Alina had been working as a waitress at a small café for three years, struggling to make ends meet after her mother’s death. Her dream of attending university seemed out of reach, until one day, a mysterious man walked into the café and left an unusually large tip.
Over the next few days, the man returned, always leaving generous amounts of money. Alina’s coworker, Zina, warned her to be cautious, but the man never acted inappropriately. He simply observed.
One evening, he left a tip so large it equaled Alina’s monthly earnings. Overwhelmed, she confronted him in the parking lot. “Why are you doing this?” she asked. The man, Pavel Andreevich, asked her to meet him the next day to explain.
At their meeting, Pavel revealed that he was Alina’s father. He had left her and her mother years ago, choosing his career over his family. He had tried to find them later but lost contact. Alina was stunned. She had spent years resenting him, and now he was asking for forgiveness.
Despite her anger, Alina began to rebuild her relationship with her father. Pavel supported her dream of attending university, paying for her education and even buying her an apartment. Alina excelled in her studies and eventually joined her father’s company, where she quickly rose through the ranks.
Years later, as they sat in his office, Pavel offered Alina the position of his deputy. “You’ve grown so much,” he said proudly. Alina smiled, reflecting on how far she had come. “I’m no longer that little girl counting pennies,” she said. “But I still remember the pain.”
Pavel embraced her. “Thank you for giving me a chance,” he whispered. “Thank you for not giving up,” she replied. Together, they looked toward the future, building a new chapter in their lives.
