70

Janice glanced at the door as a knock sounded on it. She rolled on the bed and snatched the hanky beside her to blow her nose.
Her eyes were puffy, but she didn't care. She only wanted the pain that seemed to have multiplied ever since she moved out of the room she shared with Jules to vanish.
Also, the new ones that surfaced when she knew about what happened seemed to intensify all that she had been feeling and wondered if she could do anything.
 As soon as she got home, she had tried to set up a meeting with Jules to talk about everything, but it seemed like he didn't want to see her because each time she went close to his room, she noticed it was locked.
She didn't know where he often went and didn't have the dignity to ask lest she appeared like a stalker. But it bothers her and made it seem like salvaging their marriage was hopeless.
The knock sounded again, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Janice croaked, "Come in."
Grace stepped into the room as usual, with her son.
"He's well-fed, and I burped him as well." She grinned. "I think he is ready for a nap."
Janice nodded. She saw her son's eyes closing and Grace handed her to him.
"Thank you, Grace." She mumbled.
Grace grinned, "Anything for my lady."
"Would you need anything else? I am about to leave for home."
"That would be all for today. If I need an assistant, I can do that myself or call on one of the maids to do so." Janice said.
Grace nodded and her face spread out in a grin again. She left the room and immediately Jules stepped in.
He stood by the doorway and glanced around the room.
Janice's heart palpitated and her eyes travelled to his. She couldn't see the expression on his face because the curtains were down and the light from the chandelier was too dim for her to make out his expression.
But she sensed him staring at her.
A few seconds passed, he still stood there until he left the room without a word.
Janice let out a disappointed sigh whilst gazing at the door where he once stood. And at the same time, she was relieved.
At least, he was alive and she needn't have to worry about his well being or where he was anymore.
********
The castle was in its usual bustling mood.
The scandal was gradually forgotten and they had fully accepted Jake as one of the princes.
Although not a crowned one, he was still a prince because of his father's status.
But, the dowager queen saw him as a bastard but Janice had made sure he wasn't treated like one.
She had even attributed the prince's title to his name and had ordered for everyone to address him like that.
She walked to the room she once shared with Jules and wrinkled her nose as she stepped into it.
Since she had left the room two months ago, it would be her first time in it and it wasn't in as good condition as she had thought.
Several bottles littered the floor, and she narrowed her eyes as she noticed Jules sprawled in the middle of the room.
She darted inside whilst she thought he wasn't breathing, then she halted as she moved toward him. She noticed his chest rising and falling and he even looked worse than she had seen him last night.
Beards covered his face, making him look like some sort of cave dweller. His hair had grown longer, and he didn't bother to trim it.
He reeks of alcohol and not only that, she caught a whiff of cigarette on him as well.
"I'm sorry, darling." He slurred.
Janice glimpsed dried tears on his face and wondered if he had been crying before she came.
"Jules." She shook him softly after splashing water on his face.
He snapped his eyes open, and he gazed at her. "Janice?"
"What are you doing to yourself?"
"Is this you?" He questioned, touching her face. He caressed her chin and smiled. "I doubt it."
"It is I." Janice rolled her eyes and helped him up.
She grunted as he exerted all his weight on her. Still, she successfully moved him to the bed.
"You look like hell."
"I do." Jules agreed.
Janice wondered if he was sober, but she decided he wasn't when he smiled at her maniacally.
"I'll just leave and come back when you are in your right senses. I don't think I can speak to you in this manner." She mumbled.
She cleaned the room and tossed the empty bottles of wine away, and the ashtray filled with cigarette ash.
Before leaving for hers.
Several hours later, she came back and noticed he was still asleep. She took some pills from the first aid kit and placed them on the nightstand and placed a plastic bottle of water beside it.
As she was about to leave, a hand snaked around her waist.
Janice yelped, lurching. Her eyes rounded and she swirled.
"Jules! You scared me!" She glared, huffing.
"I'm sorry." He said hoarsely. "I'm surprised to see you here."
"I was here earlier." Janice asserted with the roll of her eyes and attempted to move from his grasp, but he tightened his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, darling. I don't know how long I need to say this, but I won't stop until you forgive me."
Janice sighed. She stared into his grey eyes, which stared back at her. She saw how vulnerable he was in that minute, and she didn't think she could get mad at him any longer.
"I forgive you." She mumbled after a while. "I am just hurt. You keep doing things that will hurt me."
"I didn't mean to, darling."
Janice nodded. "I can't get mad at you forever. I just wish you will keep to our vows and stop doing all the things you do."
"I promised not to,'' Jules mumbled. "I don't think I would like to lose you. I'll feel miserable."
He had been more than miserable since their fallout and he didn't think he was ready to witness it again.
"No more secrets?"
"No more secrets." Jules agreed.
"I love you, Jules. Since the argument, I tried to make myself feel like I didn't. But I couldn't help it. I was hurting myself as well at the same time whilst refusing to talk to you."
"I don't blame you," Jules mumbled.
As she wanted to reply, he hushed her by placing his lips on her.
The kiss was gentle, and everything Janice wanted. She leaned into her husband and moaned as his lips went to her neck.
"I love you, madame," Jules mumbled as he continued to kiss her.
Janice held onto him and she mumbled, "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.