Chapter 126 Crippled Michael's Hands
Cressida's eyes remained calm: "Mother, everything I own was bestowed by the imperial court. You want me to use these things to pay off debts?"
Patrick snapped back to his senses, his expression suddenly turning ashen.
He sternly rebuked Clio: "Foolish woman! How dare you say such things!"
Clio's face darkened at the scolding.
In the end, Patrick had Noah empty out Clio's jewelry box and storeroom, and didn't spare Rose's either.
All their gold and silver jewelry from before was taken to pay the debt.
Rose had been hiding in her room, but when she saw her things being taken away, she came running out crying.
"How can this be? Father, this is all I have left."
"We gave you those things. Now that Michael is in trouble, you want to distance yourself? Ungrateful wretch!" Patrick scolded her too.
They finally scraped together enough money to pay the debt.
The gambling house people tore up the IOU right in front of Patrick.
They carried away a chest full of gold and silver jewelry.
In the end, these items actually ended up in Cressida's hands.
However, Cressida wouldn't use things that Clio and Rose had worn. She had already instructed the gambling house people to melt everything down and make gold and silver bars for storage.
Beck was the last to leave. He even smiled and clasped his hands toward Michael.
"Mr. Hamilton, come again!" After saying this, Beck swaggered off.
As soon as the gambling house people left, Patrick picked up a chair and smashed it hard toward Michael.
When Clio saw this, she immediately threw herself forward, using her own body as a shield.
The chair came down and shattered completely.
Clio screamed in pain on the spot.
Patrick pointed at her, his eyes bloodshot.
"Get out of my way! If I don't cripple Michael today, next time he gambles, the Hamilton Mansion will have to be mortgaged!"
Clio endured the pain and held the trembling Michael.
She cried: "Patrick, Michael is your only son. He just recovered from a serious illness. Beating him like this will kill him!"
Patrick breathed heavily: "I'd rather see him dead than watch him gamble again! He's picked up this bad habit and can't quit!"
Michael sobbed: "Father, I'll change, I really will!"
Rose stood nearby, not daring to make a sound.
Just then.
Cressida said calmly: "Father, I have a way to spare Michael's life while also teaching him a lesson."
Patrick immediately looked over, his eyes fierce, burning with rage.
"What way?"
"Cripple his hands."
Clio's head shot up, her pale face twisting.
Her eyes blazed with bone-deep hatred as she pointed at Cressida and shrieked: "You scum! Michael is your own brother! How dare you suggest such a thing! Do you have no heart?"
Clio's voice was shrill, nearly breaking, as she crawled to Patrick's feet.
Clio clutched his robe desperately: "Patrick, don't listen to her! Michael is your child! If you cripple his hands, his life is ruined! He's supposed to inherit the family business!"
Patrick's chest heaved violently, his eyes uncertain, staring hard at Michael.
Cressida remained calm, saying lightly: "Father, if a gambler doesn't pay a price, he'll never reform."
"Today Michael dares to owe two hundred thousand dollars. Tomorrow he'll dare to owe two million. When that happens, what will the Hamilton family use to fill that hole? Should we really sell the Hamilton Mansion and borrow money from others?"
Patrick's fists clenched with a crackling sound, the rage in his eyes gradually replaced by cold determination.
Michael had been slumped on the ground, but now suddenly looked up, his face ashen.
"Cressida! You bitch! Father, don't listen to her! She wants to kill me! She hates me! She hates our whole family!"
Rose was so scared she covered her mouth, shrinking further behind the door.
Cressida looked quietly at Patrick, saying softly: "Father, hesitation brings disaster. If you can't bear it, I can do it myself."
Patrick closed his eyes.
Finally, he made his decision: "Someone, hold him down."
The guards rushed in, four men pinning Michael to the ground.
Clio was thunderstruck, throwing herself at Michael like a madwoman, screaming: "No! No! Patrick! You can't be so heartless! If you must do this, just kill me too!"
