When Anna fell in love with a humble teacher, her parents were faced with a choice: him or them. On her wedding day, their seats were left empty, but her grandfather stood beside her. At his funeral ten years later, her estranged parents begged for her forgiveness – but not for the reasons she thought.
Growing up in our immaculate country house, my parents often joked that one day we would live in a huge mansion.
‘One day, Anechka,’ Dad would say, adjusting his already perfect tie in front of the hallway mirror, ‘we’ll have a house so big you’ll need a map to find the kitchen.’
Mum laughed – her laughter was like the clinking of crystal glasses.
‘And you’ll marry whoever helps us get there, won’t you, darling?
A prince! – I used to say as a child. – With a huge castle! And lots of horses!
I thought it was ridiculous. I even dreamed of my future castle. But by high school, I realised there was nothing funny in those words.
My parents were relentless. Every decision they made, every friendship, every encounter was designed to elevate their status.
My mum used to select my friends based on their parents’ income! I’ll never forget how she snorted contemptuously when I invited my classmate Vika to do a biology project together.
Are you friends with her? – She asked me over dinner.
I shrugged.
Vika is kind, and she’s the best student in the class.
She’s no match for you,’ Mum said coldly. – Those cheap clothes and that awful haircut speak for themselves, even if she is the best student.
Then something in my stomach clenched unpleasantly. I realised how narrow-minded my parents were.
My father was no better. He used my school events as a way to make new and useful acquaintances, not to watch me perform.
I remember playing the lead in ‘The Glass Menagerie’ my senior year. My father spent the entire play in the lobby discussing investments with the parents of my classmates.
Did you see me? – I asked after the play, still in my stage costume.
Of course, princess,’ he replied absent-mindedly, not looking away from his phone. – I heard the applause. You must have been magnificent.
And then Ilya appeared.
The teacher? – Mum nearly choked on her champagne when I told her about him. – Anya, darling, teachers are wonderful people, but they’re not… well, you know.
She looked round as if she was afraid someone might overhear this embarrassing secret.
I knew exactly what she was talking about, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t care.
Ilya was different from everyone I knew. Other guys tried to impress me with stories about their parents’ villas and expensive cars. But he talked about his dream – to teach children – with such enthusiasm that his face literally glowed.
When he proposed, it wasn’t to an expensive restaurant and a huge diamond. He got down on one knee in the very garden where we’d first met and handed me his grandmother’s ring.
The stone was small, but when the light fell on it, all the stars of the universe seemed to shine in it.
I can’t give you a mansion,’ he said in a trembling voice, ’but I promise we’ll have a house full of love.
I said yes without even letting him finish.
My parents’ reaction was icy.
Not that teacher! – Dad spat out like he was talking about a criminal. – How is he going to provide for you? Us? You’ll throw your life away if you marry him!
He already gives me everything I need,’ I replied. – ‘He’s kind, he makes me laugh, and…’
I forbid it! – my father interrupted me.
‘If you go for it,’ added my mother, her voice sharp as glass, ‘you can forget about us. It’s either him or us.
I was shocked.
You can’t be serious….
It’s him or us,’ my father repeated, his face petrified.
I knew they wouldn’t accept Ilya gladly, but I didn’t expect this. But the look on their faces told me there was no choice.
I’ll send you an invitation to the wedding. In case you change your mind,’ I said and left.
The wedding was small but perfect, despite the two empty seats in the front row. But Grandpa was there for me.
You chose the right wealth, girl,’ he whispered to me as he led me to the veil. – Love is always more important than money.
Life wasn’t easy. Ilya’s salary and my freelance work barely covered the expenses. We lived in a tiny flat where the heating worked only once in a while. But our house was full of laughter, especially after Sonia was born.
Grandad was our rock.
Do you know what real wealth is, darling? – he asked Sonia one day.
How Mummy and Daddy love me?
Exactly like that,’ he smiled.
When he was gone, I felt lost.
At the funeral I saw them – my parents.
‘Anya, sweetheart,’ Mum squeezed my hands, ‘we were such fools… Forgive us.
I wanted to believe them, but Aunt Olga came over.
Don’t believe them, dear,’ she said quietly. – There was a clause in your grandfather’s will: if they don’t make peace with you, their money will go to charity.
The truth hit me like lightning. Their tears weren’t for me. They were crying for their money.
I stepped up to the microphone.
My grandfather taught me what real wealth is. It’s a husband helping his children without pay. It’s a daughter sharing breakfast with a classmate. It’s love without conditions.
I later learnt that my grandfather had left me an inheritance – no strings attached. Enough to secure Sonia’s future.
My parents got nothing. All their money went to educational funds.
I imagined my grandfather’s satisfied smile and couldn’t hold back a smile in return.
That evening, sitting on the sofa between Ilya and Sonya, I realised that by choosing love, I had become the richest person in the world.
