My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 45

Both Ethan and Jacques seemed deep in thought at Mael’s words.

“The police will likely find more evidence as the investigation proceeds. I know you have many questions for the Duchess, but perhaps we could wait until the full truth is revealed. Please, I ask this with all due respect,” Mael concluded, bowing his head slightly.

Ethan looked taken aback for a moment, and Jacques raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, have you already interrogated her?” Jacques asked.

“……”

Mael seemed puzzled. “How did you know? I hadn’t reported back yet…”

“You probably didn’t know the specifics. You must have just known that the Duchess met with Mael and asked what they talked about,” Jacques said.

Ethan confirmed this with his silence. Mael inquired further. “What did the Duchess say?”

“…Nothing. She told me to wait for Mael to return and hear it from you, saying it would be a waste of time to explain now.”

Jacques chuckled. “That sounds like her.”

Ethan found Jacques’s comment somewhat irritating and frowned.

“And what makes you think you know Camille so well?” Ethan asked.

“She probably thought you wouldn’t believe her without evidence. She must have decided it was better to wait for Mael to find proof before explaining,” Jacques replied.

“And what makes you think that’s typical of Camille?” Ethan pressed.

“She seemed quite upset about being treated like a criminal by you. She voiced strong dissatisfaction about it.”

“What? You didn’t mention that in your previous report.”

“I left out the details because I thought it would be unpleasant for you to hear. But I can understand her feelings. Even in this case, she followed the murderer, and you suspected her of meeting with an informant…” Jacques clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“It wasn’t just me who had doubts, was it?” Ethan retorted.

“I did tell you, if the man was an informant, the Duchess wouldn’t have followed him so openly, knowing she was being watched,” Jacques pointed out.

‘…This guy, trying to back out now?’ Ethan glared at Jacques, who avoided his gaze and cleared his throat.

“Anyway, I don’t think there’s a need to doubt the Duchess about this matter. As Sir Mael said, the evidence is overwhelming, and there’s nothing for the Duchess to gain from this. She must have been genuinely concerned about Ines. The Duchess seemed to have taken quite a liking to her,” Jacques said, trying to steer the conversation.

“When did you become so supportive of Camille? Are you now defending her as the savior of your wife?” Ethan’s words made Jacques frown.

“Of course not. That’s not it.”

Despite his firm denial, Jacques’s expression was uneasy. He looked around aimlessly before snapping at Ethan. “Why do you see it that way? I’m telling you, it’s not like that.”

Mael chuckled softly beside them. Jacques glared at him, but Mael remained unfazed.

“Anyway, it’s too early to draw any conclusions. As I mentioned, let’s wait for the official statement from the police,” Mael suggested.

“……”

Ethan furrowed his brow, feeling a headache coming on. He realized he hadn’t slept since then.

“Fine, both of you can leave now. Handle the Bache situation as I instructed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mael and Jacques bowed to Ethan before leaving the room.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes falling on Marcel Bache’s diary on the desk.

“It’s your loss if you don’t believe me. When the truth comes out, you’ll want to apologize for doubting me.”

Camille’s confident, almost smug voice echoed in his mind.

Once again, things had turned out just as Camille had said.

“…Damn it,” Ethan muttered a curse under his breath.

***

“You’re back? You’re very late tod—” Ines couldn’t finish her sentence as Jacques rushed in and enveloped her in a tight hug.

Due to her small frame, Jacques lifted her right off the floor, leaving her legs dangling. Titi circled them, barking excitedly.

“W-Why are you doing this, Jacques? I can’t breathe,” Ines patted Jacques’s chest in protest.

Jacques took a deep breath, burying his head in her shoulder before finally letting her go.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen today?”

“…It’s nothing. I was just checking if there’s any other man’s scent on you.”

Ines’s eyes narrowed at his words. “What? Are you saying you suspect me of cheating?”

“No, that’s not it… Damn it, just think what you want,” Jacques scratched his head furiously before pulling Ines back into his arms. Ines glared at him, but Jacques ignored it and pulled her head into his chest.

Holding his wife like this brought a sense of reality crashing down on him. He realized he might not have been able to hold her today. The thought sent a chill through his veins.

In truth, Jacques had no idea there was such a man lurking around Ines. If he had come home and found her missing, it was a thought too dreadful to consider.

But it could have very well happened.

If not for the Duchess.

At first, he suspected the Duchess had some ulterior motive in approaching Ines. Perhaps she was using his wife’s safety to blackmail him. The thought left him with an indescribably uneasy feeling.

There was some guilt towards the Duchess, but that wasn’t all. He didn’t want to admit he was wrong.

Yet, he couldn’t ignore the truth out of pride.

Jacques recalled what Mael had said.

“She probably felt compelled to act this time, even if it meant risking embarrassment if she was wrong. She believed it was worth it to save Jacques’s wife.”

Honestly, Jacques couldn’t believe such a noble person existed in this world. Even Ethan wouldn’t go that far for him or Ines.

But Camille had known she would be suspected and followed the man who was stalking Ines. Despite being the Duchess of Dumont, she had personally taken action. There was no other way to interpret this; it was an undeniable fact.

Even if Jacques didn’t know what ulterior motives she might have had, it didn’t change the fact.

Camille had saved Ines’s life.

***

A few days later, the streets of the capital were plastered with special editions of the news.

[The serial killer who terrorized the capital has been apprehended after six months!]

[The identity of Valerie Jeuness’s murderer has finally been revealed!]

The newspapers detailed the identity of the criminal, Marcel Bache, and noted that the one who apprehended him was none other than Mael Cantona, the captain of the Dumont Duchy’s knight order. The decisive evidence was a diary meticulously recording his crimes, along with several belongings of the victims found in his possession. Initially, Bache denied his actions, but when confronted with the evidence, he eventually confessed.

I set the newspaper down, recalling the events of yesterday.

Mael had come to me to explain the situation and to apologize for the delayed report.

“…You don’t want it known that it was you who uncovered the criminal?”

“Yes.”

“But this makes it seem as though I’m taking credit for your accomplishments…” he said, trailing off.

“Oh, that’s not true. Sir Mael, it was you who actually apprehended Bache. And if you hadn’t believed me, Bache would still be roaming the streets freely.”

“……”

Despite my reassurance, Mael’s expression remained uneasy. I said, “It’s alright. I didn’t do it for the credit. I’m just glad Ines is safe, and that there won’t be any more victims.”

Mael quietly regarded me, then knelt on one knee before me. I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Sir Mael? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I apologize. To be honest, I doubted your words. But everything turned out to be true, and thanks to you, we saved Jacques’s wife. I don’t know how to properly express my apology and gratitude.”

“It’s alright. If anyone should be thanking someone, it’s me. So please, rise.”

Mael looked up at me. His black eyes shone softly. “I am honored to serve someone like you as our mistress. Please continue to take care of the Duke and our house,” he said earnestly.

“What? No…” I began, but Mael smiled gently, then rose. After bowing courteously to me, he left the room.

‘…No matter how I think about it, it feels like he said that on purpose knowing I asked Ethan for a divorce,’ I thought, frowning as I pondered.