Patrick waved his sleeve: "Pull her away!"
Noah led people to restrain Clio and Rose.
Michael was finally scared, struggling and crying through his tears: "Father! I was wrong! I really won't dare again! Please spare me! Spare me!"
Cressida stepped forward, slowly approaching, and crouched down in front of Michael.
"Cressida!" Michael looked at her, his eyes burning with hatred, "I'll kill you, I will definitely kill you!"
Verity stepped forward and stuffed a cloth in Michael's mouth.
Immediately, Michael could only make muffled whimpers, the hatred in his eyes almost becoming tangible.
Cressida lowered her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting a cold shadow below.
Her face was carved like frost and snow, with sharp and heroic lines, brows like cold blades, eyes deep as an ancient well without ripples.
She looked down at Michael from above, her gaze as indifferent as if viewing a dead object, with neither the pride of a victor nor a trace of mercy.
Because she had long known what she would do, and had long anticipated this day.
It was time for him to repay the pain she had suffered in her past life.
"Michael, I'm your own sister. How could I harm you? The pain is only temporary. Just make sure you don't make mistakes again, understand?"
She slowly straightened up, her sleeve brushing past, carrying a trace of cold fragrance.
She didn't even need to use her hands, but instead used her shoe to step on Michael's palm.
Patrick turned away, unable to bear watching.
The moment her sole pressed down on Michael's finger bones, his pupils contracted sharply.
Soon, his whole body convulsed, a piercing scream burst from his throat, veins bulging in his neck, cold sweat instantly soaking his clothes.
But the force under Cressida's foot continued to increase.
Suddenly, a crisp crack!
The instant the first finger bone broke, Michael lost his mind from the pain, his whole body jerking up before being pressed down hard again.
Then came the second, the third...
Clio's crying was heart-wrenching: "Michael, my son!"
Rose looked at Cressida in terror.
Michael was in such pain, yet if it were someone else carrying out the punishment, they would have shown mercy long ago.
But Cressida didn't even furrow her brow, as if Michael were just an ant, not worth a glance.
For the first time, Rose felt fear in her heart. Cressida's heart was too cruel!
All ten of Michael's fingers were broken, and he passed out.
Only then did Patrick turn around, looking at Cressida with complicated eyes.
"Arrange for a doctor to take good care of Michael." After saying this, Patrick hurried away, as if he didn't want to look anymore.
Cressida knew in her heart that Patrick still loved Michael. Patrick had made this decision in anger, and would soon regret it.
When he regretted it, Cressida would become the person he blamed.
So Cressida couldn't let Patrick have a chance to regret. Michael would commit another grave offense, forcing Patrick to abandon Michael and drive him out of the house.
Noah and the others were still holding Clio down. She first looked at Michael wailing as if drained of strength.
However, when Clio turned and saw Cressida, she began cursing again.
Using every ugly word she could think of.
Cressida remembered her past life, when Michael broke her fingers. What did Clio say then?
Clio had said: Cressida, breaking your fingers is for your own good. If your martial arts are exposed, it will cost you your life.
Cressida slowly walked over.
Rose, standing near Clio, backed away with a pale face until she was pressed against the door.
"Mother, Michael is what he is today because you spoiled him." Cressida's voice was cold and clear, her whole person upright as jade, her eyes deep.
Then Cressida added: "As the lady of the house, you must endure what needs to be endured. This is your fate, and you must accept it."
After saying this, Cressida walked away under Clio's poisonous gaze.
Finally, I've returned those words that deeply wounded me in my past life.
"Cressida! You'll die a terrible death!" Clio's curse came from behind.
At that moment, Cressida had already walked to the corridor.
She stopped and looked up at the sky ahead, filled with evening glow.
Early autumn was coming. The summer heat had dissipated without notice, leaving behind a faint coolness.
Die a terrible death? Haven't I already died once before?
If Clio giving birth to me and giving me life was a favor, then I've already repaid it.