“The main thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life.”
Emily was her parents’ only daughter. Her father kept a watchful eye on her, while her mother spoiled her and repeated the same advice:
“The main thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life,” she would say, and Emily always agreed.
But where was this wealthy man? There were nice lads at university, of course. Shed even had a fiancé from a respectable family.
But her father was strictno late-night outings, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was under his control.
Before long, her desirable fiancé found himself another girl, one more free-spirited and intriguing than Emily.
Then came her dissertation defence, leaving no time for romance.
After graduation, her father helped her secure a job, and her mother took charge of her personal life.
Her mother knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry well, and soon, a suitor appearedher good friends nephew.
“Emily, dear, you ought to take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats a good thing. Why settle for a boy? Think about it. Robert is a serious man with his own firm. You wont even need to work.”
“But hes been married before, Mum! He has a daughterchild support and all that.”
“Dont let that trouble you. His ex-wife was hopeless, and she lives in another city with the girl. Its not a problem.”
So they met. Emilys father stayed silent, having decided long ago not to interfere in womens affairs.
Let them sort it out themselves.
Surprisingly, Emily liked Robert. The ten-year age gap didnt bother her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade.
Charming, well-mannered, impeccably dressed.
She impressed him too, and they married.
Her mother sighed in relief, her duty done, and turned her attention to herselfsalons, shopping, trips abroad with her husbandnow without Emily.
Emily, following her mothers example, indulged herself. Her husband encouraged her whims. She lived for pleasure.
Her only household duty was directing the cleaner, who managed just fine without her.
Then, out of the blue, disaster struck.
Roberts ex-wife died. Emily didnt ask how.
And now he had to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for “not a problem”! What was she supposed to do with this girl? Shed postponed having her own child indefinitely, and now some strange girl would live in her house, expecting her to be a “second mother,” as Robert called it.
But there was no choice.
Robert didnt ask for her opinionjust informed her and asked for compassion.
“The child isnt to blame!”
Soon, he fetched the girl himselfa shabby suitcase and a school backpack in tow.
Sophie was in Year 3, tall, quiet, almost silent, Emily noted.
Not a word wasted, everything done quietly.
At least she looked like her fatherno doubt she was his, not some other mans.
Life in the big house with her father, stepmother, and cleaner weighed on Sophie.
She wasnt used to this!
After dinner, shed rush to wash dishes, ask where the broom was, try to iron her own clothesall of which irritated Emily.
Her father, wrapped up in work, came home late, leaving little time for affection.
He lavished it on his wife, but Sophie got, at best, a pat on the head and a “Hows school?”
Emily felt constrainedno more spontaneous outings, no leisurely mornings at the gym.
She needed her sleep, her social media, her routines.
Then Sophie came home, and there was no escape: Robert expected her to supervise homework.
So Emily consideredwhy not suggest sending the girl to boarding school?
But she didnt dare. Instead, she proposed extended school hours.
“Its hard for me to help with her lessons. Im not a teacher. Look, shes getting Cs. At school, shell do better. Its for her own good.”
Robert was furious, and Emily regretted speaking up.
So life dragged onhollow, full of resentment.
Two years later, Emily had a son. A nanny was discussed, but Sophie, now nearly twelve, volunteered to help.
And she was the best nanny imaginable!
She managed everythinghomework, playing with Daniel, ironing for them both.
Then the bedding became her responsibility toothe cleaner, Nina, was past sixty and tiring.
Emily adjusted, growing used to Sophie handling things while she maintained her socialite charm.
Daniel adored his sister, and she him.
When Sophie finished school, Daniel was starting Year 1. Again, his education fell to his sister, mature beyond her years.
She enrolled at university, studied English, and taught her brother.
“Dont you think, darling, youve left all the housework and childcare to Sophie?” Robert asked one day, as Emily spent more evenings outfriends, cafes, social events.
“Whats the problem? She handles it perfectly. Nina barely lifts a fingerjust cooks.”
“Thats my point. Everything else is on Sophie, isnt it?”
Emily stayed silent.
Yes, it was. But did Sophie complain? And Daniel sometimes joined her outingsthe museum, concerts. Wasnt that enough?
When Sophie graduated, Robert hired her at his firm.
The business had expanded internationally, and a translator was needed.
There, she met James from the sales team.
Love bloomed instantly, right under her fathers stunned gaze.
Hed never imagined his quiet daughter would have a workplace romance. It unsettled him.
But Sophie insisted theyd marry, and for the first time, stood her ground. He relented.
Emily was just as upsetshed lose her household helper. Nina, too, announced her retirement. And Robert was in no rush to replace her.
Sophie reassured her: “Ill still help, Mum. Ill come weekly, clean, iron. Its what Ive always done.”
“More than weekly,” Emily huffed.
Still, Sophie moved out after a lavish wedding, settling into married life.
James, however, grew complacent.
First, he talked of starting his own business. He quit his job, glued to his laptop.
But it failed. Starting from scratch was hard.
His furious father-in-law refused help, though he raised Sophies salary.
Unused to spending on herself, she poured her earnings into the household, even slipping money to her growing brother.
They scraped by.
James flat was mortgaged, he liked fine clothes and dining out, holidays tooall on her dime.
Sophie juggled it allhousehold, finances, even helping her stepmother. It was habit.
Then, everything changed.
Roberts health faltered, and overseas partners withdrew.
The business nosedived.
When Robert realised he couldnt continue, he sold it.
Sophie kept her jobRobert had persuaded the new owner not to dismiss her, though a translator was barely needed.
Her pay was slashed.
James, jobless, grew despondent, especially after Roberts funeral.
Emily and Daniel struggled too, needing support. Sophie moved back in, leaving James to ponder:
“Find a proper job and contribute, or we divorce!”
Then, Sophie discovered she was pregnant.
She might have rejoicedbut James reaction stunned her.
“A child? Be serious! No job, no money. Your father left you nothingare we meant to live in poverty?”
Sophie sat in shock, wordless.
She filed for divorce at once, waiting no longer for his conscience to stir.
Love for that layabout had long faded.
She lived with Emily and Daniel, who was thriving in schoolbright, kind.
Financially, times were hard. Robert hadnt left them penniless, but Emily spent sparinglyon herself, not the family.
Sophie managed the house, the sole breadwinner.
When her baby arrived, something shifted in Emily.
Suddenly a young grandmother, she doted on her granddaughter, learning to care for her despite little experience. Sophie marvelled at the change.
Emily had a suitor now, clearly happyher eyes, her manner, showed it. The baby felt her warmth.
A year passed.
Emily married her love, moving in with Daniel.
Sophie stayed in her fathers house, working remotely as a translator.
Emily and her new husband helped with groceries, sometimes taking little Lily for weekends.
But Daniel visited Sophie then, still calling her the best sister in the world.
“Sort your life out, Sophie,” hed say, blushing. “Want me to introduce you to my PE teacher? Great bloke. Single, tooI checked.”
Shed laugh, ruffle his hair. “Relax, matchmaker!”
Life moved on. No great troubleseach happy in their way.
Even Sophie, who loved her family but secretly dreamed of finding her own happiness, her true love. And
