He Faked His Death to Test My Mother Chapter 07

He Faked His Death to Test My Mother Chapter 07

Nathan’s face changed. “Secure my wife’s… remains.”

His voice strained, shaking. “Not one scratch!”

Then he turned and ran to me.

I lay on the ground, soaked, white as paper.

Nathan scooped me up and raced to the car. Ran red light after red light. Horns blared behind him.

One hand on the wheel, the other gripping my hand. His eyes bloodshot.

“Hold on, Elena. I lost your mom. I can’t lose you too.”

At the hospital.

He barely parked before carrying me inside.

“Doctor! Somebody help!”

He’d lost it. Screaming in the lobby. “Save my daughter! Please!”

“Whatever it costs. Any price. I’ll pay anything!”

Nurses and doctors rushed over.

They wheeled me into surgery. The light came on.

Nathan stood outside the door. He froze for a second.

Then he collapsed to the floor like all the air left him.

He held his head. Knuckles white.

His mind played memories of me as a little kid.

I had just learned to walk. A tiny lump.

Every day when he came home, I’d totter toward him, babbling, “Dada.”

Then I’d jump into his arms and never let go.

The ruthless CEO would smile and pick me up.

Pretend to toss me, then catch me tight.

I’d giggle.

And Mom would worry he’d drop me.

What did he say back then?

“Elena is our daughter. She’s everything to me. I’ll spend every breath I’ve got keeping her safe. Nothing will ever touch her.”

And now?

Mom was dead. I was in surgery, fighting for my life.

Nathan’s head snapped up. He glared at his assistant.

“How did Elena fall in? Weren’t all our people on the shore? Why didn’t anyone save her?”

Vanessa rushed over, her face complicated.

“Nathan, calm down.”

She paused, choosing words. “Elena told them not to save her.”

Nathan blinked. “What?”

Vanessa looked up at him, voice low. “Because you reported her for cheating. She was humiliated. She didn’t want to live.”

The fury in Nathan’s eyes turned into anguish.

“Stupid girl. Even if she can’t go to Harvard anymore—with the Ellis money, I could send her anywhere overseas. Why would she do something so stupid?”

His voice dropped, like talking to himself. “Clara was the most honest person. If she knew Elena cheated on the SAT… she’d be so disappointed.”

“Good thing I reported it. At least that’s not a total disaster.”

Inside the OR, I couldn’t hear any of it. But something crushed my chest.

Anger. Defiance.

“Who said you can’t get the highest SAT score in the country without going to school?”

A voice came from the end of the hall.

Quiet. But heavy enough to shake the room.