Chapter 164: Betrothal Decided, Wrath Unleashed

After finishing her tasks, Cressida made time to visit the main residence.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Jessica losing her temper with the steward.

"Tell him to leave. Don't let him sit there. If others see this, they'll think our family is bullying him."

The steward wrung his hands, looking troubled. "I've already tried to persuade him, but Mr. Nguyen refuses to leave."

Jessica's smile had completely vanished, replaced by obvious displeasure. Just as she was about to say more, she caught sight of Cressida entering the courtyard and immediately controlled her emotions.

"Cressida... you're here."

Cressida looked at her. "What's going on? Is Peter outside?"

Jessica knew she couldn't hide it from her, so she nodded.

The steward, seizing the opportunity for help, told Cressida everything that had happened over the past few days.

It turned out that ever since Marlon had demanded an autopsy at Michael's burial, Jessica had refused to see Peter. No matter how Peter sent messages through others or deliberately waited for her on the street when she went out, Jessica never acknowledged him.

Peter was so anxious he couldn't sleep, so he came to sit outside the main residence's gate every day, staying on the front steps, waiting for Jessica to come out and see him.

The steward sighed. "It's been five or six days now. Mr. Nguyen comes every day. We really don't know what to do."

Cressida's tone was calm. "That's not difficult. If Jessica doesn't want to see him, just drive him away. Have the footmen remove him, or set the dogs on him—see if he can still sit there."

"What?" Jessica immediately became nervous. "Cressida... wouldn't that be too much?"

Cressida raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say yourself you don't want to see him?"

"Yes, but I don't want to humiliate him either."

At this point, Cressida understood what was really going on.

Cressida looked at the steward. "Go tell Mr. Nguyen that if he keeps sitting at the gate, with so many people coming and going seeing him, it will only make people suspicious of Jessica, thinking she's putting her personal feelings on display for everyone, which is bad for her reputation. Also tell him that if he really cares for her and truly has her best interests at heart, he should leave now."

The steward hurried off to carry out the order.

After a while, he returned to report. "Ms. Hamilton, you were absolutely right. Mr. Nguyen left immediately after hearing that, though he kept looking back—he's probably still reluctant to go."

Cressida waved him away, then sat down with Jessica at the garden table in the courtyard.

The two shared a pot of tea, though Jessica's delicate face showed faint worry.

Cressida broke the silence. "Are you really angry with Peter?"

"Cressida, even though I didn't like Michael, when Marlon demanded an autopsy in front of everyone, that was disrespectful to our family, and even more disrespectful to you. If I could say it was his duty, I wouldn't blame him, but Peter and I are so close, and he didn't give me any advance warning about something this big."

Jessica continued, unable to hold back her anger. "He didn't even consider whether we'd be embarrassed, so why should I see him?"

The autumn wind blew through the courtyard, gently lifting the shawls on their shoulders.

Cressida asked casually, "Don't you care for him anymore? Don't you want to marry him?"

She could clearly see that Peter and Jessica had feelings for each other.

Jessica opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but held back.

She lowered her head, fidgeting with her sleeve. "Cressida, Ethan told me before that Peter's mother and Princess Russell have been close friends since they were girls. If I get too close to him, it will cause you trouble."

Cressida looked at her. "Trouble?"

"Both Ethan and I can see that Princess Russell and Odette both want to pull you to their side. Ethan and I discussed it—even if we can't help you, we shouldn't become your burden."

When Jessica looked up, her eyes were already red.

Only now did Cressida realize that Jessica had already made her choice without her knowledge.

This seventeen-year-old girl was thinking further ahead than many adults. She was considering the family, and even more so, considering Cressida.

"Jessica." Cressida reached out and grasped her hand across the table. "Are you afraid that your marriage will make others think I'm taking sides, that I'm aligning myself with someone?"

Jessica nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "Peter is very good, but he's not from the top tier of Emerald City society. There are so many other young men from prominent families to choose from. It's not like he's my only option."

Though her words were firm, tears fell one by one, already revealing her true feelings.

Jessica brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I'll use this opportunity to break things off cleanly with him, let him understand this relationship is no longer possible. That's better for him too."

Cressida watched her bow her head and wipe away tears, her gaze calm and clear.

