CH 3

It was already dark when Evan got to Woodwich Manor*. Many people came to Woodwich Manor including the town’s Sheriff and doctor. When Evan got there, he was welcomed in all directions.

The town’s Sheriff, William Chandler, was a very tough-looking middle-aged man. When he saw Evan walk in, he gave Evan a strong pat on the shoulder and said, “Reverend Bruce, welcome to Delanlier. If anyone tries to make trouble for you anytime, just come to me.”

Evan liked Sheriff Chandler’s straightforward character and nodded with a smile, “Thank you for your hospitality, but I believe that Delanlier is a peaceful place.”

“Not always, Reverend Bruce,” Doctor Mark Hester interjected, “Even in a place like Delanlier, there is discord.”

Mark Hester is a middle-aged man with a calm expression and the most prestigious doctor in the town. The Hester family had settled in Delanlier since the generation of his father and Mark Hester is the most outstanding one in the Hester family. He graduated from the public Medical University and is now a respected doctor.

But the interesting thing is that Doctor Hester was not as interested in his medical practice as he was interested in unsolved murders.

But what Evan cared about was not the doctor’s special interests but his identity. He is the father of the book’s heroine, Alia Hester.

“Oh?” Evan raised the corners of his mouth, “Does Dr. Hester have a different opinion?”

Dr. Hester was about to answer, but the Sheriff stopped his words, “Doctor, you worry too much. There is no such thing.”

After speaking, he smiled at Evan with a little embarrassment, “Our good doctor just likes to have wild thoughts.”

Evan raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He smiled and didn’t say anything but Dr. Hester opened his mouth in order to justify his words but he didn’t speak in the end. He left with his glass of champagne and an annoyed look on his face.

Evan walked into the living room while chatting with Sheriff Chandler, and he saw Mrs. Lawrence as soon as he entered. She was standing by the fireplace in a gorgeous golden dress. She was chatting with a young lady. The lady, who looked like she was in her 20s, was very beautiful. Her long curly brown hair was lightly tied up with a green hair band. She had dark green eyes, a slender body with delicate features. In Evan’s opinion, this lady is the most beautiful lady he has seen since he got to Delanlier.

Seein Evan walk in, Mrs Lawrence immediately walked over. “Reverend Bruce, welcome.” There was an obvious smirk on her face but she looked a little pale because of the large amount of powder on her face.

Evan nodded gently, “It’s an honour to be here.”

At this time, Mr Lawrence also came over, put an arm around Mrs Lawrence’s waist, raised his glass at Evan with a smile and greeted warmly, “Reverend Bruce.”

“Good evening, Mr Lawrence” Looking at Mr Lawrence’s obvious disgust, Evan frowned slightly.

Evan instantly became the centre of attention at the banquet because of the host’s reception. All kinds of people came to greet him and exchange pleasantries. This is a closed town, everyone is curious about a stranger. The conversation opened up with the help of the alcohol.

Eva felt dizzy having to deal with all the people of status in the whole town, from the local old-fashioned gentlemen to the up and coming lawyers and doctors. The duke did not until halfway through the banquet.

Evan’s expression gradually turned cold, he stood alone in the corner, trying to avoid the crowd. At this moment, the beautiful lady who had been speaking to Mrs Lawrence walked up to Evan and greeted warmly, “Hello, Reverend Bruce.”

Evan was a little surprised, but he nodded politely, “Hello.” An unmarried and educated lady would not take the initiative to chat with a gentleman so her behaviour was a little unexpected.

“I’m Alia Hester. I see that you have met my father.” Alia smiled softly.

Evan’s expression stiffened. Alia Hester, the book’s heroine, the hopeless white lotus, behaves out of norm which fascinated the duke. She is also Evan’s biggest hurdle.

“Miss Hester, hello.” Evan still smiled in a restrained way.

Alia’s expression became a little cramped, “Reverend Bruce, I….. Can I…”

Evan looked at her with a gentle expression, looking at her with his most attractive gesture. His handsome facial features were almost sparkling under the ambient light.

“Miss Hester, God will listen to all your petitions, and you don’t have to be shy in front of me.”

Evan was still dressed as a priest, his appearance was too deceptive so when he said this, he was very persuasive.

