Anya had always felt out of place within her own family. Her mother clearly preferred her two elder sisters, Vika and Yulia, lavishing love and attention on them while keeping Anya at a distance. Despite the pain it caused her, Anya kept her emotions hidden, always attempting to win her mother’s favor, hoping for even a glimmer of warmth. But when she turned eighteen, her mother’s rejection was irrevocable.

“Do not expect to live here! The residence belongs to your sisters. You’ve treated me like a stray puppy since you were a child. “Go live wherever you want.” With those harsh comments, Anya was forced to leave her childhood home. She attempted to reason with her mother, pointing out the unfairness — after all, Vika and Yulia had both attended university on their mother’s cost and were permitted to live at home for much longer.

But Anya was always handled differently. Despite her best efforts to act appropriately, her family’s contempt for her was palpable. The only person who ever treated her with care was her grandfather, who had taken in her pregnant mother after Anya’s father abandoned them. Anya once wondered if her similarity to her aunt—her mother’s sister—was the source of the hostility.

Attempts to communicate with her mother invariably resulted in yelling matches or tears. Her fondest memories were of spending summers with her grandfather in the countryside, where she helped in the garden and learnt to bake. It was a nice respite from a household where she was often criticized and neglected. “Why doesn’t anyone love me, Grandpa?” she would wonder. He’d reply gently, “I love you, sweetheart,” but never mentioned her mother or sisters.

Best presents for your loved ones. Her grandfather died when she was ten, and things only got worse. Her sisters teased her, passed down their old clothes, and left her leftovers while keeping the treats for themselves. Their mother never interfered. Anya grew up alone and unloved, classified as a misfit no matter how hard she tried to win their attention.

So, when she was ultimately expelled, she got work as a hospital orderly. Life was difficult, but at least her coworkers did not regard her with contempt. She gradually established her rhythm, earning a reputation for dependability and resilience. Eventually, her perseverance gained her a scholarship to study surgery, which was a significant step for someone like her.

By the age of 27, Anya had no family to rely on. Her life revolved around working and caring for patients. Nonetheless, the loneliness never left her. She seldom visited her family on rare occasions and always departed feeling worse than before. When she was crying on the hospital porch, her coworker Grisha approached her and kindly inquired as to what was happening. She brushed him off, not believing that anyone would find her beautiful.

He was honest, however, and reminded her of her potential as a surgeon as well as a woman. That night, she opened up to him for the first time. Grisha suggested her to call Dmitry Alekseevich, a former patient who had previously given assistance. When Anya called, Dmitry answered pleasantly and invited her over. She described her predicament, trying to obtain work as a live-in caretaker.

But Dmitry had different plans. “Come live with me,” he asked. “I owe you my life, and I can help get you a job at a clinic.” Anya was reluctant, wondering how his family would respond, but he told her straight: his relatives only appeared when there was anything to gain. They began living together, and a gentle bond developed. Two years passed, and her friendship with Grisha became amorous. But Dmitry didn’t believe him and expressed his concerns.

However, Anya had already accepted Grisha’s proposal and was pregnant. Dmitry, despite his illness, insisted on leaving Anya a house in the hamlet, claiming she earned it. She was surprised to learn that the house was in the same village where her grandfather had previously lived. It evoked long-forgotten warmth and affection. However, just before the wedding, Grisha’s ex, a lady named Lena, entered Anya’s life and demanded his return.

Grisha did not fight for Anya. Betrayed and distraught, she packed her belongings and headed for the village house. Anya discovered a hidden box inside the stove. It included a message, photographs, and money. Dmitry, her grandfather’s brother, had been entrusted with her care.

Even more shocking, her mother was not her biological mother; Anya was the daughter of her aunt, whom her adoptive mother had always admired. Everything made obvious at last. Even though she was alone again, Anya felt stronger. She had a home, savings, a job, and, soon, a child. For the first time, she felt completely protected and joyful.