“Desperate to Pay for My Daughter’s School, I Accepted My Boss’s Shocking Offer”

To Pay for My Daughter’s Education, I Agreed to a Very Unusual Proposal from My Boss – Story of the Day

Being a single mother, I would stop at nothing to ensure my daughter continued attending the school she cherished. I turned to my boss for support after her scholarship was abruptly revoked, not anticipating the odd and transformative offer he was going to make.

Your mind never stops working when you’re a single mother. Lunches, shoes that suddenly don’t fit, doctor’s visits, bills, and maintaining your work are just a few of the things that cause worry.

Even when you’re alone, your mind is racing. At night, you lie awake contemplating what you might have forgotten, what must be done, and what might go wrong. It like an endless to-do list that has been stuck to the inner of your eyelids.

I nearly didn’t answer my phone when it phoned when I was rearranging Nathan’s schedule because of this.

His color-coded, meeting-filled calendar was displayed on my laptop, and I was lost in contemplation as I considered how I could fit Lily’s dentist visit in without ruining the entire day.

Once more, the phone buzzed. Already feeling behind schedule, I let out a groan and grabbed it without looking at the number. My intuition prompted me to pick up.

“Hello, this is St. Helena Academy’s admissions office. I’m phoning with reference to Lily, your daughter.

The caller’s voice seemed serene, almost upbeat. My stomach sank, and I clutched the phone.

“Is she alright?” I inquired.

Yes, she is doing quite great. The tuition grant is at issue here.

I straightened my posture. “How about it?”

A pause occurred.

We are sorry to notify you that the scholarship has been given to someone else. A reevaluation of eligibility was place. Your daughter isn’t eligible anymore.

My hand trembled. She’s in class already! A month ago, she began. You cannot simply take it back at this time.

“I can appreciate how frustrated you are. However, the yearly fee if you want to keep her enrolled is—

I ended the call. I felt as though I was having trouble breathing. There was a buzzing sensation on my skin. I tried not to panic as I gazed at the wall.

She had her chance at that school. It was all of it. the tiny class size. the secure corridors. The books. The future. I informed her that we had a break. She belongs there, I told her.

I stopped feigning to work by midday. I was unable to see my emails. No further sentences could be typed. I required assistance. I was in need of cash. I detested the idea.

I could only ask one individual. I gripped my phone as I moved down the corridor. My feet were heavy. I paused in front of Nathan’s door. I inhaled deeply before knocking.

He raised his head from his computer. “Hey. What’s going on?

“May I speak with you for a moment?” My voice was too little.

“Yes,” he replied, shutting his screen.

I entered and closed the door. “It concerns my daughter.”

He nodded slightly. “Continue.”

“Her scholarship was revoked.” My voice broke. We have till the end of the week to pay the tuition, they stated. They’ll give her place to someone else if we don’t.

Nathan reclined in his seat. “How much do we talk about?”

I gave him the number. I felt silly just saying it, but he didn’t flinch. “I am aware that it is a lot. I’m not requesting a present. Only a loan. I’ll reimburse you each month.

Nathan got to his feet and moved toward the window. For a minute, he gazed outdoors in silence. “There may be an alternative.”

I scowled. “What sort of choice is it?”

He pivoted. “I must marry someone.”

“My grandma is traditional. Very. In her will, she explicitly said that until I am married, I will not be able to inherit the family estate. A wedding before her birthday is what she desires. That will be in a week.

I gazed at him. “Well, how is that related to me?”

“I need someone capable of managing this. Someone I can rely on. He gave me a glance. “You.”

I chuckled. “You want me to pretend to be your spouse?”

Indeed. We visit her home. We behave like a couple. Sunday is the wedding day. We then split from one another. Your daughter’s tuition gets paid in exchange. Forever.

I couldn’t speak. “This is crazy.”

“Perhaps,” he responded. However, I don’t have much faith in people. Additionally, you have a motive for doing it.

I started to respond negatively. This was ridiculous. However, my phone buzzed once more. The school has sent out this message: Please confirm your payment or inform us if Lily plans to withdraw. We have a waiting list.

They were prepared to take her place.

I glanced up at Nathan. “If I agree, are you certain she can remain at that school?”

“Tuition will never be a concern for her again.”

I let out a breath, my hands trembling. “All well, then. I will.

He gave a nod. “All right. Tomorrow, we depart. Don’t forget to bring your daughter. Everything must appear authentic.

The home of Nathan’s grandma resembled something from a children’s novel. It was large and ornate, with green vines creeping up the sides and white stone walls. Lily gasped and sprinted directly to the fountain when she spotted it in front of her.

“Slow down, Lily!” I called out to her.

Nathan chuckled a little. “Allow her to run.” It’s just water.

I felt compelled to describe her attitude by saying, “She gets excited.”

He grinned as he glanced at me. Indeed. I can tell.

Nathan moved toward the fountain before I could stop him. Already, Lily was pointing to ducks in the water.

Nathan then began pursuing her. He laughed as he ran with her around the fountain. I thought the entire house could hear her giggles.

I remained motionless. I merely observed. This was unlike any Nathan I had ever seen. At work, no. Nowhere.

He usually appeared occupied and serious. Here, however, he appeared to be an ordinary man. A man who enjoyed children. A capable man.

I wasn’t prepared for that feeling.

Then I saw that there was a person on the porch. An elder female. She wore a long dress and her silver hair was wrapped up in a bun. Her eyes felt sharp, yet her face appeared serene.

