“If I’d married an American and lived in Hollywood, I’d probably be on my third husband by now.”

Following a promising career in show industry, Rachel Ward appeared to vanish from the public eye.

Rather than pursuing celebrity, she concentrated on her 39-year marriage to Bryan Brown and their expanding family.

She is devoted to her two grandkids, who she now has.

About the same time that Rachel Ward met Bryan Brown, she was listed as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world. She was a rising star who had been nominated for a Golden Globe and appeared on the cover of UK Vogue.

Richard Chamberlain, her co-star in “The Thorn Birds,” was enamored with the stunning actress. Speaking about their time together on set, he remarked that because of his stunning co-star, all the love scenes were a pleasure to perform. She was in love with someone else, though, even as he was falling for her.

At one point, Chamberlain disclosed that Ward was falling in love with Brown at the time, indicating that she was a romantic, but regrettably not for him. Despite this, Chamberlain claimed that Ward’s enthusiasm was infectious, primarily due to the fact that they portrayed a couple in love.

He went so far as to say that it was easy to accept that Ward was in love with him and no one else. “I assumed I was the one! It was amazing. God, he used to think, ‘She’s really into me.

According to Ward, there was a strong attraction between her and Brown. “His pecs were nice.” It is, after all, quite chemical, don’t you think? She talked about what made her fall in love at first, saying, “It’s pretty basic.” In all honesty, there was no other way to explain her feelings—she simply liked him.

Brown, meanwhile, immediately concluded that Ward was “not a bad sort.” He was attracted to her right away, but it took him a while to express his interest in her. For Ward, however, this was no big thing because, according to Brown, it was a challenge she was eager to take on until he eventually changed.

It was obvious once Ward made up his mind about him: the 35-year-old ladies’ man, who was, to be honest, just a man averse to commitment, was done playing games. It was now time for him to be married, if not to the stunning Rachel Ward.

Despite coming from a shattered home, Brown never thought he would get married, but in nine months, he and Ward were married. Before Ward entered his life, he used to assure his mother that he would never get married.

Ward and Brown were married under different circumstances, despite the fact that many people decide to get married after discovering they have everything they could possibly need and want in a spouse. Brown was filming a project with Paul McCartney in London at the time. When Ward arrived, they got into a heated dispute.

Brown said, “I just thought we may as well get married if we’re going to argue like that.” In Oxfordshire, the home of Ward’s boyhood, they were married that year. After a while, they made Sydney their home, raising Rose, Matilda, and James, their three children.

Selecting an Alternative Course
Ward was the star of numerous songs prior to “The Thorn Birds.” Although her 1983 mini-TV series with Chamberlain was well-received, she eventually gave up acting due to scathing criticism of her performance. Speaking on her personal experience, she acknowledged:

“I took being slaughtered very seriously. After that, I never really regained my confidence.

Ward’s career was impacted by “The Thorn Birds,” but in the end, it helped her find the love of her life. As they waited for a take one day, Brown instructed Ward to raise her hand. When he saw three lines in her hand during his palm reading, he concluded that she would give birth to three children. They had no idea that they would end up having three children together.

Ward kept acting, but not very often. She made the decision to put her family first and relocated to her husband’s home country of Australia.

In response to a question concerning advice on preserving marriage, Brown says that one should “say yes to your wife all the time, and if anything goes wrong, say ‘it’s my fault.’” Men would be happier if they knew that.

Together, the charming couple had three children who all follow in their footsteps: The most well-known roles for their 1987-born daughter Matilda are in the television series “Lessons from the Grave,” “How God Works,” and “Let’s Talk About.” Their daughter Rosie is well-known for “Black Mirror,” “Inside No. 9,” and “Gangs of London,” while their only son Joe is well-known for “Let’s Talk About” and “Rake.”

Brown acted in the family-friendly film “Palm Beach,” directed by Ward, with his daughter Matilda. The family completed the project collectively.

When Matilda, Ward and Brown’s daughter, gave birth to Zan Neathway Gooding, her first boy, in 2019, the couple became grandparents for the first time. Brown remained by her daughter’s side, eager to eventually hold his grandson in his arms.

The actor did not sure how to react to being referred to as “grandfather,” even if he was a devoted grandfather, since it seemed to reveal his age. But whether he liked it or not, he had to admit that he would always be referred to as “grandpa.”

