Chapter 134 Clio Falls into the Trap!
The rain poured down heavily at night.
Inside Clio's room, the lamplight was dim and yellow. She propped her elbows on the table, her face pale.
"It's over, it's all over..." she muttered.
Nanny came in and saw Clio like this, knowing she was still worried about the lost box.
"Mrs. Hamilton, try not to worry too much. Even without the box, he won't disown you."
"But those were all keepsakes. From when we were young until he left Emerald City, I kept them all these years. How could they suddenly disappear? I didn't put them anywhere else, and no one else should have known about them."
As she spoke, Clio thought of something and looked at Nanny with a haunting gaze.
Nanny was alarmed: "Mrs. Hamilton, I wouldn't dare steal them!"
Clio withdrew her gaze: "I know you wouldn't. Could it be that bastard Cressida, wanting to make us poor, deliberately had someone take them?"
Nanny didn't dare respond.
Clio held a grudge against Cressida. Whenever something bad happened, the first person she suspected was Cressida.
When Clio cursed Cressida under her breath, Nanny, remembering Tatum's fate, didn't dare agree.
Clio got angrier as she spoke, wishing she could teach Cressida a lesson right away.
Clio asked anxiously: "Has cousin replied? When is he coming back?"
Nanny smiled awkwardly: "Mrs. Hamilton, we just sent the letter less than seven days ago. It has to go to Silverlight City - the round trip will take at least half a month."
Hearing this, Clio pressed her temples and closed her eyes in pain.
"Tonight is the Festival of the Bright Moon, and Michael won't even come see me." A bitter smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Nanny was about to speak when suddenly the night wind blew the window open, and fine rain swept in.
The sudden commotion startled them both.
Nanny hurried to close the window.
Clio clutched her chest, frowning: "I don't know why, but my heart keeps pounding tonight. Nanny, come with me to check on Michael."
However, as soon as she opened the door, she saw a young maid running over.
"Something's wrong, Mrs. Clio Hamilton. Mr. Michael Hamilton has been taken away by officers. You should go to the front hall quickly."
Clio's face suddenly showed alarm.
When Clio arrived at the main hall with Nanny, she just caught sight of Noah leading several people in official uniforms away.
At some distance, and with the sky rather dark, Clio could only see their backs. She wondered why the authorities would come to arrest someone so late at night.
Cressida was already sitting in the main hall waiting.
When Clio arrived, Patrick had also just hurried over.
Entering, Patrick didn't bother brushing the water droplets off his robe and asked: "Why was Michael arrested? Is it still about the official uniform?"
Clio was surprised: "What official uniform?"
Cressida looked at them both coldly: "Father, Mother, the authorities have found out that Michael stabbed Mabel and nearly killed her."
Both Patrick and Clio were shocked.
"What?" Patrick was very surprised. "Michael stabbed Mabel? There must be some mistake!"
Clio rushed to Cressida and grabbed her sleeve, her eyes red and hysterical.
"What good does it do you to frame and slander Michael!"
Cressida pushed Clio away forcefully. Clio stumbled and fell. Cressida stood up, her presence fierce and imposing.
"I'm framing him? He stabbed Mabel, disguised it as theft, took all of Mabel's belongings and buried them in the back mountain. Tonight when he went to dig up these things, he was caught red-handed by the officers!"
"Mother, there's no point throwing a tantrum with me. If you think this approach will work at the authorities to save Michael's life, go ahead and make a scene there."
Clio's face turned ashen.
Her lips trembled: "Even if it was discovered, it's not that serious. Mabel didn't die. Michael just made a mistake..."
Before she could finish, Patrick grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up.
"What did you say? It really was Michael who stabbed Mabel? You knew about this all along - why didn't you tell me!" Patrick scolded angrily.
Clio was both shocked and furious: "What use would telling you be? You're so bewitched by that bitch Echo, when have you ever truly cared for Michael!"
A loud slap rang out.
Clio was knocked to the ground by Patrick's slap, blood immediately flowing from the corner of her mouth.
Patrick pointed at her, his eyes bulging with rage.
"Good, good, good, you ignorant foolish woman! How dare you hide something like this for him? If you'd told me earlier, it wouldn't have come to him being arrested by the officers today!"
Cressida's cold gaze swept across Clio and Patrick's faces.
Cressida said coldly: "The urgent matter now is to save Michael's life. This isn't called a mistake - it's premeditated murder."
"Nonsense!" Patrick panicked. "Mabel is fine, so there's still room to turn this around."
Cressida raised her chin slightly, her eyes cold: "Mabel hasn't woken up, so it's hard to treat this case as an accident. What's more, the officers just came to the estate to inform us that Michael has already confessed that he personally stabbed Mabel, thought she was dead, then stole her belongings to disguise it as theft."
Clio nearly fainted.
She beat her chest hard: "That foolish boy Michael, why did he confess? Good people really do get bullied!"
A trace of mockery flashed in Cressida's eyes.
Patrick was also stamping his feet anxiously, immediately turning to pull connections and find people to help.
Cressida stopped him.
"The urgent matter is to find someone to clear Michael's name. As long as someone says they saw Michael arguing with Mabel and it was an accident, won't that temporarily clear Michael of premeditated murder?"
