Guidebook for the Dark Duke

Chapter 58 - GDD Chapter 58

Ford actually came, Evan did not expect this.

“Where did you see Mr Ford?” Evan asked, frowning.

Because of Evan’s expression, Billy looked a little uneasy, rubbed the corners of his clothes, and said with a twinkle in his eyes, “I…I was just taking care of flowers in the back garden and I just saw Mr Ford coming from the path in the woods, heading towards the cottage.”

Evan would not believe in Billy’s words too much. Billy’s age was the age to be naughty, him saying that he was taking care of the garden might as well be that he went to the garden to catch bugs. Now that could convince him.

“Okay, I see, you did a good job.” Evan still liked Billy’s cleverness and even if he was naughty, he could endure it.

Hearing Evan say this, a smile finally appeared on Billy’s face. As a priest, Evan is very generous. Since he said this, he might give him a reward.

“Thank you for your compliment, Reverend.” Billy smiled and took off his hat, not even paying attention to Mrs Haydn’s angry eyes. Evan nodded, and Billy backed out.

After Billy left, Mrs Haydn said apologetically, “Reverend, I’m so sorry, Billy is so uncultured.”

Evan shook his head with a smile and said, “Madam, Billy is a lively man.”

Mrs Haydn was relieved to see that Evan did not mind Billy’s rashness, it is not easy for their family to find such a job and there are not many good employers like Evan. Mrs Haydn left the dining table and went to the kitchen.

Mrs Sanders looked at Evan with a worried expression and said, “Reverend Bruce…”

Evan raised his hand to stop Mrs Sanders’ question and said warmly, “Ma’am, don’t worry, it’s alright.”

Before, he had asked Mrs Sanders to spy on Ford for him, using the excuse of being afraid of Ford’s bad intentions. Now that Ford came to him as soon as he came back, Mrs Sanders was inevitably worried.

As soon as the two of them finished speaking, the servant Tom walked in and said, “Reverend, Mr Ford is here.”

Evan nodded, “Please let Mr Ford in.”

After a while , Ford followed Tom into the living room of Evan’s cottage. He looked at Evan with a very calm expression, as if the one who had instigated Alia to provoke Edward was not him.

“Reverend Bruce, it’s great to see that you have recovered.” Ford’s tone was very mild.

Evan nodded politely, “Please sit down.” The two sat down in the living room, but fell into awkward silence for a while.

Evan didn’t want to speak first. Who knows what Ford’s motive was this time, he didn’t want to fall into Ford’s trap.

Seeing that Evan didn’t say a word, Ford sneered in his heart. He hadn’t seen it before that Evan was actually such a cautious person.

“Reverend Bruce, how have you been at the Duke’s manor these days?” Finally, Ford was the first to speak.

Evan didn’t expect him to ask this, so he raised his eyebrows, “Very well, the Duke is a very hospitable gentleman.”

“Hospitable?” Ford looked at Evan almost sarcastically, “Your use of this word is really interesting. In my opinion, the Duke is not just hospitable, but is also very concerned about you.”

Evan clenched his fist lightly, he knew that the ambiguous atmosphere between himself and Duke Wilson absolutely couldn’t be hidden from Ford.

“The Duke and I are indeed very good friends.” Evan’s face was still calm and there was no embarrassment to be exposed.

Seeing him being so indifferent, Ford only felt more and more hatred well-up in his heart. Evan had treated himself so ruthlessly back then, and now he is here trying to seduce the duke, how shameless!

“Humph!” Ford completely tore off his disguise. He strode up to Evan and looked at Evan condescendingly, “Bruce! You don’t need to play with me! What kind of person you are, no one in this world knows better than me!”

Evan looked up at Ford, the anger on his face was so clear, the hatred in his eyes could almost swallow a person.

“Ford, what happened back then has passed. I did something very bad, and I sincerely ask your forgiveness now.”

Evan knew that this matter had to be resolved but he didn’t expect that Ford would actually choose today. But no matter what, he will go ahead with this matter according to his own plan.

Ford was a little surprised when he heard Evan’s words and when he looked at Evan’s sincere eyes, he was a little dazed. He still remembered what happened when he and Evan were in public school, that was probably the best time in his life, but it also became his worst nightmare in the days to come.

Ford’s softened heart suddenly hardened again. He looked at Evan and smiled grimly, “Forgive?” He seemed to not understand the meaning of the word, “You want to me forgive you?”

“Hahaha!” He laughed loudly, “Do you know how I came to be where I am today and what happened to me over the past few years?” He looked straight at Evan.

