The one and the Only (Nathan Cross) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Beg In Person For The Pill

Nathan and Penny came to the amusement park on the ninth floor to find Queenie playing at the slides and having a jolly good time.

Benson, on the other end, looked pensive and appeared to be deep in thought.

Anxiously, Benson and Leah inquired about the matter when Nathan and Penny showed up at the park.

“I have chased them away.” Nathan replied with a subtle grin, “I’ve told them to get Samuel here to plead the both of you if he wants to get that pill for Sean.”

“Well done, Nathan!” Leah was extremely pleased.

She then turned and reminded Benson, who was still in a pensive mood, “Let me warn you again, Benson. This is no ordinary pill, as it costs a whopping ten million for it. Don’t you dare give it away to Samuel as if it doesn’t cost a dime. Think of how he had bullied us all this time. Don’t expect I’ll let you off easily if you dare to go against my words.”

Benson opened his mouth, fumbling for an answer, but all he could give was a muted whine.

Time passed quickly when they were having fun watching Queenie enjoying herself at the playground. Half an hour passed when a group of men dressed impeccably in suits came up to them.

Leading the pack was none other than Samuel Smith, the de facto leader at the helm of the Smith family’s empire.

Samuel was not his usual arrogant self, as he was beaming with friendliness when he walked over in quick steps. “Hello, my dear Benson and Leah, I’m so glad to see all of you here!” he greeted them with feigned affection.

“Since when have we become so dearly close to you, Samuel?” Leah seemed unimpressed.

“Hello, Samuel.” Benson reciprocated tensely.

“I know that dad and I have been too hard on both of you over the years, my dear brother and my sister-in-law.” Samuel explained apologetically, “It made me feel really sorry for that. Let me offer my sincerest apology to the both of you.”

With that being said, Samuel looked like he was about to kneel in hopes of their forgiveness. Nonetheless, Benson rushed over to hold him back from kneeling. “No, Samuel. Please don’t...”

“Huh!” Leah huffed at his fakery, “What’s made him turned humble and kind to us all of a sudden? There must be something he’s wanted from us.”

“Come on, Leah. Since Samuel has already apologized to us, can’t you just stop picking on him?” Benson found himself on the horns of a dilemma, as he tried to placate his wife.

It only made Leah see red, “Are you finding me picky and pushy? So that you can play the saint while I’m the villain?” She wrung her hands and shouted at him, “Fine, I’ll wash my hands off this matter and let you do whatever you wish!”

Leah turned and stormed away towards Queenie, staying with her at the playground.

Leah’s petulant behavior left Benson feeling awkward in front of Samuel, who was quick to offer him his sympathy. “You can’t blame her, Benson. It was our own making that had caused her to loathe and resent us. I know Dad, Paul, and myself included, have been too harsh on you and your family in the past.”

His words would only elicit the empathy of Benson, who had always been a soft-hearted creature. “Don’t be mad at her, Samuel. Leah might look like a sourpuss, but deep inside she has a very tender and kind heart.” Benson tried to speak up for his wife.

“Oh, of course, I understand that. How could I be mad at Leah?” Samuel said in an understanding tone, “We are all family, right? We are brothers of the same blood and flesh, our bond is unbreakable. Don’t you just agree with what I’ve said?”

Benson nodded diligently, “Yes, I agree.”

“That goes the same with our dad, Benson.” Samuel pressed on when he saw that Benson was getting sentimental, “Even though he had been unkind to you, he’s still our dad.”

“It was supposed to be such a joyous day for him to celebrate his seventieth birthday. But he took a sip too much and landed in the hospital with a stroke. The doctor has warned us that his life is under threat.”

“Notwithstanding his shortcomings, he is still our father who’s brought us to this world. Do you want to be haunted with shame for the rest of your life for watching our father suffer in pain and not doing a thing about it?”

“I beg you to give me the pill, Benson. Can’t you see our dad’s life is hanging by a thread and he needs the pill badly?”

His words tugged at the heartstrings of Benson, who had always been a sentimental and good-natured person. His love for his father overshadowed all the unpleasant memories of how they had mistreated him and his family in the past. Tears began streaming down his cheeks.

“No, you don’t have to beg me, Samuel. He’s my dad and I will do all I can to save him.” He clutched Samuel’s hand and cried plaintively, “I’ll ask Nathan for the pill and we’ll give it to dad at the hospital.”

A gloating expression gleamed across his eyes as Samuel nodded eagerly, “Sure, sure!”

Nathan watched with his cold, steady eyes the pretentious act put up by Samuel, who had wickedly exploited Benson’s soft-hearted nature with all those mawkish and sentimental talks. He was a sly and shameless monster, in Nathan’s opinion.

Benson finally wiped away his tears and walked towards Nathan and Penny. “I need a favor from both of you, Nathan, Penny...” he began diffidently.

“Sure, Benson. I know what you are asking for. I’ll do anything you want me to.” Nathan intervened, “It’s nothing but a pill.”

Nathan knew perfectly well that Samuel was only putting up a show to trick Benson into giving him the pill. Yet he could not ignore the consequences should Benson refuse to give him the pill. It would only make Benson looked callous and selfish, and everyone in Channing would ridicule him as one unfilial son who had refused to save his dying father by letting him have the pill.

If he gave the pill to Sean, Nathan was aware that it would be in Benson’s interest by sparring him from being attacked by such criticisms.

Besides, it could help rebuild the relationship between Benson and Sean, enabling him to get back into Sean’s good books by offering him the pill. It all seemed like a good bargain in Nathan’s eyes.

Even though the pill came with a jaw-dropping ten million price tag, it meant nothing to Nathan.

Benson was quivering with inexplicable gratitude when he took the pill from Nathan. “What a good-hearted fellow, my dear son-in-law!” he gushed.