**A Daughter’s Happiness Comes First**
Elizabeth Margaret lives alone and endlessly complains to the neighbours about her ungrateful daughter, Emily, and granddaughter, Charlotte, who left her behind.
*”I devoted my life to them, and in return, the people closest to me—heartless, unfeeling—abandoned me without a second thought.”*
Elizabeth Margaret is still a strong older woman, quick to lament her family’s neglect. But she never mentions how Emily sends her money every month or how Charlotte has tried countless times to reconcile—only for Elizabeth to demand her granddaughter divorce her husband, Thomas, as a condition for peace. Each time, Charlotte sighs bitterly and walks away.
Charlotte has her own life now—married to Thomas, both university graduates with steady jobs. They live with his mother but plan to buy a flat with a mortgage, especially now that they’re expecting a baby.
How she ended up with Thomas was a saga in itself, one tangled in Elizabeth Margaret’s stubbornness. One evening, Charlotte rushed home, beaming as she burst through the door.
*”Mum, Gran, Thomas and I are getting married!”*—She was only nineteen, her whole life ahead, her heart brimming with joy. She laughed, light and carefree.
Her grandmother slowly lifted her eyes, as if disbelieving. Emily just bowed her head and stayed silent. Charlotte frowned. *”Mum? Gran? Did you hear me? I’m getting married!”*
*”Absolutely not,”* Elizabeth Margaret snapped. *”Over my dead body.”* Just like that, Charlotte’s happiness shattered.
*”What do you mean? What’s wrong? Mum!”* She paused, confused. *”I thought you’d be happy for me!”*
*”Are you pregnant?”* Her grandmother’s voice was sharp.
*”What? No!”* Charlotte recoiled. *”Since when does getting married mean I must be pregnant?”*
Emily still wouldn’t look at her.
*”Good,”* Elizabeth Margaret huffed. *”Then forget this nonsense until after university. Sit down for dinner.”*
*”I’m not hungry,”* Charlotte muttered, hurt. *”Thomas and I had pizza.”*
She had rushed home, eager to share her joy—only to be met with silence and suspicion. *”Mum, why won’t you say anything?”*
Emily finally stirred, glancing between her mother and daughter before sighing. *”Darling, Gran’s right. Marriage can wait. Finish your degree first. And really, who marries so young these days?”*
Charlotte stiffened. *”I don’t care what’s fashionable. We love each other. We’ll finish uni. But I *am* marrying him.”*
Elizabeth Margaret scoffed, turning on Emily. *”Look at this! The apple doesn’t fall far. Just like you—ready to throw yourself at some penniless boy.”*
Charlotte froze. She’d never known her father—only the story that he had abandoned Emily upon learning of the pregnancy. But now…
*”Gran, was Mum going to marry my father? And you stopped her?”*
Elizabeth Margaret sneered. *”Marry him? Some broke student with three younger siblings? Of course I stopped her.”*
Emily spoke softly, almost defiant. *”He’s not broke now. He’s got his own business. We… we’ve been talking. He found me online.”*
Charlotte gaped. *”You always said he left you! You lied?”*
Mother and grandmother exchanged glances. Elizabeth Margaret scoffed. *”I stopped her—for her own good. My life went to waste. I wanted better for her.”*
Charlotte turned to Emily, heartbroken. *”Mum… why didn’t you fight for him?”*
*”Fight who?”* Elizabeth Margaret cut in. *”Me? Pointless. I gave her a choice—him or me.”*
Charlotte stood frozen, torn between disbelief and fury.
*”Gran, I don’t care what you say.”* Her voice was steel. *”I *am* marrying Thomas. And *you* don’t get a say.”*
Elizabeth Margaret scoffed. *”We’ll see about that.”*
But then Emily did something unexpected. She looked at Charlotte—really looked—and smiled. *”Marry him, darling. Be happy. This is *your* choice, not hers. Don’t make my mistakes.”*
Elizabeth Margaret exploded. *”How dare you!”*
But Emily stood firm. *”No. You won’t ruin her life like you did mine.”*
Charlotte married Thomas. Elizabeth Margaret refused to attend—and Charlotte didn’t care.
*”Good riddance,”* she told Thomas. *”She’d only spoil the day.”*
Emily was overjoyed, thinking—*At least Charlotte stood up to her. I never could.* Then she dropped her own bombshell.
*”Your father proposed. I’m moving in with him.”*
Charlotte hugged her. *”Go! Don’t waste this chance.”*
Her father, William, welcomed her warmly—even helped with their mortgage deposit. Emily left, remarried, and finally tasted happiness.
As for Elizabeth Margaret? She sat alone, fuming, while her family moved on without her.
