When Zhanna saw her grandmother rolling her bicycle to the car, despair froze in her eyes. And then came the “truth” that shocked everyone.

“Sweetheart, this bicycle isn’t safe. The tires are old, I don’t want you to fall,” said Jacqueline with fake concern. But her gaze revealed something else.

I insisted on speaking to her alone. And here’s what came out: my mother-in-law had seen exactly the same bicycle at an auction, sold there for a lot of money.

“It’s a collectible! I’ll sell it — and I’ll be able to buy my granddaughter ten new ones,” she admitted shamelessly.

I couldn’t believe my ears. For Zhanna, it wasn’t just a gift, but a dream, her first “grown-up” transport. But Jacqueline was already closing the trunk, ignoring both my words and the child’s tears.

In that moment I realized: our fragile “family truce” was broken.

A few days later, Zhanna and I decided to turn this story into a lesson. Instead of resentment — a conversation about values, about how memories are worth more than things. The neighbors supported us, and soon Zhanna had a new bicycle, gifted by the whole neighborhood.

And my mother-in-law? She stuck to her decision. But I clearly saw: sometimes people show their true face in the most unexpected moment. The main thing is not to stop and to keep pedaling forward.