At first, Brown was concerned about becoming a grandfather because a lot of people were assuming he would adore it. When his grandchild arrived, he quickly became attached to the young boy and wanted to spend as much time as possible with him. He had wanted to work through that portion on his own.

Following the birth of her son, Matilda married Scott Gooding, formally becoming his adolescent son’s stepmother. They had originally planned to wed on Brown and Ward’s land in New South Wales, but they had to postpone their wedding due to the fear of a wildfire.

The family was forced to evacuate after the bushfires threatened to destroy their house. Although they would have preferred to wed at home like her parents did, Matilda decided to get married in Sydney to make sure everyone was safe.

Gooding’s kid was very involved in the wedding. With a broad smile on his face, he stood behind his father during the ceremony. According to the renowned chef, the wedding was “possibly the best moment” of his life, therefore it was the perfect unforgettable occasion.

Matilda is a happy mother of two now that he has had her younger siblings taken care of. Gooding posted a cute picture of his son strolling and pulling the pram of his younger siblings.

Similar to how Ward and Brown remain involved in their children’s life, they also make an effort to spend as much time as they can with their grandchildren. The devoted grandparents post glimpses of their grandparenting on Instagram, where they participate in a variety of activities.

Ward is seen gardening with her oldest grandson Zan in one cute video. In their herb garden, they can be seen sprinkling sugar cane mulch. Gooding boasts that his mother-in-law is “nurturing” her grandkids in the same manner that she strives to take care of the surroundings.

Zan spends time with their farm’s horses when he and his grandmother, whom he refers to as “mopie,” aren’t in the garden. They also spent a Christmas at the family farm, where the devoted grandma raised her first grandchild by exposing him to the animals at a young age to help him become accustomed to them.

Anouk, her second grandchild, arrived, and Ward made sure to spend equal time with him. One day, Gooding took pictures of Ward walking with her daughter Matilda and her second grandson, capturing the precious moment.

When their daughter Rosie became engaged to her fiance Andrew Cameron in 2020, their family grew even more. The start of a stunning partnership was marked by their Instagram engagement announcement.

After a span of two years, Rosie and Andrew joyfully relocated to a stunning new residence in New South Wales. Surrounded by a forest, waterfalls, and an abundance of avocado trees, the property has a modest house.

All of their neighbors stopped by to give the gorgeous couple a warm welcome when they arrived in the neighborhood. They declare they intend to stay awhile and claim to have everything they could possibly need in the town.

Cameron is an Australian regenerative farmer who shares Ward’s enthusiasm for the practice. He was a perfect fit for the rest of the Brown family, which made it simple for everyone to get along and share interests.

Ward and Brown have raised their family admirably throughout it all. Despite the fact that their children have grown, they maintain a close relationship and try to spend as much time as possible with their in-laws. The Browns, Goodings, and Camerons were a joyful family celebrating Christmas together in 2021.

Ward claims that at that point in her life, she most likely would have been married to a third husband if she had married an American and moved to Hollywood.

Ward and Brown are enjoying a successful marriage and their children are all grown up and independent. Ward acknowledges that she thinks there’s more to life than her marriage and her family life, even after 39 years of marriage and counting. Says she:

“While my family and marriage are very important to me, they are also not the end all be all.” I want to pursue a profession in acting because I adore it.

Ward has all the connections necessary to maintain her presence in Hollywood, even if she has spent the years living in Australia. As a matter of fact, she has been making the trip to Hollywood on demand for years.

Ward claims that even though it could have been more practical for her to live in America for her career, she most likely would have been married to her third husband by then if she had married an American and moved to Hollywood.

Rather, she is in a committed relationship with the passion of her life and has complete control over her house and family. When she’s not working on a project, the actress frequently shares with her kids what she does with pride.

One day, while painting her house over several days, her daughter Rosie captured her elevating a glass and the ladder she needed to do the job. Instagram users agreed with the happy daughter’s goal of showcasing what an amazing mother Ward was.

Ward shares more on her Instagram than only her abilities and priceless family moments—her sense of humor. She corrected misinformation regarding her activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She reported the following facts: (1) she hadn’t visited the US in more than five years; (2) she didn’t have a personal trainer; (3) she had spent the previous ten days at the mid-north coast; and (5) she lacked COVID-19. “Take a swing at another witch,” she concluded her amusing message.

Ward works on her farm while Brown is filming “Darby and Joan” on television. Together with other things, they are the owners of The Good Farm Shop, which offers ready-made, organic meals.