Evan frowned, feeling that something was very wrong with Ford.

“I’ll tell you what I’ve been through in the past few years, and then you think about it again and tell me if I can forgive you.” Ford said softly, he slowly sat opposite Evan and looked at him with an extremely cold gaze.

“At that time, you rejected me severely and then left the public school. At that time, it was like the end of the world for me. But the most painful thing is more than that…” He stared at Evan.

“The rumor spread through the entire public school in an instant. I became the target of public criticism. The school administrator asked me to drop out of school. My father wanted to cut ties with me.” His gaze was like a sharp sword that stabbed at Evan fiercely.

“Until the end, I didn’t know that these pains were actually caused by you, the person I thought about day and night.” When Ford said this, there was a mockery in his tone, which reflected his deep self-loathing, it seems that he is very disgusted with that past self.

Listening to his words, Evan didn’t know what to say for a while. To be honest, Evan also felt a little inappropriate about what the original owner did. Although he was only scheming, the original owner’s method is really a bit rude. After all, Ford didn’t do anything to deserve such from him. On the contrary, Ford was very good to the original owner. Now that it had led to this result, Evan is actually very innocent.

“Ford…” Evan seemed to speak with difficulty. Although he disagreed with the original owner’s approach, it had nothing to do with himself and he couldn’t take the blame.

“I know the hatred you feel towards me, and I regret what I did back then. I…” Evan stopped talking and had a complicated look on his face.

Seeing Evan like this, Ford frowned. He thought that Evan would try his best to deny it or try to whitewash himself, but the way he is acting now is really beyond his expectations.

“Huh! You don’t need to pretend to be a saint.” Although Ford doubted Evan’s attitude in his heart, he still would not give up his hatred for Evan after so many years, “What you did was so cruel, I will never let it go.” Ford looked at Evan with a cold look in his eyes.

Evan sighed deeply, and he glanced at Ford with deep meaning in his eyes.

“I know your hatred for me, but please be sensible and don’t do anything drastic. After all, everyone else is innocent.”

Ford smiled contemptuously at Evan, he stood up and walked to the door, and then turned his head to look at Evan,”You don’t need to play this kind of benevolent drama in front of me, no one knows better than me how vicious and shallow you truly are.”

After saying that, Ford turned and left the room.

Evan sat in the same place, and his original pained look suddenly became an unpredictable look. He looked at the direction that Ford left through, and his mind was full of different thoughts. Why did Ford come today? He will never do something without having an aim, and it is absolutely impossible that this provocation is just caused by his hatred. Ford must have other motives, so he could not relax his vigilance.

But thinking of Duke Wilson, Evan’s heart was relieved again, as long as the Duke was there, there would be no problem.

********

After Ford left Evan’s hut, his turbulent mood gradually calmed down. He did not expect that he would be so excited before, but when he faced Evan, when he saw how he was so kind and peaceful to people outside, the hatred in his heart couldn’t stop overflowing.

He couldn’t accept that the person who ruthlessly abandoned him and designed to frame him would have a better life and even seduce a more powerful person. This is something he can’t imagine. In his mind, this person should fall into the mortal world and then rot and stink in a sewer, instead of appearing in front of people’s eyes like now.

Ford clenched his fist tightly. Since the duke likes his purity and kindness, he will let the duke know what kind of vicious heart lies behind the face of Bruce’s angelic facade.

There was a hint of coldness on the corners of Ford’s mouth. The person he was looking for was about to come and Bruce’s good days were coming to an end.

Ford left Evan’s cottage along the tree-lined path. The warm countryside scenery around him could not thaw his icy heart. The softness in his heart had long since been sent to the monastery by his father to forcibly cure his despicable nature. When he was gay, he was buried long ago, and now there is only the flame of revenge in Ford’s heart.

*********

After Ford left, Mrs Sanders knocked on the door and walked into the living room. Evan was still sitting there, and Mrs Sanders looked at him with a worried look, “Reverend Bruce, are you alright?”

Evan pursed his lips and smiled, “I’m fine, I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Mrs Sanders couldn’t smile at all, she could see that the situation between Evan and Ford is not very harmonious.

“What happened between you and Mr Ford? Why are you fighting each other so much?” In the living room just now, the loud rebuke of Ford could be heard faintly. Although the words could not be heard, the attitude of swords and arrows was still very clear.

Evan didn’t answer this question, he just gave a wry smile. He had a hunch that Ford’s actions would be revealed in the next few days.