Chapter 70: I love you

Janice glanced at the door as a knock echoed through the room. She rolled on the bed and grabbed the handkerchief beside her to blow her nose.

Her eyes were swollen, but she didn't mind. All she wanted was for the pain, which had seemed to intensify since she moved out of the room she shared with Jules, to disappear.

The new pains that surfaced when she found out about what happened seemed to amplify everything she had been feeling. She wondered if there was anything she could do.

As soon as she got home, she tried to set up a meeting with Jules to talk about everything, but it seemed like he didn't want to see her. Each time she approached his room, she noticed it was locked.

She didn't know where he usually went and didn't want to seem like a stalker by asking. But it bothered her, making it feel like salvaging their marriage was hopeless.

The knock came again, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Come in," Janice croaked.

Grace entered the room, as usual, with her son.

"He's well-fed, and I burped him too," she grinned. "I think he's ready for a nap."

Janice nodded. She saw her son's eyes closing, and Grace handed him to her.

"Thank you, Grace," she mumbled.

Grace grinned, "Anything for my lady."

"Will you need anything else? I'm about to head home."

"That'll be all for today. If I need assistance, I can manage myself or ask one of the maids," Janice said.

Grace nodded, her face breaking into a grin again. She left the room, and just as quickly, Jules stepped in.

He stood by the doorway and scanned the room.

Janice's heart raced, and her gaze met his. She couldn't discern his expression because the curtains were drawn, and the chandelier's light was too dim. Yet, she sensed his eyes on her.

A few seconds passed, and he still stood there until he left the room without a word.

Janice let out a disappointed sigh as she stared at the door where he had been. Simultaneously, she felt a sense of relief.

At least he was alive, and she no longer had to worry about his well-being or whereabouts.

***

The castle buzzed with its usual activity. The scandal had gradually faded from memory, and they had fully embraced Jake as one of the princes.

While he may not have held a crown, he was still a prince by virtue of his father's status. However, the dowager queen viewed him as a bastard. Janice had taken pains to ensure he wasn't treated as such. She even insisted on using the title 'prince' with his name, a directive she extended to everyone.

She made her way to the room she had once shared with Jules and wrinkled her nose upon entering. It was her first time back in two months, and it wasn't in the condition she had expected. Empty bottles cluttered the floor, and she squinted as she spotted Jules sprawled in the center.

She rushed toward him, fearing he wasn't breathing. However, she stopped short as she approached. His chest rose and fell, and he looked even worse than she had seen him the previous night. His face was overgrown with a beard, giving him the appearance of a cave dweller. His hair had grown wild, untamed.

He reeked of alcohol, and she also caught a whiff of cigarettes on him.

"I'm sorry, darling," he slurred.

Janice noticed dried tears on his face and wondered if he had been crying before she arrived.

"Jules," she gently shook him after splashing water on his face.

He snapped his eyes open, locking onto hers. "Janice?"

"What are you doing to yourself?"

"Is this you?" He asked, his fingers tracing her face. He brushed her chin and managed a smile. "I'm not so sure."

"It's me," Janice said, rolling her eyes as she helped him up.

She strained under his weight but managed to guide him to the bed.

"You look terrible."

"I know," Jules conceded.

Janice wondered if he was sober, but that thought quickly dissipated when he gave her a manic grin.

"I think I'll step out and return when you're in a better state of mind. I don't believe I can talk to you like this," she mumbled.

She tidied the room, disposing of the empty wine bottles and clearing out the ashtray filled with cigarette remnants before heading to her own.

Upon returning several hours later, she noticed he was still asleep. She retrieved some pills from the first aid kit, placing them on the nightstand alongside a plastic bottle of water.

As she was about to leave, a hand wrapped around her waist.

"Jules! You startled me!" Janice yelped, spinning around with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry," he rasped. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"I was here earlier," Janice asserted, rolling her eyes, and tried to step out of his embrace, but he held her tighter.

"I'm sorry, darling. I don't know how many times I need to say this, but I won't stop until you forgive me."

Janice sighed, gazing into his gray eyes that looked back at her with vulnerability. She realized she couldn't stay angry with him any longer.

"I forgive you," she murmured after a pause. "I'm just hurt. You keep doing things that hurt me."

"I never meant to, darling."

Janice nodded. "I can't hold onto anger forever. I just wish you'd uphold our vows and stop hurting me."

"I promised I would," Jules mumbled. "Losing you would be unbearable."

He'd been more than miserable since their falling out, and he wasn't ready to go through that again.

"No more secrets?"

"No more secrets," Jules agreed.

"I love you, Jules. After our argument, I tried convincing myself otherwise, but I couldn't. I was hurting myself by not talking to you."

"I understand," Jules mumbled.

Before she could respond, he quieted her with a kiss.

The kiss was tender, just what Janice had needed. She leaned into her husband, a soft moan escaping her lips as he kissed her neck.

"I love you, madame," Jules murmured, continuing to kiss her.

Janice held onto him, whispering, "I want you."

It was what Jules wanted to hear her say. So, he placed her gently on the bed and made love to her.

Once again, his life felt complete. Janice was with him again, and she had accepted his child as his. There was nothing more he could ask for.