Billionaire Dad Pretended To Be Sick To Test His Son’s Caregiver, Her Reaction Stunned Him
Chapter 4
Three weeks passed.
Elena became part of Noah’s routine.
Breakfast.
School.
Homework.
Therapy.
Dinner.
Bedtime.
She didn’t replace his mother.
She never tried.
When Noah asked about Rachel, Elena listened.
When he cried, she didn’t tell him to stop.
When he became angry, she let him be angry.
Marcus noticed that Noah had started sleeping through the night.
He also noticed something else.
Daniel was spending more time at home.
Not with Elena.
With Noah.
One evening, Marcus found them building a model airplane.
Daniel was laughing.
Marcus stood in the hallway.
He hadn’t heard that laugh in years.
Elena saw him.
She smiled.
Marcus shook his head.
“I didn’t know he could build one of those.”
Daniel looked up.
“I didn’t either.”
Noah grinned.
“Daddy is terrible at it.”
“I’m learning.”
Elena walked away.
Marcus watched his son.
“You’re different.”
Daniel shrugged.
“No.”
“You are.”
Daniel became quiet.
Then he said:
“I forgot how to be his father.”
Marcus sat beside him.
“You’re not the only one.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
“I forgot how to be your father.”
Daniel stared.
Neither spoke for a while.
Then Marcus said:
“After your mother died, I thought giving you everything would protect you.”
“You gave me money.”
“I gave you what I knew how to give.”
“You gave me a driver when I needed someone to talk to.”
Marcus looked down.
“I know.”
Daniel’s voice softened.
“I didn’t need a bigger house.”
Marcus swallowed.
“I know that now.”
The conversation ended there.
But something had changed.
The following week, Marcus became ill for real.
It happened during breakfast.
His hand shook.
The coffee cup slipped.
He fell against the table.
Elena was beside him immediately.
“Mr. Sterling?”
He couldn’t answer.
Daniel stood.
“Dad!”
Elena checked his breathing.
“Call 911.”
Daniel grabbed his phone.
Elena loosened Marcus’s collar.
“Stay with me.”
Marcus opened his eyes.
This time, there was no acting.
His vision blurred.
He heard Elena giving instructions.
Calm.
Precise.
Confident.
The ambulance arrived.
At the hospital, doctors said he had suffered a serious cardiac episode.
He needed further testing.
Daniel sat beside the bed.
Elena stood near the window.
Marcus looked at her.
“You didn’t hesitate.”
She shook her head.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t.”
“Why?”
She looked away.
“Because once, someone I loved needed help.”
Marcus waited.
“I hesitated.”
Her voice became quiet.
“And I never forgave myself.”
Marcus looked at her.
He wanted to ask more.
But Elena didn’t continue.
That night, after Daniel left the room, Marcus received an unexpected phone call.
An unknown woman said:
“Mr. Sterling, you don’t know me.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who is this?”
“I know Elena Brooks.”
His expression changed.
“What about her?”
The woman whispered:
“She isn’t who you think she is.”
