Oh, let me tell you this storyits all about finding the right match, you know? A wealthy husband means a happy life, or so they say.
Emily was the only daughter in her family. Her father was protective, and her mother doted on her, always repeating the same thing:
“The most important thing is to marry well. A well-off man means a happy life.” And Emily followed her advice.
But where was this wealthy man? At university, there were decent lads, sure. She even had a fiancé from a good family. But her father kept a tight leashno late-night outings, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was under control.
Soon enough, her fiancé found himself a more free-spirited and interesting girl than Emily.
Then came her dissertation defense, and love took a backseat.
After that, she landed a job with her dads help and sorted out her personal life with her mums guidance. Her mother knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry well, and soon enough, a suitor appearedthe nephew of a good friend.
“Emily, you should take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats a plus, not a minus. Why bother with a boy? Think about it. Oliver is a serious manhas his own business. You wont even need to work.”
“But hes been married before, Mum! He has a daughterthat means child support.”
“Dont let that bother you. His ex-wife was hopeless, and she lives in another city with the girl. Its not an issue.”
So, they met. Emilys father stayed silent. He stayed out of womens business once she graduated.
Let them sort it out.
Surprisingly, Emily liked Oliver. A ten-year age gap didnt faze her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade. Well-dressed, mannered, polished.
She made an impression too, and they married.
Her mother sighed in relief, her duty done, and threw herself into salons, shopping, and holidays with her husbandnow without Emily in tow.
Emily, meanwhile, followed her example. Her husband indulged her, so she lived for herself. Household duties? Just giving instructions to the housekeeper, who managed fine without her.
Then, out of nowheredisaster struck.
Olivers ex-wife passed away. Emily didnt ask why. And now, he had to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for “not a problem”! What now? Shed put off having her own child indefinitely, and suddenly, a little girl would be in her home, expecting her to be a “second mum,” as Oliver put it.
No choice, though. He didnt ask her opinionjust announced it and asked for kindness. The girl wasnt to blame.
Soon, he fetched his daughterSophie, a quiet, serious third-grader with a shabby suitcase and a schoolbag.
She never spoke much, just went about things quietly. At least she looked like Oliverclearly his, not some stray from his ex.
Life in the big house with her dad, stepmum, and the housekeeper weighed on Sophie. She wasnt used to this!
After dinner, shed rush to wash dishes, ask for the broom to sweep, iron her own clothesall of which irritated Emily.
Her father, buried in work, came home late, too busy to show affection. His wife got all the attention; Sophie got a pat on the head and a “Hows school?”
Emily felt trapped. No more spontaneous outings, no time for herself.
She couldnt just dash to the gym at dawnshe needed sleep, scrolling online, lounging.
Then Sophie came home, and Oliver asked Emily to help with her schoolwork.
So, she consideredwhy not send the girl to a boarding school?
But she chickened out. Instead, she suggested extended school hours.
“Its hard for me to help with her homeworkIm not a teacher. Look, her grades are slipping. At school, shell focus better. Its for her own good.”
Oliver was furious. Emily regretted bringing it up.
And so it wentloveless, resentful, strained.
Two years later, Emily had a son, Daniel. They needed a nanny, but Sophie, now almost twelve, offered to help.
And she was brillianthomework, playing with Daniel, ironing, even bedding, as the housekeeper, Nancy, was getting older.
Emily adjusted, letting Sophie handle things while she kept up her socialite charm.
Daniel grew up adoring his sister.
When Sophie finished school, Daniel was starting Year 1. Again, she took chargehomework, teaching him.
She went to uni, studied English, and tutored him.
“Darling, dont you think youve left all the childcare and household duties to Sophie?” Oliver asked once, as Emily was rarely home afternoons or evenings.
She had friends, social events, cafés.
“Whats the problem, love? Sophie handles everything perfectly. Nancy barely lifts a fingerjust cooks. Thats it.”
“Exactly. The rest is all on Sophie, isnt it?”
Emily stayed quiet.
Yes, it was. But did Sophie complain? And she took Daniel out sometimesa museum, a concert. Wasnt that enough?
When Sophie graduated, Oliver hired her at his firm. His business had expanded internationally, and they needed a translator.
There, she met James, a sharp lad from sales.
Love struck right under her fathers surprised eyes. He never imagined his quiet daughter would have an office romance. It upset him at first.
But Sophie insisted theyd marrythe first time she stood her ground. He had to relent.
Emily was just as upset. Shed lose her household help. Nancy was retiring, and Oliver wasnt rushing to hire a replacement.
Sophie stepped in: “Ill still help, Mum. Ill come once a weekclean, iron. Ive always done it.”
“Once a week? More often,” Emily grumbled.
Still, Sophie moved in with James after a grand wedding.
But James slacked off. First, he talked about starting his own business. Quit his job, sat at his laptop.
It went nowhere. Starting from scratch was hard.
His father-in-law, furious at his recklessness, refused to helpthough he did give Sophie a raise.
Unused to spending on herself, she put all her money into their budget, even slipping some to her now-grown brother.
James flat was mortgaged, he liked nice clothes and meals, restaurants, trips.
Sophie juggled it allhousehold, finances, still helping her mum.
Then, another blow.
Olivers health faltered, and foreign partners pulled out. Business plummeted.
When he realized he couldnt keep it afloat, he sold it.
Sophie stayed onOliver convinced the new owner not to fire her, though a translator was barely needed. Her pay dropped drastically.
James, jobless, grew despondent, especially after Olivers funeral.
Emily and Daniel struggled too, needing support. Sophie moved back in, leaving James with an ultimatum:
“Either find a proper job and contribute, or were done!”
Then, she found out she was pregnant.
She mightve been happy, but James snapped:
“A baby? Be serious! No job, no money. Your dad went bankruptnow you want to raise a child in poverty?”
Sophie was stunned.
She filed for divorce, no hesitation. Love for that layabout had died long ago.
She moved in with Emily and Daniel, who was bright and kind, doing well in school.
Financially, it was tough. Oliver hadnt left Emily penniless, but she spent sparinglyexcept on herself.
Sophie ran the household, the sole breadwinner.
When her baby arrived, something changed in Emily.
A young grandma, she perked right up! Doted on the baby, learned everythingthough shed had little experience. Sophie was amazed.
Emily even had an admirer now, clearly happy. That warmth spilled over to the baby.
A year later, Emily married her sweetheart and moved in with Daniel.
Sophie stayed in her fathers house, working remotely as a translator.
Emily and her new husband helped with groceries and sometimes took little Katie for weekends.
Daniel visited Sophie thenstill calling her the best sister ever.
“Sort your life out, Soph,” 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 went on. No big troubleseach happy in their way.
Even Sophie, who loved her family but secretly dreamed of her own happiness, her true love.
And soon enough, she found it.
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