Salute To The General

Chapter 7 A Discarded Treasure

The unexpected appearance of Derek Harvey left Penny and her family reeling from the sudden, inexplicable turn of events.

Curiosity got the better of Benson when they were back at the dining table, continuing their breakfast. “Your words came true when you'd said Mr. Harvey would show up today to apologize in person.” He cast an inquisitive glance at Nathan, “Do you have something to do with this?”

"How could this be possible? I'm sure that it's merely a coincidence.” Leah snorted, “He hardly had stepped out of the house the entire night. There's no way that he could be involved,” she insisted. “Besides, what makes you think that a homeless bum like him could get Mr. Harvey to show up with his apology?”

“I'm sure that this is due to his conscience that has been haunting him with horrible nightmares, reminding him of what karma would befall on him if he'd continued with his vices.”

“That's why he showed up at such wee hours of the morning.” She shrugged, “He was merely following his conscience, that's all.”

Leah was a devout believer who had never skipped a prayer throughout her life. Hence she would attribute all unexplained events to karma, fate, and retribution.

Benson was skeptical of Leah's explanation; he found it wrought with superstition.

Yet he could not agree more with Leah when she proclaimed that Nathan was incapable of performing such a heroic feat when all he had done was loitering around doing nothing. How could he get Derek Harvey to show up and apologize, let alone if he could not even get himself a proper job?

He speculated that it had all boiled down to Derek Harvey's own conscience, which had prompted him to feel remorseful.

A different vibe struck Penny about the whole matter. She reckoned that it was likely masterminded by Nathan and executed by Thomas Dunn.

It takes a monster to kill a monster. There would be no suitable candidate for the job, other than Thomas Dunn, who was a hundred times more ruthless and diabolical than Derek Harvey.

While she was glad to escape unscathed from the turmoil, she knew that it was all due to the influence of Thomas Dunn, whom of which Nathan had already helped Nathan on two occasions. She firmly believed it would be impossible for Thomas Dunn to help them again for the third time. Their luck would run out soon, and it was vital for Nathan to rein in his rashness.

Meanwhile, at the Royale Villa Residences, the Smith Family's Mansion.

Sean Smith, the patriarch of the Smith family, together with Samuel Smith and Paul Smith, his eldest and his third son, was having a conversation in the study.

“I found it simply outrageous,” Paul complained. “How could Mr. Harvey let Penny off the hook and, calling us up to inform us that he would continue to partner with us?”

“Mr. Harvey is a shrewd businessman. I bet that he would not want to meddle with Penny's lunatic boyfriend A mad and penniless guy like him has nothing to lose. Mr. Harvey knew better than to waste his time with that hooligan, subjecting himself to unnecessary risk.” Samuel explained, “It's better for him to drop it altogether and let the matter pan out.”

Sean expressed a scornful grimace the moment he heard Samuel talk about Penny and Nathan. “It sickens me to the core whenever I hear her name. What have I done to deserve such a shameless granddaughter like her? She has utterly ruined our family’s name!”

up with a baneful suggestion, “Dad, since we're having your seventieth birthday banquet tomorrow, why don’t we banish Benson

front of our friends

would others think of us if we expel them from our family? It would look bad on us and make us look petty and callous if they compare

had been invited to her grandpa’s seventieth birthday banquet, which would be held at the Grand Hyatt

part of the Smith family since Sean had given them the green light to attend the

it was a thorny issue when they had tried

on us.” Penny suggested, “We should think of a present that

think of one, but it was

you just leave it to me? I assure you that we'll give Sean an extraordinary

are you sure about this?” Penny eyed him skeptically, “Do you really think that you can find a present that would please

to do.” Nathan offered her

Smith, who will celebrate his birthday tomorrow. The present doesn't have to be most lavish, but it must be the best

Dunne answered with absolute

The following day.

as they were about to leave

smiled,

was an

sealed up in plastic. It was almost the size of a

brooded with fear. They dreaded to think of Sean's response upon seeing such a preposterous

tiny little pill be our birthday present? Are you out of your mind, Nathan?” Penny was

benignly, “This pill was cultivated more than sixty years ago, its name is Phoenixia. It was made with the rarest and most precious medicinal herbs and ingredients that have a miraculous effect on illnesses caused

it was a gift carefully chosen by Colin Dunne, as

that Sean was flushed with cash; he was never short of

and plagued with the three highs; hypertension,

money to get

by surprise when they heard

because of their shoestring budget, not to mention they were running out of time

completely sure of this, Nathan? This pill could really work

“Absolutely.” Nathan asserted.

they gave him the benefit of doubt and made the

pray hard that what Nathan had said was true, that this was indeed a miracle pill. Otherwise, they could land up heading home with their tails

and company showed up punctually at the entrance of Grand Hyatt