“Grandmother,” said Nathan. He halted his running and straightened up. “This is Grace. And Lily is that tiny hurricane.

Her steps were steady and unhurried as she descended the stairs. She gave me a thorough examination before grinning.

“So, my grandson was finally tamed by this woman.”

I smiled politely at her. “I’m glad to have met you.”

Squeezing my hand, she did so. “Let’s eat dinner. We have a lot of things to discuss.

It was a large dining room. Only the four of us sat at a table that could accommodate twenty people, which was illuminated by a gold chandelier.

She took a sip of her wine. “How did you meet, then?”

Nathan fell silent. I dove right in. “At work…His laptop got coffee on it.

Nathan finally grinned and continued, “She didn’t even say sorry.”

With delight, the woman chuckled. “It’s about time you brought someone home, I must say.”

She gave a hand clap. “Well, Sunday. a modest wedding. I’ve informed the planner already.

And then it was taking place. I was pleading with the school to allow me more time one day, and then I was organizing a wedding.

Everything happened so quickly, like if I had entered an uninvited yet uncontrollable dream.

The days that followed blended into one another. The guest room where Lily and I stayed had white drapes, comfortable comforters, and a little vase of fresh flowers that was refreshed every morning. Whoever brought them in, I never found out. It had a magical feel to it.

Nathan kept us occupied with his granny. The planner visited, there were brunches, garden tours, and lengthy discussions on seating arrangements and flower hues.

I assisted with flower selection. I put dresses on that didn’t fit me. I initially felt uncomfortable, as if I were playing a part in someone else’s narrative. But things changed gradually. I laughed even harder. I stopped looking at my phone.

One evening, I discovered Nathan kneeling next to Lily, assisting her with coloring a butterfly. We remained up late another night, laughing over dumb movies and eating ice cream with plastic spoons.

“I like Nathan,” Lily wrote in large, uneven characters on the refrigerator one morning. He is humorous. Grinning, I put it in my pocket.

That evening, I went outside. It was a clear, dark sky. Above us, there were stars everywhere. Nathan sat by himself on the porch swing.

He asked without glancing at me, “Can’t sleep?”

I gave a headshake. “No.”

I took a seat next to him. We began to rock, and the swing creaked. We were silent for some time.

The scent of cut grass and roses filled the night air. I encircled myself with my arms. Strangely, it felt silent. As if the world had ceased to move.

At last he spoke. “I try not to think about things, but being here makes them come back.”

I turned to face him. “Like what?”

“My father,” he said. He never defended me. He gave my grandmother complete authority over everything.

I took a while to respond. I listened to what he had to say. “That must have been quite difficult.”

He gave a nod. “I tried to make him proud my entire life. I was never good enough at anything.

I had a pain in my chest. “I apologize, Nathan.”

He gave me a glance. He spoke softly. “You’re different from them. It feels easy with you. They seem authentic.

I took a swallow. “This is still phony, Nathan.”

He didn’t recoil. “I understand. However, phony things might occasionally seem real.

He made no attempt to touch me. He didn’t approach. He waited, simply staring at me. I gave him a serious look. His eyes, his face, his silent optimism. I also sensed it. Equally powerful. equally genuine.

I couldn’t wake up from the dreamlike state I was in the night before the wedding. I passed past the house in silence, as if I hadn’t been there.

Everything was prepared. In the moonlight, my clothing glowed as it hung by the window.

Lily was cuddling the teddy bunny Nathan had gotten her when she was sound asleep. As if it were the only thing keeping her here, her tiny hand gripped its ear.

To grab her a glass of water, I crept downstairs. I heard voices as I went by the kitchen.

Nathan is a single mother. You can’t be sincere. His granny was the one. She spoke steadily and sharply.

Nathan remarked, “She’s not just some woman I found on the street.” Although he seemed composed, there was a tightness in his voice.

She is a burden. She also has a child with her. Without hesitation, his grandmother answered, “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

She doesn’t cause trouble. Nathan stated, “And Lily isn’t either,” with greater conviction.

“This isn’t affection. It’s fear. You’re scared of being by yourself,” she remarked icily.

“You will lose everything if you carry out this farce. This family doesn’t have any money. With finality and cruelty, she continued, “You’ll be cut off.”

I didn’t wait for further information. My chest was thumping with my heart. I quickly went back upstairs after turning.

Before the sun had even risen, I silently clothed Lily, stuffed everything we owned into one duffel bag, and left.

The small house I had rented had a loud knock on the door early the following morning. Nathan was standing there when I opened it.

He said, staring directly at me, “You left.”

I yelled, “I heard everything.”

He blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Your granny. last evening. In the kitchen.

His expression changed. He inhaled deeply. “Grace, you didn’t hear everything if you’re this upset.”

I folded my arms. She referred to me as a burden. You were threatened by her. I was clearly not welcome, she said.

Nathan gave a headshake. Indeed, she did. I assured her, however, that it was irrelevant. “I love you,” I told her. that I cherish Lily. that losing everything would be preferable to losing you two.

I was unable to talk. He took a step toward her. I simply gazed at him.

“Does that imply you’ve lost everything?”

He smiled at me sadly. “No. I have everything I’ve ever desired for the first time in my life. You. Lily as well.

My throat constricted. My eyes began to well up with tears before I could stop them.

Nathan took a swallow. “And my dad… he confronted her.” “She has no right to control me,” he informed her. that she was unable to steal my company. He supported me. For the very first time.

I didn’t respond. I simply grabbed his hand. And it was no longer part of the plan when he kissed me. It was authentic. Everything.