Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 107: His Decision

Chapter 107: His Decision

Jerica’s heart stuttered, confusion clouding her fear as her eyes locked on the figure holding the gun. The person stood rigid, shoulders heaving like they’d just sprinted through the forest. Smoke still curled faintly from the barrel of the rifle, dissipating into the evening air. For a moment, the world around her felt surreal, silent but for the pounding of her heartbeat.

Then his face came into focus.

Jared.

Her breath caught, disbelief washing over her in waves. Jared’s expression was a storm of emotions: raw determination, lingering panic, and something deeper—an unspoken fear that mirrored her own. His chest rose and fell heavily, his every breath a testament to the intensity of what had just happened. His hands, steady moments ago, now trembled slightly as he lowered the rifle.

"You..." Her voice cracked, barely audible, as though the words struggled to find their way out. "You had a gun?"

The question wasn’t just about the object in his hands. It was about the layers of him she thought she knew—her husband of four years, the man who could tease her out of a bad mood or cook pancakes on a lazy Sunday morning. Never once had he mentioned owning a gun. She didn’t know he even knew how to use one. And yet his shots had been precise, his aim steady, like someone who’d practiced for years.

She blinked, a cold realization settling over her. "How... how did you get it here? You don’t even have a permit—at least not one I know of."

Jared’s gaze softened when it met hers, though his jaw remained tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he stepped closer. Each movement was deliberate, cautious, as though he feared she might shatter from the weight of it all.

"It’s not my gun," he admitted, his voice low but resolute. "But I wasn’t about to let anything happen to you."

Jerica stared at him, her mind spinning. Jared—the man who laughed off Harold’s bravado about hunting, who rolled his eyes at exaggerated campfire stories—had just saved her life. With a gun. The incongruity of it left her reeling. She couldn’t reconcile the Jared she knew with the one standing before her now, protective and commanding, willing to face down a bear without hesitation.

"Why... why didn’t you ever tell me?" she whispered, her voice trembling as much as her hands. She wasn’t sure if she meant the gun, his skill, or the sheer courage he’d shown.

Jared knelt beside her, setting the rifle carefully on the ground before reaching out. His fingers brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, the gentleness of the gesture starkly contrasting with the violence of the moment. His eyes searched hers, filled with a vulnerability she hadn’t expected.

"Because I didn’t think I’d ever need to," he said softly. "But the moment I heard you scream, Jerica..." His voice faltered, just for a second, and his gaze flickered to the bear before returning to her. "I didn’t think. I just ran."

The weight of his words struck her, cutting through the fog of adrenaline and fear. Her lips trembled as a fresh wave of tears welled in her eyes, this time not from terror but from the overwhelming reality of it all. She was alive—because of him. Because he hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t faltered.

"You saved me..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, laden with awe and gratitude.

Jared’s expression softened further, his hand lingering on her cheek. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips, and he nodded. "Always."

In that moment, the chaos faded. There was only him, the quiet assurance in his presence, and the unshakable truth that no matter what, Jared would always find a way to protect her.

Jared pulled Jerica into his arms, his embrace firm yet trembling. Jerica, still riding the adrenaline coursing through her veins, finally felt herself start to calm. But as her own panic ebbed, she noticed something else: Jared was shaking.

"Ah..." He exhaled deeply, his breath hitching as though a sob was caught somewhere deep in his chest. His arms tightened around her like he was afraid she might disappear if he loosened his grip even slightly. "I thought I was going to lose you... Oh, Jerica..." His voice broke, raw and unsteady, as he buried his face in her hair, drawing in her scent like it was the only thing grounding him.

Jerica’s chest tightened at his vulnerability. I’m the one who almost died, yet he’s the one trembling in fear. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. "I’m here," she whispered, her voice soft and steady despite the tears threatening to spill again. "I’m fine, mea amor."

Jared pulled back just enough for her to cup his face, her palms warm against his cool, clammy skin. He knelt before her, his usually composed and commanding presence now small, almost fragile, like an abandoned kitten seeking solace.

Jerica leaned in and kissed him, her lips brushing his with a tenderness that seemed to calm the storm inside him. "I’m all right," she assured him, her forehead resting against his. "You protected me."

He said nothing, burying his head in her neck again, his breaths uneven as he clung to her. Jerica’s fingers moved instinctively, rubbing soothing circles on his back. She held him like that for what felt like an eternity, giving him the space to gather himself. Slowly, his trembling began to subside, and his breaths evened out.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jerica noticed one of their coworkers standing frozen nearby, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. The sight jolted her back to reality. She gently pulled away from Jared, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze.

The coworker, seemingly startled by Jerica’s gaze, turned and bolted toward the bus, likely to inform the others who had stayed back after hearing the gunshots. Jerica sighed, knowing what was coming.

As expected, when they reached the bus, the group had already gathered, whispering and throwing furtive glances their way. Jared didn’t seem fazed by the attention, though Jerica could feel his protective energy radiating as he kept her close, their hands intertwined.

The officials had been alerted about the bear, delaying their departure. The murmurs among the group only grew louder, speculation and unease rippling through them like wildfire.

Jared must have noticed the stares and whispers, because his grip on her hand tightened slightly. He straightened his posture, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Jerica knew that look—he was ready to confront them.

"Does your husband know about the ADA, Mrs. Evans?"

The voice came from somewhere in the back of the crowd. It was a question laced with accusation, dripping with the rumors of an "affair" that had been circulating.

Jerica glanced at Jared, curious to see how he would handle this. His jaw tightened, and his gaze turned predatory, pinning the crowd with a sharpness that made them collectively take a step back.

"Who said that?" Jared asked, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a whip. His tone held the unmistakable authority of someone who wasn’t used to being questioned.

The crowd shifted, the guilty party shrinking behind the others. Jared’s eyes flicked to Jerica, a subtle reassurance in their depths before he turned back to the group.

"Fine," Jared said, his voice calm but firm. He recited a phone number, his words deliberate and clear.

Jerica’s brows shot up in surprise. It was his personal number. What was he doing?

"This is her husband’s number," Jared announced, letting the weight of his words settle over the group. "Feel free to reach out. I’m sure he’d love to hear your thoughts."

The crowd froze, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion as they processed his words. Jerica had to bite back a smirk, watching as realization dawned on their faces.

The silence that followed was deafening. No one dared to meet Jared’s eyes now, much less question him further. A few faces turned toward Jerica, their expressions wide with shock, their murmurs quiet but frantic.

Jerica rolled her eyes, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she scanned the crowd. Let them whisper, she thought. They’ll figure it out soon enough.

As Jared led her toward the bus, still holding her hand tightly, she felt a strange sense of pride swelling in her chest. He had always protected her, but now, he wasn’t hiding her anymore. He wasn’t hiding them.

This was the start of something new—something she had waited far too long for. It was four years too late and yet it was a good beginning.

As they waited for the authorities and rangers to finalize their discussion with Jared about the bear, Jerica’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and hesitated briefly before answering. It was from the hospital.

Her heart quickened, a mixture of hope and nervous anticipation blooming in her chest. She’d recently undergone tests at a fertility clinic, driven by her deep yearning to have a baby. This could be the call—the one that would confirm the possibility of her dream finally coming true.

"Hello?" she said, her voice steady but guarded.