Lady Spots Daughter and Son-in-Law Who ‘Tragically Died’ 5 Years Ago and Follows Them – Story of the Day

Miriam’s relaxing beach getaway was shattered when she locked eyes with her daughter Pamela and her son-in-law across the hotel lobby, the same people she had tearfully buried five years earlier. With her heart racing, Miriam had to decide: confront the ghosts before her, or let them slip away into the sun-drenched crowd.

Miriam stepped out of the airport shuttle, inhaling deeply. The salty air of The Bahamas filled her lungs, which was a welcome change from the stuffy plane cabin.

At sixty-five, this vacation was long overdue. Five years of grief had taken their toll on Miriam, etching lines around her eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there before.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

The Ocean Club Resort rose before her. Its gleaming structure promised nothing but relaxation and escape, so Miriam allowed herself a small smile as she followed a bellhop into the lobby.

The marble floors echoed with the chatter of excited tourists and the clinking of luggage carts, and Miriam stared at all their happy faces, hoping she would end up feeling just like them.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Welcome to The Ocean Club, ma’am. May I have your name for check-in?” The receptionist’s cheerful voice snapped Miriam out of her thoughts.

“Leary. Miriam,” she replied, fishing for her ID from her purse.

As the receptionist tapped away at the computer, Miriam’s gaze wandered. That’s when she saw them.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Time seemed to stop.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Standing by the gift shop, examining a display of colorful seashells, were two people who couldn’t possibly be there. Her daughter, Pamela, and son-in-law, Frank.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

But they were dead. Killed in a car crash five years ago… Or so she thought.

“Ma’am? Your room key,” the receptionist’s voice sounded distant.

Miriam’s hand shot out, grabbing the key without looking, while her eyes never left the couple as they turned away from the gift shop and headed for the exit.

“Hold my bags,” Miriam barked, already moving. “I’ll be right back.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

She hustled across the lobby, struggling with her breath. She was really out of shape, and the couple was almost at the door.

“Pamela!” Miriam called out. Even her own ears heard the desperation.

The woman turned, and her eyes widened in shock. It was unmistakably Pamela!

Suddenly, she grabbed her husband’s arm and whispered something urgently. Frank looked back, and Miriam saw his face transform into a mask of panic.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Without any more warning, they bolted.

Miriam’s heart raced as she followed them out into the bright sunlight.

“Stop right there!” she yelled, her voice carrying across the palm-lined driveway. “Or I’ll call the police!

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

The threat worked.

The couple froze, and their shoulders slumped in defeat. Slowly, they turned to face her.

Pamela’s eyes brimmed with tears, but Miriam had no idea why. Was Pamela crying because of guilt, because of the lie, or because of something else?

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Mom,” her daughter whispered. “We can explain.”

***

Pamela and Frank’s hotel room door clicked shut behind them, sealing off the cheerful vacation atmosphere outside. Inside, the air felt heavy, charged with the past five years of Miriam’s mourning and her current anger.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

She stood rigid with her arms crossed. “Start talking,” she demanded firmly.

Frank cleared his throat. “Mrs. Leary, we never meant to hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” Miriam’s laugh was harsh. “I buried you. Both of you. I grieved for five years. And now you’re standing here, telling me you never meant to hurt me?”

Pamela stepped forward, trying to reach out. “Mom, please. We had our reasons.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Miriam recoiled from her daughter, although she also had the same urge. “What reason could possibly justify this?”

Frank and Pamela exchanged troubled glances, and it took a second before Frank spoke. “We won the lottery.”

Silence fell, broken only by the distant sound of waves crashing on the beach outside.

“The lottery,” Miriam repeated flatly. “So you faked your own deaths… because you won money?”

Pamela nodded and began to elaborate, although her voice could barely be heard.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“It was a lot of money, Mom. We knew if people found out, they’d all want a piece. We just wanted to start fresh, without any obligations.”

“Obligations?” Miriam’s own voice rose. “Like paying back the money you borrowed from Frank’s family for that failed business? Like being there for your cousin’s kids after their parents died? Those kinds of obligations?”

Frank’s face hardened. “We didn’t owe anyone anything. This was our chance to live the life we always wanted, and we don’t plan on letting anyone get in our way.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“At the expense of everyone who loved you, and I bet you’re also avoiding taxes,” Miriam shot back. She turned to her daughter. “Pamela, how could you do this? To me?”

