The Key to a Successful and Happy Marriage

Oh, Ive got this story to tell youits all about marrying well, you know? A wealthy husband means a happy life, or so they say.

Emily was her parents only daughter. Her dad was protective, her mum spoiled her rotten, and she never missed a chance to drill it into her:

“Darling, the most important thing is to marry well. A man with moneythats the key to happiness.” And Emily would just nod along.

But where was this wealthy man, anyway? At university, there were decent enough lads, sure. Shed even had a fiancé from a good family.

But her father kept a tight leashno late-night outings, no student parties, no trips to the countryside. Everything was under control.

Before long, her enviable fiancé found himself another girlsomeone more free-spirited and interesting than Emily.

Then came her dissertation defense, and love took a backseat.

After that, her dad helped her land a job, and her mum stepped in to sort out her love life.

Her mum knew what she was doing. An only daughter *had* to marry well, and soon enough, a suitor appearedthe nephew of one of her good friends.

“Emily, love, you ought to take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats a good thing, not a bad one. Why would you want some boy? Think about it. Oliver Grayson is a serious man. He has his own business. You wont even need to work.”

“But hes been married before, Mum! Hes got a daughterthat means alimony.”

“Dont let that bother you. His ex-wife was a bit dim, and she and the daughter live in another city now. Its not a problem.”

So, they met. Emilys father stayed silent, as he always did when it came to “womens business” after shed graduated.

Let them sort it out themselves.

Surprisingly, Emily liked Oliver.

The ten-year age gap didnt faze her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade.

Well-dressed, charming, impeccable manners.

She made an impression on him too, and soon enough, they were married.

Her mum breathed a sigh of reliefmission accomplishedand threw herself into her own life. Salons, shopping, trips abroad with her husband, now without Emily in tow

And Emily, following her mothers example, didnt hold back either.

Her husband encouraged her little luxuries, so she lived for her own pleasure.

As for housework? She just gave instructions to the cleaner, who managed perfectly well without her input.

Then, out of nowherelightning from a clear skyOlivers ex-wife passed away. Under what circumstances, Emily didnt ask.

And suddenly, he had to take in his daughter!

Unthinkable. So much for “not a problem.” What was she supposed to do now? Shed been putting off having her own child indefinitely, and now this girl was moving in, expecting Emily to play “stepmum,” as Oliver called it.

But she had no choice.

He didnt bother asking her opinionjust laid down the facts and asked her to be kind.

The girl wasnt to blame, after all.

Soon, he fetched her himselfa scruffy little suitcase and a school backpack in tow.

Sophie was already in Year 4. Tall, quiet, barely said a word, Emily noted.

You wouldnt get a peep out of her. Everything done in silence, everything under the radar.

At least she looked like her father. Definitely his child, not some stray from that dim ex-wife.

Life in the big housewith her dad, stepmum, and the housekeeperweighed on Sophie.

She wasnt used to this!

After dinner, shed rush to wash the dishes, ask where the broom was to sweep, try to iron her own clothes. It drove Emily mad.

Her father, wrapped up in work, came home late, never with enough time for affection.

He lavished it on his wife, but Sophie got, at best, a pat on the head and a quick, “Hows school?”

Emily felt trapped nowshe couldnt just leave the house whenever she wanted, visit her favourite spots, or take care of herself.

She couldnt dash off to the gym first thing! She needed her sleep, her time scrolling through social media.

Then Sophie would come home, and there was no escaping that eitherOliver asked her to keep an eye on the girls schoolwork, help with homework.

So Emily wonderedwhy not suggest sending the girl off to some nice boarding school?

But she didnt dare. Instead, she proposed after-school care:

“Look, its hard for me to keep up with her schoolwork. Im not a teacher. And shes getting Cs now. At school, she does her work properly. Its for her own good.”

Oliver was furious. Emily instantly regretted opening her mouth.

And so it dragged onloveless, full of resentment, irritation.

Two years later, Emily had a son. The question of a nanny came up, but Sophie, nearly twelve now, volunteered to help look after her brother.

And honestly? You couldnt find a better nanny.

Sophie managed everythinghomework, playing with Daniel, ironing his clothes and hers.

Then the bedding became her responsibility toothe housekeeper, Nelly, was past sixty and starting to slow down.

Emily adjusted. Got used to Sophie picking up Nellys slack while she still had enough time to keep up appearancesessential for a society lady.

Daniel grew up adoring his big sister.

By the time Sophie finished school, Daniel was starting Year 1. Again, the burden of his education fell on her shouldersgrown beyond her years.

She started university, studied English, and taught her brother.

“Dont you think, darling, youve left all the housework and Daniels care to Sophie?” Oliver asked once. Emily was rarely home these dayslunches out, evenings with friends, cafes, social events.

“Whats the problem, exactly? Your daughter handles everything beautifully. Nelly barely lifts a finger these dayscooks, and thats it.”

“Thats my point. The rest is all on Sophie, isnt it?”

Emily stayed silent.

Yes, it was all on Sophie. But did the girl complain? And Danielshe took him out sometimes. Last week, an exhibition. The museum, a childrens concert. Wasnt that enough?

When Sophie graduated, her father brought her into the family business.

It had long outgrown the local market, and they needed an in-house translator.

There, she met Jamesa sharp lad from sales.

Love struck right under her fathers bewildered gaze.

He never thought his quiet, reserved daughter would dare a workplace romance. It upset him at first.

But Sophie stood her groundthey were getting married. For the first time in her life, she insisted. He had to give in.

Emily was just as upset. She was losing her household help, and Nelly had warned shed be retiring soon. Age. And Oliver wasnt rushing to replace her.

Sophie stepped in again:

“Ill still help, Mum,” she said cheerfully. “Ill come once a week, do the cleaning, the ironing. Its what Ive always done.”

“Once a week? Make it more,” her stepmother grumbled.

Still, after a lavish wedding, Sophie moved in with her husband and started her own life.

And James settled in comfortably.

First, he talked about starting his own business.

Quit his job, parked himself at the computer.

But it went nowhere. Starting from scratch wasnt easy.

His father-in-law, furious at the recklessness, refused to helpthough he did give Sophie a generous raise.

Unused to spending on herself, she poured it all into their household budget, even slipping some to her now-grown brother now and then.

The rest barely stretched.

Turned out, James flat was mortgaged. He liked nice clothes, eating out, holidaysall of which he was all for.

And Sophie? She juggled the housework, the finances, still helped her mum. Just how things were.

But soon, everything changed.

Olivers health took a turn, and overseas business partners pulled out.

Everything nosedivedhard.

The company was barely staying afloat.

When Oliver realised his health wouldnt let him keep it going, he had no choice but to sell.

Sophie stayed onher father convinced the new owner not to let her go, though a translator was barely needed now.

He agreed, but her salary was slashed.

James, jobless, spiralledespecially after his father-in-laws funeral.

Emily and Daniel werent much better off. They needed support, so Sophie moved back in, leaving her husband to stew:

“Either find a proper job and contribute, or were done,” she told him.

But thenshe found out she was pregnant.