Chapter 72 Cressida's Identity Exposed?
Two brief moments passed, and Cressida stood up.
"I'll see him."
Ingrid lifted the curtain, and Cressida walked out.
Daryl immediately said to Michael: "Mr. Hamilton, go return the pearl to your sister."
Michael obediently came over, looking foolish and innocent: "Sister, here you go."
He handed over the pearl.
Cressida stood on the steps, looking down at him coldly.
"Emma, take Michael over there to play."
Emma came over and led Michael to watch ants under the big tree.
He really did watch them with great interest.
Cressida stared at Daryl: "Tell me, what else do you want? The money my father gave you isn't enough to satisfy you, is it?"
Daryl laughed with ill intent: "Ms. Hamilton is truly clever, and quite capable too. I spent a lot of money saving Mr. Hamilton's life."
Verity glared at him: "Cut the nonsense!"
"Ms. Hamilton, no need to be nervous. I'm definitely not here to cause trouble. Otherwise, I wouldn't have helped you out in the hall just now," Daryl rubbed his hands together. "I just want some money. I know the Hamilton Mansion is wealthy. Give me enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life."
Cressida's demeanor was cool as she narrowed her eyes: "What if I don't? Why should I give you money?"
Her hand in her sleeve gripped a gold hairpin.
Daryl smiled, as if he'd expected her to say this.
"Ms. Hamilton, why make things difficult for lowly people like us?" Daryl lowered his voice, leaning his neck forward and whispering, "Sean and I both know what you did. If I die at the Hamilton Mansion, Sean will immediately take Mr. Hamilton's handwritten accusation letter to the authorities, saying you attempted to kill Mr. Hamilton!"
Cressida stared at his neck.
But Daryl pulled his neck back, grinning: "Ms. Hamilton, I'm not asking for much, just ten thousand dollars. Don't worry, once I get the money, I'll keep my mouth shut. Not a word will get out."
Daryl looked every bit the street thug.
Cressida glanced at Michael nearby, who was still playing with Emma.
"Ingrid, go get him the money," Cressida said.
Daryl looked delighted: "You're so straightforward!"
Ingrid went inside and came out holding a money pouch, giving it to Daryl with a dark expression.
Daryl checked the amount was correct and tucked it into his chest.
"Ms. Hamilton, you did the right thing. Mr. Hamilton was too cruel, wanting to sell you to a brothel. What happened to him is what he deserved!"
With that, he called to Michael: "Mr. Hamilton, time to go back and take your medicine! Let's go, I'll get you some candy."
Michael obediently followed Daryl.
Cressida stood under the eaves, watching their figures leave.
Back inside, Emma immediately said: "Mr. Hamilton really is simple-minded. I just pinched an ant and told him it was sweet, and he actually ate it!"
Verity: "Ms. Hamilton, we can't keep Daryl around. Should we tell Prince Miguel and ask for his help?"
But Ingrid said: "This menace must die! But I'm afraid Sean might do something crazy."
Cressida put the hairpin from her sleeve back in its box.
She'd had many chances to strike just now, to make Daryl die instantly.
But she didn't, because she was certain that while Daryl and Sean knew what she'd done, they had no solid evidence, only the testimony of Michael, a fool.
Michael would now obey for a piece of candy. That testimony was probably coaxed out of him too.
Cressida calmly asked Verity: "The two bandits who escaped on Flower Festival night—they still haven't been caught, have they?"
Verity shook her head: "No, the King was questioning the Guard Office about it recently, blaming them for being too slow."
Then Verity paused and bent to whisper in Cressida's ear: "Prince Miguel sent those men. They're already dead."
Light flickered in Cressida's eyes.
"Verity, go to the palace for me. Ask Prince Miguel to have people watch near my house these next few days. Sean will definitely come to check if Daryl was successfully kept here. Once spotted, capture and kill him immediately."
Verity nodded and left at once.
Ingrid said: "Ms. Hamilton, what about Daryl?"
"Keep him a few more days. He won't live long." Cressida's eyes were cold.
She'd thought of a good way to eliminate them while earning merit.
That afternoon, the court physician came.
He examined Michael's pulse and administered acupuncture, but finally shook his head and told Patrick: "Mr. Hamilton's injuries are severe. That he survived at all is a blessing from his ancestors."
