«Clear out the flatI’m getting married, and well be moving in here,» declared my husbands daughter from his first marriage.
«Emily, love, you forgot to sign your holiday request form. HR needs it by lunch,» chirped Sarah, her younger colleague.
Emily lifted her head from her computer and smiled. «Ta, Sarah. Ill pop down now.»
She set her work aside and headed to HR, daydreaming about her upcoming break. She fancied a seaside trip, but her husband, David, insisted on staying at their cottage. «Why waste money when weve got fresh air for free?» Eight years of marriage had taught her to pick her battles.
Back at her desk, she spotted several missed calls from David. Oddhe never rang during work hours. She called back.
«Em, can you come home early?» His voice was tight.
«Whats wrong?»
«Charlottes here. Says she needs to talk.»
CharlotteDavids daughter from his first marriage. Twenty-seven, lived up in Manchester, rarely visited unless she needed cash.
«Right. Ill try for six.»
Emily left early, heading back to the three-bedroom flat shed inherited from her parents in Croydon. When shed married David, she hadnt thought twice about legalities. Love and trust had been enough.
Keys in the door, she heard voices in the lounge. Charlotte was mid-story, David chiming in. Emily toed off her heels and stepped inside.
Charlotte lounged on the sofa in a posh dress, a bloke in an expensive suit beside her. A bottle of champagne sat open on the table.
«Ah, Emily, finally,» Charlotte said, eyeing her. «Meet James, my fiancé.»
«Pleasure,» Emily said, shaking his hand.
«Sit,» David gestured to the armchair. «Charlottes got something to discuss.»
Emily sat, unease prickling. Something felt off.
«Clear out the flatIm getting married, and well be moving in here,» Charlotte announced, no preamble.
Emily blinked. «Pardon?»
«You heard me. James and I need a place, and thisll do nicely.»
«Charlotte, this is Emilys flat,» David mumbled.
«Dad, youve been on the lease eight years. Legally, youve got a claim. And Im your only childyour heir.»
Emilys stomach dropped. «David, whats going on?»
He wouldnt meet her eyes, fiddling with a napkin. «Em, love, shes not entirely wrong. Maybe we should talk»
«Talk about what? This is my flat. My parents bought it. I grew up here.»
«But Dads got rights,» Charlotte pulled papers from her bag. «Solicitor confirmed. Eight years cohabiting, shared billshe could claim half.»
«Have you lost the plot?» Emily turned to David. «Say something!»
«Em, lets stay calm. Charlottes youngshe needs to start somewhere. We could downsize»
Emily couldnt believe her ears. The man shed trusted for eight years was calmly discussing evicting her.
«David, mate, its the sensible choice,» James cut in. «Young couples need space. Two of you dont need three bedrooms.»
«Sorry, who asked you?» Emily kept her voice steady, though her blood boiled.
«Ill be family soon.»
«Youre nothing to me.»
«Emily, dont be rude,» Charlotte snapped. «Jamess dad owns a construction firm.»
«Lovely. He can buy you a flat, then.»
«Why buy when we can have this?» Charlotte shrugged. «Dad, you want me happy, dont you?»
«Course, love.»
«Then sort it. Its your flat too.»
Emily pulled out her phone.
«Whatre you doing?» David tensed.
«Calling my solicitor. And I suggest you all leave.»
«Em, dont» He reached for her, but she stepped back.
«Mr. Thompson? Emily Carter. Need urgent advice. Tomorrow morning? Cheers.»
She hung up, levelling them with a look. «Now, if you dont mind, Id like my flat back.»
«This is my home too,» David said weakly.
«No. Its mine. Youre here on my goodwill.»
«Dads allowed guests,» Charlotte stood. «And Im his guest.»
«Charlotte, leave. Or Ill call the police.»
«You wouldnt dare!»
«Try me.»
David floundered, caught between them.
Emily grabbed her bag. «Im staying at Lucys. When I come back, I expect you gone.»
Her hands shook in the lift. Eight years. Eight years, and hed toss her aside for his daughters whims.
Lucy lived next block. One look at Emilys face, and she ushered her in. «Spill.»
Over tea, Emily did. Lucy shook her head. «Told you to get a prenup. But nolove conquers all.»
«Not now, Luce.»
«Fine. Whats the plan?»
«Solicitor first. See where I stand.»
«And David?»
Emily hesitated. Could she stay with a man whod betray her? Who hadnt even defended her?
«Dunno. Probably divorce.»
«Wherell he go? Hes got no place.»
«Not my problem. He can shack up with Charlotte.»
Her phone rang. David. She declined.
«Not talking?»
«Nope. Choice is made.»
She crashed at Lucys. Next morning, straight to the solicitor. Mr. Thompson, silver-haired and calm, listened intently.
