C229 The First Crack

Meanwhile... At the Wood family residence... The atmosphere was nothing like the cheerful morning at the Mooney family. Silence filled the dining room. Ever since Ben's emotional outburst the previous day, no one knew how to speak to one another anymore. Even breakfast felt unusually quiet. Ben slowly walked downstairs wearing a black suit. His face was calm, but his eyes showed determination.

Without greeting anyone, he walked straight toward Kelvin, who was quietly reading through a stack of company documents. "Dad." Kelvin looked up. "Hmm?" Ben placed a thick proposal file onto the table. "I finished it." Kelvin glanced at the title. Casino and Entertainment Investment Proposal. His brows rose slightly. "You stayed up all night preparing this?" Ben nodded. "I've already done the market research." "There aren't enough legal casinos around Edinburgh." "If we combine one with a high-end bar, the business will attract both tourists and wealthy customers."

Kelvin slowly flipped through several pages. Every detail had been prepared. Projected profits. Operating costs. Employee numbers. Security plans.bMarketing strategies. For the first time in a long while... He saw the capable businessman his son used to be. Tracy quietly looked over. "You really prepared all of this yourself?" Ben answered without much emotion. "I did." Kelvin closed the proposal. "I'll read everything carefully." "If there aren't any major problems..." "I'll release the five hundred thousand dollars we discussed."

For the first time that morning... A faint smile appeared on Ben's face. "Thank you." Without another word, he turned around. Tracy immediately stood up. "Ben." He stopped walking but didn't turn around. "My son..." "You haven't eaten anything." "The kitchen prepared your favorite breakfast." Ben remained silent. "You've been drinking since yesterday." "Your stomach can't handle that." "Sit down." "Eat something before leaving." Ben simply replied, "I'm not hungry." "Maybe your son-in-law is hungry." "Why don't you invite him over surely he would love that."

Tracy's eyes became moist. "Ben..." "Can we... talk later?" He remained facing the door. "Not today." A few seconds later... He walked out of the house. The sound of the front door closing echoed throughout the dining room. No one spoke. Sarah quietly lowered her head. Samantha sighed softly. The two of them did not even bother with him. Kelvin looked down at the proposal again. After several seconds he muttered, "I hope this business gives him a new beginning."

Outside... Ben climbed into his car. He immediately picked up his phone and dialed Natalie's number. Several rings later... A sleepy voice answered. "...Hello..." "Ben?" He smiled unconsciously. "Honey." "I need to see you." Natalie rubbed her eyes. "Ben..." "Do you know what time it is?" "I am still sleeping." "I know." "But this is important." "Meet me at the café near the shopping mall." Natalie yawned. "Can't it wait until later?" "No." "I'll be waiting." Before she could complain again... Ben had already ended the call.

Natalie stared at her phone before sighing. "He really doesn't give people a choice..." She slowly climbed out of bed. She lives Inside a small village near Abinhirm... Natalie's tiny family house looked old and worn. Paint peeled from the walls. The wooden floor creaked with every step. Despite its condition... Everything inside was spotless. Natalie walked into the sitting room. Her mother, Penelope, was already awake.

Although still weak from her illness... She slowly swept the floor while coughing occasionally. Natalie's heart immediately tightened. "Mom!" She hurried over and gently took the broom away. "I told you not to do housework." Penelope smiled weakly. "My child..." "You leave early every day." "You come home exhausted." "The least I can do is keep the house clean." Natalie shook her head. "But you're still recovering." "You need to rest."

Penelope gently touched her daughter's face. "I'm your mother." "Watching you work so hard hurts me more." Natalie forced a smile despite the pain in her heart. "Don't worry." "I received a promotion at Wood IT Company." "My salary will increase soon." "The doctors will continue your chemotherapy without interruption." "We'll also buy all your medication." Penelope's tired eyes became moist. "I've become such a burden."

Natalie immediately hugged her. "No." "You are my mother." "You raised me." "Now it's my turn." Penelope smiled gently. "I believe you." After comforting her mother, Natalie quietly walked into her bedroom. The smile on her face instantly disappeared. She leaned against the door. Her eyes slowly filled with tears. "...I'm sorry, Mom." "I lied." She no longer worked at Wood IT Company. The day Ben had been arrested... She had quietly resigned.

Without that salary... The chemotherapy bills had become almost impossible to pay. Ben... Was now her only hope. She looked toward the small envelope containing unpaid hospital bills. "I have to make this work..." "No matter what." "I must not delay it any longer." "But how can I do it." "Ben is ruthless what if he catches me." She remembered the slap she once got from Ben just because Mike made him angry. After taking a deep breath, she wiped away her tears, changed into a neat dress, grabbed her handbag and left for the taxi rank.

Nearly forty minutes later... The taxi stopped outside the shopping mall. Ben had already been waiting. The moment he saw Natalie walking toward him... He immediately stood up. A bright smile spread across his face. "Honey." Without caring about the people around them... He pulled her into a warm embrace. Natalie smiled. "You've missed me that much?" Ben chuckled. "Of course." "I've been thinking about you all morning." She lightly pinched his arm. "Flatterer." They both laughed before taking their seats.

A waiter approached. "What would you like to order?" Ben looked toward Natalie. "Ladies first." Natalie smiled politely. "A cappuccino and a chicken sandwich." Ben nodded. "I'll have a black coffee." Once the waiter left... Ben leaned forward excitedly. "Honey..." "I came up with a plan." Natalie blinked. "What kind of plan?" Ben's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A plan..." "...that will change our future forever."