When Valentina married Artyom

From that day on, the nightmare began. Letters began arriving weekly. One was a photo of their house at night. The second was of Lisa on the playground. The third was a clipping from an old article: “Young Mother Found Dead After Family Dispute.”

This wasn’t just blackmail—it was a plan. Someone was watching. Someone knew too much.

Valya remained silent. She refused to talk to Ilya. Fear paralyzed her. She began secretly checking his documents. It turned out he’d changed his name three years ago. He had a prior criminal record. For fighting. For threats. For “self-defense,” as one of the notes had put it.

One night she looked into his office.

There were her medical records. Photographs, bank statements, even a copy of her father’s will. And Ilya’s application for a doctor’s assistant position… filled out even before he supposedly accidentally ended up in that village.

Her heart sank.

He knew everything about her. In advance.

Footsteps in the hallway. He entered.

— Are you looking for something, Valya?

She turned around slowly.

– Who are you?

“The one who saved you when everyone else turned their backs,” he replied calmly. “But you already guessed: none of this was an accident.”

— Did you know about me?

— Yes. From the very beginning. I was given a mission. But then… I stayed for you. Changed my life.

— Who gave the assignment?

— People who needed an apartment. Money. And you. But they didn’t know I’d lose everything for you.

That same night, Valya packed her things. She took Lisa and disappeared. She rented a house in another neighborhood and didn’t tell anyone the address. Not Ilya. Not Nina.

But the threats did not stop.

Letters. Phone calls. Demands to hand over the apartment. Warnings that trouble could befall Lisa.

And one day the last message came:

“May 23, 7:00 PM. Park on Yuzhnaya. If you don’t come, your daughter won’t live to see school.”

She arrived. She had a voice recorder, a camera, and a knife in her bag. Her heart was pounding like a drum. She sat down on a bench. A man in glasses sat down.

“Congratulations, Valentina. You’re stronger than we thought.”

– Who are you?

“Your father’s former partner. We worked together. He left you more than you think. Documents. Contacts. Evidence. And as long as you have it, you’re in danger.”

– What if I give it away?

“Then let’s forget you exist. If not, your story will end badly. For all of you.”

“I don’t know anything!” Valentina blurted out.

“You’ll find out. And quickly,” the man replied.