Pamela looked down and sniffled. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t want to, but Frank said…”

“Don’t blame this on me,” Frank interjected. “You agreed to the plan.”

Miriam watched as her daughter wilted under her husband’s glare. At that moment, she clearly saw the dynamic between them, and her heart broke anew.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Pamela,” she said softly. “Come home with me. We can fix this. Make it right.”

For a moment, hope flared in Pamela’s eyes. Then Frank’s hand clamped down on her shoulder.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he said, resolute. “Our life is here now. We have everything we need.”

Pamela’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Mom,” she whispered. “I can’t.

Miriam stood there, staring at the strangers her daughter and son-in-law had become. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

She couldn’t enjoy her vacation after that and changed her plans immediately. But the trip home was a blur.

Miriam moved on autopilot as her mind replayed the confrontation over and over. What should she do? Was faking your death illegal? Was Frank hiding something else?

However, by the time she reached her empty house, she had made a decision. She wouldn’t report them. Not yet.

She’d leave that door open, hoping against hope that Pamela would walk through it one day.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

Three years passed.

Miriam tried to move on, but the weight of this secret and the pain of betrayal never truly left her. Then, one rainy afternoon, there was a knock at her door.

Miriam opened it to find Pamela standing on her porch, soaked from the rain, with her arms wrapped around her body and looking utterly lost.

“Mom,” Pamela’s voice cracked. “Can I come in?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Miriam hesitated, then stepped aside.

Pamela shuffled in, leaving a trail of water on the hardwood floor. In the harsh light of the entryway, Miriam could see how much her daughter had changed.

The designer clothes and perfectly styled hair were gone, replaced by worn jeans and messy hair. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.

“What happened?” Miriam asked, her tone carefully neutral.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Pamela sank onto the couch, her shoulders hunched. “It’s all gone,” she whispered. “The money, the house, everything. Frank… he got into some bad investments. Started gambling. I tried to stop him, but…”

She looked up, meeting Miriam’s eyes for the first time. “He left. Took what was left and disappeared. I don’t know where he is.”

Miriam sat down across from her daughter, processing the information.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Part of her wanted to comfort Pamela, to wrap her in a hug and tell her everything would be okay. But the wounds were still too fresh, the betrayal too deep.

“Why are you here, Pamela?” she asked quietly.

Pamela’s lips trembled. “I didn’t know where else to go. I know I don’t deserve your help, after everything we did. How selfish I was. But I… I miss you, Mom. I’m so sorry. For all of it.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Silence stretched between them because Miriam had no idea what to do. This was what she wanted ever since that day in The Bahamas.

So, she studied her daughter’s face, searching for signs of the girl she used to know. After a few moments, Miriam sighed.

“I can’t just forgive and forget, Pamela. What you and Frank did… it was more than just lying. I think you broke the law. Faking your death may not be exactly illegal, but I bet you didn’t pay any taxes on that money. But also, you hurt a lot of people, not just me.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Pamela nodded as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “I know,” she whispered. “And you’re right. Part of the reason Frank wanted to leave was to avoid paying taxes. Everything else… what he didn’t want to pay back to his family… well, that was just icing.”

“If you want to make this right with me and with everyone else,” Miriam continued, her voice firm, “you need to face the consequences. That means going to the police. Telling them everything. About the faked deaths and everything else you two did with that money. All of it.”

Pamela’s eyes widened in fear. “But… I could go to jail.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Yes,” Miriam agreed. “You could. I don’t want you to, but it’s the only way forward. The only way to truly make amends.”

For a long moment, Pamela sat frozen, sniffling slightly. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll do it. Whatever it takes.”

Miriam felt a glimmer of pride break through her anger and hurt. Maybe her daughter wasn’t completely lost after all. Being far away from Frank was definitely a good thing for her.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“Alright then,” she said, standing up. “Let’s get you into some dry clothes. Then we’ll head down to the station.”

As they walked out to the car a short while later, Pamela hesitated. “Mom?” she asked. “Will you… will you stay with me? While I talk to them?”

Miriam paused, then reached out and squeezed her daughter’s hand, allowing herself to again feel and show all the love she had for her. “Yes,” she said warmly and desperately. “I’ll be there, for sure.”

“Thank you,” Pamela nodding and taking a deep breath. Suddenly, her expression shifted. Her mouth set in a firm line, and determination filled her eyes. “Let’s go.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

There’s my girl!

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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