**A Diary Entry**
The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life.
Emily was her parents only daughter. Her father shielded her, her mother spoiled her, and she never tired of repeating the same advice:
“The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life,” she would say, and Emily always agreed.
But where was this wealthy man? There were decent lads at university, of course. She even had a fiancé from a good family. But her father kept a strict watchno late-night outings, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was under control.
Soon enough, her enviable fiancé found another girl, freer and more interesting than Emily.
Then came her dissertation defence, leaving no room for romance. After that, she secured a job with her fathers help and arranged her personal life with her mothers guidance.
Her mother knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry well, and soon, a suitor appearedthe nephew of a close friend.
“Emily, darling, you must consider this man carefully. Hes older than you, but thats a strength, not a flaw. Why settle for a boy? Think about it. William is a serious man, owns his own firm. You wont even need to work.”
“But hes been married before, Mum! He has a daughterthat means alimony.”
“Dont let that trouble you. His ex-wife was a fool, and she lives in another city with the girl. Its no issue.”
And so, they met. Emilys father stayed silent, having long since left “womens matters” to them after she graduated.
Strangely, Emily liked William. The ten-year age gap didnt bother her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in thirty yearswell-dressed, polished, charming. She impressed him too, and they married.
Her mother sighed in relief, having fulfilled her duty, and devoted herself to salons, shopping, and holidays with her husbandnow without Emily.
Emulating her mothers example, Emily indulged in lifes pleasures. Her husband encouraged her whims, and she relished it. The only household duty she had was instructing the maid, who managed fine without her.
Then, out of nowhere, disaster struck.
Williams ex-wife died. Emily didnt ask how. And now, he had to take in his daughter!
Unthinkable. So much for “no issue”! What was she supposed to do? She had postponed motherhood indefinitely, and suddenly, some girl would invade her home, demanding she play “stepmum,” as William called it. But she had no choice.
Her husband didnt ask her opinionhe simply announced it and asked for kindness. The girl wasnt to blame.
Soon, he fetched his daughterSophie, quiet and solemn, with a shabby suitcase and schoolbag.
She was tall for her age, reserved, hardly speaking a word. At least she resembled Williamproof she was his and not some stray child.
Life in the big housewith her father, stepmother, and the maidoverwhelmed Sophie. She wasnt used to it. After dinner, shed rush to wash dishes, ask for a broom to sweep, iron her own clothes. It irritated Emily.
Her father, buried in work, came home late, sparing little affection for Sophiejust a pat on the head and a fleeting, “Hows school?”
Emily felt trapped. She couldnt come and go as she pleased, visit her favourite spots, or rest properly.
Then Sophie came home, and there was no escapeWilliam expected her to oversee homework.
Frustrated, Emily considered suggesting boarding school but didnt dare. Instead, she proposed extended school hours.
“I cant help with her studiesIm no teacher. Look, shes getting Cs. At school, shed focus better. Its for her own good.”
William was furious, and Emily regretted speaking up.
So it dragged onhollow relations, resentment, irritation.
Two years later, Emily had a son. A nanny was needed, but Sophie, now nearly twelve, volunteered.
And she was perfectbalancing school, playing with Daniel, ironing, even taking over the linens when the ageing maid, Nancy, grew weary.
Emily adjusted, letting Sophie handle things while she maintained her glamour. Daniel adored his sister.
When Sophie graduated, she joined her fathers firm as a translator. There, she met James from sales.
Love bloomed under her startled fathers nose.
He never imagined his quiet daughter would have an office romance. It troubled him, but Sophie insisted they marry.
Emily was equally dismayedshe was losing her helper. Nancy planned to retire, and William delayed hiring a replacement.
Sophie promised to visit weekly to clean and iron.
“Not weeklymore often,” snapped Emily.
After a lavish wedding, Sophie moved in with James, who soon quit his job to start a business.
It failed.
Her father, disgusted by James recklessness, refused to help, though he raised Sophies salary.
Unused to spending on herself, Sophie poured her earnings into their strained household, even slipping money to Daniel.
James flat was mortgaged, and he loved dining out and holidays. Sophie juggled finances, chores, and helping her stepmother.
Then, everything collapsed.
Williams health declined, foreign partners withdrew, and the firm barely survived.
Forced to sell, he secured Sophies jobthough her reduced salary barely helped.
James, crushed after Williams death, gave up entirely.
Emily and Daniel struggled too. William had left savings, but she spent frugallyon herself, not them.
Sophie moved back, issuing James an ultimatum: “Find work or we divorce.”
Then she discovered she was pregnant.
James was livid. “What child? Weve no money! Your father left you nothing, and now you want to raise paupers?”
Sophie filed for divorce.
She lived with Emily and Daniel, who adored her. But finances were tight.
Then, something changed.
Emilys coldness thawed. She doted on her granddaughter, learning to care for babies despite her inexperience.
Her happiness was obviousshe had a suitor now.
A year later, Emily remarried and moved in with Daniel. Sophie stayed in her fathers house, working remotely.
Emily and her new husband helped with groceries and took little Katie on weekends.
Daniel visited Sophie instead, teasing her:
“Find a husband! My gym teachers singleshall I introduce you?”
Shed laugh and ruffle his hair.
Life moved on. No great tragedies, each happy in their own way.
Even Sophie, who loved her family but secretly dreamed of real loveuntil, very soon, she found it.
