C291 Samantha's Advise

Kelvin slowly shook his head as he looked at his son. There was disappointment in his eyes, but more than that, there was concern. "Son," he said quietly, "you have changed." He sighed heavily before continuing. "You have become so consumed by winning that you no longer stop to think whether something is right or wrong." Ben lowered his head but remained silent. Kelvin continued, his voice calm but firm. "The things you are doing now will eventually ruin the reputation of our family."

He stood up from his chair. "It is decided." "I will personally go and see Mr. Weatherby." "If he has suffered because of our family's affairs, then we have a responsibility to make things right." He looked directly at Ben. "As for you..." "Forget about this matter." "Use your time to plan the next stage of your renovations." "At least let your business start on the right foundation." Without waiting for an answer, Kelvin reached for Tracy's hand. "Wife." "Let's go upstairs and get dressed." "We'll visit Mr. Weatherby together." Tracy nodded gently. "Alright."

The two of them slowly walked upstairs, leaving the dining room unusually quiet. Soon, only Ben and Samantha remained. An awkward silence settled between them. Neither of them spoke for several moments. Finally, Ben broke the silence. "So..." He looked at Samantha. "You also think I'm always the one who's wrong?" His voice was softer than before. "As my wife..." "...shouldn't you at least support me?" Samantha smiled faintly. Instead of answering immediately, she asked her own question. "Ben..." "Have you already forgotten what happened just a few weeks ago?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?" She looked at him calmly. "You came into this very house proudly introducing your new girlfriend." "You told everyone you wanted to divorce me." "You even said you were going to marry someone else." She paused. "Have you forgotten..." "...or should I remind you who that woman was?" Ben forced a smile, but no words came out. After a long silence he quietly asked, "Sam..." "Did you ever love me?" He hesitated before asking the second question. "Or..." "Will you ever love me?" Samantha answered without hesitation. "No."

The single word landed heavily. She continued before Ben could misunderstand. "Not if you continue living like this." She looked straight into his eyes. "If you keep making decisions that bring danger to this family..." "...then no." "And if you continue believing you're smarter than everyone around you..." "...people will keep taking advantage of you." Ben frowned. "So you are also saying I'm a fool?" Samantha shook her head. "No." "I'm saying you're easy to fool." She leaned slightly forward. "Because your weakness is obvious."

Ben remained silent. "You crave power." "You crave success." "You want people to admire you." "And anyone who promises you those things immediately earns your trust." She sighed softly. "That's why you're dangerous to yourself." Ben clenched his fists. Samantha continued. "Think about Jack." "The day you were released from prison..." "...your father warned you about him." "You nodded." "You acted as though you understood." "But look where you are now." "Today you're proudly calling him your friend."

She looked disappointed. "He beat an innocent old man." "Mr. Weatherby never harmed him." "He simply wanted to sell his warehouse." "Yet Jack nearly crippled him..." "...all because he wanted to help you." She paused. "And even after seeing that..." "...you still don't think anything is wrong." Ben slowly lowered his eyes. His confidence was beginning to disappear. Samantha noticed. "What happens when one day Jack asks for something in return?" Ben answered quietly, "I'll gladly return every favour."

Samantha smiled sadly. "There." "That's exactly why I said you're easy to fool." She folded her arms. "Do you honestly believe the favours he'll ask from you will be as simple as the ones you're asking from him?" Ben remained quiet. "What if one day..." "...he asks you to kill someone?" The room instantly fell silent. Ben's expression stiffened. Samantha continued calmly. "What if he tells you that killing someone is the only way to repay your debt?" "What will you do?" "If you refuse..." "...you'll not be returning the favor you owe him." "If you agree..." "...you'll carry that guilt for the rest of your life."

She took a slow breath. "And when the police arrest you..." "...will Jack come and save you?" She slowly shook her head. "Or..." "...will you once again blame your father for not visiting you in prison?" "For not bailing you out?" "When all this time..." "...you've ignored every warning he has given you." For the first time since the conversation began... Ben couldn't bring himself to look Samantha in the eyes. His head slowly dropped. Samantha noticed immediately. A faint smile appeared on her face. "You already know." "You know deep inside that this road is dangerous."

She stood up from her chair. "So stop now." "Before it's too late." She looked at him one last time. "Remember..." "Jack is connected to a drug syndicate." "That danger won't stay with him forever." "One day it will reach your bar." "It will reach your business." "And maybe..." "...it will even reach this family." She walked toward the staircase before stopping. "If I were you..." "I'd cut every tie with him." Without another word, Samantha walked upstairs.

Unbeknownst to Ben, Kelvin and Tracy had been standing halfway up the staircase the entire time. The couple exchanged satisfied smiles. Kelvin quietly raised a thumbs-up toward Samantha. Samantha smiled back before disappearing into her room. Kelvin and Tracy also returned to their bedroom. Soon... Ben was left alone in the silent dining room. For the first time... He felt trapped. Everything Samantha had said echoed inside his mind.

Every favour he had asked from Jack... Every warning his father had given him... Every mistake he had ignored... What if everyone was right? What if the debt he owed Jack one day became something he could never repay? Ben slowly leaned back in his chair. For the first time in a very long while... He wasn't thinking about revenge. He was thinking about the consequences.