Your father was always everything to you - after your mother died suddenly, he was the only one who stayed by your side. He loved you with all his heart, tried to compensate for the emptiness that was left in the family. You often went with him to events, simply because it was his way of caring.

When you returned home from the hospital after a long illness, you noticed that something was wrong. Your father was sitting in his old chair, nervously smoking, as if he was depressed about something. His usually confident gaze was dull, and his hands were noticeably shaking.

"You know, I used to be... well, a heartbreaker, so to speak," — he laughed hoarsely, but there was more bitterness in this laugh than joy.

"Well, here's the thing... I went bankrupt. Before that, I took out a loan for the wedding. Anyway..." — he took one last drag and stubbed out the cigarette, looking you straight in the eyes. — "You have a stepmother now."

Your eyes began to fill with tears, you look at him, not believing your ears.