“Reverend Bruce, it’s not that I don’t want to talk, it’s just that some things are too hard to talk about. You should have met Mrs Lawrence. I have a marriage contract with her son, John, but…. But the character of the Lawrence family is really too unacceptable. So I want to beg you, can you speak to my father? I…. really can’t……accept… ” Alia looked at Evan with great pain like a lamb waiting for redemption.

Evan couldn’t help but feel a little ridiculous, asking for help from a total stranger was really in line with the heroine’s character, but he still solemnly said,” Miss Hester, this matter is between your family and the Lawrence family. I am a servant of the Lord and I don’t have the right to ask about these things but I promise you that once an opportunity presents itself, I will definitely speak to Dr. Hester.”

Alia bit her lips trying to hold back her tears, she whispered,” Thank you, Reverend Bruce, thank you.”

The look in Evan’s eyes sank as he watched Alia walk away. When she mentioned it, he suddenly remembered that the heroine did have a fiancé before but everyone who went against the protagonist did not have a good end and the fiancé was also one of the common cannon fodders.

Evan continued drinking the glass of sherry. It’s unclear when it started but people have agreed that a priest’s favourite wine should be sherry. As soon as Evan came in, many people had offered him sherry and he could not refuse by the time the glass of sherry was put in his hands.

Eva usually doesn’t drink much but he really drank too much sherry and he was already feeling a little dizzy.

At this moment, there was a joyful cheer coming from the doorway, “Master, Madam, Master John is back and the duke is with him too.”

Mrs Lawrence almost jumped up from the sofa and there was a flash of joy on Mr Lawrence’s face, he said loudly, “Guests, please stay where you are.” After that, he walked to the door hurriedly with Mrs Lawrence.

Evan stood in the shadow of a pillar and the dim light reflected his slender shadow. He looked in the direction of the door with a look of interest.

A few minutes later, someone walked in through the courtyard and Mr Lawrence and his wife were leading the way. The two were almost beaming and leading the way like the most humble servants.

Duke Wilson followed behind the both of them. He was only 26 or 27 years old. He had a slender figure with short black hair that was smooth and looked elegant. His features were both handsome and delicate, his light brown eyes were deep and cold. He was wearing a haute couture dark-patterned four-piece suit with a black cashmere coat.

He walked in slowly from the courtyard but it looked as if he was standing on the clouds and everyone had to look up at him.

All the ladies and gentlemen bowed and saluted, Evan was no exception, but his eyes kept staring at the duke like a hound that had found its prey.

The Duke did not notice Evan’s gaze, as he raised his hand gracefully, avoiding people’s etiquette and said warmly, “Ladies and gentlemen, do not stop your merriment because of my arrival, please continue.”

His words were like a spell, breaking the solemn atmosphere. The living room, which originally had been as quiet as a tomb, suddenly became loud. Many people walked up to the duke to chat with him and kiss his fingers.

And the duke was truly like a benevolent nobleman, chatting with the people around him without a trace of impatience.

If Evan had not seen his cold eyes, maybe he would have also been deceived by his appearance. It seems that this Duke is not only a powerful person but also a person with deep scheming. Everyone present, no matter who, was deceived by the duke.

Just as Evan was observing, the duke suddenly spoke again, “I heard that this banquet is to welcome the new priest, so where is this venerable servant of the Lord?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Evan. Evan felt uncomfortable for a moment but he immediately put on a gentle smile the next moment, walked slowly to the duke and nodded slightly, “Lord Duke.”

Looking at Evan, Duke Wilson seemed a little surprised at his age but he immediately put away the expression and said with a smile, “Welcome to Delanlier, I hope you can find real peace here.”

Evan looked at his handsome face and slender figure and suddenly felt that he had made the right decision. Such a stunning person should not belong to others but should belong to himself.

“It’s my honour to serve God here.” Evan’s expression was humble and sincere.

Duke Wilson nodded with great satisfaction and without saying anymore, he turned to talk to Mrs Lawrence, who was standing next to him, about her youngest son.

John is a young man in his twenties who looks three-thirds like his mother with high cheekbones and thin lips, making him look cold and mean. He graduated from Cambridge University. Standing proudly beside Duke Wilson, there was a hint of pride in his eyes.

Evan stood by the side and felt a little funny. He wondered if the young man would be able to laugh if he knew how his life would end in the future.