Chapter 35 - The Undead
“What’s your purpose here?” The duke asked in a cold tone.
Mrs Johnson looked calm as she looked at Evan, who was lying sideways on the bed and she spoke warmly, “My Lord, I’m here to see Reverend Bruce.”
Although Mrs Johnson’s attitude was modest, her tone did not flinch at all but was a bit aggressive.
Duke Wilson frowned, looking at Mrs Johnson, his eyes turned colder.
“The Reverend is seriously injured. If you have anything to say, say it quickly.”
Mrs Johnson was blocked by Duke Wilson’s words. After a while, she spoke, “I want to talk to the Reverend alone, I need to repent.”
Duke Wilson couldn’t find a reply to Mrs Johnson’s words. After all, Mrs Johnson is still a Christian and she has such rights. He glanced at Evan only to find that Evan had sat up at some point, and he was in deep thought as he stared into the void.
Duke Wilson couldn’t tell what Evan was thinking about so he could only whisper, “Reverend Bruce, can your body withstand such a thing?”
Evan raised his head as if the duke’s words had jolted him out of his reverie. After a moment of thought, he nodded firmly and said, “Of course, thank you very much for your concern.”
Duke Wilson had expected this kind of reply so he could only nod helplessly, “That’s good. But if you can’t stand it anymore, you can definitely call me.” After Evan agreed to this, he turned and left the room.
After Duke Wilson went out, Mrs Johnson walked to Evan’s side. Her expression was really gentle, so gentle that people would sometimes ignore her appearance.
Evan belongs to this group of people. Although he has had contact with Mrs Johnson before, it was a little time after all and it was just a long-distance greeting, so this is the first time he’s seen the woman’s appearance so clearly.
“Reverend.” Mrs Johnson gracefully removed her gloves and sat on the stool beside Evan’s bed, “What do you think of my husband’s death?”
Evan thought, she’s talking about death and not suicide.
“This is really a tragedy.” Evan had a sympathetic look, “Please, accept my condolences.”
There was no sadness on Mrs Johnson’s face, she still stared at Evan calmly with a hint of cold steadfastness in her eyes.
“You’re a priest.” She said lightly, “I heard from Sheriff Chandler about your allegations against my husband. I’m not surprised.”
Surprised, Evan looked at Mrs Johnson. She could even expose her own family shame in front of him, which was completely unlike the practice of the people in this era. Evan wisely chose not to speak.
Mrs Johnson did not stop there and continued, “I know better than anyone what my husband is like. He is greedy, vain, lustful, pretentious and quite clever. He is the most depraved gentleman I have ever met.” Mrs Johnson paused slightly, “No, I don’t even know now, if I can call him a gentleman.”
Evan was a little embarrassed as he lowered his head. A lady, in her own words, using such bad words to describe her own husband in front of you, no matter what type of situation it is, will make people feel at a loss.
Seeing Evan like this, Mrs Johnson smiled, “Do you think I’m crazy?”
Evan gave a dry cough and pulled out a forced smile.
Mrs Johnson did not force Evan to say anything but continued on her own, “Maybe many people will think I’m crazy.” After she finished speaking, she laughed as if she was mocking herself.
“My husband has so many flaws.” Mrs Johnson’s expression suddenly became serious, “But, I can also tell you that someone as despicable and selfish as he is will not easily commit suicide.”
She spoke such words so seriously with almost no expression on her face. Evan was stunned.
He has never heard such malicious testimony before. He looked at Mrs Johnson with some doubt in his expression, “Since you have such speculations, why didn’t you tell Sheriff Chandler?”
Mrs Johnson smiled wryly, “What is Sheriff Chandler like? The kind of man he is, you know better than I do. If I say these things to him, he will think that I’m crazy.”
Evan looked at Mrs Johnson thinking, I think you’re not too ill.
“Ma’am, this matter is not something I can decide. Even if you have such doubts, I can’t do anything for you.” Evan didn’t want to take matters into his own hands at this time, especially when it involves the church. The arrival of the people sent by the church is just a few days away and he can’t get caught in this kind of thing at such a time.
After listening to Evan’s words, Mrs Johnson was obviously disappointed, but she quickly adjusted her emotions and smiled reluctantly.
“I know that you’re a kind person. I’m sorry to the church for what my husband has done. Don’t worry, I will try my best to compensate the church.”
Mrs Johnson saw that it didn’t make sense from a rational point of view so she began to talk about it from an emotional view in order to get Evan’s help.
Evan looked at Mrs Johnson and sneered in his heart, “This matter will naturally be handled by the church and the police. Your sensibility really makes me feel relieved.”
Evan is not Reverend Ross who can be kneaded, flattened and rounded by others as they like. Mrs Johnson took it as doing a favor, when it was originally the money of the church.
