Over 30 kilometers north of Rivne, deep in the forest, lies the Hot Spring Estate. Ekaterina Noskova and her two companions arrived by car, greeted warmly by Marta Beknatz upon stepping out.
After exchanging pleasantries, the girls presented a gift they had brought back from the USA to the estate's de facto housekeeper. These three knew well the value of social graces. Laughing and chatting, they walked together down the shaded paths toward the main villa.
"Only a month away, and it feels like Rivne has already entered autumn," remarked Evgenia Kolkoshko as she admired the surrounding greenery. Compared to Los Angeles or New York, the late-August chill in northern Ukraine was unmistakable. Yet, her tone carried a hint of pride—after all, unlike the other "caged birds" of the estate, she and her friends had traveled extensively over the past two years, even if they were now grounded for a year. Sensing a certain quietness, she asked, "Marta, why is it so quiet here? Where is everyone?"
Marta, seemingly oblivious to the girl's subtle boasting, replied, "Today is Sunday, so there are no scheduled classes. The girls have the weekend for free activities."
Though the girls living at the estate weren't as free to roam as Ekaterina's trio once were, their daily routines weren't overly restricted. On weekends, they could go out or return home as they pleased. However, since the Banshikova incident, all outings and home visits required a female guard as an escort.
As they entered the villa, the three girls settled into their rooms. They didn't plan to leave the estate for the next few days—they were here for gossip, after all. As for the high school coursework recently assigned to them, they figured they could just have the teachers come to them.
Inside the villa, the usual bustle of activity was absent. After asking around, they learned that the Banshikova mother-daughter trio had gone into Rivne's city center and wouldn't return until evening. Marta also mentioned that Anna Belkoska, one of the most studious girls, had gone with a few others to visit Maria Rozin, a teacher involved in recent rumors. This immediately piqued the trio's interest.
This was the gossip they had come for.
After getting the details, the girls left the estate again and headed to the nearby hot spring resort, only a few kilometers away. The two teachers at the center of the recent drama had been relocated to the resort's hotel area, which included private villas catering to foreign tourists. The proximity to the Hot Spring Estate made it convenient for visits.
Though the minor scandal had been quickly suppressed, adjustments were swiftly implemented. All married female teachers at the estate were replaced with single women. While Simon's preferences were no secret, he clearly wanted to avoid unnecessary complications.
Not that anyone sympathized much with the teachers who lost their jobs. Among the two directly involved, one—Uliana Meletskova—had already been "claimed" by Simon. The other, Maria Rozin, caught his attention as an elegant and intellectual woman when her background was reviewed. She had been swiftly "relocated."
Simon hadn't forced her into anything.
Still, her compliance with the arrangements was tacit agreement. Whether there was any pressure from Rivne's Westeros-affiliated leadership didn't concern Simon much.
Arriving at the resort, the girls bypassed the bustling leisure center and headed directly to the hotel area, quickly locating a villa in a quiet corner.
It was already past 10 a.m.
Inside, Anna Belkoska and four other girls were helping a gentle, bespectacled teacher prepare lunch. Though surprised by the unexpected visitors, Maria Rozin welcomed them warmly and invited them to stay for lunch.
They accepted.
Despite the faint sadness etched into Maria's features, her warmth and soft-spoken demeanor quickly endeared her to the girls. Initially here for gossip, they soon felt genuine sympathy for the teacher and concluded that her husband was a scoundrel.
As for the root cause of this mess? The girls weren't inclined to dwell on it. Simon, after all, was never wrong.
During their stay, they also met Maria Rozin's four children—three boys and a girl. The eldest, Annette Rozin, was 21 and a university junior studying at the National Technical University. She shared her mother's intellectual and gentle demeanor. In casual conversation, they learned she had recently returned from a summer job in Kyiv, likely due to the family upheaval. The three boys, around the same age as the visiting girls, were polite and well-mannered but were sent off during lunch by Maria to avoid any discomfort.
After a lively lunch, Anna and her group said their goodbyes. The trio, who had come expecting juicy drama, left instead with a newfound fondness for Maria.
Once the visitors had gone, Maria and her daughter returned to the villa's living room. A maid and a guard who had been assigned to them began cleaning up the lunch table. Just as Maria was about to help, Annette gently stopped her, leading her upstairs instead.
In a second-floor sitting room with a balcony, the two settled on a sofa. As her mother instinctively tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, Annette hesitated before finally asking, "Mom, what exactly happened between you and Dad?"
Maria froze, her hand pausing mid-motion, and fell silent. Tears welled up in her eyes.
How could she explain?
From the beginning, she had done nothing wrong. Perhaps the American man had noticed her through some records, but she had never even met him. How could there possibly have been anything between them?
Yet rumors spread, and her husband refused to believe otherwise.
She had tried to explain.
Her husband, once a key figure at Antonov Design Bureau before being laid off, had followed her to Rivne. Here, Maria had secured a prestigious teaching position at Westeros-backed Rivne West School, earning $500 a month. Meanwhile, her husband had only managed to find work as an engineer at a local power plant—thanks to her connections—earning less than $40 a month.
The reversal in fortunes had been a severe blow to his pride.
This incident became the breaking point.
Despite her explanations, her husband didn't believe her. While they initially tried to work things out, his demand that she quit her job to become a full-time housewife was something she couldn't accept.
It wasn't just about the job. Her three sons were studying at Rivne West School, arguably the best in Ukraine. Thanks to her position, not only was their tuition fully covered, but they also received subsidies for meals and had access to generous scholarships.
Quitting her job would mean losing all this, jeopardizing her children's future. As a mother, Maria couldn't let that happen, even if it meant sacrificing her husband's fragile pride.
When her husband showed up at the Hot Spring Estate, hysterically trying to negotiate terms with the housekeeper, Maria had finally lost all respect for him. She slapped him in front of everyone.
Following this, all married female teachers at the estate were dismissed. Maria, wracked with guilt, knew her actions had indirectly cost others their jobs.
Now, she had been relocated to this luxurious villa with staff to attend to her. She wasn't naïve—she understood exactly what this arrangement meant. But for the sake of her children, she had no choice but to accept.
Annette, sensing her mother's inner turmoil, chose not to press further. Instead, she hugged her tightly. "Mom, I won't ask anymore. I know this must be Dad's fault. Don't worry—as long as we're together, we'll be fine."
Hearing her daughter's comforting words, Maria finally let her tears fall.
After regaining her composure, Maria brought up a new topic: "Annette, didn't you say last year you wanted to study abroad? Have you decided where?"
Caught off guard, Annette shook her head. "I've given up on that idea. After graduating next year, I'll just start working. Without a full scholarship, we can't afford it."
Maria listened quietly but was resolute. "You will study abroad. Pick a school—Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College in the UK, or Harvard, MIT, or Stanford in the US. Once you decide, leave the rest to me."
Annette glanced at the villa, understanding her mother's implication. She hesitated before softly replying, "Mom, I'm not going."
Maria, sensing her daughter's understanding, chose not to push further—for now. She would find a way to handle it privately. Surely, the man wouldn't refuse such a small request.
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