“Dana, can I come to you? With Anyutka,” I sniff into the phone.
“Of course, come on over! Ruslan will be happy to see a friend. Wait—why are you crying?!”
I start sobbing, and my friend understands everything without words.
“I’ll tear Lёnya’s hands off! Stay at home, I’ll send security—well, they’ll…”
“It’s not because of Lёnya. My husband threw us out and took all my money.”
“Hold on, hold on,” Dana interrupts. “Stop crying! This definitely isn’t worth it! Consider it a Christmas present a little early. I’ll be there soon.”
“Not with Lёnya.”
“All right, then—where are you now?”
“With my husband’s boss.”
“What?!—Dana blurts, stunned. “The same one?! …Kovalev?!”
“Yes.”
“Wait… Did you—so you admitted that Anya is his daughter? Is that why he took you to live with him?”
“No,” I give a sad little laugh. “He didn’t even remember me.”