Mrs Johnson was speechless as she looked at Evan with embarrassment.
“What you said is…” Mrs Johnson looked down and touched her gloves, her tone quite pitiful, “I am also very ashamed of my husband doing these things, but now he is dead and I just want a result. He won’t commit suicide, he would never commit suicide!”
She spoke with a hint of tears at the end and looked straight at Evan, with her previous indifference completely gone.
Evan was surprised as he looked at Mrs Johnson. He thought that this lady had absolutely no feelings for the wicked husband she described, but now, looking at her sad face, Evan suddenly realised that the female was the most incomprehensible species in the world.
“What do you want?” Evan asked in an almost helpless tone.
Mrs Johnson’s eyes lit up when he asked this and she replied immediately, “Reverend Bruce, you’re a kind person. My husband died innocently and I can do nothing but you have a close relationship with Sheriff Chandler. In this matter, can I ask you to pay more attention? I only want a result.”
Mrs Johnson’s plea made Evan frown. He had no previous contact with Mrs Johnson and now it seems that this woman is even more difficult than her husband.
First, she wanted to use Mr Johnson’s abnormal death to hang Evan and then, she decided to use the underdog policy. She really didn’t miss any opportunity.
“Ma’am, Sheriff Chandler has reached a conclusion about Mr Johnson’s death. There is no concrete basis for your speculation and I can’t rely on this to make any request to Sheriff Chandler. Madam, I’m really sorry but I can’t help.”
Evan really didn’t want to pay attention to this scheming woman. Even if Mr Johnson died strangely, he really didn’t want to easily show any weakness in front of this woman.
Mrs Johnson looked at Evan and realised that the Reverend was not as innocent and kind as she thought he was. Mrs Johnson’s heart swayed as she realised that her strategy would definitely not be successful.
“Reverend Bruce,” Mrs Johnson’s expression softened, “I understand what you’re trying to say. I’m sorry, I just hope that my husband’s death can have a reasonable explanation.”
Seeing that she finally stopped pretending, Evan sneered in his heart but there was no expression on his face as he replied, “You don’t have to worry, Sheriff Chandler is a good policeman. This matter is still under investigation so don’t worry.”
Mrs Johnson’s expression changed slightly as she pursed her lips, she smiled after a moment, “Thank you for reminding me, you’re really an upright person.”
Evan knew that Mrs Johnson’s words were not sincere but he just nodded with a smile. In fact, he also has doubts about the matter but following Mrs Johnson’s scheming thoughts, he really didn’t want to do anything.
Mrs Johnson is also a smart person so when she saw that Evan was not in a good mood and she could not achieve her purpose, she quickly decided to take her leave.
“You’re still injured so I won’t disturb you. Please rest well. I’ll take my leave first.”
Mrs Johnson spoke very politely and Evan naturally couldn’t be too rude, so he smiled gently, “Thank you for your visit. And I regret what has happened to you.”
Mrs Johnson nodded as she stood up, she turned and left the room.
Mrs Johnson left the room on the front foot and Duke Wilson came in on the hind foot.
“What did she say?” Duke Wilson walked to Evan’s side and helped Evan lie back on the bed. This position was also the most comfortable for Evan.
Evan enjoyed the duke’s service and there was a small smile on the corners of his lips. Duke Wilson, if he wants to be nice to someone, was more careful than anyone else.
“Mrs Johnson believes that Mr Johnson didn’t commit suicide.” Evan lay on the bed, very comfortable underneath the quilt.
Duke Wilson’s expression became serious. Then, he sat beside Evan, looked down at Evan with a soothing expression and asked in a low voice, “What did she say?”
Evan raised his head at this question and replied, “She said that Mr Johnson is the most selfish and shameless person she has ever met in the world, and he will never commit suicide.”
As expected, surprise appeared in the duke’s eyes, “Is she crazy?”
Evan lowered his head, burying his face in the quilt and said in a low voice, “She didn’t look crazy. In fact, in my opinion, what she said makes sense. If Mr Johnson intended to commit suicide, why would he come to deceive you first?”
Duke Wilson stared at the back of Evan’s head, the soft blonde hair made his heart itchy, so much so that he was also distracted and he didn’t hear Evan’s question clearly.
Evan hadn’t heard an answer for a long time and he was puzzled. He turned his head to look at Duke Wilson, and he saw a deep gaze, which was filled with deep obsession and possessiveness. Evan was really stunned.
(There’s a question that’s been bothering me for years now. How do people see the emotions in other people’s eyes? I mean, I can somewhat get the fact that expressions can be understood sometimes but how do you understand what a person feels or thinks by looking into their eyes?)