My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 30

‘Normally, he would have just told me to let it go. Or, more likely, he wouldn’t have ordered an investigation in the first place.’

Ethan’s recent behavior towards Camille had definitely changed. It was evident from how he seemed to struggle with issues regarding their marital relations, something uncharacteristic of him.

Of course, the Duchess’s transformation had been dramatic. Even Jacques, who had known her for years, was still puzzled by how she had managed to conceal her true nature for so long. There were still many mysteries surrounding Camille that needed to be resolved.

‘It’s natural that perceptions would change. The real question is how they’ve changed.’

Camille still had many unresolved mysteries. They couldn’t afford to be complacent.

Maybe it was just an overabundance of caution, but it needed to be checked.

“Keep an eye on her for now. Report immediately if anything similar happens again.”

“Yes.”

Even after responding, Jacques remained standing in place.

“Is there something else on your mind?”

“Have you stopped suspecting the Duchess?” Jacques asked.

Ethan looked up from his papers. “What suspicion are you referring to?”

“You mentioned that the Duchess might be Girard’s spy.”

Jacques had never truly believed this was a plausible theory. It seemed highly unlikely, and his instincts told him it wasn’t the case. It was more of a ‘what if’ scenario considering Girard’s unpredictability.

“I haven’t completely ruled it out. But…”

“But?”

“As I said before, if Camille were a spy, she wouldn’t have suggested divorce. She would have tried to stay close to me no matter what.”

“That’s merely speculation, not concrete evidence.”

“I know. That’s why I ordered the ongoing investigation, and I haven’t rescinded that order.”

“That’s true, but…”

“What’s troubling you? Speak plainly.” Ethan’s gaze was as cold and steady as ever.

‘…Perhaps it is just an overabundance of caution. But I can’t be certain yet.’

Jacques decided it was best to continue observing for the time being. He was about to speak when he heard footsteps approaching from outside. A moment later, there was a knock at the door.

“It’s me, Camille.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Camille walked in. Jacques bowed his head and began to leave, but Camille stopped him.

“Oh, it’s fine. This will only take a moment.”

“What is it?” Ethan asked.

“I’d like to visit my family tomorrow. I’ve been cooped up for too long using my illness as an excuse, and my brother seems quite worried. I received another letter from him today.” Camille spoke smoothly and without hesitation. Despite sounding like a rehearsed line, it didn’t seem unnatural.

“Are you planning to stay overnight?”

“No, I intend to return the same day.”

“Then there’s no need to seek my permission every time. Just inform Victor of your destination when you leave.”

“Really?” Camille glanced at Jacques for a brief moment.

“……”

Jacques furrowed his brows instinctively.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, I understand. I’ll be going now. Please continue your conversation.”

“Alright.”

Camille soon left, and the door closed behind her. When the sound of her footsteps faded away, Ethan spoke. “Have her followed as usual. She could meet with her informant at any time, so don’t lose sight of her for a second.”

“…Understood.”

Ethan believed Camille had an informant who knew Girard’s inner workings. He was convinced that she had learned about Baron Bernard’s plot to steal the ledger through this informant. According to Ethan, Camille seemed more concerned for this informant’s safety than her own.

It made sense. If Girard discovered that someone had leaked information, that informant would likely be as good as dead. However, Jacques doubted Camille would risk meeting this informant anytime soon.

When Ethan told Camille she didn’t need his permission to go out, she glanced at Jacques. It seemed to imply that she was aware of being followed every time she left the house.

Jacques and his subordinates were professionals. It was unlikely their surveillance had been noticed, and if it had, they would have known immediately.

‘Could it just be a guess? Or…’

Recently, Jacques had delegated the surveillance to his subordinates. Not only was the matter not important enough for his direct involvement, but Camille also knew his face.

‘It looks like I’ll have to handle this personally tomorrow.’

If Camille detected Jacques tailing her, it would be proof she was no ordinary person.

***

As I walked down the hallway, I was deep in thought. Just before entering Ethan’s study, I had overheard part of a conversation inside. The voices were faint and hard to make out, but I distinctly caught a few words: “Duchess,” “suspicion,” and “spy.”

When I approached closer, the voices abruptly stopped. They must have sensed my presence.

‘So, they’re considering the possibility that I might be Girard’s spy…’

I had somewhat anticipated this. Girard had previously planted spies in the Dumont estate several times.

However, I wasn’t particularly worried. It wasn’t true, and they would find no evidence to prove it. Moreover, I believed the suspicion would naturally fade once I divorced Ethan. If I were truly Girard’s spy, I wouldn’t be trying to leave the estate voluntarily.

‘The problem is that the divorce process is proving to be more difficult than I expected.’

What also concerned me was that the voice I heard wasn’t Ethan’s but Jacques’. Jacques was even more suspicious and thorough than Ethan. He was so relentless that his nickname was “Dumont’s Hound.”

‘Continuing to be suspected and followed like this is going to be exhausting.’

At the last ball, I had to employ several strategies to avoid unnecessary suspicion, which took a lot of effort. I would have to maneuver carefully in the future to ensure a smooth divorce from Ethan, and avoiding Jacques’ scrutiny every time would be challenging.

‘I need to take action now. If I can get him on my side, it would be even better…’

Once I reached my room, I began to devise a plan in earnest.

***

The next morning, Jacques was waiting in his office in the outbuilding of the Dumont Mansion from early on.

‘Time to get going.’

He glanced at his watch and stood up. The Duchess had planned to leave right after breakfast, so if he left now, he would be able to follow her just in time.

As he put on his hat and stepped out, he saw a servant running towards him.

“Mr. Alide, the Duchess is asking for you.”

“…The Duchess is asking for me?” Jacques asked in disbelief.

The servant nodded.

“Did she say what for?”

“She didn’t specify…”

“……”

Jacques gestured for the servant to lead the way.

When he arrived at the Duchess’s room, Camille was already dressed and ready to go.

“Come in, Jacques,” she said with a bright smile.

“You called for me.”

“Yes, I’m about to head to my brother’s house, and I wanted you to accompany me.”

“……”

Jacques raised his scarred eyebrow instinctively. He had thought of various reasons why the Duchess might have called for him, but this was completely unexpected.

“May I ask why?”

“Well, it’s a long way, and I thought it would be nice to have some company. We could talk on the way.”

“……”

Camille chuckled. “No need to be so cautious. I don’t have any ill intentions, I assure you.”

“If you were capable of harming me, I wouldn’t have lasted this long under the Duke’s service,” Jacques replied calmly.

“Oh, quite true,” Camille smiled, seemingly amused. “Shall we go then?”

“Yes, let’s.”

The Duchess took her maid’s hand and stood up.

‘I don’t know what her plan is, but this could be a good opportunity.’

There were still too many unresolved mysteries about Camille. This might be the perfect chance to get a glimpse into her true intentions.