Olesya was preparing for Valentine’s Day with a mixture of excitement and slight anxiety. She had bought a funny keychain shaped like a heart and planned to surprise her boyfriend, Igor. Despite having been together for two months, he had never invited her over—there was always an excuse: work shifts, lack of time, or simply «not convenient.» But today, she decided, enough was enough.

She approached his door in a nine-story panel building on the outskirts of Moscow and rang the bell. She heard footsteps inside, but the door remained closed. Frowning, Olesya pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

— Hello? — Igor’s voice answered, sounding muffled.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she decided to take a picture to preserve the moment—proof of the *truth*. She wasn’t trying to get revenge, just documenting the moment.

She didn’t chase after him. The children were irrelevant; it was the adult man, who had been lying about his «lonely life with his cat Barsik,» who deserved the consequences.

Back home, she blocked his number. He tried calling and texting, eventually showing up at her door, tearfully apologizing. Olesya stepped outside and didn’t let him in.

— What’s going on? — he asked.

— Are you sure you want to hear this?

— Well, yes! I don’t understand what’s going on!

— Here, let me enlighten you, — she handed him her phone with the photo.

Igor turned pale.

— Oh… yeah. You saw it all…

— So, you were hoping I’d believe that «she’s my sister with her kids»?

— Olesya, it’s not exactly like that…

— Oh? So that woman is a random passerby, and the kids are neighbors’ kids, and Barsik is your son?

— Well… yeah. Those are my kids, and the woman is my mom. My wife… she left a while ago.

— Why lie?

— We just started dating… I was afraid you’d leave.

— And when were you planning to tell me the truth? On our first date with a notary?

— Olesya… I didn’t want to hurt you…

— You lied to me. Not once. I don’t mind children, but I can’t stand dishonesty.