«Emily, relax. The flats yoursacquired pre-marriage?»
«Yes. Inheritance, two years before David.»
«Then hes no claim. The lease means nothing.»
«But Charlotte said»
«Nonsense. At most, he gets time to find a place post-divorce. Month or two.»
Relief flooded her. «So they cant take it?»
«Not a chance. If they harass you, file a report. Its coercion.»
Work was a blur. David called, texted. She ignored him. Needed space to think.
That evening, she returned home. David sat at the kitchen table, nursing tea. No Charlotte, thank God.
«Em, finally. I was worried.»
«Wheres Charlotte?»
«At Jamess. Em, lets talk.»
«About what? How you sat silent while she demanded my flat?»
«I was shocked. Never expected that from her.»
«Really? She had legal papers ready. This was planned.»
«I didnt know, swear.»
Emily studied him. Hed aged, tired lines around his eyes. The lively man shed married was gone, swallowed by routine.
«David, honestlydid you even consider backing me? Or was she always priority?»
He stared into his tea. «Em, shes my daughter. My only one.»
«And Im what? Eight years means nothing?»
«You matter. But Charlotte»
«Got it.» Emily stood. «Im filing for divorce.»
«Em, wait!»
«No. Solicitor confirmed the flats mine. Youve got a month to move.»
«Pleasewe can fix this.»
«Fix what? She waltzed in, demanded my home, and you let her. Whats left to fix?»
Her phone rang. Unknown number.
«Hello?»
«Emily? Its MargaretJamess mum. I wanted to apologise for yesterday. He told me everything. Disgraceful.»
Emily paused. «Thanks, but»
«Meet me, please. We need to talk about Charlotte.»
«Why?»
«Please. Tomorrow? Café on High Street?»
Curiosity won. Next day, over coffee, Margareta sharp-dressed woman in her sixtiesleaned in.
«James is smittenfirst real love. But Charlotte shes manipulating him.»
«How?»
«Claimed shes pregnant. Demanded a quick wedding. When James asked for time, she said she had this flat.»
«My flat.»
«Exactly. Emily, I checked. Shes jobless, hops between blokesa gold-digger.»
«And the baby?»
«Doubt its real. But if so, paternity tests exist.»
Emily exhaled. Bizarre twist.
«Whats the play?»
«Hold firm. Ill handle James.»
Back home, Charlotte was there, rifling through papers.
«Whatre you doing?»
«Dad gave me keys. Checking out my new place.»
«Leave. Now.»
«Make me. Dad said I could stay.»
Emily dialled 999. «Police? Theres an intruder in my flat refusing to leave.»
Charlotte paled. «Youre bluffing.»
«Wait and see.»
Charlotte bolted, slamming the door. Emily cancelled the call, sank onto the sofa. Exhausted.
That night, David packed a bag.
«Staying with a mate.»
«Fine.»
«Youre really divorcing?»
«Yep.»
«Shame. We couldve»
«No. You chose her over us. Theres no us now.»
He left. The flat was quiet, empty. But for the first time in days, she breathed easy.
A week later, Margaret called.
«Charlottes not pregnant. James insisted on a testshe lied.»
«Shocker.»
«Theyve split. James is off to Germany for work. And Charlotte? Already has a new bloke.»
«Efficient.»
«Her type always land on their feet. Take care.»
The divorce was quick. David didnt fight it, just apologised. She forgavebut there was no going back.
At work, a new bloke joined ITDaniel, from Leeds. Tall, quiet, kind eyes. He fixed her computer, then asked her for coffee.
«You married?» he asked bluntly.
«Was. Recently divorced.»
«If you dont mindwhy?»
Emily smirked. «Long story. Lets just say we werent who we thought.»
«I get that. My divorce was five years back.»
They started seeing each othercinema, walks, easy chats. Daniel was witty, well-read.
One afternoon in the park, they ran into David and Charlotte. David flushed; Charlotte glared.
«Em. You alright?»
«Fine. This is Daniel.»
They shook. Charlotte tugged Davids sleeve. «Dad, lets go.»
After they left, Daniel squeezed her hand. «Ex?»
«Yeah.»
«And the flat thief?»
Emily laughed. «Dan, howd you?»
«Lucy. Were in the same department.»
«Ah. Shes a gossip.»
«Good things, though. Said you did the right thing.»
«Hope so.»
Dan grinned. «Glad you divorced.»
«Why?»
«Else wed not have met.»
She smiled. Funny how life worked. What felt like disaster had led her here.
That night, flipping through old photos, she thought of those eight years. Good bits, sure. But when tested, David failed. She hadnt. Shed stood her ground.
Her phone buzzed. Dan: *»Today was brilliant. Tomorrow?»*
She typed back: *»Definitely.»*
Life went on.
