Chapter 168 The Howards Come to Question

Chapter 168 The Howards Come to Question

Aurora's maid took the lead, striding into the courtyard and shouting at the top of her lungs.

"The Hamilton family claims to be a distinguished household, yet you've raised a daughter who uses such dirty tricks, luring our young master into taking forbidden drugs. Absolutely shameless. I'd like to know who taught you such manners."

Ernest and Aurora followed behind with dark expressions on their faces.

Patrick was the first to arrive, accompanied by Reid and Brynn.

Seeing the Howard family's aggressive manner, they were all stunned.

Patrick hadn't yet heard about Everett's incident. Seeing others barging into his home and making a scene, how could he be pleased?

"Mr. Howard, I've done nothing to wrong you in the past or present. You bring your servants barging into my residence—what exactly do you want?"

He was a military general, and his angry shout thundered through the air.

Though Ernest was a court official, his face was now dark as could be.

He stepped forward. "Yes, I'm wondering the same thing. I've done nothing to wrong you either, so why did you make your daughter harm my son? He ingested Elysian Dust. The doctor warned it nearly harmed his core, and you almost ended our family line."

By the end, Ernest's veins were bulging. Patrick was taken aback.

"Speak clearly. When did I ever make my daughter do anything?"

How could Cressida do such a thing? Patrick didn't believe it.

Aurora sneered coldly. "Truly shameless, still playing dumb at this point. Bring her in."

At her command, the maids pushed Rose inside.

Rose's hair was disheveled, her hands and feet bound, falling to the ground with cloth stuffed in her mouth, her face pale with terror.

Patrick froze. "Rose? What have you done now?"

The cloth was yanked from Rose's mouth, and she immediately cried out for help.

"Father, save me. I didn't encourage Everett to take Elysian Dust. When I met him, he had already been taking it for a while."

"You're lying." Aurora's eyes were bloodshot. "Our young master said it himself—you seduced him. Otherwise, he would never dare touch that drug. At such a young age, you're so vicious. You even made him rent a house just for you, where you did all sorts of shameful things with him. Absolutely disgraceful."

Ernest was even more furious. "If not for you, would my son have run naked through the streets? Now he's the laughingstock of the entire Emerald City. You deserve to die."

These accusations made Patrick understand completely.

Rose had actually been kept by Everett in a house outside, and she had given Everett forbidden drugs, causing him to streak through the streets—truly damaging to their reputation.

No wonder the Howard family was so angry.

Patrick immediately distanced himself.

"This is a goddaughter I took in. I knew nothing about what she did. You handle her yourselves."

"Patrick, that's really not right of you. You think one word 'goddaughter' lets you dodge responsibility? If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, I'll announce to the world that the Elysian Dust my son took was bought by you." Ernest said.

Patrick's eyes widened. "What nonsense are you spouting? Don't be unreasonable."

The two sides started arguing. Reid tried to intervene, but his voice was too soft.

Ernest, emotionally worked up, pushed with his hand. Reid stumbled backward, nearly falling.

Just then, a hand from behind steadied him.

Cressida, wearing a blue-green dress, stood behind Reid.

Seeing Cressida, Brynn breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Cressida, please handle this. This really has nothing to do with our family. Don't let other girls' reputations be ruined too." Reid said.

Patrick was so angry his face was red and his neck thick, almost ready to throw a punch.

Cressida stepped forward, positioning herself between him and Ernest. "Mr. Howard, whatever the matter is, we can discuss it in the front hall. Arguing here won't get you anywhere."

Seeing Cressida, the Howard family's fierce momentum immediately diminished by half.

"Ms. Hamilton, I'll give you that face."

He waved his hand and took Aurora to the main hall.

Patrick sat down and said irritably, "I told you, we knew nothing about what Rose did. Kill her or beat her as you see fit—why keep pestering us? She's not even my daughter."

Aurora sneered coldly. "How is she not? Rose personally told my son that your family raised her well for nearly ten years, and that Clio especially valued her. What, trying to deny it now?"

Patrick immediately felt in the wrong, extremely regretful.

It was Clio's suggestion back then. On the battlefield where death was almost certain, Cressida definitely wouldn't return. They couldn't let her sudden death arouse suspicion, so they brought back an orphan girl from outside. Later, Rose cured his leg, so she naturally stayed.

Now Patrick only regretted why he had listened to Clio back then. He had really shot himself in the foot.

"Bastard." Patrick stood up, roared, and kicked Rose in the abdomen.

She immediately rolled away, fell to the ground, spat out blood, her face deathly pale.

Rose writhed in pain, still begging for mercy.

"Father, please save me."

"Shut up. Don't call me father—you're not my daughter at all." Patrick was furious, wishing he could kill Rose on the spot.

At this moment, Cressida spoke calmly. "Aurora, it takes two to tango. Your son willingly bought Rose a house—that is a fact. Did anyone force him?"

"Furthermore, we truly didn't know about this. Rose did move out, but she told us she was going on a mountain trip with Ms. Howard to enjoy the scenery and would stay a few days. If we're talking about fault, she is wrong, but Everett is absolutely not innocent either."

The Howard couple's faces both changed.

Ernest stared at Cressida. "Ms. Hamilton, are you trying to shirk responsibility?"

Instead, Cressida asked calmly, "How do you want to handle this?"

Aurora raised her voice. "Compensation. My son's reputation has been completely ruined because of her. Five million dollars, and we'll drop this matter. Our two families will have no further contact. Otherwise, the Howard family will pursue this to the end, regardless of appearances."

Hearing five million dollars, Patrick nearly jumped up.

"This is extortion."

"My son is a knight. She seduced him into taking Elysian Dust, and the whole city knows about it. His career will definitely suffer from now on. This is all your fault." Ernest accused.

They refused to punish Rose and insisted on money, or else they would make a scene.

Patrick was so angry his chest hurt.

Cressida's eyes were dark as she looked coldly at the Howard couple.

"Money, we definitely won't give. This isn't our fault. If you want to make this bigger, we'll oblige."

After speaking, Cressida instructed Noah. "Go hang Rose on a post outside the city, so everyone coming and going can see and know exactly what terrible things she has done."

Everyone present was shocked. The Howard couple exchanged glances.

Things were already blown up. If they did this, their Everett's reputation would truly be completely destroyed.

They knew themselves that gossip could kill. They just wanted to take the money and be done with it, not make things worse.

Aurora said, "Ms. Hamilton, there's still room to negotiate."

"There's no room. My mind is made up. Someone, drag Rose out."

Cressida made the final call, swift and decisive, allowing no one to question her.