Patrick's body swayed, nearly fainting on the spot.
His legitimate son, his only son—Michael was ruined!
After the court physician left, Patrick fell ill, running a high fever by midnight.
He was delirious, sometimes cursing Michael for disobedience, sometimes cursing Cressida as an unfilial daughter.
Cressida left Echo to attend to him.
Whenever Clio woke, she wanted to stay with Michael, but she'd just had a heart attack. The doctor ordered bed rest with no emotional stress.
Reluctantly, Mabel had to seal off Clio's courtyard, allowing only Nanny to enter.
Daryl came to extort money from Cressida two more times, each time asking for more. In total, she gave him nearly forty thousand dollars.
Cressida had Verity follow him and discovered Daryl occasionally went out, heading straight to gambling dens to spend lavishly.
Ingrid said: "This pest keeps extorting Ms. Hamilton. He really deserves to die."
Cressida finished a set of martial arts forms and calmly said: "He can't repay this money. Eventually he'll have to pay with his life."
One day, Emma brought the kitchen manager Della in to report news.
"Ms. Cressida Hamilton, Mrs. Clio Hamilton has been very ill these past days. Should we continue putting... in her meals?" Her voice trailed off.
Cressida practiced calligraphy, her expression calm and cool, naturally commanding even without emotion.
She said calmly: "The meals should still be sent, of course. But Mother is ill and probably has no appetite. Reduce the amount."
Della immediately understood.
Cressida wanted Della to reduce the dosage of drugs in Clio's food.
Since Cressida had promoted Della to kitchen manager, she'd instructed Della to drug Clio's meals, which was why Clio's illness never improved.
Della added: "I heard from the staff that when delivering food to Mr. Michael Hamilton's courtyard, Daryl sits at the table eating while making Mr. Michael Hamilton squat on the ground to eat. When someone comes, Daryl pretends to explain that Mr. Michael Hamilton just likes squatting on the ground."
A cold smile appeared on Cressida's lips.
Daryl was street trash. Even given a chance to climb up, it was useless.
Michael was getting what he deserved now.
"Let him be," Cressida asked. "How is the young maid Jade I had you train?"
Previously, Jade had been punished by Nanny to sweep the back courtyard for knocking over the ancestral hall's incense burner while chasing away a hawk, which delayed Rose's entry into the family records.
Cressida had always remembered Jade. So after Mabel took charge of the household, Cressida immediately transferred Jade to the kitchen for an easy, well-paid job.
Della smiled: "Jade is a clever girl, learns fast, and cooks well. Ms. Hamilton can rest assured, I'm taking good care of the person you selected."
"Good. You've worked hard. You can go now."
Della agreed. As she was leaving, Cressida had Emma see her out, and Emma slipped some money into her hand.
Della: "I couldn't!"
Emma smiled softly: "Take it. It's a reward from Ms. Hamilton. You should accept it."
In the courtyard, Della pulled Emma's hand and glanced back at the room.
She took out a silver hairpin and pressed it into Emma's hand: "My brother asked me to give this to you. He's too shy to give it himself."
Emma immediately refused: "I can't accept it. If Ms. Hamilton finds out, she'll beat me to death."
"How could that be? Ms. Hamilton is always reasonable," Della looked at her. "My brother may be six years older than you, but older men are more caring. He likes you. Don't you feel anything for him?"
Emma laughed: "I think of you as a godmother. If I married your brother, how could I face anyone?"
Della laughed and playfully hit her: "Naughty girl, your words are getting sharper!"
Emma pushed back twice, firmly refusing: "You should go back. Tell him I have no plans to marry yet. I can't bear to leave Ms. Hamilton."
Della nodded: "Such things can't be forced. I'll go then."
Deep in the night.
Cressida lay in bed but heard a sound. Her eyes flew open.
The room was dark, incense smoke drifting from the brazier.
She saw the corner of a black robe showing by the window curtain.
Cressida sat up immediately: "Who's there?"
She gripped the dagger under her pillow, but saw the person step out from behind the curtain.
His handsome face was staring at her.
Cressida was surprised: "Prince Miguel?"
Miguel laughed coldly: "General Hamilton, I've been looking for you for a long time."
His cold sword pressed against her neck. Cressida's eyes widened.