Billionaire Dad Pretended to Be Broke to Test His Daughter’s Nanny—She Had No Idea
Chapter 4
Three days later, Daniel received the call.
He had arranged it himself.
A fake attorney.
A fake debt collector.
A fake court notice.
Everything had been carefully prepared.
But when he showed the papers to Emma, he almost regretted it.
“I may lose custody.”
Emma went pale.
“What?”
“They’re saying I’m financially unstable.”
“But Lily is safe.”
“I know.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“They don’t care.”
Emma took the papers.
“Who is handling this?”
“My lawyer.”
“Can I talk to him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s nothing you can do.”
Emma stared at him.
“There’s always something someone can do.”
Daniel looked away.
“I may have to send Lily to my brother in Connecticut.”
Lily overheard.
“No!”
She ran into Emma’s arms.
“Don’t let him take me!”
Emma held her tightly.
“I’m here.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I know.”
“Please.”
Emma looked toward Daniel.
Her expression had changed.
She wasn’t frightened.
She was angry.
“You can’t just give up.”
“I’m not giving up.”
“Then fight.”
“I don’t have the money.”
“Money isn’t the only thing that matters.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Those were the words he needed to hear.
But instead, he remained silent.
Emma spent the next twenty-four hours researching.
She called family services.
She contacted legal aid organizations.
She spoke to school counselors.
She even found a nonprofit that helped single parents facing custody disputes.
Daniel watched from the doorway.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Emma didn’t turn.
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily is terrified.”
“You barely know us.”
Emma finally faced him.
“I’ve known Lily for eight months.”
“And me?”
“You’re her father.”
Daniel frowned.
“That’s enough?”
Emma nodded.
“That’s enough.”
The next morning, Emma handed Daniel an envelope.
Inside was a check.
He stared.
“What’s this?”
“My savings.”
His face changed.
“No.”
“It’s not much.”
“No.”
“Take it.”
“Emma, I can’t.”
“It’s for the lawyer.”
Daniel stared at the check.
The amount was $18,400.
Every dollar she had.
“You’d give me all your savings?”
Emma shrugged.
“If it keeps Lily with her father.”
Daniel couldn’t breathe.
His test had gone too far.
He had expected Emma to leave.
Instead, she was giving away everything she had.
He looked at her.
“Why?”
Emma smiled sadly.
“Because I know what it feels like when a family has to choose between money and someone they love.”
Daniel thought about his billions.
His companies.
His accounts.
His properties.
And this woman had more courage than most people he knew.
He couldn’t continue.
Not like this.
That night, Daniel sat alone in the dark.
He called Marcus.
“Stop the test.”
Marcus was silent.
“What happened?”
“She gave me her savings.”
“How much?”
“All of it.”
Marcus exhaled.
“Daniel…”
“I know.”
“You need to tell her.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
But before he could do that, something happened.
Lily developed a fever.
It was high.
Dangerously high.
Emma rushed her to the emergency room.
Daniel followed.
And suddenly, his fake identity didn’t matter.
His billions didn’t matter.
His test didn’t matter.
There was only his daughter lying in a hospital bed.
And Emma sitting beside her, holding her hand.
