The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life.
Emma was the only daughter of doting parents. Her father kept a watchful eye on her, while her mother spoiled herand never missed a chance to remind her:
The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life. Emma agreed wholeheartedly.
But where was this wealthy man? There were decent lads at her university, of course. Shed even had a fiancé from a good family. But her father kept her on a tight leashno late-night outings, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was strictly controlled.
Before long, her enviable fiancé found himself a more interesting, free-spirited girl.
Then came her dissertation defense, leaving little room for romance. Next, a cushy job arranged by Dad, and a love life carefully curated by Mum.
Mum knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry welland soon, a suitor appeared: the nephew of one of her mothers well-connected friends.
Emma, darling, you ought to take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats a plus, not a minus. Why waste time on boys? Think about it. Oliver Pembroke is a serious man. Runs his own business. Youll never have to lift a finger.
But hes been divorced, Mum! And he has a daughterchild support and all.
Dont fret over that. His ex-wife was hopeless, and she lives miles away with the girl. Its hardly an issue.
The introduction went smoothly. Emmas father stayed silent, having long since decided that after graduation, his daughters affairs were no longer his concern.
To everyones surprise, Emma rather liked Oliver. Ten years her senior? No matter. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade. Charming, well-mannered, impeccably dressed.
Oliver was equally smitten, and soon, they married.
Emmas mother sighed in relief, her maternal duty fulfilled, and threw herself into a life of salons, shopping, and holidays with her husbandnow without Emma in tow.
Emma, taking notes from her mother, embraced her new role with gusto. Oliver indulged her every whim, so she lived for her own pleasure. Household duties? Merely issuing instructions to the housekeeper, who managed perfectly fine without her.
Then, like a bolt from the blue, disaster struck.
Olivers ex-wife passed awayunder circumstances Emma didnt care to ask aboutand he was left with no choice but to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for hardly an issue! What now? Emma had postponed having her own child indefinitely, and now some girl was moving in, expecting her to play second mummy, as Oliver put it.
No choice. Oliver wasnt interested in her opinionjust presented the facts and asked for kindness. The poor girls done nothing wrong!
Soon, he fetched his daughter himself: a shy, quiet ten-year-old named Lily, with a battered suitcase and a school backpack.
Dinner in the grand house with her father, stepmother, and housekeeper overwhelmed Lily. She wasnt used to this! After meals, shed rush to wash dishes, ask for a broom to sweep, even iron her own clothesall of which grated on Emma.
Oliver, buried in work, came home late, his affection reserved mostly for his wife. Lily got, at best, a pat on the head and a perfunctory, Hows school?
Emma felt trapped. No more spontaneous outings, no leisurely mornings at the gym, no lazy scrolling through social media. Now there was Lily, andworseOliver expected her to oversee homework.
Emma considered suggesting boarding school but chickened out. Instead, she proposed extended after-school care:
Im no teacher, darling. Shes slippinggetting threes now. At school, shell focus better. Its for her own good.
Olivers fury made her regret opening her mouth.
So life dragged on: joyless, strained, irritating.
Two years later, Emma had a son. A nanny was discussed, but twelve-year-old Lily volunteered: Ill help with Danny. And help she didbetter than any nanny. Homework, playtime, ironingshe handled it all. Soon, even the linens fell to her, as the elderly housekeeper, Nelly, grew too tired.
Emma adjusted, content to let Lily pick up the slack while she maintained her socialite glamour. Danny adored his big sisterand so did Oliver.
When Lily finished school, Danny was starting Year 1. Again, his education landed on his sisters shoulders. She enrolled at university, studied English, and tutored him.
Darling, Oliver asked Emma one evening, as she spent less and less time at home, dont you think youve left everythingthe house, our sonto Lily?
Emma shrugged. She manages brilliantly. Nelly barely lifts a finger these days.
Exactly. Its all on Lily, isnt it?
Emma stayed silent.
After graduating, Lily joined Olivers firm as a translatorhandy, as the business had expanded overseas. There, she met James, a slick salesman.
Their office romance stunned Oliver. His quiet, reserved daughterrebelling?
But Lily stood firm: theyd marry. For once, she wouldnt back down. Oliver relented.
Emma was just as dismayed. Shed lose her unpaid housekeeperand Nelly had announced her retirement. Oliver showed no urgency in replacing her.
Lily, ever dutiful, promised, Ill still help, Mum. Ill come weekly, clean, iron
Weekly? More often, Emma snapped.
Still, after a lavish wedding, Lily moved in with Jameswho promptly quit his job to start a business. It flopped.
Oliver, furious at his son-in-laws idiocy, refused to bail him outthough he gave Lily a generous raise.
Unused to spending on herself, Lily poured her earnings into their household, even slipping pocket money to Danny. James, meanwhile, loved dining out, holidays, and designer clothesall while their flat was mortgaged to the hilt.
Then, crisis: Olivers health faltered, and overseas partners pulled out. The business nosedived.
Forced to sell, Oliver convinced the new owner to keep Lily onthough her role was now redundant. Her salary shrank to a pittance.
James, despondent after Olivers death, gave up entirely.
Emma and Danny struggled, too. Lily moved back in, leaving James an ultimatum: Find work or were done.
Thenanother shock. Lily was pregnant.
She mightve rejoiced, but Jamess reaction shattered her: A baby? Be serious! No job, no money. Your dad left you penniless, and now you want to raise a brat in poverty?
Lily filed for divorce. No love remained for that lazy, good-for-nothing leech.
She stayed with Emma and Danny, whothough sharp and kindwas still in school. Money was tight, though Oliver had left some savings. Emma spent frugallyexcept on herself.
Lily, now the breadwinner, kept the household running.
When her baby, Sophie, arrived, something shifted in Emma. The young grandmother brightened, doting on her granddaughter, learning baby care from scratch. Lily was stunnedespecially as Emma had a new admirer, clearly smitten.
A year later, Emma remarried and moved in with her new husband and Danny.
Lily and Sophie stayed in Olivers house. She worked remotely as a translator. Emma and her husband helped with groceries and babysat on weekendswhen Danny would visit, still adoring his sister.
Lily, hed say, blushing, you should date again. My PE teachers single, you know
Lily would laugh, ruffle his hair, and tease, Oh, pipe down!
Life rolled on. No major storms, each finding happiness in their own way.
Even Lily, who loved her family but secretly dreamed of finding real loveher true match. And very soon, she did
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