The Illusion of Deception
Working at the Royal Academy of Music, Emily had never been interested in anything but music. It had been her life since childhoodher mother and her piano. At twenty-eight, she was unmarried, having briefly dated a colleague, but their paths diverged. It was too complicated when both were talented and lost in their own worlds.
For the past three months, though, she had been seeing Daniel, a solicitor. They met by chance when Emily sat alone in a café near the academy, avoiding the silence of her flat after her mothers recent passing.
“You look so sad,” Daniel had remarked, sipping his coffee. “My names Daniel. Whats yours?”
She was beautiful but distant, he thoughtworth knowing.
“Emily,” she replied softly, offering a faint smile.
Since then, they had grown close. Daniel often stayed over and had even proposed, but she hesitated.
“I cant say yes yet, Daniel. Mums only just gone.”
Her mother had raised her alone. Emily had never known her fatherwho he was, where hed gone. She never asked, sensing it was painful for her mother to speak of. And then, suddenly, her mother was gone. The grief and loneliness weighed on her. Sometimes she wonderedshould she try to find her father?
“I dont even know how I feel about it,” she admitted to Daniel. “Ive never met him. What if he doesnt want to know me?”
Emily had lived a sheltered life, absorbed in music, while her mother handled everythingbills, paperwork, the flat. Her mother had warned her:
“Emily, love, you must learn to manage things. What will you do when Im gone? Youre so lost in your own world.”
“But you do it all so well, Mum. Why should I bother?”
Life, however, was cruel and unpredictable. Her mother fell ill suddenly, fading too fast. The doctors could only shrug.
“It was too late when she came to us.”
“But she never complained,” Emily whispered through tears.
“Perhaps she didnt want to worry you. But the signs were therethe body always warns us.”
Daniel was sharp. The first time he visited her flat, he was struck by the expensive paintings adorning the wallsthough Emily paid them no mind. Shed grown up with them. But Daniel recognised their worth.
In the evenings, Emily played the piano, rehearsing for concerts, while Daniel listenedor pretended to. He had already realised there was money here. He rifled through her mothers papers, finding letters from an aunt, Margaret, who lived in Scotland. He resolved to marry Emily quicklyshe was the sole heir.
Her reluctance frustrated him. She barely knew him, and doubts lingered. But he pressed on, sensing her desire to find her father.
One evening, Daniel announced:
“Weve got guests tonight. Lets pop to the shop for champagne.”
“Guests? Who?”
“Ive found your father.”
“Danielreally? Here? I always imagined he lived abroad.”
“Yes. Right here.”
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Daniel answered, and Emily saw a tall, dark-haired man.
“My daughter,” he gasped, embracing her. “Ive never seen you. Youre beautiful. Robert Parkerthats my name.”
Emilys middle name was indeed Roberta.
“Your mother and I parted ways,” Robert explained. “She never told me about you.”
Seizing the moment, Daniel interjected:
“Robert, under the circumstances, may I ask for Emilys hand?”
Still reeling, Emily froze.
“If Daniel loves you, I give my blessing,” Robert said warmly. “Ill expect a wedding invitation.”
From then on, Robert became a frequent visitor. But he was vague about his past with Emilys mother, claiming their relationship had been brief.
Emily invited her aunt Margaret and uncle James to the wedding. Margaret arrived early, determined to help her niece prepare.
One evening, the doorbell rang. Emily opened it, delighted.
“Goodness, the train was dreadful,” Margaret sighed.
They met Daniel, who tactfully left Emily to catch up with her family.
“Aunt Margaret,” Emily confessed, “Daniel found my father.”
“Whats his name?”
“Robert Parker. My middle names Roberta.”
Margaret exchanged a glance with her husband.
“Oh dear,” she murmured.
“Whats wrong?”
“Your fathers name isnt Robert. Its William. William Harris. The birth certificate lists no fatheryour mother invented the middle name. Emily, I know the truth. Your father is William Harris, the dean of your old university. He taught you.”
“William Harris? Thats impossible! He was my lecturer. Then who is Robert Parker?”
“Thats what we must ask Daniel. Why this charade? Have you claimed your inheritance yet? Its been five monthsyouve a month left.”
“No, Ive not seen the solicitor. But its just the flat, isnt it?”
“Emily, you sweet girl. Your mother wasnt poor. These paintings alone are worth a fortune. Our parents left us both a sizeable inheritance. And since James and I have no children, ours will go to you too.”
Emily cancelled the wedding.
She had been naive, never questioning her mothers affairs. Now, with Margarets revelation, she wondered why Daniel had rushed the proposal.
“Does William Harris know about me?”
“No. His mother arranged a marriage for him, splitting him from your mother. She didnt know she was pregnant until after they parted. William married another woman, believing she carried his childa lie. He loved your mother, but when he saw her with a baby, he assumed shed moved on. She never told him. As for Robert Parkerwell deal with Daniel tomorrow.”
“William Harris handed me my degree. He never knew I was his daughter.”
That evening, Daniel faced an unpleasant surprise. Emily had packed his things. With Margaret and James present, he didnt dare argue. Robert Parker vanished without a trace.
“I feel relieved,” Emily admitted. “Something about Daniel never felt right.”
The next evening, Margaret announced a guest.
“Who now?” Emily asked nervously.
“Youll see.”
The doorbell rang. Margaret returned, leading in William Harris.
“My God,” he breathed. “You look just like me. I never knew, Emily. Margaret told me everything.”
They talked late into the night. Emily learned she had a half-brother, a soldier stationed abroad.
“Only you inherited my love for music,” William said proudly. “My son didnt.”
“I always wondered where I got it from,” Emily laughed. “Must be your genes.”
From then on, they visited her mothers grave together. William introduced her to his wife, Catherine, a kind woman, and later, her brother on his leave.
A year later, Emily married Oliver, the son of Williams old friend. He taught economics at the university and had fallen for her at first sight.
Margaret and James attended the wedding, pleased with Oliversteady, reliable.
