My eyes locked onto my mother-in-law, whose face looked as if she had just seen a ghost. In her trembling hand, a small envelope shook, and her eyes were frozen in an expression of pure panic. The loud music in the grand banquet hall of the old mansion drowned out all other sounds, making our conversation completely private.
That sunny May morning was supposed to be perfect. My fiancé Sergei’s family mansion was impeccably prepared to welcome the guests. Waiters meticulously arranged crystal glasses, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh roses and fine champagne. The luxurious portraits framed in gold seemed to silently observe everything happening in the room.
— “Anastasia, have you noticed that Sergei is acting strangely today?” my mother-in-law whispered, glancing around anxiously.
I frowned. Indeed, Sergei had been tense all day. Now, he stood at the far end of the room, pressing his phone to his ear, his face rigid, as if he were hiding something.
— “Just pre-wedding nerves,” I tried to brush it off, adjusting my veil.
— “Look at this. Right now,” she murmured, slipping an envelope into my hands before quickly disappearing into the crowd, regaining her poised demeanor and polished social smile.
Curious and unsettled, I found a discreet corner and hastily unfolded the note. My heart stopped.
“Sergei and his family plan to get rid of you after the wedding. You are part of their scheme. They know about your family’s inheritance. Run if you want to live.”
My first instinct was to laugh. This had to be some kind of cruel joke from my mother-in-law. But then I recalled Sergei’s suspicious conversations, which he always cut short whenever I appeared. His sudden coldness, the secretive glances…
My eyes met his across the room. Sergei had ended his call and was now watching me. There was something different about his gaze—it wasn’t the man I had fallen in love with, but a stranger, a predator.
— “Nastya!” my bridesmaid called excitedly. — “It’s time!”
— “Coming! I just need to use the restroom!”
I ran out into the street through the service corridor, taking off my shoes.
I caught a taxi outside the gate and asked the driver to take me to the station. An hour later, I was already on a train to another city, dressed in purchases from the station store.
I wonder what story Sergei will come up with? Will he pretend to be a sad groom or will he show his true face?
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. A new life awaited me ahead.
Changing yourself for the sake of safety – that’s what fifteen years of practicing perfect coffee means.
“Your favorite cappuccino is ready,” I put the cup in front of a regular guest of a modest cafe on the outskirts of Kaliningrad. “And a blueberry muffin, as always?”
“You are too kind to me, Vera Andreyevna,” smiled the elderly professor, one of those who regularly warmed up our small coffee shop.
Now I was Vera. Anastasia dissolved in the past along with a white dress and broken hopes. I had to pay a lot for new documents, but the price turned out to be Fully worth it.
“What’s interesting in the world?” I nodded at his tablet, where he was scrolling through the latest news.
“Another businessman caught in fraud. Sergei Valerievich Romanov”
My hand trembled, and the cup slightly clinked on the saucer. A face appeared on the screen – painfully familiar.
“The head of the holding company ‘RomanovGroup’ is suspected of major financial fraud.” And below, in small print: “Conversations continue around the strange disappearance of his fiancée 15 years ago.”
“Lena, do you understand what you’re saying? I can’t just go back!”
I was rushing around the rented apartment, holding the phone to my ear. Lena, the only one I trusted with the truth, spoke quickly and forcefully:
“Anastasia, listen! His company is under close scrutiny, he’s never been so vulnerable. This is your chance to get your life back!”
“What life? The one where I was a frivolous girl who almost became a victim of a murderer?”
“No, the one where you are Anastasia Vitalievna Sokolova, and not some Vera from the coffee shop!”
I froze in front of the mirror. The woman looking at me had become older and more cautious. The first silver threads had appeared in her hair, and a steel glint had appeared in her eyes.
“Lena, his mother saved my life back then. How is she now?”
“Vera Nikolaevna is in a nursing home. Sergei had long ago removed her from the company’s affairs. They say she asked too many questions.”
The Golden Autumn Nursing Home was located in a picturesque place outside the city. Introducing myself as a social worker (and the necessary papers were easily accessible thanks to my savings), I was easily led to Vera Nikolaevna.
She was sitting by the window in a chair – so fragile and aged that it took my breath away. But her eyes – those same, penetrating and tenacious – recognized me instantly.
“I knew you would come,” she said simply. – “Sit down, tell me how you lived these years.”
I told her about my new life – about cafes, quiet evenings with books, about how I learned to start over.
She listened, nodding occasionally, and then said:
“He planned to stage an accident during his honeymoon on a yacht. Everything was prepared in advance.” Her voice trembled:
“And now he sent me here to live out my days because I began to dig up his affairs. Do you know how many of these ‘accidents’ have happened to his partners over the years?”
“Vera Nikolaevna,” I took her hand carefully. “Do you have evidence?”
She grinned:
“Darling, I have a whole safe of evidence. Do you think I’ve been silent all these years in vain? I was waiting. Waiting for you to come back.” The same steel spark that I saw every morning in the mirror lit up her gaze. “Well, dear” she squeezed my hand, “maybe we should give my son a belated wedding surprise?”
“Are you sure you’re one of the auditors?” the secretary looked at my documents with distrust.
“Exactly. The emergency audit is related to recent publications.”
The office allocated to me within the walls of “RomanovGroup” was located two floors below Sergei’s office. Every morning I watched his black Maybach arrive at the main entrance. Sergey had hardly changed – the same impeccable posture, elegant suit, the familiar look of a man who submits to everyone. His lawyers have successfully hushed up the scandal so far, but it’s only a matter of time.
“Margarita Olegovna, do you have a minute?” I turned to the chief accountant passing by. “Did it seem that way, or are there certain… discrepancies in the 2023 financial statements?”
