From a young age, Emily knew she was prettyeveryone said so.
«Our daughters a proper little stunner, stands out from the other girls,» her mum would gush to friends and colleagues. And truth be told, they all agreed. Though the neighbour did mutter once, «All kids are cute, but not all grow up to be lookers.»
Emily grew tall and striking by sixth form, but also a bit full of herself, knowing lads would trip over their feet to please her. After school, she didnt get into unino matter how much she fancied a degreeso she settled for college, earning a diploma in retail management.
«Love,» her mum said, «why not work at the factory lab with me? Its easy, no heavy lifting, and youre too delicate for that trade nonsense.»
Emily took the job. By then, she was even lovelier, knew her worth, and fell hard for James, an engineer from the next department. Their romance burned fastwithin months, he proposed.
«Before someone nabs you, marry me?» he grinned.
«Yes!» she beamed.
Their wedding was typicala modest do at the factory canteen, packed with guests. Not long after, Emily found out she was pregnant.
«James, were having a baby,» she told him.
«Brilliant! Over the moon,» he said, hugging her.
Their daughter, Sophie, was bornjust as pretty, taking after her mum. Life seemed perfect.
But after maternity leave, Emily changed. Not in looks, but in attitudeshe acted like royalty, putting James down more each day. He quietly took over with Sophiepicking her up from nursery, reading bedtime stories, tucking her in. Emily? Always late from work, though James knew the lab never ran overtime. He bit his tongueshed scream the flat down if he dared question her.
«James, your wife was spotted with the head engineer at The Ivy,» colleagues murmured. Hed just stare at his shoes.
«Mate, whyd you marry a looker?» his mates ribbed. «Pretty cakes get shared, dont they?»
Everyone said itEmily moved in posh circles now, while he was just an ordinary bloke. Meanwhile, she was seeing Anthony, some bigwig from the ministry. He showered her with jewels, designer gear.
James became a shell. He did the cooking, cleaning, parentingEmily just barked orders. Divorce? He couldnt bear hurting Sophie.
Then the recession hit. Anthonys empire crumbled.
«Emily, if anyone asks about me, keep quiet,» he warned. «Doubt well meet again.»
Sure enough, he vanishedarrested. Emily got dragged in too, bawling, swearing she knew nothing. They let her go, but her reputation was mud. She came home feeling filthy, broke. James had sold half their savings to help her. She lost her job. He stayedfor Sophiebut they lived like strangers.
Once, he nearly left. Emily swallowed her pride, begging, «Dont go, Ill change!»
He stayed, but wouldnt touch her. «You slept with others.»
«It was for us!» she lied.
Soon, she was back at itthis time with a young assistant, Ethan, sneaking off to hotels. Money rolled in. James knew but said nothing.
«If you paid me attention, I wouldnt need him,» she snapped.
«You make my skin crawl,» he shot back.
Years passed. Sophie married, moved to Scotland. New Years Eve, Emily jetted to China. James went to Finland with mates. When they returned, he gapedshe looked decades younger.
«How much did that cost?»
She laughed hysterically. «Everything. Every penny.» No diamonds left, just a limp handbag. «Chinese magicacupuncture, massages. Worth every quid.»
She couldnt stop. But the money dried up, and James had a heart attack. He aged overnight.
«God, is that what Id look like?» Emily shuddered, checking her reflection.
«Stay with me,» hed whisper.
«Cant. Times money.»
Then, disaster. Ethan handed her a folder at the shop.
«Sign here.»
She scoffed. «No time for paperwork.»
«Read it. This is all mine now. Youre done.»
Lawyers confirmed itshed signed everything away.
«You shouldve read the fine print,» they said.
Defeated, she went home. «I need cash.»
«Weve got nothing,» James said.
«The flat, then.»
«No!»
«Well sell, buy something cheap. Youll get a computerlive online.»
She laughed. Emily was sure shed rise again, like a phoenix. She always did.