"Jessica, I think you've got this all wrong. Have you considered that Peter is an only child, with no siblings, and the sole legitimate heir of the Nguyen family?"

"But... what does that mean?"

"It means that as long as you're confident you can make him truly trust you and listen to your counsel, you'll have a chance to help decide which side the Nguyen family ultimately stands on."

Jessica was clearly stunned, hearing this perspective for the first time.

Cressida continued explaining. "The Nguyen family will eventually be in his hands. If you marry into it and become the lady of the Nguyen family, whether you stand with Princess Russell or align with Odette in the future, you and your husband can decide for yourselves, rather than having others choose for you."

Jessica hesitated. "But Mrs. Nguyen is very close to Princess Russell..."

"No relationship stays the same forever. People only choose to stand together when their interests align, but who can guarantee they'll always have the same goals?"

Cressida's perspective seemed to pull her out of a narrow corner, and Jessica began to reimagine how this could unfold.

Jessica wasn't a naive little girl. Under Mabel's guidance, she'd received a good education, was well-mannered, and clever enough. Whether as the young lady of the Nguyen family or eventually its full mistress, Cressida believed she could gradually learn to manage the household and wield influence.

"Jessica, I'm just thinking from your perspective. You'll have to marry someone eventually, so you should marry someone you love who also loves you. Rather than marrying you into a family that only cares about status and background, where you'd be a young wife ignored by her husband and constantly suppressed by your mother-in-law, I think the Nguyen family is a better choice."

"Cressida..." Jessica's tears flowed again, beyond her control.

Cressida handed her a handkerchief. "While the Hamilton name still stands and still commands respect, I can arrange suitable marriages for you and your fifth sister."

Jessica looked up somewhat dazed. "What about you?"

"I have more important things to do. Conveniently, you and your fifth sister are both of marriageable age. From engagement to wedding takes at least a year."

Cressida had already thought through all these details.

Since she'd decided to reach some kind of cooperation with Miguel, she had to settle her sisters first. Otherwise, if something happened to her, Patrick and Clio would never treat them well.

Jessica asked softly, "So, Cressida, what should I do now? Should I go find Peter?"

"Don't rush to find him yet. You need to let him know that marrying you isn't something easily obtained. Make him nervous first, let him understand you have other options—only then will he truly cherish you in the days to come."

Cressida reassured her and told her not to worry, because she already had a plan.

"I've already sent formal invitations to several families of standing, asking them to come to our home for an autumn party in fifteen days. At the same time, I'll spread the word that this autumn party is to select future husbands for you and your younger sister. Let Peter worry. With real competition, he'll show real sincerity."

She also wanted everyone to know that marrying Jessica was an opportunity Peter had to fight for repeatedly, so that Peter's family wouldn't look down on her in the future.

Combined with the influence of their title, Jessica's life would only get better, not worse.

Jessica suddenly rushed over and leaned against Cressida's shoulder, crying.

"Cressida, I don't even know how to thank you! If I could, I'd want to stay by your side forever!"

"Don't talk nonsense. If Mabel were awake, she'd worry about your marriage too. Now that she's ill, of course I have to think it through for her."

Soon, Cressida put all the arrangements in motion.

She sent invitations to thirty-six families of standing, and all of them replied within a day, saying they would definitely attend the party.

Cressida also spread the word that she was selecting husbands for Jessica and her fifth sister. Since she was using the pretext of arranging marriages for her sisters, naturally Rose couldn't be excluded.

Patrick left everything to Cressida and Brynn. Every day, aside from keeping Echo company, he circulated among the powerful and high officials, listening to their flattery, drunk on his own importance, completely ignoring the estate's operations.

Cressida only issued a symbolic order.

"Go ask my mother to come, and tell her I've selected a suitable match for Rose. If she has no objections, I'll proceed with this decision."

Ingrid went, and returned shortly after. "Ms. Hamilton, I hadn't even entered when your mother flew into a rage. She said you don't respect her and that you must go ask her in person."

Emma let out a cold laugh. "How can she still not see reality?"

Cressida's calm expression didn't change at all.

She closed the book. "Since my mother won't come, I'll decide this marriage myself."

That evening, as Cressida was reading a book on military strategy, Clio burst into her courtyard as if out of control.

"You heartless creature, look what you've done!"