“The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy man means a happy life.”
Emily was her parents’ only daughter. Her father was protective, while her mother doted on her and never failed to repeat the same advice:
“The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy man means a happy life,” she would say, and Emily always agreed.
But where was this wealthy man? At university, there were decent lads, of course. Shed even had a fiancé from a good family.
But her father kept a strict eye on herno late-night outings, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was under control.
Before long, her enviable fiancé found himself another girl, one more free-spirited and interesting than Emily.
Then came her dissertation defence, leaving little room for romance.
After that, with her fathers help, she secured a job, and with her mothers guidance, she set about arranging her personal life.
Her mother knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry well, and soon a suitor appearedthe nephew of her mothers close friend.
“Emily, darling, you ought to take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats a good thing, not a drawback. Why would you want some boy? Think about it. Oliver Preston is a serious man. He owns his own business. Youd never have to work a day in your life.”
“But hes been married before, Mum! He even has a daughterthat means child support.”
“Dont let that trouble you. His ex-wife was rather dim, and she and the daughter live in another town now. Its no issue.”
And so, they met. Emilys father remained silent, having long since decided not to interfere in womens affairs after she graduated.
Let them sort it out themselves.
Surprisingly, Emily took a liking to Oliver Preston.
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 soon they married.
Emilys mother sighed in relief, having fulfilled her maternal duty, and threw herself into enjoying lifesalons, shopping, trips abroad with her husband, now without her daughter in tow.
Emily, in turn, following her mothers example, indulged herself.
Her husband encouraged her desires and whims, so she lived for her own pleasure.
Her only household duty was directing the housekeeper, who managed just fine without her interference.
Then, out of the blue, disaster struck.
Olivers ex-wife passed awayunder circumstances Emily didnt care to ask aboutand he was forced to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for “no issue”! What was she supposed to do now? Shed postponed having her own child indefinitely, and now some young girl was moving into her home, expecting her to play “stepmother,” as Oliver put it.
But she had no choice.
Her husband didnt bother consulting herhe simply informed her and asked for compassion.
The girl wasnt to blame, after all.
Soon, he fetched his daughter himself, bringing her back with a shabby suitcase and a school backpack.
Sophie was in Year 4, tall, quiet, almost withdrawn, Emily noted.
She never spoke unless necessary, keeping to herself.
At least she resembled her fatherclearly his child, not some stray from that dim-witted ex.
Life in the large house with her father, stepmother, and housekeeper weighed heavily on Sophie.
She wasnt used to such luxury!
After dinner, shed rush to wash the dishes, ask where the broom was to sweep, even tried ironing her own clothes. It all irritated Emily.
Her father, buried in work, came home late, with little time for affection.
He spared none for his wife, but Sophie got, at best, a pat on the head and a casual, “Hows school?”
Emily soon felt constrainedshe couldnt come and go as she pleased, visit her favourite spots, or tend to herself.
She couldnt dash off to the gym at dawn!
She needed her sleep, her time scrolling through social media.
Then Sophie came home, and there was no escapingher husband asked her to oversee the girls homework.
So Emily considered suggesting boarding school.
But she hesitated, opting instead for after-school care.
“You see, Im not a teacher. Its hard for me to help with her work. Look, shes getting Cs now. At school, shell do better. Its for her own good.”
Oliver was furious, and Emily regretted her suggestion.
And so it dragged onlifeless interactions, discontent, frustration.
Two years later, Emily gave birth to a boy. A nanny was discussed, but Sophie, nearly twelve, volunteered to help care for her brother.
And indeed, there was no better nanny to be found!
Sophie managed everythinghomework, playing with Daniel, ironing his clothes and her own.
Then the laundry fell to her too, as Nelly, the housekeeper, was past sixty and tiring.
Emily adjusted, growing used to Sophie taking over for Nelly while she devoted herself to maintaining the charm expected of a society woman.
Daniel grew up adoring his older sister.
By the time Sophie finished school, Daniel was starting Year 1. Again, the responsibility for his education fell to his sister, whod grown wise beyond her years.
She enrolled at university, studying English, and taught her brother.
“Dont you think, darling, youve left all the care of the house and our son to Sophie?” Oliver once asked his wife, who was increasingly absent afternoons and evenings.
Shed found a circle of friends, social engagements, cafés.
“What exactly bothers you, dear? Your daughter handles everything perfectly. Nelly barely worksjust cooks, and thats it.”
“Thats my point. The rest falls on Sophie, doesnt it?”
Emily stayed silent.
Yes, it did. But did Sophie complain? And Danielhis mother sometimes took him along. Last week, she took him to an exhibition, a museum, a childrens concert. Wasnt that enough?
When Sophie graduated, her father hired her at his firm.
The business had long since expanded beyond domestic markets, and a translator was just what they needed.
There, she met James, a sharp lad from sales.
Love blossomed right under her astonished fathers nose.
Hed never imagined his quiet, reserved daughter would dare a workplace romance. It troubled him at first.
But Sophie declared theyd marry, insisting for the first time in her life. He had no choice but to relent.
Emily was just as dismayed. She was losing her household helper, and Nelly had announced her retirement. Age. Her husband showed no urgency in finding a replacement.
Sophie took initiative again.
“Ill still help, Mum,” she said cheerfully. “Ill come once a week, clean, iron. Ive always done it.”
“Once a week? Make it more,” her stepmother retorted.
Still, Sophie moved in with her husband after a lavish wedding, settling into married life.
James, however, grew complacent.
First, he talked of starting his own business.
He quit his job and sat at his computer.
But it went nowhere. Starting from scratch wasnt easy.
His father-in-law, furious at his recklessness, refused to help, though he did increase Sophies salary.
Unaccustomed to spending on herself, Sophie poured all her earnings into the household, even slipping money to her now-grown brother now and then.
She barely scraped by for herself and James.
His flat, it turned out, was mortgaged. He liked nice clothes, dining out, holidays abroad.
Sophie juggled housekeeping, finances, and still helped her mother. It was the way of things.
Then, the family faced serious changes.
Olivers health declined, and overseas business partners withdrew.
Everything plummeted.
The company barely stayed afloat.
When Oliver realised his health wouldnt let him continue, he had no choice but to sell.
Sophie kept her jobher father persuaded the new owner not to let her go, though a translator was hardly needed.
He agreed, but her pay was slashed.
James, jobless, grew despondent, especially after his father-in-laws funeral.
Emily and Daniel were struggling too. They needed support, so Sophie moved back in, leaving James to ponder:
“Either you find proper work and contribute, or we divorce!”
But then, Sophie discovered she was expecting.
Any woman might have rejoiced, but James reacted terribly.
“A baby? Be serious! No job, no money. Your father went bankrupt and left you with nothingnow you want to raise a child in poverty?”
Sophie was stunned. Speechless.
She filed for divorce immediately, waiting no longer for his conscience to wake.
Whatever love shed had for that lazy, good-for-nothing was long gone.
She moved in with her stepmother and brother, who was doing well in schoola bright, kind lad.
