Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 146: An Unannounced Visit

Chapter 146: An Unannounced Visit

"I wasn’t sure if I should tell you," Jerica admitted, her tone softening. "But I didn’t want to keep it from you either."

Harold nodded slowly, his lips pressing into a thoughtful line. "Thanks for telling me. It must feel like your whole life’s been flipped upside down."

"It does," Jerica admitted, offering a faint smile. "But... I think I’m figuring it out."

"Good for you, Jerica..." Harold smiled.

Jared’s gaze flickered toward Jerica, wondering if she was going to mention her pregnancy. Shouldn’t that be the first thing she shared? It was far more significant in his mind than her connection to the Sutherlands. Besides, he wasn’t particularly fond of the way Harold looked at her, even if there was nothing overtly inappropriate about it. It was enough to keep his guard up.

After a few beats of silence, Harold suddenly burst out laughing—a loud, unrestrained chortle that echoed in their private corner of the restaurant.

Jerica frowned in confusion. "What’s gotten into you?"

Still red-faced and laughing, Harold pointed at Jared, barely able to get his words out. "You... you bastard..." he managed between bouts of laughter.

"Harold!" Jerica’s tone dropped to a warning. She knew Harold didn’t mean it seriously, but she didn’t appreciate anyone calling her husband a bastard, joking or not.

Harold waved his hand dismissively, still laughing. "No, no... it’s just—" he tried to catch his breath, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "You married the daughter of Lydia Glover..." He scoffed, laughing harder. "Just watch how fast that man comes crawling to you with his tail between his legs!"

Jared let out a short chuckle, his lips curling into a smirk. "I bet he would."

Harold’s laughter gradually subsided, and the three of them settled into a lighter mood as they talked. Despite Jared’s initial reservations, the interaction wasn’t as tense as he had expected. Harold might still rub him the wrong way, but the guy had his moments.

After some time spent catching up, Jared and Jerica excused themselves and returned to the ranch house.

As they drove back, Jared glanced over at Jerica, his hand resting on the steering wheel. "You didn’t tell him about the baby."

Jerica looked out the window, her expression thoughtful. "I wanted to, but...It didn’t feel like the right time."

Jared nodded, understanding but still a little perplexed. "It’s big news, Jerica. You should let the people who care about you know."

She turned to him with a small smile. "I will. Just... not yet. No one usually announces it until the second trimester."

Jared sighed as he reached over to squeeze Jerica’s hand, his eyes lingering on her tired but determined face. He wasn’t entirely sure what she was waiting for when it came to sharing their pregnancy news, but he trusted her instincts. For now, his focus was unwavering—on her, their growing family, and the quiet yet transformative life they were building together.

While they stayed at the ranch house, life took on a different rhythm. Jerica’s morning sickness worsened, leaving her drained most days. With Jared temporarily free from work, caring for her became his sole priority. He prepared her meals, helped her keep clean, and ensured she rested.

Surprisingly, Jared found deep satisfaction in this new role. The responsibilities were demanding, but he embraced them with a sense of purpose he hadn’t experienced before.

His usual sharp focus on his career as a lawyer faded into the background. The courtroom, the cases, and even his ambitious goals felt like a distant memory. His entire world revolved around Jerica. After all, she was doing something extraordinary for him—carrying his child, his heir. The thought filled him with a profound respect and admiration for her, strengthening the already unshakable bond between them.

-----

While Jared and Jerica were savoring their quiet domestic life, the world outside was anything but peaceful. Lydia found herself at the center of a storm. Her father had fallen gravely ill and was admitted to the CCU. The situation, like a bad omen, spiraled quickly. With their father unable to lead and no formal heir announced, Philip Glover seized control of the family’s affairs.

Lydia wasn’t even allowed to visit her father in the hospital. Every attempt to gain access was blocked, Philip’s iron grip tightening around the family. It was a devastating blow, but Lydia wasn’t one to crumble under pressure.

Across the city, Arthur Sutherland worked tirelessly to counter the Glovers’ moves against them. He had anticipated this scenario and prepared accordingly. As he sat in his office, his eyes fell on a small flash drive resting on the table—a drive recovered from Jerica’s computer. It contained everything she had gathered against the Glover family.

Curious, Arthur plugged the drive into his laptop. As he reviewed the files, his eyes widened in astonishment. The evidence was damning, detailed, and meticulously organized. His pulse quickened with every document, every spreadsheet, every name listed in Jerica’s painstakingly compiled data.

"Goodness gracious!" Arthur exclaimed, leaning back in his chair. A mixture of awe and pride swelled in his chest. "My daughter is a genius!"

It was a bittersweet revelation. The work Jerica had done—quietly, methodically—was enough to dismantle the Glovers’ empire piece by piece. It was the weapon they needed, but it was also a stark reminder of what she had endured to gather it.

Arthur’s resolve hardened. He would use every bit of this evidence to protect his daughter, her family, and their future. The Glovers might have Philip pulling the strings, but Arthur had something far more powerful: a daughter with a brilliant mind and an unwavering sense of justice.

-----

Jerica sat on the porch, her eyes fixed on the serene view of the horses trotting gracefully in the distance. The soft rustling of the wind and the rhythmic sound of hooves were calming, lulling her into a sense of quiet joy.

"When are you going to ride them?" she asked, her voice teasing as she turned toward Jared. "I want to watch you dressed as a knight."

Jared glanced at her, shaking his head with a faint smile as he sipped his beer. "As if I’m going to do everything you want," he replied, his tone playful.

"Why not?" Jerica whined, kicking her legs like a child denied a treat, her pout exaggerated for effect.

Jared chuckled, his laughter low and warm, and Jerica couldn’t help but marvel at how much he had changed. Her once stoic husband, who rarely cracked a smile even in the happiest of moments, was now so relaxed, so at ease. It made her heart swell with love to see him like this. She loved every bit of it—the way he laughed, the way he teased her, the way he protected her.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the sound of tires crunching over gravel caught her attention. A car rolled into the long driveway, sending a cloud of dust swirling into the air.

Jared immediately stood, his body tensing as he stepped in front of Jerica, shielding her without a second thought. His sharp eyes locked onto the unfamiliar car, his protective instincts kicking in.

Jerica peeked out from behind him, curiosity etched across her face. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with a hint of nervousness.

The security team was already moving toward the vehicle, their postures alert and professional. Jared didn’t answer her right away, his focus entirely on the car. His grip on the porch railing tightened, his stance firm and unwavering.

Jerica’s fingers curled around the back of Jared’s shirt, grounding herself as the car came to a stop. Though she trusted their security, she felt safer with Jared standing in front of her, his presence steady and reassuring.

The moments stretched, the tension thick in the air, as they waited to see who had decided to pay them an unannounced visit.