Chapter 77 Clio Discovers Cressida Ordering Someone to Drug
Fox was called in, and Clio questioned him thoroughly.
When she confirmed that the kitchen manager Della was extremely close to Cressida, Clio felt very uneasy.
Fox said, "Jack is Della's own younger brother. When he was drunk, he let slip that he and Della are completely loyal to Ms. Hamilton, but Emma doesn't dare associate with him because she's afraid of offending Ms. Hamilton."
Clio cursed silently and viciously to herself: "That ungrateful daughter Cressida has such a seductive maid by her side, even seducing the servants in the manor. How improper!"
Clio slammed the table, startling Michael who was playing with glass beads nearby.
Clio coaxed him gently: "It's okay, Michael, keep playing."
She looked at Fox again: "Who else have you told about this?"
Fox shook his head: "I sensed something was wrong and came straight to tell Mrs. Hamilton. Jack has no real ability. Before being promoted to purchasing manager, he was just a not-very-smart guy."
"If Ms. Hamilton hadn't promoted and favored him, how would he have gotten his current position as purchasing manager? He must have done something shady behind the scenes!" Fox's words carried a hint of bitterness.
Having purchasing money pass through your hands meant you could pocket quite a bit for yourself.
Everyone used to do the same errands, but once Mabel took over managing the household, Fox was sent to the stables while Jack became a manager.
Why?
Fox: "I just can't swallow this injustice. I can't stand watching them do whatever they want behind your back!"
Seeing his shifty appearance, Clio felt disgusted and didn't want to look at him anymore.
But she still maintained her good temper: "Don't tell anyone about what you've said. If there's a chance, I'll recommend you to take Jack's position."
At the same time, Nanny took out some money and slipped it into Fox's hand.
Fox beamed with joy: "From now on, I'll keep watch over every corner of the manor for you!"
Clio waved her hand, and Nanny led him away.
When Nanny returned, Clio was leaning against the table with clenched fists, her well-maintained face full of hatred.
"Mrs. Hamilton, what are you thinking? Don't upset yourself."
"I'm thinking, if that ungrateful daughter Cressida really is working together with Della, then maybe they were the ones who set the fire in Sable's courtyard!"
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?
The courtyard had just caught fire when Della went to rescue Patrick.
At the time, Clio had wanted to use the fire incident to deal with Sable, but unexpectedly Della had gotten the benefit instead.
With Clio putting it this way, Nanny made the connection too and was immediately horrified.
"If that's true, Ms. Hamilton's schemes are ruthless. First she made you lose power and drift apart from Mr. Hamilton, and now she's pushing you to your death!"
Clio clutched her chest, trying hard to control her emotions, but still couldn't help cursing under her breath.
"That debt-collecting demon, that cursed person! I suffered so much giving birth to her, and this is how she repays me? She has no heart at all!"
Nanny quickly tried to calm Clio down: "At least you discovered it early. If you deal with it now, there's still time!"
Clio's eyes were red: "If Rose were at the manor, I wouldn't be so isolated and helpless."
Clio covered her face and cried, her heart breaking.
For a moment, Clio thought of what Rose had said last time - if she could promote Rose, Rose would definitely fight Cressida to the death.
Suddenly, Michael shuffled toward the door in his shoes.
Clio stopped crying and quickly grabbed him: "Michael, where do you want to go?"
"Find sister!" Michael looked innocent, still clutching his glass beads.
Hearing this, Clio's expression changed, and she said sternly: "What do you want to find her for? She doesn't deserve to be your sister!"
Nanny pressed down on Michael's shoulder: "Mr. Hamilton, you just took your medicine. You should sleep for a while. Don't go to Ms. Hamilton's place."
Unexpectedly, Michael started crying and throwing a tantrum.
He swung his fists and kicked, pushing Nanny away with a slap. She crashed into a low cabinet.
Nanny held her lower back, grimacing in pain.
Michael sat on the floor wailing: "I want candy! She said she'd give me candy, give me candy!"
Clio was shocked to hear this. She quickly grabbed Michael's arm.
"Michael, what kind of candy did she give you?" It better not be something bad!
But Michael couldn't explain. He just kept repeating "candy."
Clio could only have a young maid fetch some candy. Only after eating it would he quiet down.
Nanny got up from the floor and saw wet stains flowing down from Michael's crotch, soaking his pants.
She exclaimed: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton, Mr. Michael Hamilton, he..."
Clio saw it too and nearly fainted on the spot.
She broke down completely. Her heart was utterly shattered!
This was Michael, whom she had carefully raised and cared for, her only son!
He had originally had such a promising future at the Guard Office, respected in Emerald City!
But now, with the mind of a five-year-old child, he couldn't even use the toilet by himself.
He was already a ruined person.
Clio's face turned pale, and she swayed while holding onto the table.
Nanny quickly said: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton, please take care of yourself."
Clio said weakly: "Go call the maids to change Michael's clothes, and get a doctor, get the court physician. We must treat him. I want Michael to get better. He must get better!"
By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Nanny said: "Mr. Patrick Hamilton has already brought the court physician."
"Bring him again! Daily acupuncture, medicine - I refuse to believe my Michael can't get better." Clio wailed.
Clio gripped Nanny's clothes tightly. Her hatred for Cressida had reached its peak and was nearly driving Clio to lose her mind.
Clio had always trusted her instincts. Michael's condition was definitely connected to Cressida.
Before, Cressida and Michael had such a bad relationship. How could Michael go to her asking for candy? She must have lured him into doing something he shouldn't have.
"How cruel she is! How has our family wronged her?" Clio lowered her head, her eyes spreading with cold hatred.
She had been too good to Cressida. When Cressida returned from the military fortress, she had even wanted to help arrange her marriage and find her a good husband.
Who would have thought Cressida would drive away her Rose and harm her only son, Michael? Cressida was simply a demon!
Nanny, seeing Clio in such pain, couldn't help saying: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton, let's go tell Mr. Patrick Hamilton!"
But Clio laughed bitterly: "Mr. Hamilton? In his eyes, Cressida is his good daughter. She earned him merit when disguised as a boy, and brought him glory when she revealed herself as a girl. Without solid evidence, we can't shake Cressida's position at all."
Nanny quickly covered Clio's mouth, afraid someone might hear what Clio had just said. Fortunately, the maid who had changed Michael's clothes had already left.
"Then what do you mean..."
"We need to make Cressida completely disgraced before Mr. Hamilton will be willing to throw her out." Clio's eyes blazed with fury.
The previous times, she had panicked because of Cressida's schemes and tricks, which was why she had so easily fallen into her traps.
Now she wouldn't be fooled so easily again.
Clio instructed Nanny: "Write a letter to Rose for me..."
A few days later, Cressida was practicing calligraphy in her room.
Ingrid lifted the curtain and came in like a gust of wind.
"Ms. Cressida Hamilton," her face was serious, "the kitchen manager Della and her brother Jack have been tied up and taken before Mr. Patrick Hamilton."