"I'll go! I'll clear his name." Clio said immediately.
Cressida shook her head: "You can't. You didn't accompany them into the church that night."
Clio and Patrick looked at each other, both thinking of Brynn at the same time.
Patrick immediately ordered Noah: "Get Brynn here! Quickly!"
Noah hurried off.
In the hall, rain and wind swept through, and the candlelight flickered.
Both Clio and Patrick paced back and forth anxiously, thinking of strategies.
Only Cressida sat steadily in her chair.
Clio stopped and said with a frown: "I think we shouldn't rush to have Brynn go clear Michael's name. What if the authorities don't want to charge him with intentional murder? If we rush over, won't it look like we're trying to cover something up?"
Cressida's eyes were dark: "Mother, you need to think clearly. If we don't go now and they really convict him, it'll be too late."
"According to our dynasty's laws, anyone who commits murder with cruel methods shall be executed! Can this be lightly covered up with the phrase 'accidental injury'?"
"Although Mabel didn't die from it, if the authorities find out that Michael wasn't actually foolish at the time, it would further prove premeditation. This counts as serious circumstances. Moreover, he attacked a family member - both public order and morality won't tolerate him."
The last sentence struck like thunder, crushing Clio completely.
She collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, having lost all sense of judgment.
Clio could only keep muttering: "Michael is usually such a good boy. He's never done anything so cruel. You all forced him to this - you forced him!"
At the end, Clio pointed directly at Cressida, her eyes red.
Patrick scolded her angrily: "At a time like this, why are you dragging Cressida into this? If you hadn't spoiled him so much, he wouldn't have become like this!"
Speaking of Michael, Patrick felt much disappointment.
"Michael is addicted to gambling and even dares to attack family members viciously. Is this what a Hamilton family child should be like?"
That said, Michael was Patrick's son, so of course Patrick wanted to protect him.
Brynn was soon brought by Noah.
Learning that Patrick wanted Brynn to go to the authorities to defend Michael, saying he accidentally hurt someone.
Brynn was startled, his face pale, shaking his head in panic: "I, I don't dare. I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing. Patrick, you know I've always been bad with words. I don't know anything!"
Clio screamed hysterically: "Usually I can tolerate your cowardice, but now the situation is urgent. If you don't go help clear my Michael's name, you won't have it easy either!"
Patrick and Clio kept persuading Brynn. Finally, Brynn nodded.
Cressida escorted Brynn to the door and onto the carriage.
During this, she squeezed Brynn's hand.
Brynn looked back at her, his eyes flickering with unease.
Cressida's eyes were calm as she stood in the rain, with Emma holding an umbrella for her.
Behind Cressida hung the high plaque of The Hamilton Mansion, which made Cressida's tall figure and imposing presence even more pronounced.
"Brynn, don't be afraid. Just tell the authorities everything you know."
Brynn nodded at her.
Cressida turned back. Patrick and Clio stood under the plaque, both frowning deeply, looking as if facing a great enemy.
"Father, Mother, go back inside and wait. The wind and rain are cold - take care of yourselves."
However, as Patrick turned to leave, he was momentarily distracted and stumbled on the steps, nearly falling.
Fortunately, Noah supported him in time: "Mr. Hamilton, be careful!"
Patrick was so troubled his mind was in chaos. He said while enduring his discomfort: "I'll go rest for a bit. Cressida, you keep watch. Tell me immediately if anything happens. If it really doesn't work out, I'll go find connections tomorrow morning..."
He muttered to himself as Noah helped him away.
Clio was also at a complete loss. She didn't even bother to check on Patrick's condition, but hurried toward the inner courtyard.
Clio didn't return to her own quarters but went directly to Rose's room.
Seeing Clio come in the rain, Rose was very surprised: "Mother, what happened? I just heard some commotion up front but haven't had time to send someone to ask."
As she spoke, Rose held her hand, only to be shocked to find Clio's hands were as cold as ice.
Clio lowered her voice anxiously: "The authorities discovered that Michael stabbed Mabel. That idiot Michael even dared to confess. Rose, you must immediately write a letter and send it to Yosef's palace. If we can use Prince Yosef's connections to get Michael out, that would be good!"
Rose was stunned: "The authorities discovered? How did they find out?"
Clio choked up: "How would I know? Cressida said Michael went up the mountain late at night to dig up those gold items he had hidden before, and was caught red-handed by officers guarding the church! That bastard Michael must have needed money again. Why did he act on his own?"
As she spoke, she began crying in distress.
Rose thought carefully and was suddenly alarmed.
"Mother, are you sure it was the authorities? The officers only thought it was a robbery case - how would they know that package was buried in the back mountain?"
At her words, Clio was also stunned.
Rose asked urgently: "Mother, did you see the officers with your own eyes?"
"Not exactly." Clio froze. "When I got there, they had just left."
The two looked at each other.
Rose exclaimed in alarm: "This is a trap set by Cressida! If we really let Brynn go to the authorities and voluntarily reveal everything, Michael's guilt will be completely confirmed."
Clio nearly collapsed to the ground but was quickly supported by Rose.
"Quick, quick, go through the back door and get a carriage to stop Brynn!" Clio, supported by Rose, hurried outside, not even bothering to take an umbrella.