My Bratty Wife
Chapter 185 - Hundred And Eighty Five

Chapter 185: Chapter Hundred And Eighty Five

"Eleanor?" Evan called out, his voice laced with doubt and a hint of suspicion. He couldn’t believe she was here, in this remote part of the forest.

Eleanor emerged from the trees, her delicate features composed, though her skirt was slightly ruffled from her journey. She held her skirt up slightly, trying to avoid the damp earth. "My, my, Lord Evan," she said, feigning a surprised smile. "I didn’t expect to find you here."

Evan looked at her, his eyes narrowed, his expression guarded. "What is a delicate woman like you doing here?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Eleanor shrugged, her smile widening slightly. "I was having a picnic," she replied, her voice light and airy. "And then I heard a loud gunshot. I didn’t expect it to be you."

Evan threw the cigar on the ground, extinguishing it, grinding it into the damp earth with his heel. He removed his gloves, his movements intentional and slow. "You and I both know you’re here for a reason," he said, his voice hard. "I’m sure you followed me here. So spill it, Eleanor. What do you want?"

Eleanor dropped her feigned smile, her expression turning serious. "I want what you want," she replied, her voice low and steady. "We both have the same goals, Evan."

Evan chuckled, a low, wary sound. "What do you know about my goals?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.

"For one," Eleanor replied, her voice unwavering, "I know you want Cassandra."

Evan raised an eyebrow, his smile turning into a curious smirk. "What made you think so?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

Eleanor’s smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "I saw the way you were looking at her," she replied, her voice low and deliberate. "From the moment the Baron and his wife were welcoming her, to when she sat down, to when you approached her."

Evan’s smile became genuine, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. "And how would you know that," he asked, his voice soft, "except you..."

Eleanor cut him short, her voice sharp and precise. "I was in attendance," she said. "I watched you looking at your cousin’s wife with lust." She paused, her gaze slowly drifting towards the direction of Brook, who was diligently cleaning the remains of the deer. A subtle smile played on her lips.

"I guess you came here to vent your anger," she continued, her voice laced with a hint of mockery, "that she ignored you and left with her husband, and you couldn’t do anything."

She watched Evan’s reaction closely, her eyes sharp and calculating. She knew she had struck a nerve, and she relished the flicker of anger that crossed his face. She understood his desire for Cassandra, the way his obsession grew with every interaction. She also knew that Evan’s anger was something she could use.

"You are very observant, Eleanor," Evan said, his voice low and dangerous, "but you are also very bold." He took a step closer to her, his eyes narrowing. "Be careful not to overstep your boundaries."

Eleanor met his gaze, her own unwavering. "How did you feel Evan?" she asked, her voice steady. "You and I know she isn’t yours and can never be yours." She paused, her eyes gleaming. "Seems you can only lust over her in the sidelines."

Evan’s patience was wearing thin, his composure cracking under Eleanor’s relentless prodding. "Watch your mouth, Eleanor," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Eleanor remained unfazed, her eyes gleaming with a defiant light. "Why?" she asked, her voice laced with a mocking sweetness. "You don’t like hearing the truth? I’m sure you get sleepless nights thinking about how your cousin is bedding the woman you want."

Evan’s hand moved swiftly, pulling a pistol from the back of his trousers. He aimed it at Eleanor, his eyes narrowed, his expression cold and hard. "I told you to shut that hole up," he repeated, his voice a low growl.

Eleanor, however, didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a step closer, until the cold steel of the pistol touched her forehead. "Pull the trigger then, Evan," she said, her voice steady and unwavering. "If you end my life now, you won’t have to hear my voice."

She stood before him, her eyes locked on his, her expression daring him to act. She knew she was pushing him to the edge, but she also knew that he wouldn’t kill her. Not yet.

Evan hesitated, his finger hovering over the trigger. He could feel the anger boiling within him, the desire to silence her once and for all. But he also knew that killing her would be a huge disadvantage. He is still trying to curry favour with the king and killing her would bring suspicions.

He let out a harsh laugh, a sound devoid of humor. His knuckles were turning white from holding the pistol tightly, his eyes still fixed on Eleanor. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Eleanor," he said, his voice low and threatening. "One that you might cost you your life."

Eleanor stood her ground, her expression unwavering, her eyes challenging Evan’s. "I’m not afraid of you, Evan," she said, her voice steady. "And I know what you want. We both want the same thing." She paused, her eyes gleaming. "We both want Cassandra."

Evan, his anger simmering just beneath the surface, looked at her with a weird amusement. He caught wind of what she was trying to do. It was clear she was deliberately provoking him, testing his limits. He spoke through clenched teeth. "You are quite the clever one, aren’t you?" he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You want me to do all the dirty work while you come and eat from the spoils. You think I don’t know you’ve always wanted Ryan, even when we were little?"

He put the pistol away, his eyes still fixed on Eleanor, his expression a mask of cold fury. He saw Brook approaching, his expression neutral. Evan turned his attention to his mare, untying the reins with a sharp, decisive movement.

"I’m not as desperate as you," he said to Eleanor, his voice dripping with disdain. He paused, his gaze sweeping over her, his expression dismissive. "I’m not interested in whatever you’re planning."

With that, he mounted his horse, his movements swift and graceful. Brook, following his lead, mounted his own mare. They turned their horses and rode away, leaving Eleanor standing alone in the clearing, her expression a mixture of anger and frustration.

She watched them go, her jaw clenched, her eyes burning with resentment. She had underestimated Evan’s self-control, his ability to walk away. She had hoped to manipulate him, to use his anger to her advantage, but he had proven to be more cunning than she anticipated.

She kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering across the ground. She had to find another way, another approach. She wouldn’t give up. She wanted Ryan, and she wanted Cassandra out of the picture. She would find a way to make it happen, even if she had to do it herself. The forest was silent, only the sound of the hooves fading in the distance.