Chapter 196 - Hundred And Ninety Six
Evan erupted in a furious outburst, his face contorted with rage. He swept his arm across his desk, sending inkwells, quills, and stacks of papers flying across the room. "How is he still alive?" he roared at Brook, his voice raw with disbelief and fury.
Brook stood impassively, unflinching despite the storm of Evan’s anger. A thin trickle of blood ran down his cheek where a hurled object had grazed him. "I don’t know, my lord," he replied, his voice even and lacked emotion.
Evan grabbed a heavy crystal decanter and hurled it at Brook, the glass shattering against the wall behind him, sending shards scattering across the floor. "Where is that good-for-nothing bastard?" he bellowed, his eyes blazing with uncontrolled fury. "How dare he fail, I want his head on my table before dusk."
Brook remained still, his gaze steady. "He’s dead, my lord," he stated calmly. "The Duke shot him before he could do anything further."
"Blast!!!" Evan cursed, his voice a guttural cry of frustration. He paced the room like a caged animal, his fists clenched, his breathing ragged. He kicked over a small table, sending it crashing to the floor. He ran his hands through his hair, disheveling it further.
"This is impossible!" he exclaimed, his voice rising again. "James sent me a letter that night. He was poisoned! He should be dead! How could he survive?" He stopped pacing and glared at Brook, his eyes filled with suspicion. "Are you sure the assailant is dead? Did you see the body?"
"Yes, my lord, I’m sure," Brook replied, his voice unwavering. "I had someone investigate to make sure everything was going according to plan. The Duke’s shot was precise and James was found dead days later, he was caught."
Evan let out a frustrated groan, slamming his fist against a nearby bookshelf. The impact rattled the books, sending a few tumbling to the floor. He turned away, his back to Brook, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Everything was supposed to be perfect," he muttered, his voice low and filled with self-pity. "Ryan was supposed to be out of the way. Cassandra would have been vulnerable. Everything would have been mine. My duchy would have come back to me." He turned back, his eyes hardening with a renewed sense of anger. "Someone must have interfered. Someone must have had a hand in this." His gaze narrowed, his suspicion returning. "Did anyone else interfere with my plan?"