"Eleanor's caregiver," Arthur said. "She's been working here for a month already."
"Hm." Her eyes traveled over me like a cat calculating when to pounce. "How nice."
A few weeks later, the hospital called me while I was reading to Eleanor. I excused myself and stepped out into the hallway.
My hands started shaking before I even answered.
Her eyes traveled over me like a cat calculating when to pounce.
"Ma'am, we need Noah back in this afternoon for updated scans and testing."
"Yes. Yes, we'll be there."
I hung up and pressed my forehead to the cool wallpaper.
When I turned around, Arthur was standing at the end of the hallway in his robe, leaning on his cane, watching me.
"Who keeps calling you that makes your hands shake?" he asked quietly.
"We need Noah back in this week for updated scans and testing."
At that moment, I realized that all the months I'd been watching Vivian and her brothers argue over Arthur's money, this dying man had been watching me far more closely than I ever thought.
"The hospital. My son… he urgently needs heart surgery."
"Ah. I'm sorry to hear that." He took one slow step closer and patted his chest. "My heart is also failing. Soon, I'll need a caregiver too."
I smiled. "I'm sorry, sir. If there's anything—"
"Arthur. Please, call me Arthur."
This dying man had been watching me far more closely than I ever thought.
The next morning, the hospital called again.
"Ma'am, Noah's latest test results came back. We need to move the surgery date up and begin pre-op treatment immediately. Can you confirm payment by Friday?"
I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white.
"Friday? I— I need more time."
But there wasn't any more time. I hung up and sank onto the marble floor of Arthur's hallway. He found me there ten minutes later, his cane tapping softly against the tiles.
"We need to move the surgery date up."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"My son. They're moving the surgery up. I can't — I don't have the money. I'll never have it."
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he said something so outrageous I thought I'd heard wrong.
"Marry me. Your son gets his surgery, and I get a wife my children can't control."
I shook my head, tears spilling over. "I won't be that woman."
"Not even to save your son?"
"What's wrong?"
I left the mansion that night with his words echoing in my head.
Around midnight, I had to rush Noah to the hospital. The doctors stabilized him, but their warning was clear: the surgery couldn’t wait much longer.
I called Arthur from the hospital parking lot that morning.
"If I say yes, the money goes to the hospital today."
"Done."
"Then yes. I will marry you."
Around midnight, I had to rush to the hospital with Noah.
The hospital admitted Noah for pre-op treatment that afternoon. Soon, the color was back in his cheeks, and the doctor said he could attend the wedding as long as he didn't stay long and returned afterward.
White roses lined the mansion's grand staircase. Reporters pressed against the gates, snapping photos of "the millionaire's mystery bride."
I wore a simple ivory dress Arthur's tailor had rushed overnight.
Noah stood beside me in a navy suit, grinning like he'd won a prize. He had no idea I'd only agreed to this to save his life.
The doctor said he could attend the wedding.
Arthur's children glared daggers at me throughout the ceremony and left as soon as possible.
That night, Arthur led me to his office and closed the door.
"The doctors already have their money. Now you can finally learn what you really signed up for," he said.
My stomach dropped to the floor as Arthur slid a thick folder across the polished desk.
"Open it," he said quietly.
Arthur led me to his office and closed the door.
My hands trembled as I lifted the cover.
The folder was full of legal documents. On the top page, my name was printed in bold black letters beside Eleanor's.
"You are now her legal guardian," Arthur said. "And the executor of my entire estate. I've already updated my will to ensure you will get the lion's share."
I stared at him, my breath caught in my throat. "Why would you do this?"
"Because I know what my children are up to, and I won't let them get away with it."
The folder was full of legal documents.
"I know they've been arguing about their inheritance…" I said softly.
Arthur nodded. "They're dividing my estate among themselves like I'm already gone. But it goes deeper than that. Vivien wants to send Eleanor to the cheapest state facility she can find. I overheard her calling my sister 'a burden draining the inheritance.'"
I pressed a hand to my mouth.
