Chapter 170 She's Actually Murray's Daughter!

Chapter 170 She's Actually Murray's Daughter!

The pitch-black night was broken only by her muffled sobs.

On the table lay Rose's suicide note.

She had left a final letter. Even if no one cared, she needed to make it clear—it was Cressida who drove her to death. Cressida had destroyed her face, made her life a living hell, and crushed her dignity to dust. If vengeful spirits truly existed in this world, then after death she would become one and make Cressida pay the price.

Rose closed her eyes as tears of resentment fell. Just as she was about to kick away the chair beneath her feet, someone burst in.

"Rose, no, please don't!" Clio cried out, rushing forward to grab Rose's legs.

They both crashed to the floor. Of course, Rose resented Clio as well. Having failed to die, she screamed out all her anguish.

"Why do you even care! You helped your precious daughter slash my face. Mother, you kept saying you loved me—is this your love? You and Cressida have ruined my entire life . . ."

Rose collapsed on the floor crying, completely drained. Tears ran over the wound on her face, the flesh torn open, the pain piercing, yet nowhere near the pain in her heart.

Clio held her, heartbroken.

"Rose, I love you most. I'd tear out my heart and give it to you. You're my daughter—how could I harm you? I just had no choice at the time."

"My face is ruined. The doctor said it'll never heal. Why did you stop me from dying?" Rose choked out.

Her ambitions and aspirations had been completely worn down by Cressida. But she knew she had no background, no confidence. Cressida was like a towering tree, its thick shade stealing all her light, leaving her unable to grow. This life is hopeless. Only this thought remained in Rose's heart.

Clio gripped her hand tightly.

"Rose, you can't give up. Hold on a little longer—my cousin is coming soon."

"Mother, you keep mentioning this cousin I've never met. Will he really stand up for me when he arrives?"

"He can. He's the newly appointed minister before the king, a special inspector sent by the king himself, and highly trusted by the king." Clio said each word deliberately, her tearful gaze burning. "And you are his daughter."

Rose's mind reeled, and she forgot to blink. "What? Mother, what are you saying? I'm not an orphan?" She was utterly shocked.

Until age twelve, she'd been fostered at Octavia's place, always believing she was an orphan whose parents had died. Then someone came to take her away—that person was Clio. From then on, Clio raised her like a daughter. Even though she couldn't appear publicly yet, Clio told her that once news of Cressida's death arrived, she could take on the identity of the Hamilton family's daughter and live properly.

Rose had been waiting for that day, but she never expected Cressida to return—and as someone extremely difficult to deal with. Rose's dream of becoming a Hamilton daughter instantly burst like a bubble. She suffered daily torment, step by step crushed by Cressida until her face was destroyed, along with all her spirit.

She didn't dare continue fighting Cressida—not out of fear, but from knowing her background was far inferior, that she couldn't win. Yet now Clio was telling her she too was a girl of noble birth, that her father was a minister before the king. These words instantly rekindled the fire in Rose's heart.

She quickly wiped away her tears and clutched Clio's sleeve. "Mother, tell me more. Why did my father abandon me? And how do you know about my background?"

Clio looked at her with flickering eyes.

"Back then, your father—my cousin—had a woman he deeply loved but couldn't marry because he already had a wife. But they never broke contact, until your mother died giving birth to you. Your father couldn't bring you home, afraid his wife would mistreat you, so he entrusted you to me to raise and nurture."

Rose stared at her in a daze. "Mother, is this all true?"

Clio nodded through tears. "It's true."

She pulled two letters from her sleeve and handed them to Rose.

"These are letters your father sent. His inspection term in Silverlight City is complete. He's just been promoted to minister before the king for his achievements and is returning to Emerald City. You'll see him soon."

Rose unfolded the letter, unable to believe her eyes. In the letter, this birth father she'd never met asked about her situation, every word filled with concern. He'd even sent thirty thousand dollars with the letter, having heard Rose was in financial difficulty.

Rose asked, "Mother, what's my father's name?"

Clio used her handkerchief to wipe Rose's tears, carefully avoiding the wound on her face. "His name is Murray. He personally chose your name."

Tears dripped onto the letter as Rose pressed it tightly to her chest. "Father, why did you take so long to come . . ." she murmured. "But it's good—it's not too late."

Seeing Rose's relieved expression, Clio felt compelled to warn her. "You absolutely must not spread this around. The legitimate wife your father married is Odette's own sister."

Rose understood—no wonder her father didn't dare bring her home. His wife was fierce.

"Mother, don't worry. From today on, I won't seek death anymore. I'll wait to reunite with Father, and I'll . . . fight Cressida to the bitter end." Her eyes revealed poisonous malice.

Cressida had driven her to desperation—she couldn't blame her for being ruthless. She hadn't competed with Cressida for anything, yet Cressida couldn't tolerate her. Someone with such a narrow heart deserved a terrible death.

Coming out of Rose's room, Clio was struck by a cold wind, and her legs went weak. Nanny quickly supported her. Back in her room, Clio still sat dazed at the table.

"Madam . . . since you wanted to give Miss Rose Hamilton hope, why didn't you tell her you're her real mother?"

"I can't tell her." Clio shook her head with a bitter smile. "I'm afraid Rose might let it slip in a moment of urgency and Odette would find out—that would be a death sentence."

At this, Clio quickly asked Nanny, "Has my lost box still not been found?"

Nanny shook her head helplessly. "I even suspect Mr. Michael Hamilton pawned it when he was alive."

"Nonsense!" Clio said viciously. "No one is allowed to slander Michael."

Nanny bowed her head. "I was wrong."

Clio's angry expression gradually faded. Thinking of what was in the box, a wave of panic hit her. But she immediately patted her chest lightly. "Even if someone found it, it doesn't matter. Ordinary people wouldn't notice anything strange about that thing. No one should discover the secret inside."

As she spoke, she coughed continuously, her heart aching. During the day, Cressida had triggered her old illness.

Nanny helped her lie down on the chaise lounge. Clio's face was ghostly pale with resentment, her eyes fixed on the bed curtains.

"My cousin is coming back. There's nothing left for me to care about in the Hamilton Mansion. But even if I have to leave, I won't let that father and daughter have an easy time." She murmured.

Nanny didn't dare respond. Only after Clio fell asleep did she lower the bed curtains and leave.

During the day, Cressida had nothing to do and asked Emma to bring down the boxes she'd bought back. These were all Clio's things that Michael had stolen and pawned. After Cressida redeemed them, she found they only contained three gold hairpins, a pair of emerald bracelets, and a palm-sized jewelry box with fine craftsmanship. The gold pins were valuable, the bracelets brilliantly green, but nothing seemed particularly special.

Such ordinary items—there was no reason for Clio to treasure them separately.

She was pondering this when Noah's voice came from outside.

"Lady Cressida, His Highness is here to see you."

After Noah finished speaking, Cressida raised her delicate eyebrows.

Miguel actually dared to appear so openly, even asking to see her by name?