In a moment of sheer desperation, she agreed to marry the wealthy mans son who couldnt walk and a month later, she noticed something peculiar.
“You must be joking,” Emily said, gaping at William Harrington with wide eyes.
He shook his head. “Not at all. But take your time to think it over. Its hardly a conventional proposal. I can guess whats running through your mind. Weigh it carefullyIll return in a week.”
Emma watched him leave, utterly bewildered. The words hed just spoken refused to settle in her mind.
Shed known William for three years. He owned a chain of petrol stations and a handful of other businesses. Emma worked part-time as a cleaner at one of them. He was always decent to his staff, warm and polite. By all accounts, a good man.
The pay was fair, so there was never a shortage of applicants. About two months earlier, after finishing her shift, Emma had been sitting outsideher workday nearly done, a rare moment to breathe.
Suddenly, the service door swung open, and William appeared. “Mind if I join you?”
Emma leapt up. “Of coursewhy even ask?”
“Why the fuss? Sit down, I dont bite. Lovely day, isnt it?”
She smiled and sat again. “Spring always feels like a gift after winter.”
“Because everyones sick of the cold and gloom,” he chuckled.
“Suppose youre right.”
“Ive been meaning to askwhy stick with cleaning? Margaret offered to move you to the till, didnt she? Better pay, easier hours.”
“Id love to, but the shifts dont work. My daughters young and poorly. When shes well, the neighbour watches her, but when shes ill, I have to be there. Margaret and I swap when needed. Shes been a gem.”
“I see Whats wrong with the little one?”
“Oh, dont ask. The doctors cant pin it down. She has these fitsstruggles to breathe, panics, the lot. Proper tests are private, and they say we should wait, that she might grow out of it. But how can I just wait?”
“Keep your chin up. Itll sort itself out.”
Emma thanked him. That evening, she found out William had quietly issued her a bonusno explanation, just handed over the extra cash.
She didnt see him again until today, when he turned up at her flat. Her heart nearly stopped when she spotted him. And when she heard his proposal? It got worse.
William had a sonOliver, nearly thirty. Seven of those years hed spent in a wheelchair after an accident. The doctors did their best, but he never walked again. Depression, withdrawal, barely speakingnot even to his father.
So William hatched a plan: marry his son off. Properly. To give him a reason to live, to fight. He wasnt sure it would work, but he had to try. And Emma? She seemed perfect for the role.
“Emma, youll want for nothing. Your daughter will get every test, every treatment. Im offering a one-year contract. After that, you leaveno matter what. If Oliver improvesbrilliant. If notyoull be generously compensated.”
Emma was speechlessoutrage choked her.
As if reading her mind, William said quietly, “Emma, please, help me. Its mutually beneficial. I doubt Oliver will even touch you. And life will be easieryoull be respected, legally married. Think of it as a marriage of convenience. Just one thing: not a word to anyone about this.”
“Wait, William Does Oliver even agree?”
The man sighed. “He says he doesnt care. Ill tell him Ive got problemsbusiness, health The important thing is hes married. Properly. Hes always trusted me. So this is a white lie for a good cause.”
William left, and Emma sat numb for ages. Fury bubbled inside her. But his blunt honesty took some of the sting out of it.
And if she really thought about it What wouldnt she do for little Sophie?
Anything.
And him? He was a father too. He loved his son just as fiercely.
Her shift hadnt even ended when her phone rang. “Emma, quick! Sophies having a bad one!”
“Im coming! Call an ambulance!”
She arrived just as the paramedics pulled up. “Where were you, Mum?” the doctor asked sternly.
“At work”
This episode was severe.
“Should we go to hospital?” Emma asked weakly.
The doctor, new to them, waved a tired hand. “Whats the point? They wont help. Just scare the poor thing. You need a proper specialistLondon, perhaps.”
Forty minutes later, the ambulance left.
Emma picked up the phone and dialled William.
“Im in. Sophie just had another episode.”
The next day, they left.
William himself came for themwith a clean-shaven young man in tow.
“Emma, just bring the essentials. Well get the rest.”
She nodded.
Sophie eyed the car with fascinationbig, gleaming.
William crouched in front of her. “Like it?”
“Love it!”
“Want to sit up front? See everything?”
“Can I? Please!” The girl glanced at her mother.
“If the police spot us, well get fined,” Emma said firmly.
William laughed and swung the door open. “Hop in, Sophie! And if anyone tries to fine uswell fine them back!”
The closer they got to the house, the more Emmas nerves frayed.
“God, why did I agree? What if hes odd, aggressive?”
William noticed her tension.
“Emma, relax. The weddings not for a week. You can back out anytime. And Olivers a good lad, clever, just broken inside. Youll see.”
Emma stepped out, helped Sophie down, and froze, staring at the house. It wasnt a houseit was a proper manor. Sophie squealed with delight:
“Mum, are we living in a fairy tale now?!”
William laughed, scooping her up. “Do you like it?”
“Love it!”
In the days before the wedding, Emma and Oliver met only a handful of timesat dinner. He barely ate, barely spoke. Just sat there, distant. Emma studied him. Handsome, though pale, like he hadnt seen sunlight in years. She sensed he carried pain, just like her. And she was grateful he never mentioned the wedding.
On the big day, it felt like half of Surrey was fussing over Emma. The dress arrived the night before. When she saw it, she sank into a chair.
“How much did this cost?”
William smiled. “Best not to ask. Herelook at this.”
He pulled out a tiny replica of the wedding dress.
“Sophie, fancy trying it on?”
Her shriek nearly shattered their eardrums. Then the fittingthe little princess paraded around, beaming.
Emma turned and spotted Oliver in the doorway, watching Sophie. In his eyesthe ghost of a smile.
Sophie now slept in the room next to theirs. Their bedroom. Not long ago, Emma couldnt have imagined this.
William suggested a honeymoon at their country estate, but Oliver shook his head.
“Thanks, Dad. Well stay put.”
The bed was enormous. Oliver kept his distance, made no advances. And Emma, whod planned to stay alert all night, surprised herself by falling straight asleep.
A week passed. They began talking in the evenings. Oliver was sharp, witty, well-read. He didnt push for closeness. Slowly, Emma relaxed.
One night, she jolted awakeher heart racing.
“Somethings wrong”
She dashed to Sophies room. Just as she fearedher daughter was mid-episode.
“Oliver, help! Call an ambulance!”
He was at the door in seconds, phone in hand. Moments later, a bleary-eyed William rushed in.
“Ill ring Dr. Bennett myself.”
The ambulance arrived swiftlysmartly dressed medics, top-notch kit. Then the family doctor turned up. They conferred after the episode passed. Emma sat with Sophie. Oliver stayed close, holding her hand.
“Emily,” he murmured, “has she always had these?”
“Yes So many hospitals, so many tests. Nothing helped. Thats why her father walked outdidnt want the hassle.”
“Did you love him?”
“Once, maybe. Feels like a lifetime ago.”
“So you agreed to Dads scheme”
Emma raised an eyebrow.
Oliver smiled. “Dad thinks Im clueless. But Ive always read him like a book. I dreaded who hed pick. Then I saw youand was stunned. Youre not the type to do this for money. Now it all makes sense.”
He met her gaze. “Dont cry. Well fix Sophie. Shes tough. She hasnt brokenun
