanted to respond, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She was rushed to the hospital immediately.
A few days later, she gave birth.
“Rom, come over, look at the boys,” Tanya quietly pleaded.
“Let’s see…” he mumbled and hung up.
After being discharged, Tanya returned to his parents’ house. Kirill and Efim were restless, kept her awake, and demanded constant attention. Her mother-in-law helped, but her husband… he kept his distance.
Then Tanya accidentally overheard a conversation between Roman and his mother.
“I don’t give a damn about them,” he said indifferently. “Tanya wanted kids herself, so let her live with them now.”
She packed her things and decided to leave.
“Stay,” Roman suddenly said. “I’ll leave.”
He went to Lida. But very soon, he realized he had made a mistake.
Life with Lida was not as he had expected. She didn’t cook, didn’t take care of him, spent his money, and demanded even more. And he kept thinking about Tanya.
For the first time in a long while, he went to his parents’ home to see the children. When he saw Tanya—changed, more attractive, and smiling—something stirred inside him.
“You’ve changed,” he quietly said.
“Thank you,” Tanya replied, looking him straight in the eyes.
Roman began spending more time with the children. Now every week he would come home and stay for a long time. Lida was furious, but he no longer cared.
“Maybe it’s time to get a divorce?” Tanya suggested one day.
“Let’s not rush things…” he replied unexpectedly.
That evening, he didn’t return to Lida.
Soon after, she left for a week, and he packed his things and returned home.
“I knew you’d come back,” Tanya whispered, clinging to him.
“I won’t ever leave again,” he replied.
Lida, sitting in a seaside café, smirked as she glanced at a diamond ring.
“Yes, Sasha, I’ll marry you,” she said lightly.
Love? It doesn’t always guarantee happiness. Sometimes it’s easier without it…
And Tanya, at that moment, smiled, holding her husband’s hand.
She knew: in the end, love had triumphed.
