The Key to a Successful Marriage: How to Make a Perfect Match

The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life.

Emily was her parents’ only daughter. Her father kept a watchful eye on her, while her mother spoiled her and never missed an opportunity to repeat the same words:

The most important thing is to marry well. A wealthy husband means a happy life, she would lecture, and Emily would nod in agreement.

But where could she find such a man? There were decent boys at university, of course. Shed even had a fiancé from a good family.

But her father kept strict controlno late-night walks, no student gatherings, no countryside trips. Everything was monitored.

Soon enough, her enviable fiancé found himself a more interesting and carefree girl than Emily.

Then came her dissertation defense, leaving no time for romance.

After that, a job secured with her fathers help and a personal life arranged by her mothers connections.

Her mother knew what she was doing. An only daughter must marry well, and soon enough, a suitor appearedthe nephew of one of her mothers close friends.

Emily, darling, you should take a closer look at this man. Hes older than you, but thats an advantage, not a drawback. Why settle for a boy when you can have a proper gentleman? Oliver Pembroke is serious, established. He owns his own firm. You wont even need to work.

But hes been married before, Mum! He has a daughterchild support and all that.

Dont let that trouble you. His ex-wife was hopeless, and she and the girl live far away now. Its not an issue.

The meeting was arranged. Emilys father remained silent, keeping out of womens business ever since shed graduated.

Let them sort it out themselves.

Surprisingly, Emily liked Oliver Pembroke.

The ten-year age gap didnt bother her. With his looks, hed still be handsome in another decade. Distinguished, well-mannered, impeccably dressed.

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

Her mother sighed with relief, duty done, and devoted herself fully to her own lifesalons, shopping, trips abroad with her husband, now without Emily in tow.

Emily, following her mothers example, didnt lag behind.

Her husband encouraged her whims and needs, so she lived for her own pleasure.

Household duties amounted to nothing more than giving instructions to the housekeeper, who managed just fine without them.

The thunderbolt struck so unexpectedly, Emily barely had time to process it.

Olivers ex-wife had diedEmily didnt ask howand he had no choice but to take in his daughter!

Unthinkable. So much for “not an issue.” What now? Shed postponed having children indefinitely, and suddenly she was meant to become a “second mother,” as Oliver called it, to some strange girl.

But there was no choice.

Her husband didnt ask for her opinionhe simply announced it and asked her to be kind.

The girl wasnt to blame, after all.

Soon, he fetched his daughter himself, bringing her home with a shabby suitcase and a school backpack.

Mary was in Year 4, tall, quiet, almost eerily silent, Emily noted.

She never spoke unless spoken to, everything done meekly, wordlessly.

At least she looked like her fatherthere was no doubting she was his, not some other mans mistake.

Life in the grand house with her father, stepmother, and housekeeper weighed heavily on Mary.

She wasnt used to this!

After dinner, shed rush to wash dishes, ask where the broom was to sweep, attempt to iron her own clothes. It all irritated Emily.

Her father, buried in work and business, came home late, too busy for affection.

He spared none for his wife, but Mary got little more than a pat on the head and a half-hearted,

How was school?

Still, Emily felt restrictedshe couldnt come and go as she pleased, visit her favourite spots, take time for herself.

She couldnt dash off to the gym at dawn!

She needed her sleep, her time scrolling through social media.

Then Mary would return, and there was no escapingOliver asked her to oversee the girls studies.

So Emily considered suggesting they send the girl to boarding school.

She didnt dare, but she proposed after-school care instead.

You see, Im no teacher. Its hard helping with her schoolwork. Look, shes getting threes. At school, shell do better. Its for her own good.

But Oliver was furious, and Emily regretted speaking up.

And so it dragged ona joyless marriage, resentment, frustration.

Two years later, Emily had a son. The question of a nanny arose, but Mary, nearly twelve, volunteered to help.

And indeed, no better nanny could be found!

Mary managed everythinghomework, playing with Daniel, ironing clothes for them both.

Then the bedding became her responsibility too, as the ageing housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, grew tired.

Emily accepted it, grew accustomed to Mary picking up the slack, while she devoted herself to maintaining the poise expected of a society lady.

Daniel grew up adoring his older sister.

When Mary finished school, Daniel was starting Year 1. Once again, his education fell to his sister, mature beyond her years.

Shed begun university, studying English, and taught her brother in turn.

Dont you think, darling, youve left all the household and parenting duties to Mary? Oliver asked one day, noticing his wife was rarely home afternoonssometimes evenings.

Shed found a new social circle, events, cafés.

What exactly bothers you, darling? Your daughter handles everything beautifully. Mrs. Norris barely lifts a fingershe cooks, and thats it.

Thats my point. The rest is all on Mary, isnt it?

Emily stayed silent.

Yes, it was. But did the girl complain? And Daniel sometimes went out with herlast week, she took him to an exhibition, the museum, a childrens concert. Wasnt that enough?

When Mary graduated, her father hired her at his firm.

The business had long expanded beyond domestic markets, and a translator was just what they needed.

There, she met James, a sharp lad from sales.

Love blossomed right under her startled fathers nose.

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

But Mary stood firmthey would marry. For the first time, she insisted, and he relented.

Emily was just as dismayedshe was losing her household helper, and Mrs. Norris had announced her retirement. Oliver was in no hurry to replace her.

Mary took initiative again:

Ill help, Mum, she said cheerfully. Ill come once a week, clean, iron. Ive always done it.

Once a week isnt enough. More often, Emily replied sourly.

Still, Mary moved in with James after a lavish wedding, settling into married life.

And James relaxed.

First, he talked of starting his own business.

He quit his job and buried himself in his laptop.

But nothing came of it. Starting from scratch wasnt easy.

His father-in-law, furious at his recklessness, refused to help, though he did raise Marys salary.

Unused to spending on herself, she poured all her earnings into the household, even slipping spare cash to her grown-up little brother now and then.

On the rest, she scraped by, barely keeping herself and James afloat.

James flat, it turned out, was mortgaged. He liked fine clothes, dining out, holidays abroadall of which he enthusiastically approved.

And Mary? She juggled the housework, the finances, still helping her mother. It was just how things were.

Then came the upheaval.

Olivers health faltered, and foreign partners withdrew from the business.

Everything plummeted, drastically.

The firm barely stayed afloat.

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

Mary kept her jobthe new owner agreed not to dismiss her, though a translator was hardly needed now.

Her wages, however, dropped sharply.

James, jobless, grew despondent, especially after Olivers funeral.

Emily and Daniel needed support, so Mary moved back in, leaving James to his thoughts:

Either find proper work and contribute, or were through!

But then Mary discovered she was expecting.

She might have rejoiced despite everything, had James not said something that left her speechless.

A baby? Be serious! No job, no money. Your father left you nothingyou want to raise a child in poverty?

Mary sank onto a chair, stunned.

She filed for divorce at once, waiting no longer for his conscience to wake.

Whatever love shed had for that layabout was long gone.

She lived with her stepmother and brother, who did well in school, bright and good-natured.

Financially, though, things were tight