Chapter 16

Jules pinched the bridge of his nose as he passed by the narrow hallway.

He halted, and his ears twitched as he heard murmurings from the maids in the kitchen about the disappearance of his bride and he doubted if it would ever stop.

Jules was aware of everything going on in the castle, and even in Cherview as a whole. Also, He knew it would stop only when Janice was found.

It was already a month and he hadn't heard a word about her whereabouts, not even from the costly private investigators he had hired.

It looked as if the wench had disappeared from the surface of the earth and Jules doubted if he would ever find her again, thoughtless of seeing his child born.

His chest tightened, and he balled his fists at the thoughts of losing his heir. If he hadn't been tired that night, he would have noticed her going out because he was not a heavy sleeper.

More so, Jules believed Janice might have added something to his food to make him that sleepy the night she had fled.

His eyes rolled as one of the maids that had been murmuring sighted him at the entrance.

"Your highness!" She squealed whilst alerting the others in the process and they stopped what they had been doing immediately.

A blush tinted her cheeks and she murmured, "I-I'm sorry." Then darted out with the enormous bowl and rag with her.

The other maids went about their duties as well like he hadn't caught them talking, and as soon as he left the murmuring began.

"Darn it!" Jules grunted. Just when he thought everything was going well, Janice had come into his life to disrupt it one more time.

He had thought she would be happy because of the luxury she was enjoying and not caused any fuss, rather it was the opposite.

He never really understands what women want. Those creatures were insatiable, he mulled.

Jules walked to the bar in his room, he clutched a wine glass from the top shelf, then moved to take his beloved bourbon.

His nose crinkled as he perceived her scent. Her perfume still lingered in the room because he hardly used it.

Since Janice left, he had often had several nightmares of seeing her without a baby bump. Whenever he awoke from the terrible dream, he had always asked himself where the baby went.

Jules didn't want to dwell on the thought of her terminating the baby because he didn't know what he would do if the dream came true.

His eyes widened when he noticed one of his bourbon bottles missing from the shelf and it had been replaced by another wine.

He wasn't petty, but the bourbon was his most prized possession and he would know if anything happened to one.

Jules's eyes narrowed as he tried to recall if he had by chance taken it or given it to Jeremy who had often tried to steal it without him knowing. He shook his head because he couldn't remember doing so.

"Damnation!" He grunted as he recalled seeing a bottle in the bathroom.

He had been blinded by a craving for Janice's body and had forgotten he had seen a wine glass with her whilst in the bathtub.

"At this rate, if she keeps taking alcohol, she would damage the child in her womb," Jules murmured to himself.

He groaned whilst he uncapped the wine he had taken, then poured a little amount into the wine glass with him.

The liquid burned his throat slightly, and his tense muscle relaxed as he took another sip.

His phone vibrated and he dug his hand into the pocket of his pants to bring it out.

"Hey," Jules answered with the phone glued to his ear.

"I have some news for you. I don't know if it would sound good or bad." Jeremy prompted.

Jules rolled his eyes at his brother's assertion. He was aware of what Jeremy meant when he said bad news. It was usually the opposite, and the good news would become the bad one.

"What is it?" "I want the news together," Jules stated.

"Okay, I'll be quick because I overheard my wife talking to her, and I don't want her to know I'm informing you."

Jules heard shuffling on the other end, and he thought of what his brother was doing. Perhaps, running away from Margie, he thought.

Jules hadn't seen her since Janice fled. Maybe she didn't want to see him either because the last time he had been in the forest with her, she had accused him of doing something to her best friend.

Also, she had gone to the extent of wanting to divulge the secret of the bride's absence if not for Jeremy who. Intervened.

He was aware she was pained because he felt the same way.

"Cut the crappy explanations and tell me what is going on." Jules snapped as he felt his patience running thin.

"Chillax bruv, sometimes I wonder if you made her run away with your attitude."

Jules inhaled, then let it out slowly. "Jeremy,"

"Okay, okay. Don't use that scolding tone on me, I'll tell you."

Jules tapped the cup as he waited for his brother to tell him the information he had.

Though a part of him knew what he was part to say, he didn't want to jinx it.

"I know where Janice is or maybe my wife does."

"What, where?" Jules rasped whilst hoisting himself from the seat.

He walked briskly to the nightstand and grabbed the car key that was on it.

He tugged his Jacket off the rack as well and slipped it on.

"Where is she, Jeremy?" Jules implored as he received no response.

"According to Margie, she's on an Island and she had planned to stay there until the birth of her baby." Jeremy rambled. "I gotta go."

"Over my dead body," Jules muttered. "Not, if I get to that freaking Island first!"

He strode to the mini garage that was built beside the castle main building and slipped into his car. Turning on the ignition, he drove to the airport where his private jet was already waiting for him.