He didn't do it

"But trust me, can't you see he's suffering just like you?"

"Just drop it, Maggie."

"Fine." Maggie shrugged. "I hope you'll accept him before it's too late. You should at least consider him because of the prince, you know."

Janice glared and let out a sigh. "We're not discussing him anymore."

Maggie giggled as Janice tossed her a throw pillow. She mimed zipping her lips shut and playfully threw away the imaginary key before looking at her.

"How about we do something fun?"

Janice furrowed her brows, observing the mischief in Maggie's eyes.

"I'm wary of the kind of fun you're thinking about. Whenever your eyes twinkle, mischief usually follows. So, I think I'll pass."

Maggie pouted, "You're no fun."

"It's better to be no fun than to be labeled. I don't want to be involved in any more scandal than this."

Maggie threw her head back, bursting into laughter. She clutched her side, trying to contain it.

"I don't know what you're talking about. And you being labeled would make for such an interesting story."

"I doubt it would, and you certainly know what I'm talking about. Remember May's bachelorette party?"

Janice was sure Maggie recalled the incident without needing a reminder. It had only happened two years ago, a memory not easily forgotten, especially for her. It had been one of the most embarrassing moments of her life.

"That skimpy bikini affair?" Maggie inquired.

Janice winced, nodding. "That one."

"But you looked stunning in it. I mean, everyone was eyeing you the whole time, even the groom," Maggie remarked.

Janice rolled her eyes. Yes, she might have looked alluring in the revealing swimsuit, but it had nearly cost her her dignity and a close friendship.

Apart from the men making inappropriate advances, May had caused a scene when her almost-husband unexpectedly showed up with a girl on his arm, who was later revealed to be his younger sister May had never met.

Not only that, the groom had pursued her all night and even cracked tasteless jokes about wanting to 'sample' her.

Unfortunately, May overheard everything and promptly kicked her out of the party.

However, she ended up making headlines with a scandalous caption beneath her barely covered body.

"It was so embarrassing, Margie. Can't you recall the furious look on May's face? She nearly tore my head off!"

Maggie giggled, "Oh, I remember it vividly. So, are you game for something like that again?"

"No. And you really shouldn't consider such antics either. You're married into the royal family, for heaven's sake. And unless you have a secret desire to bunk in the stable, I'd advise against it. I'm sure the queen won't take kindly to that."

"Who's the queen?"

Janice and Maggie let out a loud shriek, clutching each other's hands.

"Good grief, Jeremy, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Take it easy, dear wife." Jeremy chuckled and expertly evaded the pillow Maggie sent his way.

She scowled. "Consider yourself lucky it's not one of my 6-inch heels."

"Then who would be your husband if you impaled me?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow, approaching her.

Since she didn't reply, he squinted, "Are you thinking of seeing someone behind my back? I swear to God, I'll lose it..."

"I'm not seeing anyone." Maggie rolled her eyes. "Quit with the threats."

"It's not a threat. Just a reminder that you're mine. Every part of you belongs to me."

Janice sighed, "Typical Forrest behavior."

She pondered when she'd finally be free of such comments. Jules had emphasized more than once that he had full claim to her body and possessions.

Looking back now, it seemed absurd, as she'd never seen him play the possessive type. But the signs were all there. Perhaps her feelings for him had clouded her judgment.

Yet, she hoped her son wouldn't inherit the same mindset, treating women poorly just because he was a Forrest, too.

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with being a Forrest."

"I never said there was," Janice retorted.

"But you have that strange expression on your face, like, 'run for the hills whenever you spot one,'" Jeremy said, doing a comical impression of Margie's voice.

Janice chuckled as Maggie playfully swiped at his hair.

"I don't even talk like that," Maggie protested. "And Janice is spot on; you can be a bit of a caveman. Especially your brother, Jules. He takes the cake."

"He isn't," Jeremy said. "Neither am I. It's just that when we love, we love intensely and don't want any other man near our woman. It makes us feel inadequate if such a thing were to happen. Besides, our women are meant to be exclusively ours; sharing isn't our style."

A playful grin danced on his face as he gently pinched Margie's cheeks, then tenderly caressed her slight baby bump.

"But what if it were the man acting that way? Seeing other women while his wife remained faithful? What's your take on that?"

Jeremy studied Janice and shook his head. "I know what you're trying to get at, and that's why I'm here."

Janice crossed her arms. "I'm relieved he confessed to all the awful things he did to you. And maybe he didn't mention this, but we're in the process of getting a divorce, and he's threatened not to grant it."

"You won't be getting a divorce," Jeremy stated firmly.

"I told her the same thing," Maggie added.

"I am, and no one, not even Jules' ten thousand watchdogs, can make me stay if I don't want to."

"Jules didn't do it," Jeremy asserted.

"Here we go again. How many more defenders should I expect? I guess I'm standing alone."

Janice glared first at Margie and then at Jeremy.

"Believe me, he didn't. You're punishing him for something he knows nothing about. If he wanted to cheat on you, he would have done it discreetly. I'm certain you wouldn't have even found out. But what's happening now is plain blackmail."

"I refuse to believe that," Janice snapped. "I don't care if you all are defending him. He's not showing any remorse for what he did, and he's threatening to sue me if I take any action. Well, then, I might as well sue him for harassment."

"How remorseful do you want him to be? He's truly suffering; have you seen him lately? I mean, have you seen how worn down he looks? I'm sure you wouldn't say these things if you had."

Janice bit her lip, guilt rushing through her, a feeling she was convinced she shouldn't be entertaining.

The last time she'd seen Jules was after he'd issued that threat, warning her not to leave. Since then, she hadn't. Maybe because she rarely ventured beyond her room. Her movements were confined mostly to the kitchen, and only if Grace wasn't around.

"I'm not saying this to lay a guilt trip on you," Jeremy paused, looking earnestly into her eyes. "But you need to reconcile with him. Stop making him suffer for something he didn't do, and don't take his son away from him."

"Removing an innocent child from his father can be seen as a form of coercion, too," Jeremy added.

"It isn't," Janice argued. "Besides, I have no interest in seeing him."

Jeremy let out a sigh and stood up from the bed. "Both of you are too stubborn for your own good. I sometimes wonder how you ended up together."

Janice shrugged, then got up from her seat. She walked towards the room just as the baby monitor chimed, signaling her son's awakening. She lifted him, tended to his needs, and then carefully placed him back in the crib.

Entering the room, she found only Maggie.

"I'll be back."

Janice nodded as Maggie excused herself. She settled on the bed, contemplating all that Jeremy had said. Was she indeed punishing Jules without just cause? Could it be possible that he was innocent?

"I find that hard to believe," she murmured to herself.

But then, why did this guilt keep growing within her whenever she thought about the situation? That was a question she couldn't answer. She wished for a swift resolution, for both of them to part ways amicably.

Though divorce was the last thing she wanted to consider, she believed it might be the best course of action.