Chapter 119 Sparring Martial Arts?
After Wilder arrived, Cressida had Verity dig into his background.
In just half a day, Verity came storming in, furious.
Her footsteps were heavy, and she yanked the beaded curtain aside with such force that it made an annoying clatter—clearly she was really angry.
Cressida was reading and looked up at the sound.
"What's wrong?"
Verity came from a shadow guard background and was usually very composed. It was rare to see her this angry.
"They're absolutely shameless!" Verity cursed. "That Wilder is a real scumbag."
A piece of trash like Wilder daring to compete with Miguel for Cressida's affection? Disgusting!
Cressida put down her book and listened to Verity.
Wilder came from a noble family in Imperial City. The Louis family was a recently rising noble house there, but Wilder was a mistress's child. He was only raised by the lady of the house because the Louis family had few male heirs.
Wilder was thirty now. Six years ago in Imperial City, he married a well-matched socialite.
They were only married three years before his affair with a mistress was discovered. The woman's family made a scene, and the matter only ended when they divorced.
Hearing this, Emma immediately cursed: "No wonder he came to Emerald City to find a wife—his reputation must be ruined in Imperial City!"
Verity said: "That's not all. Do you know where he's been staying these past few days in Emerald City?"
After a brief pause, as if to control her anger, Verity continued: "Wilder has been living on a pleasure boat for days, throwing money around. He's already a regular customer to those prostitutes!"
Emma immediately joined Verity in cursing Wilder.
Cressida's expression remained steady and calm throughout.
Cressida picked up her teacup as Ingrid said quietly: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton's plan must be to marry you off to the Louis family. Wilder looks good on the outside but is so filthy inside. Ms. Cressida Hamilton must be careful of his dirty tricks."
Verity clenched her fist: "He wouldn't dare! I'd kill him."
Emma's heart was in her throat.
"How could Mrs. Hamilton do this? She's Ms. Hamilton's own mother!"
"There are plenty of mothers who don't love their children," Ingrid said.
Ingrid had raised Cressida, and she'd seen firsthand how much Clio despised her.
Cressida was actually quite calm, her eyes peaceful, her slender fingers slowly tracing the rim of her teacup.
"You all think he's terrible, but I think his timing is perfect."
The relationship between Patrick and Clio had been cracked for a long time.
The only reason Patrick and Clio were aligned again now was because they still agreed when it came to me.
I've been looking for a chance to completely drive a wedge between Patrick and Clio.
Their marriage was already hanging by a thread.
Clio had just handed me the perfect knife.
"Emma, come here. I need you to do something for me." As Cressida spoke, a cold smile played at the corner of her lips.
She would tear Patrick's marriage apart, make this family fall to pieces, and then she could take what rightfully belonged to her and leave this place.
Of course, before that, she wouldn't let any of them off the hook.
After Wilder came to The Hamilton Mansion, he behaved himself for the first few days, staying in Reid's courtyard.
Patrick even made a point of telling Cressida: "Wilder is very learned. Even Reid praises him."
Back in her room, Cressida had Verity go warn Brynn.
"Tell Brynn that until I ask her to cooperate with me, she must keep what she knows to herself."
Brynn was too timid, and with Wilder—arranged by Clio—living at the estate, Cressida had to prevent Brynn from letting something slip.
In mid-July, the weather wasn't so hot anymore.
Cressida was wearing a purple silk dress, returning to her courtyard from the garden.
Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Wilder approaching with a sword, looking deliberately dressed up in a deep blue belted short robe and spotless white leather boots.
"Ms. Hamilton." Seeing her, Wilder looked delighted and stepped forward with a slight bow, his manner polite and refined.
Cressida said coolly: "Mr. Louis, this is the inner courtyard of the estate. Haven't you lost your way?"
Verity stepped forward, her tone fierce: "How dare you! The inner courtyard isn't a place you can just barge into!"
Despite her aggressive manner, Wilder smiled confidently.
"Ms. Cressida Hamilton has misunderstood. Mrs. Clio Hamilton invited me to teach Mr. Michael Hamilton swordsmanship in my spare time."
"Swordsmanship?" Cressida raised her delicate eyebrows, her tone light. "I wouldn't have guessed Mr. Louis was skilled in both literature and martial arts?"
"You flatter me." Wilder smiled modestly, though his eyes were full of confidence.
As he spoke, he performed an elegant sword flourish on the spot, demonstrating his swordsmanship to Cressida.
When he finished, Michael had somehow appeared and was clapping and laughing foolishly nearby.
"Wilder is amazing! I want to learn every day!"
Cressida immediately understood. She'd been watching Michael closely, so Clio and the others were using this method to annoy her.
With Cressida and Wilder meeting daily under the same roof, even if nothing happened between them, rumors would inevitably spread.
Cressida smiled faintly: "Mr. Louis's swordsmanship does look decent, but I don't think you're qualified to teach Michael—before he got sick, he was a soldier in the royal guard."
Wilder seemed to have expected her to say this.
He bowed respectfully: "I've studied swordsmanship since childhood, but when seeking an official career, I chose the civil service path rather than joining the military."
In other words, his swordsmanship wasn't bad at all.
"Is that so? Showy moves are quite different from proper military swordsmanship," Cressida said indifferently.
Perhaps sensing her disdain, Wilder's competitive and arrogant nature suddenly flared up.
"Ms. Hamilton, I heard you lived at a military fortress for several years. If you're concerned about my swordsmanship, you're welcome to spar with me."
Emma scolded: "How dare you! Who do you think you are? You're not worthy of sparring with Ms. Hamilton!"
Wilder stood firm: "I'm willing to let Ms. Hamilton see my real skills with her own eyes—that I'm not all show and no substance."
Cressida laughed out loud.
Her eyes sparkled with light.
"Alright then, I'll spar with you. But let me say upfront—swords have no eyes. If you get hurt, Mr. Louis, don't..."
Before she could finish, Wilder said confidently: "I would never hurt Ms. Hamilton."
Clearly he was determined to use his swordsmanship to make Cressida respect him.
Wilder thought to himself that making a woman admire him was the fastest way to win her hand.
Cressida had been to a military fortress—she was different from ordinary noble ladies. I have to impress her with my swordsmanship to make her fall for me.
With this in mind, Wilder drew his sword: "What weapon will Ms. Hamilton use?"
Cressida had Verity break off a willow branch.
Cressida plucked off a few leaves and held it in her hand: "I'll use this."
"A willow branch?" Wilder was stunned, and anger immediately surged in his heart.
How dare Cressida look down on me?
I was planning to hold back and make sure she didn't get hurt, but since Cressida is asking for humiliation, don't blame me for not showing mercy.
Women who don't behave need to be taught a lesson!
"Ms. Hamilton, please teach me!"