Chapter 68 Late Night Meeting with Miguel, Discovered by Marshall?
Patrick couldn't believe it. He snatched the IOU and looked at it - it was real.
Michael had signed and sealed it himself!
"That worthless son!" Patrick cursed, his voice full of anger, his face flushed red with rage.
Rhys bowed and said, "I've been trying to collect from Mr. Michael Hamilton before. He kept saying 'in a few days,' but now I can't find him at all. That's why I had to come to The Hamilton Mansion. Please forgive me, Mr. Patrick Hamilton."
"If word gets out about dragging out debts, it won't be good for your reputation either."
Hearing this, Patrick glared at Rhys fiercely.
"Noah!" Patrick roared. "Go to the accounts office and get him the money."
Patrick then threatened Rhys: "If you dare say one word about this outside, I'll shut down your gambling house!"
Rhys lowered his head: "Now that the debt is cleared, how would I dare cause more trouble?"
Soon, Noah brought the money. Rhys counted it on the spot, then bowed to Patrick and said, "Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. I'll take my leave now."
As soon as Rhys left, Patrick tore the IOU into pieces and threw them up in the air, where they fell like snowflakes.
"This is the fine son you've spoiled!" Patrick glared at Clio angrily. "You said he went missing, but I think he's just hiding because he's afraid his gambling debts would be discovered!"
Clio shook her head, crying: "That's impossible. Where would Michael get so much money?"
Clio suddenly looked at Cressida and demanded: "Did you give it to him!"
Cressida's tone was calm: "Why are you blaming me again, Mother? Whoever lured Michael into gambling in the first place could be the one."
Patrick gritted his teeth: "It was that bitch Rose! I said from the start we shouldn't have taken her in, but you wouldn't listen. Now look - she's gotten Michael hooked on gambling, that worthless boy."
"When Michael comes back, I'll break his legs!" Patrick said, then stormed off in anger.
Cressida gave Echo a look to follow and attend to him.
Cressida also got up to leave. As she passed Clio, she bent down, her full red lips forming a curve.
"Mother," Cressida's voice was soft, "why are you so anxious? It's not like Michael is dead."
Clio quickly looked up, her pupils contracting as she stared at Cressida.
"What are you trying to say?"
"He must be hiding because he owes too much and is afraid of Father's scolding. Your precious daughter Rose has ended up harming Michael after all."
With that, Cressida left without looking back.
"Stop right there, stop!" Clio screamed, wanting to get up and chase after her, but she had no strength.
In the end, Nanny helped Clio up.
"Mrs. Hamilton, you have a heart condition. You must take care of yourself!"
"Where has my Michael gone? He's never been away this long. Something must be wrong!"
As Clio spoke, her gaze fell on Dax, a servant who was cowering and trembling nearby.
Dax had been serving Michael all along - he must know something.
Clio's eyes were terrifying as she pointed at Dax: "You, come back to the main house with me. I have questions for you!"
They returned to the main house and went inside, closing the door.
Dax fell to his knees: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton, I really don't know where Mr. Michael Hamilton went. Mr. Michael Hamilton only told me to lure away the people in Wisteria Terrace's kitchen. Maybe, maybe he was planning something against Ms. Cressida Hamilton."
Clio's heart raced: "Planning something against Cressida? What did Michael want to do?"
Dax shook his head: "I don't know. Mr. Hamilton said it was just to teach her a lesson, but who knew - when I came back, Mr. Hamilton was gone."
Michael wouldn't have told Dax exactly what he planned to do.
Clio gasped, her eyes wide, tears streaming down her haggard cheeks.
Clio grabbed Nanny's sleeve: "Something must have happened to my Michael. It must be Cressida's doing. What do we do, Nanny, what do we do!"
Nanny winced as Clio's grip hurt her, but she had to endure the pain and say: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton, please calm down!"
"How could Ms. Cressida Hamilton have the ability to harm Mr. Michael Hamilton? If Ms. Cressida Hamilton really had that kind of mind, she wouldn't have given up all her military power and come back to Emerald City in the first place. She's too attached to family - you know that. If she killed Mr. Michael Hamilton, Mr. Patrick Hamilton would be the first to not let her off."
"No, no!" Clio shook her head in panic. "Cressida is very different this time compared to ten years ago."
Just now, Cressida had even dared to tell Clio to divorce Patrick!
For Cressida to say something so outrageous, Patrick should have slapped her on the spot. But that damned woman had revealed the secret that Patrick's other women couldn't have children.
Clio immediately ordered Nanny: "Go tell Octavia to move out right now and hide! Also, send people to look for Michael. If Mr. Hamilton won't care, we'll spend our own money to hire people to search!"
Clio didn't even bother to take her medicine. She went to the manor's prayer room to pray to the gods for Michael's safety.
That night, a fine rain began to fall.
Before Cressida went to bed, she received word that Miguel wanted to see her.
So Cressida put on a light cloak and left the manor through the back door at night, heading to Prince Palace.
They met in Miguel's study as usual. He wore formal attire and sat behind the desk with an imposing presence.
"Did you see the butterfly lamp? Do you like it?" he asked.
Cressida lowered her head: "Thank you, Your Highness Miguel. My sister Jessica really likes it."
"I'm asking if you like it."
"I do." Cressida said quietly.
Only then did Miguel nod: "It wasn't in vain that I fought for it. I always thought girls would like this kind of thing."
Cressida was about to ask why he kept giving her things when a figure appeared at the door, dressed in white.
From the corner of her eye, Cressida recognized him as the person who had delivered the note to the residence last time.
His martial arts skills were excellent - he landed as gracefully and silently as a crane.
"Your Highness Miguel, His Highness Marshall is here. He'll be at the study door any moment."
Cressida's head snapped up to look at Miguel.
Miguel said: "Hide behind the curtain."
Cressida immediately moved. Miguel simultaneously blew out the lamp on the desk and lit two others nearby.
This way, Cressida's silhouette wouldn't show through the curtain.
Cressida had just positioned herself behind the curtain when she heard footsteps entering. Marshall's voice followed.
"Patrick, sorry for coming over so suddenly without telling you first. Don't blame me."
"It's fine. I wasn't sleepy anyway."
The atmosphere between Marshall and Miguel seemed harmonious, not like rivals at all.
Cressida heard the sound of tea being poured into cups, but Marshall said: "I came so late because I received word that at tomorrow's morning court, a group of ministers will petition for Yosef to take over the Royal Capital Second Guard."
Marshall seemed somewhat angry, his palm pressing on the desk with a dull thud.
"Their ambition is undisguised. The authority to command the royal guards was just stripped from me by Father, and now they want to fight for it."
"Father won't agree," Miguel's tone was calm. "The bandits at the Flower Festival came so suddenly that Father suspects it was Yosef's doing. Reducing Yosef's power was Father's decision."
Marshall: "But they're bringing up again how Yosef took a blade for Father back then. Knowing Father as we do, he'll definitely soften."
"Marshall, what do you mean?"
"I mean you should fight for it. I'd rather you control the royal guards than let it fall into Yosef's hands."
"Father doesn't like power imbalances. I already hold military power - he definitely won't want to give me more."
"Then tell him you've found General Hamilton's remains."
A loud crash.
A dull thud came from behind the curtain.
Marshall's suspicious gaze swept over: "What was that sound? Is someone behind the curtain?"