Are you even listening to me?” Anna’s voice sounded sharp as she repeated her question for the third time.
Maxim looked up from his phone and gave a guilty smile.
“Sorry, I was distracted. What did you say?”
Anna sighed deeply, brushed crumbs off the table, and folded a towel. Lately, Maxim had clearly been out of sorts, and she was tired of waiting for him to decide to tell her everything.
“I’m asking, why are you silent? You’ve been out of yourself for a week. What’s going on?”
Maxim lowered his eyes, as if weighing every word.
“My father wrote,” he finally said.
Anna froze.
“What?” Her voice was calm, but inside she tensed up.
“He wants to meet,” Maxim looked as if expecting an explosion.
Anna slowly put down her cup on the table.
“After ten years?” she asked, sarcasm in her voice.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Maxim began, but Anna interrupted him.
“No, you don’t. What does he want? Money? Or just to check how gullible you still are?”
Maxim clenched his fists.
“Anna, stop! He’s my father.”
“Your father who abandoned you? Have you forgotten how he left your family penniless? Forgotten what you and your mother went through?”
“I remember everything,” Maxim said firmly. “But he wants to talk. Maybe he’s changed.”
“People don’t change, Maxim. And you know that.”
He suddenly stood up as if to leave but froze in place.
“I have to try,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “He’s my father.”
Anna stood slowly, looking straight at him.
“All right,” she said. “Do as you want. But, Maxim, if he betrays you again, I won’t forgive it.”
Maxim didn’t answer. He left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
The meeting with his father took place the next day. Maxim came home later than usual. Anna waited for him in the kitchen, pretending to be absorbed in a TV series, but as soon as he entered, she turned off the television.
“Well? How did it go?” she asked, trying to stay calm.
Maxim sat opposite and rubbed his face with his hands.
“He’s changed,” he finally said.
Anna raised an eyebrow.
“Really? And what does that look like?”
“He’s… older. Tired. He said he regrets what happened. Wants to make up for lost time. To meet Liza.”
Anna looked closely at her husband.
“And you believed him?”
Maxim looked away.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Maxim, he abandoned you when you were at your lowest. Do you remember how you worked after school to help your mother? And now he wants to just walk back into your life as if nothing happened?”
“Anya,” he looked at her, “I can’t just ignore him. It wouldn’t be right.”
She sighed and stood, heading to the kitchen.
“I hope you won’t regret it.”
A week later, Maxim’s father came to their home for the first time. Liza was delighted with the “new grandpa” who brought her a huge teddy bear. Anna watched the guest with cold interest.
“You have a cozy place,” he noted, looking around the apartment.
“Thank you,” Anna replied curtly.
“Is this your own apartment? Or are you renting?” he asked casually.
“Own,” Anna answered, narrowing her eyes slightly.
He smiled.
“Well done. It’s so hard to find housing nowadays. You must have saved for a long time?”
“Enough,” Anna tried to change the subject. “Would you like some tea?”
He nodded, but his eyes were fixed on Maxim.
“Maxim, you’ve settled well. It’s clear you have everything under control. But if you ever need help, you know who to ask.”
Anna sharply turned, setting the cups on the table.
“Thanks for the offer, but we manage,” her voice was harsher than she intended.
The father smiled, but the corners of his lips twitched.
“Of course, of course. I just wanted to say I’m always happy to help.”
After the father left, Anna couldn’t hold back.
“Maxim, he was asking about our apartment. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
Maxim wearily sat on the couch.
“You’re nitpicking again. He was just trying to keep the conversation going.”
“Conversation? Maxim, he’s clearly looking for something. And I don’t like it.”
“That’s all in your head. Why can’t you just give him a chance?”
Anna sighed but said nothing more. She knew arguing was pointless.
Maxim’s father started appearing at their home more often. Liza happily greeted “grandpa” with his generous gifts, but Anna saw something more behind this friendliness. She watched his every move, listened carefully, trying to catch what really hid behind the mask of a caring relative.
“Don’t you notice he’s trying too hard?” Anna asked one evening while they were cleaning up after his visit.
Maxim sighed, placing cups in the sink.
“Anna, that’s normal. He’s just trying to make up for lost time.”
“Make up? After ten years?” She crossed her arms. “Maxim, he’s buying your love. Gifts, surprises, sweets — it’s all manipulation.”
Maxim straightened, turning to his wife.
“You always see only the bad. He’s my father. Maybe he really wants to fix things.”
“Why don’t you listen? He’s too interested in our affairs, how much you earn, whose name the apartment is under… Don’t you see it’s suspicious?”
“These are just questions!” Maxim snapped, unable to contain his irritation. “You’re too suspicious.”
Anna looked at him, shaking her head in disappointment.
“I’m just trying to protect our family, but you refuse to understand.”
Maxim turned away, and the conversation ended on a heavy note.
The next day, the father appeared unexpectedly when Maxim wasn’t home.
“Anna, I hope I’m not disturbing?” he asked, standing at the door with a smile.
Anna hesitated but let him in, trying to remain calm.
“It’s fine. Did something happen?”
“I just wanted to talk,” the father walked into the living room, looking around. His gaze lingered on the family photos on the shelf.
“Is Maxim at work?” he asked.
“Yes,” Anna answered shortly, continuing to observe his behavior.
He sat on the couch, folded his hands, and began talking.
“Liza is a wonderful girl. You’re doing great.”
“Thank you,” Anna tried not to show emotions.
