The one and the Only (Nathan Cross) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 He Used To Work For Me

Nathan glanced at Walter Zahn and his wife, who were both lying half-dead on the floor. “Are they your subordinates?” he asked Thomas Dunn.

“Yes, he works for me,” Thomas Dunn acknowledged with shame, “His name is Walter Zahn.”

Nathan instantly flew into a rage, “Tell me, who gave you the authority to send out the armed forces for no valid reason, other than to parade them around like troupers?”

“That was my mistake, Sir. I will accept any punishment.” Thomas Dunn was full of remorse.

“Hand in your resignation once you've returned to camp. You are not fit for the post!” ordered Nathan.

“Yes, Sir. Thank you for your advice. I shall reflect on my mistake,” Thomas Dunn said humbly and reverently.

“That's good to hear.” Thomas Dunn won a nod of approval from Nathan for his positive attitude.

Thomas Dunn then turned towards the couple on the floor. “What are you still waiting for?” He barked at them, “Get on your knees and apologize! If you upset my Sir again, I'll make sure you won't live to see the next day.”

Walter Zahn and his wife clambered to their knees, groveling for forgiveness at Nathan's feet.

“Go and apologize to my wife and daughter.” Nathan was impassive to their plea.

They scrambled hastily to kneel in front of Penny and her daughter while sobbing with grief, “Mrs. Cross, Ms. Cross, it was all our fault. We were simply blinded by our own foolishness. Please have mercy on us and let us go, we beg you!”

Penny had recovered from her initial shock and fear. Her kind-hearted nature was easily swayed. Looking at the pathetic couple before her, she suggested to Nathan, “Why don't we give them a chance, since they look like they have genuinely repented? Besides, they have already received the punishment that they deserve.”

“Sure, as long as it pleases you, my dear.” Nathan's lips curved into a rare, tender smile.

His cheeky reply made her flush red.

Thomas Dunn could tell from the softness in Penny's eyes that she had already forgiven them. “What are you two still waiting for?”He shouted at Walter Zahn and his wife,

“Scram!”

The frantic couple seized the opportunity and stumbled to the door in feverish haste with their fat son in tow, as if they were running away from a huge catastrophe.

Thomas Dunn offered to throw a lavish welcoming party for Nathan, but the latter rejected his offer, making known his desire to spend some quality time with his family instead.

With a knowing look in his eyes, Thomas Dunn disappeared promptly and left Nathan with his family.

Nathan carried Queenie in his arms as the trio made their way out of the kindergarten.

“You're so awesome, Papa.” Little Queenie beamed with pride as she gazed at her father. “Now that you're back, I'm sure that nobody would dare to bully Mama and me again.”

“That's right, my princess,” Nathan said in a tone full of indulgence. “Papa will never let anyone bully you and Mama again.”

Penny listened quietly from the side with tears rolling down her cheeks. Queenie's elated face was a sight to behold.

...

Asiatic - the center of the city.

Penny lived in an old, dilapidated building that was located downtown Asiatic.

There were no elevators in the building.

With Queenie in his arms, Nathan climbed up six-stories to get to Penny's house.

“Come in, the place is pretty cramped and messy,” Penny invited Nathan in as she opened the door.

Inside the living room, Benson Smith, Penny's dad, was reading the newspaper with his reading glasses on.

Her mum, Leah Smith, was making dinner in the kitchen.

It surprised Benson to see his daughter bringing a man home with her.

This was the first time Penny had ever brought a guy home.

She had vowed to stay single and had insisted that she would raise Queenie on her own, blatantly refusing to attend the matchmaking sessions they had arranged for her.

Benson set down his papers and walked up to greet them.

“Hello, who is this gentleman?” He looked puzzled when he saw Queenie in Nathan's arms.

Penny tried to structure a suitable reply, but little Queenie had already answered in her bubbly voice, “He's my Papa, Grandpa. My Papa is back.”

“Does that mean that you're the beast who raped my daughter five years ago? So it's you who turned our lives into a living hell!”

Benson Smith was a soft-spoken, humble man who hardly raised his voice. He flew into a rare fit of rage when he discovered that the man standing in front of him was none other than the culprit who had raped her daughter five years ago. He was the one who had ruined her life by impregnating her and letting her raise their child on her own.

“I can't believe you have the audacity to come and look for her! I swear I'll chop off your head!”

A shrill voice penetrated the air when a woman ran out from the kitchen, swinging a cleaver madly. Leah Smith's body was quivering with rage.

Wah! The sudden outrage from her grandparents shocked little Queenie to the core, and she started wailing.

Penny held back her mother with all her might. “Mum, please don't----” she pleaded.

With Penny clinging tightly to her body, Leah could not budge.

“It's all because of you that we were kicked out of the family mansion by Benson's dad.” Leah pointed her cleaver at Nathan as she spat, “You've ruined Penny's life utterly and brought her nothing but pain. You're worse than a beast! You're a monster!”

It aggravated Benson to see that his usual calm and orderly world had been upturned by Nathan's sudden reappearance. The Penny and Queenie's wails almost drove him mad.

“That's enough!” Benson let out a roar that was uncharacteristic of his soft-spoken nature.

His bellow effectively brought Leah's wild emotions under control.

Benson seized the opportunity to take the cleaver away from Leah's hands. He pulled her into his arms to soothe her. “Get out of our house! Don't ever show your face again!” He shouted at Nathan scornfully, “The hurt you've inflicted on my daughter is irreparable. We've had enough of the pain and torture. Leave us alone!”

“I will not leave.” Nathan met his gaze with a determined look in his eyes. With Queenie in his arms, his insistence to make up for his family was reflected in his solemn and sincere tone.

“Trust me, I know the torment Penny went through all these years.”