18 Sick Or Shameless

"I apologize to everyone once again but I only cheated because I wanted to malign her name and want her to lose. I am jealous of my sister. Whatever I have done, Elene did not know about it neither did my husband. I take the sole responsibility for what happened here." She spoke in a clear and crisp voice. 

The ignorant girls snickered and started mocking her instantly.

"Ha! Look at how shameless this madam is. Who would believe she is from a noble house."

"Exactly, I thought it was the second daughter of Midnight Star creating drama. Who would have thought it was the first one?"

"It has only been a week since their father left them and they have already started fighting. I think the house is going down." 

The decades-long heritage was being questioned. Evan loves nothing more than their name, their reputation and their position which her father had made. She stared at the last girl with a cold glare.

The girl met Evan's eyes with a smirk but soon she felt pressure and bowed her head. She had a feeling that she would not leave the room unscathed if she spoke further.

But the official from the justice office did not look convincinced. In his long years of service, he had never seen a culprit accepting their crimes so easily. More than that, there was no ounce of guilt or fear in the eyes of the woman. She looked confident and her clear eyes staring at them without a hint of apology.

Either she was so shameless that she did not care about her actions at all. Or… the man paused. It was easy to wrap up this case and leave. The woman has already accepted the crime. But… the letter in his pocket was already burning a hole there. He was not sure he would survive if he left with this half cooked story.

He took a deep breath to calm his agitated nerves and asked his knights to silence the students.

"Madam Midnight Star, I am Jonathan Crawford from the justice office on Mcland street. I hope you have heard about us." Evan's eyes flickered as she nodded and let the man kiss the back of her hand.

"Yes, you are the second son of Baron Crawford. He was a kind man. I remember meeting him when I was a child." she smiled softly but it was gone before it could be noticed.

"Aah, yes, it has been two years, but we still miss him. So, i understand how hard it is for you.'' The man gave a consoling look when she lowered her head and forced another smile on her face.

They could not understand. No one could, she had not only lost her father, but her innocence, her sister and her.. Husband? Was he even hers to begin with?

The man did not know about her turmoil as he continued, 

"I have visited your estate for mourning. I have met Monique Dowager there, seen your other family members but you were not there if I remembered." a pang of guilt and remorse filled her. She held her arms tightly as she nodded.

The man could feel the slight shiver of her body and how her face was full of remorse and guilt and sighed. At least, she was not a cold and shameless woman.

Elene noticed there was something wrong with their conversation. The man was not asking her questions about the case but showing her sympathy. What if he felt bad for her and forgave her. Evangeline often had that impact on strangers. She was a cunning woman that knew how to gain sympathy. But she would not let it happen.

She signaled her friend who had followed her in the academy and took many gifts from her. The woman nodded and looked at the scene with a scoff.

"Sir Crawford, do you often spend time in conversing and consoling the criminals?" Many looked at the scene with suspicious eyes when the man laughed.

"Pardon, but I didn't know I was answerable to young girls who knew nothing but throwing a tantrum and blaming others for feeling higher. It is an investigation, my lady. And I am sure it will not go according to your command." The girl felt embarrassed at once when he looked at her with cold eyes and snickered.

The man looked completely different from the kind one who offered consolation to Evangeline.

"I.."

"If you do not shut up, I will ask guards to throw you out of the room." she flinched but the man did not pay any attention to her. He looked at Evan again.

Harold's eyes narrowed. He had met a few men from the justice office in the past. They hardly care to spend so much time on criminals and victims. Most of the time, they were interested in proof so that the case could be ended.

But this man did not ask for proof at all while dealing with the family of Midnight Star. 

"My lord.." Harold came forward but the man shook his head. 

"I apologize, my lord. But I do not prefer intrusion in my investigation. It is for the welfare of your wife, so I hope you will understand." The man spoke in a soft but dominating voice that forced Harold to nod.

"I was only saying that Evan is sick. If you do not mind, can she sit while answering you. It looks like you will take a long time." Everyone looked at Harold as if he was a gem of a husband. In so much chaos, all he was worried about was that his wife was tired and needed rest.

This was how his image had always been.. Kind, considerate and loving husband. Evan had thought the same. But now that she looked at this man, she did not know him anymore.

"Ah, so you were sick. Is that the reason you did not attend your father's mourning?"