The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 17

"Yes, and what kind of man argues over a mere ten dollars—pocket change that could barely buy anything," Earl said dismissively.

Nicklaus immediately looked at the man. Ten dollars wasn't just pocket change to him—that amount could handle several small necessities.

Earl reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill.

"You can have this. I can see you're one of those who lives beyond their means, desperately dependent on handouts," Earl said, causing Frederick to feel immediately embarrassed.

He looked around shamefully and took the money from Earl.

Nicklaus was immediately skeptical—he didn't want a situation where Earl would later claim he owed him a hundred dollars, just like Frederick had done.

"Earl, please take your ninety dollars change back. I don't want to be indebted for a hundred dollars," he said with complete seriousness.

"What do you mean, indebted? I'm not lending you this money," Earl replied, causing Nicklaus's eyes to widen in shock.

Whatever these people needed him for was either going to be very bad or very good—at the moment, he was caught between uncertainty.

Rita suddenly began coughing intensely in the room. This wasn't a minor cough—it was severe.

Nicklaus rushed to her, ignoring everything else. She took the water from him and drank it desperately, as if her life depended on it.

She drank until the bottle was nearly empty.

"I feel better now," she said. It seemed as though she had been suppressing the urge to cough because she didn't want Nicklaus to worry.

Earl checked his watch and said, "Mr. Nicklaus Henshaw, I'm afraid we've used all our available time here. You must come with us now." His words made it clear there was no more time to waste.

Nicklaus turned to look at his sister. She smiled warmly, indicating she was okay, but before he could take another step, Gabriel saw this as the perfect opportunity to humiliate him.

Gabriel had noticed how politely the Fin family staff spoke to Nicklaus—it was too respectful for his liking.

"Mr. Earl, I hate to disturb you, but I want to know what this man has done! Will he be taken to the police station, or will he work off his crime? If he owes the Fin family money, that's not the only debt he has," Gabriel paused for emphasis, waiting for a reaction from Earl, but received none.

"Mr. Gabriel, we don't have time for this. I'm sorry, but we must leave now. We won't entertain your desire for public mockery," Earl said firmly. Each word hit its mark, and Gabriel's face turned red with embarrassment.

"This isn't about mockery. This man here..."

"How much does he owe this hospital? Enough to shut it down?" Earl asked sternly, causing Gabriel to swallow hard.

"I don't owe this hospital anything," Nicklaus stated.

"What? All your sister's treatment—did you pay for any of it?" Gabriel asked, causing Nicklaus to narrow his eyes while maintaining a straight face.

"What are you talking about?" Nicklaus asked, raising his eyebrows.

Gabriel was so enraged he clenched his fists. "You worthless man! Did you pay for the final treatment I provided to make her well again? You nearly killed her, remember?"

This caused Nicklaus to burst into laughter.

Before Nicklaus could respond, his sister called out from the room, "You didn't do anything! Don't lie. If not for my brother, I would be dead."

She was grateful to be alive, but part of her wished she weren't. Staying alive meant giving her brother more stress and worry—the last thing she wanted.

She had noticed the pain in her brother's eyes whenever he saw her suffering.

"I overheard when you told Dr. Stevens that I might die in two days, and neither of you cared. You didn't bother treating me. In fact, you issued strict orders that no one should attend to me," she said.

Gabriel was stunned. "You were unconscious—how could you hear any of that?" he asked with visible fear. The way people were staring at him made him terrified.

"While I was in a coma, I heard everything. I just couldn't respond or speak," she explained, causing Gabriel to swallow hard. There were other things he had said that made him feel ashamed she had heard.

"You'd better let my brother go, because even with all your money, your reputation will still be ruined," she said.

Gabriel raised his eyebrows. "Is that a threat?"

"What do you think it is?" Rita asked. Even with her weak voice, she was bold, and Gabriel scoffed. He decided to step back and not push further.

Gabriel walked away, causing a slight smile to appear on Nicklaus's face.

"I'll be back," Nicklaus said to his sister, though he didn't entirely believe those words himself.

He swallowed hard and turned to Earl. "We can leave."

They walked out of the hospital and made their way to the parking lot.

An SUV was waiting. The two men in black suits sat in the front—one driving, the other in the passenger seat.

As Nicklaus settled into the back seat next to Earl, his eyes immediately caught sight of a gun in Earl's jacket pocket. Nicklaus swallowed hard in fear.