On his deathbed, Martin, a wealthy and blind old man, revealed something shocking that no one could have ever imagined: his devoted nurse of ten years, Alice, was actually his biological daughter. His other children, who had never shown Alice the respect she deserved, stood frozen in disbelief. They felt guilty for how they had treated the woman who had been a part of their father’s life for so long.
Alice had started working for Martin at the age of 17, after leaving the foster care system. Her foster mother, a close friend of Martin, had recommended the job, knowing that Alice needed a place to stay and a steady income. At the time, Alice was filled with uncertainty about her future, but that job, working for Martin, changed everything.
One morning, as Alice prepared Martin’s favorite breakfast—a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—she and Martin began reminiscing about the past.
“Tell me, Alice,” Martin asked suddenly, his voice soft, “how long has it been since you started working here?”
“Hmmm, I think it’s been ten years, sir!” Alice replied, carefully spreading the peanut butter and jelly onto the bread. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was terrified of leaving the foster care system because I didn’t think anyone would hire me. Then, Mrs. Chester told me you needed a nurse. And here I am, ten years later!”
Martin nodded with a faint smile. “Right. Ten years. Time flies, doesn’t it?” He reached out to take the sandwich Alice had made for him.
At that exact moment, Martin’s son Adam stormed into the kitchen, his face twisted with disdain.
“Why is it that you only ever make breakfast for Dad? You’re his slave. You’re supposed to be serving everyone, not just him,” Adam sneered, his words sharp and hurtful.
Alice’s stomach twisted at the word “slave,” and a lump formed in her throat. She tried to keep her composure, but her eyes burned with the threat of tears.
“Adam!” Martin shouted, his voice filled with fury. Both Alice and Adam jumped in surprise. “How dare you call Alice a slave? She’s been here for me all these years, and I will not tolerate you insulting her again! If you say another word like that, you’re no longer my son. Get out of here, now!”
Adam muttered under his breath, shaking his head, but he slowly backed out of the kitchen. “I don’t understand why you favor her over your own son,” he grumbled as he left.
“I’m sorry, Alice,” Martin said, turning to her with a gentle look. “I don’t know where I went wrong with them. But I want you to know, I respect you, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
Alice, still stunned by Adam’s words, sat down quietly at the table, trying to hold back her emotions. She couldn’t believe he had called her that.
“I can see you’re upset,” Martin said, noticing her downcast eyes. “I’m so sorry. I don’t understand why my children act like this. But you’ve been so kind to me. I’m thankful for you.”
Alice’s voice trembled as she spoke, “It’s alright, sir. I’m not here for them. I’m here for you. You’ve always treated me with kindness, and I see you as the father I never had. I feel so lucky to have you in my life.”
Martin’s expression softened, but there was a brief flicker of sadness in his eyes. “Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it, Alice?” he asked after a long pause.
“Yes, sir. In three days,” Alice replied, still in shock from the morning’s exchange.
“We’ll celebrate, don’t worry.”
Three days later, on Alice’s 30th birthday, she awoke early to prepare breakfast for Martin. But when she entered the kitchen, she was stunned to find Martin already there, beaming with a smile. Along with him were his children: Adam, Lucy, James, and Eva.
She glanced nervously at the clock. It was only six in the morning. Usually, the family didn’t wake up until eight, and Alice had never had to rush so much in the morning.
“Alice, you’re here!” Martin greeted her warmly.
“Y-yes, sir,” Alice stammered, flustered. “I didn’t know you’d wake up early today. I’ll get breakfast ready right away!” she said, hurriedly pulling ingredients out of the fridge.
“Come on, Alice, we’re starving!” Lucy mocked with a sarcastic tone.
“Breakfast can wait,” Martin interjected, his voice firm but kind. “I have a gift for you outside, Alice. Happy 30th birthday.”
“A gift outside?” James raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve never given me a gift that required us to go outdoors,” Eva added, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
Alice led Martin outside, his four children trailing behind them. When they reached the driveway, a small car, wrapped with a large ribbon, sat waiting for her.
“Unbelievable!” Adam scoffed. “Are you serious? A car? For the maid?”
“That’s not fair!” Lucy shouted, clearly enraged. “Why are you giving her a car? She’s just your employee!”
Martin turned to face his children, his expression filled with a quiet strength. “Alice has been by my side for ten years. She’s not just a maid, she’s family. And nothing you say will change that.”
The rest of the day was spent celebrating Alice. Martin held a small party in her honor, inviting all the caretakers of his property: his gardener, driver, and housekeeper. Everyone shared stories, laughter, and good food, and Alice couldn’t stop smiling.
“Thank you, sir. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I promise I’ll do my best to keep serving you as long as I can,” Alice said, her heart full of gratitude.
As the years passed, Alice began to think of Martin as more than just her employer—he had become the father she never had, a constant in her life who had treated her with kindness, compassion, and respect. The bond between them grew stronger each day.
However, as time wore on, Martin’s health began to decline. By the time he turned 80, he knew his time was running out. One day, he called for a meeting with his children, including Alice.
“I know you’ve all been wondering who I will leave my estate to,” Martin began, his voice weak but clear. “Lucy, Eva, Adam, and James, you already control the business I started. You can continue to run it. But as for this house, all of it, and my money—I give it all to Alice.”
“What?! Are you out of your mind?!” Lucy shouted, her face red with anger. “Why are you leaving your inheritance to her?”
“You’ll hear from our lawyers!” Adam threatened.
Martin shook his head slowly. “That’s exactly why I’m leaving everything to Alice. I know all of you are only interested in my money. It’s Alice who has been here for me all these years. She’s the only one who truly cared about me.”
Martin paused for a moment, as if gathering the strength to speak further. “And there’s something else I need to tell you…”
Before he could finish, his children stormed out in anger, refusing to listen any longer. The room grew quiet as only Alice remained with Martin.
“I’m sorry it took me this long, Alice,” Martin said, his voice trembling. “But I didn’t want anything to change. I didn’t want to lose what we had. Alice, you are my biological daughter. Your mother left me when she found out I couldn’t marry her. I had to marry someone else, and when she died, you ended up in an orphanage. Your foster mother, Mrs. Chester, became your guardian. She only told me you were my daughter when you were 17.”
Tears welled up in Martin’s eyes as he spoke. “I love you, Alice. I hope I treated you well in all these years.”
Alice’s heart swelled with emotion as she hugged him tightly. “I love you, Dad. I always have, and I’m so grateful for everything. You’ve always been my father, and hearing you say this only makes it clearer.”
In that moment, everything changed. What had started as a painful revelation was transformed into a deep and healing connection that had been a long time coming.
What can we learn from this story?
Be kind and respectful to those who help you, no matter their position in life. Martin’s children never treated Alice with the respect she deserved, assuming she was just an employee. But it was Martin who recognized her loyalty and love, reminding everyone of her value.
It’s never too late to make things right. Martin didn’t discover Alice was his daughter until she was 17, but he worked hard to correct the wrongs of the past and showed her the love and respect she deserved. It’s never too late to build meaningful relationships and show appreciation for those who truly matter.