Salute To The General
Chapter 12 Beg In Person For The Pill

Chapter 12 Beg In Person For The Pill

Nathan and Penny came to the amusement park on the ninth floor to replace Queenie playing at theslides 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 thepark.

“I have chased them away.” Nathan replied with a subtle grin, “I've told them to get Samuel here toplead 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 awayto Samuel as if it doesn't cost a dime. Think of how he had bullied us all this time. Don't expect I'lllet 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 theplayground. Half an hour passed when a group of men dressed impeccably in suits came up tothem.

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

Samuel was not his usual arrogant self, as he was beaming with friendliness when he walked over inquick steps. “Hello, my dear Benson and Leah, I'm so glad to see all of you here!” he greeted themwith 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 mysister-in-law.” Samuel explained apologetically, “It made me feel really sorry for that. Let me offermy 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 replaceing me picky and pushy? So that you can play the saintwhile I'm the villain?” She wrung her hands and shouted at him, “Fine, I'll wash my hands off thismatter 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 himhis sympathy. “You can't blame her, Benson. It was our own making that had caused her to loatheand resent us. I know Dad, Paul, and myself included, have been too harsh on you and your family inthe 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 verytender 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 understandingtone, “We are all family, right? We are brothers of the same blood and flesh, our bond isunbreakable. 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 wasgetting 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 asip too much and landed in the hospital with a stroke. The doctor has warned us that his life isunder threat.”

“Notwithstanding his shortcomings, he is still our father who's brought us to this world. Do youwant to be haunted with shame for the rest of your life for watching our father suffer in pain andnot 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 heneeds 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 hadmistreated 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 clutchedSamuel's hand and cried plaintively, “I'll ask Nathan for the pill and we'll give it to dad at thehospital.”

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 wickedlyexploited Benson's soft-hearted nature with all those mawkish and sentimental talks. He was a slyand shameless monster, in Nathan's opinion.

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

“Sure, Benson. I know what you are asking for. Ill 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 himthe pill. Yet he could not ignore the consequences should Benson refuse to give him the pill. Itwould only make Benson looked callous and selfish, and everyone in Channing would ridicule himas 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 himfrom being attacked by such criticisms.

Besides, it could help rebuild the relationship between Benson and Sean, enabling him to get backinto 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.

Penny's face was flushed red to her scalp as she stole a sidelong glance at Nathan. This guy seemsfull of tricks, she mumbled to herself, look how he has easily won over my dad!

With the pill, Benson took Nathan and Penny along with him, as they followed Samuel to thehospital.

It angered Leah to discover that her husband had given away the pill to save his dad. It filled herwith such burning rage that she had refused to go with them to the hospital. She took Queeniehome with her instead.

At the First Hospital in Channing, Benson handed the pill over to the attending doctor of SeanSmith.

With the help of the nurses, the attending doctor gave the pill to Sean for immediate consumption,for he was well aware of its miraculous effects.

Samuel, Paul, Benson, Penny, and the others were pacing outside the ICU room, waiting impatientlyfor the doctor to update them on Sean's condition.

The doors of the ICU swung open.

"How was it, doctor? Did the pill work for my dad?” Samuel and the rest waited for his reply withbated breaths.

“It's a miracle, it's simply miraculous!” The doctor announced excitedly, “Sean's condition improveddrastically after he had taken the pill. Though it is unrealistic to expect instant recovery after takingthe pill, it would still require some time for him to recover from a critical illness such as stroke.”“Don't get too worried about it, I estimate that it would only take about ten to fourteen days forSean to see a full recovery.”

“The patient is still in a state of delirium, and he needs to recuperate after taking the pill. I'd adviseyou guys to leave him alone and let him have a good rest,” advised the doctor.

They thanked the doctor and took note of his advice.

"We owe it to you, Benson,” Samuel explained with a pretentious grin after the doctor left them andreturned to his office.

“That's alright, Samuel. As long as Dad is fine.” Benson was genuinely happy that Sean had made itthrough.

"But there must be some reward in return for your help.” Samuel insisted.

"Speaking of which, didn’t Penny graduate with a civil engineering degree? Wouldn't it be such apity to make her work in Diva, that subsidiary company of ours? I know that she has been asking fora transfer to Grande Group in the past few years.”

“How about this? Since I'm the CEO of Grande Group, I'll approve for Penny to be transferred toGrande Group to be our General Manager. How does that sound?”

Both Benson and Penny could not be more surprised and delighted with his suggestion.

Getting into Grande Group was the only way to have access to the central core of the power of theSmith Family empire.

"Are you sure about this, Uncle Samuel?” Penny shrilled with delight until her voice cracked.

“Do I sound like I'm lying, silly girl?” Samuel guffawed, “Though dad is still the President of thecompany and I'm just the CEO, it's well within my authority to appoint a general manager.”

Benson and Penny were both over the moon when they heard his proposal, except for differentreasons.

With Penny now belonging as part of the central core of power, Benson read it as a recognition oftheir status within the Smith dynasty.

From Penny's perspective, it was the opportunity that she had been waiting for to showcase hertalent and skills.

Benson was still on cloud nine when he left the hospital with Nathan and Penny. It all seemed sosurreal to him as they were simply too good to be true. “Don’t you replace Samuel such a nice guy?” hequipped as they made their way home.

Back in the hospital, the few of them, including Miles and May, gathered around Samuel with aconcerned look in their eyes.

"How could you do this to me, Dad?” Miles raised his voice in anger, “It's bad enough that you'd letPenny join our company. But how could you let her take over my post? What do you expect me todo now?”

"He's right, Dad.” May jumped in, “How could you let that b**** hold the important position ofgeneral manager?”

“Penny has brought such great shame to our family. Don’t you think that it would only cause usmore embarrassment to make her the general manager of Grande Group?” Paul resented.

“That's exactly what I intend to do, guys.” Samuel responded to their complaints with a sardonicsmirk, “Let her make a fool out of herself!”

Everyone gazed at Samuel puzzledly, as if he was speaking Greek.

“I have gotten the script ready, so let's just put up a good show.” Samuel explained his sinister plan,"Wait till dad comes round, we'll simply tell him that Benson had used the pill to threaten us intogiving Penny the post of general manager of Grande Group, or he would refuse to give us the pill tosave Dad.”

“Left with no choice, we had to swallow the bitter pill and give in to his outrageous demand to allowPenny to become the general manager of Grande Group.”

His vicious plan was music to their ears, which caused them to gloat with wicked grins.

“This is such an ingenious idea, Dad.” approached Miles, “I'm sure that it will make Grandpa loathethem even more.”

Samuel gave him a pat on the shoulder and flashed a gratifying grin, “Just be patient and let theb**** warm your seat for a few days, Miles. Soon we will boot her out of the company when yourgrandpa comes around. It would take him just one word to kick her out of Grande Group.”

“I'm afraid that he wouldn't the matter rest so easily, given Grandpa's fiery temper.” Miles chuckled,“Not only he would kick her out of the company, but he'll kick her entire family out as well.”