Daughter of Wealthy Parents
Many envied Emily. They said she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father was a successful businessman, and her mother came from a wealthy family.
They lived in a gated community and also had a spacious, comfortable apartment in the city. Emily was chauffeured to school by a personal driver. Of course, she attended a private school, but even by those standards, her family was exceptionally wealthy.
Emily was dressed in designer clothes, and they vacationed no less than three times a year. It seemed like a fairy tale life.
But for Emily, it was anything but a fairy tale. It felt like a horror film. She would have gladly traded places with any child from a less affluent yet happy family.
Emily’s parents did not love each other; in fact, they despised one another. However, they couldn’t part ways because their business was intertwined.
Her father openly cheated on her mother, and Emily had caught glimpses of his affairs more than once.
Her mother drank excessively. The only difference between her and an ordinary alcoholic was that she drank only fine, expensive spirits and paired them with seafood and exotic fruits. Otherwise, she was like any other drunkard, starting her mornings with wine and finishing at least two bottles by evening.
No one paid attention to Emily’s needs. If she had questions or faced problems, her father simply handed her money, brushing her off with, “I don’t have time to listen.”
Her mother was almost always inebriated, making Emily reluctant to approach her, as it would either lead to complaints or incoherent babbling.
After school, Emily would lock herself in her room, dreaming of the day she could escape this nightmare. Parties and outings with friends did not appeal to her much because she knew that if anything happened to her, her absence wouldn’t be immediately noticed.
Naturally, Emily was accepted into the best university in town. When she told her father she wanted to live independently, he agreed. He promised to send a real estate agent to help her find a place.
Emily was overjoyed. Finally, no more fights, no more seeing her mother drunk, or overhearing her father on the phone with his mistresses. But it wasn’t that simple.
Before purchasing a flat for his daughter, her father invited her for a conversation.
“When you finish university, I’ll start training you in the family business. You’ll help manage it with me.”
Emily had no interest in continuing the family trade passed down from her father and grandfather. She despised the business that forced her parents to stay together and suffer, making her childhood miserable too.
Instead, she wanted to venture into tourism, to open her own travel agency and create exciting itineraries. Fortunately, they traveled a lot, and even though her parents continued their feuds on vacation, Emily could at least distract herself a bit. Once, in a neighboring suite of their hotel, her father installed his mistress. Emily saw him leaving nightly when her mother was too drunk to notice.
Still, those trips breathed life into her. She’d go on tours or spend hours on the beach, avoiding the family drama. During her childhood, her nanny accompanied them— the only one who genuinely cared. As she grew up, Emily was left to her own devices.
Her passion for tourism grew, and the thought of entering the family business revolted her. To her, it symbolized everything that destroyed her life.
Her father, who never seemed to care about her, surprisingly laid down an ultimatum: if she wanted his financial support, she’d have to comply with his wishes.
It mirrored her mother’s situation, when she agreed to her grandfather’s terms. Her mother loved a luxurious life and was willing to live with a man she neither loved nor was loved by, just to ensure the business thrived and the money kept flowing. Recently, her mother only needed money to buy an expensive bottle of wine.
Emily refused to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She realized it wasn’t just about managing the business. Her father would never let her marry whom she wanted or pursue her own interests. Soon, she would find herself trapped in a gilded cage, like her mother, starting her morning with wine.
She firmly told her father she wouldn’t bow to his demands. True to his word, he cut her off financially. Her accounts were frozen, and he ordered her out of their home, stating that those living under his roof must obey him.
Her father thought this would rattle her resolve, but recalling her mother’s fate, Emily promised herself she’d never become like her.
Thus, gathering her belongings, she left with nowhere to go. Thankfully, she had some cash meant for pocket change, now crucial for survival.
Understanding her father would no longer cover her tuition, she rented a room (affordable for a couple of months) and found work as a waitress. For someone who had never washed a dish, it was hard, but she endured, knowing her goal.
She was tempted to give in, to tell her father she’d agree to anything just to rest and eat properly. But thoughts of her mother spurred her determination.
She toiled nights and studied by day. She scraped enough money together for the next semester and rent, realizing she’d need to maintain this for years.
But fortune smiled. Her dedication caught the attention of the restaurant manager. Emily stood out amongst the often-coarse and vacant waitstaff.
Soon, she was promoted to an administrator. Emily’s eloquence, poise, and grace made her ideal for the role.
Her earnings increased slightly, and within six months, she met a patron at the establishment.
They began dating. Emily never revealed her past. She mentioned a rocky relationship with her parents, an alcoholic mother, and an unfaithful father. She never disclosed their immense wealth, knowing it wouldn’t lead to anything positive.
Eventually, Emily moved in with this man. John had his own flat, making it unnecessary for Emily to rent. She changed her phone number to avoid her parents’ reach.
Emily graduated, then worked in a travel agency, later founding her own after marrying. Her long-held dream realized thanks to her determination, free from her parents’ wealth. She married for love, not money.
They had a daughter, Lucy, to whom Emily gave all the love she wished she’d received.
Lucy was four when, one day, as the family was at home, the intercom buzzed.
“I’ll answer,” John said.
He returned looking bewildered.
“Emily, it’s your father.”
She was taken aback, nervous as she walked to the hall and found her father.
He had aged, with wrinkles lining his eyes and forehead. Yet, he was still her stern father, showing no hint of a smile.
“Hello, Emily.”
“Hi,” she replied, fidgeting.
“How’s life?”
“As you see,” Emily gestured around their modest hallway, “everything’s great.”
“We didn’t part on good terms last time. I thought you’d change your mind.”
“You mean you hoped I’d fail,” she retorted with a bitter smile.
“Perhaps. But you’re stronger than your mother.”
“How is she?” Emily inquired, realizing she knew little about her family.
“The same, maybe worse. I want to reconnect. I heard I have a granddaughter. I can offer her so much, like a spot in a private nursery. And you… It’s not right, living in such conditions.”
Emily shook her head silently. He hadn’t reached out to see her, just wanted to buy control with money.
“No need, Dad. We’re fine.”
“Don’t kid yourself,” he snorted. “Is this really living?”
“The kind of life I never had. A happy life, full of love, where no one cheats, and problems aren’t solved with money. But you wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe not,” he conceded. “Alright, if you need anything, call.”
Emily nodded, closing the door softly. Unexpectedly, tears welled up. Her parents hadn’t missed her. Her father just wanted control, possibly to mold his granddaughter into who his daughter refused to be. But Emily wouldn’t let that happen.
“Everything alright?” John asked, finding Emily in tears.
“Yes, just fine,” she smiled, embracing him. “Everything is wonderful. I’m so happy to have you.”
Indeed, she had everything she needed. Despite others’ opinions, wealth didn’t equate happiness. Emily, above all, knew the truth of that better than anyone.
