“The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life.”
Emily was her parents’ only daughter. Her father guarded her closely, while her mother spoiled her and never missed a chance to repeat the same advice:
“The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life,” she would say, and Emily would nod in agreement.
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 walks, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was under control.
Soon enough, her enviable fiancé found himself another girl, freer and more interesting than Emily.
Then came her dissertation defence, leaving no time 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 one of her close friends.
“Emily, darling, you ought to take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats an advantage, not a drawback. Why settle for a boy? Think about it. David Whitmore is a serious man. He owns his own company. You wont even have to work.”
“But he was married before, Mum! He has a daughteralimony and all.”
“Dont let that trouble you. His ex-wife was rather simple-minded, and she lives far away with their daughter now. Its not a problem.”
So the meeting was arranged. Emilys father remained silent, keeping out of womens business since his daughter had graduated.
Let them sort it out themselves.
Surprisingly, Emily liked David Whitmore.
The ten-year age gap didnt bother her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade.
Charming, well-mannered, impeccably dressed.
Emily impressed him too, and soon they were married.
Her mother sighed with relief, her maternal duty fulfilled, and turned her attention back to herselfsalons, shopping, holidays abroad with her husband, now without her daughter.
Emily, following her mothers example, didnt lag behind.
Her husband encouraged her whims and indulgences, so she lived for her own pleasure.
As for household duties, they consisted of little more than directing the housekeeper, who managed perfectly well without her input.
Then, out of the blue, disaster struck.
Davids ex-wife passed awayunder circumstances Emily didnt care to ask about.
And now he had no choice but to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for “not a problem”! What was she supposed to do with this? Shed postponed having her own child indefinitely, and now some girl would move in, expecting her to play “second mum,” as David put it.
But there was no choice.
Her husband didnt ask for her opinionhe simply informed her and asked for kindness.
The girl wasnt to blame!
Soon, he fetched her himself, bringing her home with a shabby suitcase and a school backpack.
Sophie was already in Year 3tall, quiet, almost mute, Emily noted.
Never a word out of her, everything done in silence.
At least she looked like her fatherclearly his child, not some stray from that foolish ex-wife.
Life in the big house with her father, stepmother, and housekeeper weighed heavily on Sophie.
She wasnt used to this!
After dinner, shed rush to wash dishes, ask where the broom was to sweep, even try ironing her own clothesall of which irritated Emily.
Her father, buried in work, came home late, with little time left for affection.
He spared no expense on his wife, but Sophie got, at best, a pat on the head and a quick, “Hows school?”
Emily soon felt trappedshe couldnt just leave the house whenever she pleased, visit her favourite spots, or pamper herself.
She couldnt dash to the gym at dawn!
She needed sleep, time at her laptop, scrolling through social media.
Then Sophie would return, and there was no escaping ither husband expected her to oversee the girls homework.
So Emily considered suggesting they send the girl to boarding school.
But she didnt dare. Instead, she proposed extending Sophies after-school club hours:
“You see, its hard for me to help with her schoolwork. Im not a teacher. And look, shes getting Cs now. At school, she does her work properly. Its for her own good.”
But David was furious, and Emily regretted even mentioning it.
And so it dragged ontheir hollow marriage, full of resentment and irritation.
Then, two years later, Emily gave birth to a boy. A nanny was discussed, but Sophie, now nearly twelve, volunteered to help look after her brother.
And, truthfully, there was no better nanny to be found!
Sophie managed everythinghomework, playing with Daniel, ironing his clothes and her own.
Soon, even the bed linen became her responsibility, as the sixty-something housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, grew tired.
Emily adjusted, growing used to Sophie taking over for Mrs. Norris, while she herself devoted time to maintaining the charm befitting a society lady.
Daniel grew up adoring his older sister, just as she did him.
By the time Sophie graduated, Daniel was starting primary school. Once again, his education fell to his sister, whod grown wise beyond her years.
Shed enrolled at university, studying English, and now taught her brother.
“Dont you think, darling, that youve left all the household and parenting duties to Sophie?” David asked one day, noticing how rarely his wife was home afternoonsor even evenings.
Shed found a new circle of friends, social engagements, cafés.
“What exactly bothers you, dear? Your daughter handles everything beautifully. Mrs. Norris barely lifts a fingerjust cooks, and thats it.”
“Thats my point. The rest falls on Sophie, doesnt it?”
Emily said nothing.
Yes, it fell on Sophie! But did the girl complain? And Daniel sometimes went out with his motherjust last week, shed taken him to an exhibition, a museum, a childrens concert. Wasnt that enough?
When Sophie graduated, her father hired her at his company.
The business had long outgrown the domestic market, and a translator was just what they needed.
There, Sophie met James, a sharp lad from sales.
Love blossomed right under her startled fathers nose.
Hed never imagined his quiet, reserved daughter would dare a workplace romance. At first, it dismayed him.
But Sophie announced their plans to marrythe first time shed ever insisted on having her way. He had no choice but to relent.
Emily was just as dismayed. Shed lose her household helper, and Mrs. Norris had already warned shed be retiring soon. Age. Yet her husband made no move to hire a replacement.
Sophie took the initiative once more:
“Ill still help, Mum,” she said cheerfully. “Ill come once a week, clean, do the ironing. Its what Ive always done.”
“Once a week isnt enough. More often,” her stepmother replied tersely.
Still, Sophie moved in with her husband after a lavish wedding, settling into married life.
And James grew complacent.
First, he talked of starting his own business.
He quit his job and hunched over his laptop.
But nothing came of it. Starting from scratch wasnt easy.
His father-in-law, furious at his recklessness, refused to help, though he did raise Sophies salary.
Unaccustomed to spending on herself, she poured every penny into the household budget, even slipping spare cash to her now-grown brother.
She scraped by, stretching what was left for herself and James.
His flat, it turned out, was mortgaged. He liked nice clothes, meals out, holidaysall of which he eagerly embraced.
And Sophie? She juggled housework, finances, and still helped her mother. Some habits never died.
But soon, the family faced serious changes.
Davids health faltered, and overseas business partners withdrew.
Everything declined, sharply.
The company barely stayed afloat.
When David realised his health wouldnt let him carry on, he had no choice but to sell.
Sophie kept her jobher father persuaded the new owner not to dismiss her, though a translator was hardly needed now.
He agreed, but her pay was slashed.
James, idle and disheartened, grew despondent, especially after his father-in-laws funeral.
Emily and Daniel were in much the same state, needing support, so Sophie moved back in, leaving her husband to his thoughts:
“Either find a proper job and contribute, or were done!” she told him.
But then, Sophie discovered she was expecting.
Any woman might have rejoiced, but James delivered a blow she could scarcely believe.
“A