The chief accountant turned noticeably pale. As Vera Nikolaevna had assumed, this woman knew too much and was looking for a way to clear her conscience.
“Nastya, something’s wrong,” Lena’s voice trembled in the phone. “They’ve been following me for two days now.”
“Calm down,” I locked the office. “Is the flash drive in a safe place?”
“Yes, but Sergei’s people…”
“Be ready. And remember – tomorrow at ten, as agreed.”
I went to the window. Two strong guys in civilian clothes were looming at the entrance. The company’s security service began to worry. It was time to speed things up.
“Sergei Valerievich, you have a guest,” the secretary could barely contain the trembling in her voice.
“I gave clear instructions – don’t let anyone in!”
“She says… that you abandoned her at the altar fifteen years ago.”
A heavy silence hung in the office. I resolutely entered, without waiting for permission.
Sergei slowly raised his head from the documents. His face froze into a mask.
“You…”
“Hello, dear. Didn’t expect this?”
He abruptly pressed the button on the phone:
“Security to me!”
“No need,” I put the folder on the table. “The investigation already has your documents. Margarita Olegovna turned out to be surprisingly talkative. And your mother… she spent many years collecting dirt on you.”
His hand reached for the desk drawer.
“I don’t advise it,” I warned. “Shooting will cause unnecessary noise. And the prosecutor’s office is already waiting at the main entrance.”
For the first time, I saw fear appear on his face.
“What do you want?” he muttered.
“The truth. Tell me about the yacht. About the ‘accident’ that was planned.”
He leaned back in his chair and suddenly laughed:
“And you’ve grown up, Anastasia. Yes, I was going to eliminate you. Your inheritance was supposed to be an investment for the business. And then… I had to play the role of a saddened groom for many years, so that no one would ask unnecessary questions.”
“And how many lives have you taken over these years?”
“This is business, babe. There is no place for feelings here.”
The noise behind the door became louder – the investigators were approaching.
“You know what?” I leaned towards him. “Thank you to your mother. Not only did she save my life, but she also taught me patience: sometimes you need to wait a long time to strike the right blow.”
Three months later, I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop in Kaliningrad. The TV screen was broadcasting a court hearing – Sergei was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. That’s how long I spent wandering.
“Your cappuccino, professor,” I put the cup in front of a regular customer.
“Thank you, Vera… I mean Anastasia.” he smiled sheepishly. “Now will you return to your old life?”
“You know, professor… Maybe my old life wasn’t real? Maybe I’m just starting a full life now. I bought this coffee shop and am staying here.”
It was raining outside, filling the air with the freshness of freedom.
This Girl Became a Star – The ‘Product of 13 Divorces,’ Her Dad Left Her Mom for 17-Year-Old Actress
Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh were one of the biggest celebrity couples of the ’60s. However, their marriage is often remembered for the bitterness and hatred that plagued their final years together.
Hollywood is a community of glamor and style. A huge part of the flamboyant culture of the movie industry is the romance between some of its top stars.
However, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh were the true Jack and Rose of the ’60s. The couple defied all odds to be together, including staking their careers, but the end was far from perfect, and they soon got a divorce.
GIVING BIRTH TO JAMIE LEE CURTIS WAS A FINAL ATTEMPT AT PEACE
Tony Curtis was famous for his flamboyance as much as his talent. Tony was among the celebrities who characterized what it meant to be a superstar actor in a stylish and charming manner.
Tony, like other A-listers, has been associated with a number of women during his life and has had multiple marriages, but each was a failure. However, his romance with Leigh was one of the most remarkable things in his life.
The attractive couple was the center of attention throughout their time together, and their relationship even flowed over into their professional lives, as they appeared in five movies together.
Leigh’s fame was already established when she met her future husband, Tony, at a publicity party in the 1950s. It was a few years after her breakthrough role in the late ’40s. She was beautiful and had a reputation for her pitch in movies.
The actress was more popular than Tony by the time they met. She had appeared in successful movies such as “The Romance of Rosy Ridge” and “Little Women.” but Tony was yet to have his big break.
Things progressed quickly for the couple, and they fell in love. Despite the many obstacles they faced, the couple tied the knot, and many expected things to last forever, but things went sour as quickly as they began.
After welcoming their first child, Kelly, the couple realized their love had lost its spark. Later on, they welcomed their daughter Jamie in a bid to save what was left of their union. Jamie later described herself as a “save-the-marriage baby.” However, her parents still went on to divorce despite her arrival.
Speaking of her experience with her embattled parents, Jamie said, “By the time I came along… my parents’ bond had deteriorated precipitously as their stardom grew. And like any other save-the-marriage baby, I failed.” Tony filed for divorce in 1962. Leaving his family divided.
TONY AND LEIGH’S STORY
Leigh had always had the affection of both fans and co-stars. By the time she met Tony, she was already in league with the high powers of Hollywood. Hollywood tycoon Howard Huges was one of the names backing her career. Hughes was romantically interested in Leigh, but she did not seem to share in his interest.
Her heart was already given to Tony. Both stars were seriously in love with each other and enjoyed an intense physical relationship. The duo was willing to cross any hurdle that would fight their love, even if it meant despising the people who backed their career.
Like Leigh, Tony’s love for the actress was equally tested by Universal’s huge offer of ten thousand dollars to wed co-star Piper Laurie. The union was seen as a much-needed boost for his career. However, money could not take him away from his heartthrob.
Tony became a familiar figure on most of Leigh’s film sets, and their relationship soon became public news. Universal grew more concerned over Tony’s affair with a rival actress and hoped he would side with them by marrying Laurie.
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