“I think it’s very important for children to grow up in a stable family. And you, as a young couple, must have faced difficulties.”
“We’re managing,” Anna cut him off.
The father nodded but didn’t stop.
“I wanted to offer… I have an interesting project. An investment that can give a good return. If you decide to invest, it would be a great start for Liza’s future.”
Anna felt a boil rise inside her.
“We’re not interested in such offers,” she said dryly.
The father raised his eyebrows, seemingly surprised by her bluntness.
“Well, of course, it’s just an idea. I just want to help. You’re a young family, and I have experience.”
Anna gave a cold smile.
“Thanks for your concern, but we’ll manage ourselves.”
His smile became strained. He soon got up, realizing the conversation wasn’t progressing.
“All right, I’ll go. Tell Maxim we could discuss this together.”
When the door closed behind him, Anna felt relief, but at the same time anxiety. She decided she couldn’t wait any longer — it was time to tell Maxim everything.
“He offered to invest money?” Maxim was stunned when Anna shared the details of the conversation.
“Exactly,” she answered calmly. “He came when you weren’t home and started to pressure.”
Maxim got up and began pacing the room.
“Maybe he just wants to help?” he said, but his voice lacked its former confidence.
“Help?” Anna looked at him intently. “Maxim, this isn’t help. It looks like an attempt to drag us into another scam. You told me yourself how he abandoned your family when he got into trouble. Do you really think he’s changed?”
Maxim stopped, looking at the floor.
“I’ll talk to him,” he finally said.
Anna nodded, but her worry did not disappear. She knew Maxim still wanted to believe in the best, despite the obvious.
The meeting with his father happened two days later. Maxim came home late and looked exhausted. Anna waited for him in the living room.
“Well?” she asked when he sat down opposite her.
“He wants me to invest money in his business,” Maxim said quietly, rubbing his temples.
Anna was silent, but her look said it all.
“I refused,” he added, noticing her expression.
“Really?” Relief sounded in her voice.
“Yes, but he… he got angry. Said I don’t trust him, that I lost faith in family.”
Anna slowly sat next to him and took his hand.
“Maxim, it’s not about trust. It’s about not repeating old mistakes. You did the right thing.”
Maxim nodded, but doubts still lingered in his eyes.
After talking with Maxim, Anna felt relief, but her anxiety remained. She knew the father would not give up so easily. His visits became more frequent, and calls more insistent. Maxim still hesitated, trying to balance duty to family and the desire to believe his father had changed.
Anna decided to talk to her mother-in-law. She invited her over to discuss the situation directly.
“You’re right to be worried,” Maxim’s mother said. “He already tried to involve me in his affairs. Wanted to take a loan in my name. Luckily, I figured it out in time.”
Anna frowned.
“Did Maxim know about this?”
“No. I didn’t want to upset him. But he needs to know the truth.”
Anna nodded, understanding she now had confirmation. She couldn’t let the father hurt Maxim again.
When Maxim came home from work, Anna met him in the hallway.
“We need to talk,” she said, handing him a folder with printed documents and statements.
“What’s this?” Maxim frowned, flipping through the pages.
“Your father’s debts. This is his true face, Maxim. He still deceives people and tries to drag us into his games.”
Maxim dropped the documents on the table and closed his eyes.
“He said he wants to fix everything, that he regrets the past…” he mumbled.
“You want to believe him,” Anna said softly, “but he hasn’t changed. He keeps using those who trust him.”
Maxim was silent for a long time, then quietly said,
“I’ll talk to him. This has to be our last conversation.”
Maxim met his father in the same cafe where they saw each other for the first time after the long break. Anna insisted he take copies of the documents she found.
“Hello, son,” the father extended his hand, but Maxim ignored it.
“I need to know the truth,” he said firmly. “These debts, loans, attempts to manipulate others… Is it all true?”
The father frowned but quickly changed his expression to one of offended surprise.
“You don’t understand. I was just trying to get back on my feet. These are only temporary difficulties.”
Maxim placed the documents in front of him.
“Did you want to use us just like the others?”
“That’s not true!” the father flared up, but panic flashed in his eyes.
“You can’t believe this! Your wife is turning you against me!”
“Don’t you dare talk about Anna,” Maxim cut him off harshly. “She’s the only one who cares about me.”
The father fell silent, and heavy silence hung between them.
“You’re no longer part of our lives,” Maxim said, standing. “If you want to change, start with yourself. But I won’t let you destroy my family.”
Maxim came home late. Anna waited for him in the living room, wrapped in a blanket, watching the door tensely.
“Well?” she asked when he came in.
“I told him everything,” Maxim answered briefly, taking off his coat.
“And what did he say?”
Maxim sat opposite her and tiredly rubbed his face.
“He was angry. Accused you. Said I betrayed the family.”
Anna looked at him carefully.
“Do you believe him?”
Maxim shook his head.
“No. It’s over.”
Anna came to him, hugged his shoulders, and whispered,
“You did the right thing. We’ll manage.”
Maxim nodded, pulling her closer.
A few months later, the tension eased. The father no longer called, and Maxim and Anna focused on their family.
One evening, as Liza played with her new building blocks, Maxim looked up from his tablet.
“Let’s do something together,” he suggested.
“For example?” Anna smiled.
“Build a house for Liza. From her blocks.”
The three of them sat on the floor and began to build. Anna noticed how Maxim laughed along with Liza and realized their family had grown stronger. Now they had their own “home” — not made of bricks, but built on trust, love, and understanding.
