Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 27: The Cousin

Chapter 27: The Cousin

Jerica thought she heard Jared’s voice in the distance, low and taut, simmering with anger. It was unmistakable—the deep bass of his words carried a sharp edge, something she hadn’t heard from him in a long time. Was he arguing with Harold?

She frowned, unsure if she was mishearing, and tried to ignore it, returning her focus to the stack of papers on her desk. But the wind carried Harold’s voice next, faint and trembling with fear. Her stomach twisted.

Unable to shake her curiosity, Jerica stood and quietly moved to the door, pulling it open just enough to glance into the hallway. There, standing right outside her office, was Jared—her husband.

Her heart leaped at the sight of him. After the charged moment they had shared in the record room earlier, she hadn’t expected to see him again so soon.

The memory of his hands on her waist still lingered in her mind, clouding her thoughts. Now, he stood there, his hair disheveled, his jaw unshaven, giving him an almost rugged look. It was hard to believe how effortlessly handsome he was, even with the weariness visible in the tension across his shoulders.

Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she felt like a teenager again, caught in that giddy, heart-fluttering feeling of seeing her crush. But this wasn’t some high school romance—this was her husband of four years. So why did her heart still race like this? Was it right to feel this way about him? Especially now, when things between them felt so broken?

Her blissful haze shattered when a voice cut through the hallway, smooth and unmistakably familiar.

"Jared, love..."

Jerica’s eyes darted toward the source of the voice, and there she was—her. The woman in red she had seen before. But this time, she was draped in a sleek black dress, the neckline plunging provocatively. Her blue eyes were fixed solely on Jared, and her voice, honeyed with affection, rang with a dangerous familiarity. The casual way she called him "love" made Jerica’s blood turn cold.

Love. How dare she use that word? Wasn’t it meant for me, the woman who has stood by Jared’s side for years? And yet, this stranger, this beautiful, confident woman could just waltz into his life, into their life, and use it without hesitation.

Jerica’s mind whirled, jealousy sinking its claws deep into her chest. The air between them thickened, and Jerica could feel herself shutting down, pulling back into the shell she often retreated to when things became too overwhelming. Confrontation was never her strength.

Despite all the hurt she had every right to feel, despite the fact that she was Jared’s wife, Jerica couldn’t find it in herself to say anything. Her natural instinct was always to avoid conflict, especially with Jared, who already treated her like she might crumble under the weight of her own emotions.

Instead, she cleared her throat, deciding to retreat into her office before the situation became more unbearable. Just as she turned to step back inside, Jared’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Jerica! This is my cousin—Natasha..."

His words felt like a lifeline. Jerica halted, her heart pounding as her mind struggled to process what he’d just said. Cousin? Slowly, she turned back to face him, her eyes narrowing as she glanced between Jared and the woman standing beside him. "Cousin?" she echoed, doubt creeping into her voice.

Jared nodded, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze. "From my mother’s side," he clarified. "She’s my aunt’s daughter. Natasha Pavlovskaya. She just recently got her immigration status approved, and, well... we’ll be seeing her more often."

Jerica’s eyes flickered toward Natasha again, studying her features. Now that Jared mentioned it, she could see a faint resemblance to his mother in the woman’s striking cheekbones and piercing eyes.

But still, there was something unsettling about this whole situation. Why had Jared never mentioned Natasha before? Why had she appeared now, so suddenly, and with so much familiarity between her and Jared?

Jared’s voice softened, breaking the silence between them. "Natasha, this is Jerica... my wife."

Jerica’s heart clenched at those words—my wife. It wasn’t often that Jared introduced her so openly, especially in public. A small surge of pride flickered within her, warming her just enough to chase away the lingering jealousy, though only for a moment.

Natasha smiled, her beautiful blue eyes lighting up as she stepped forward to greet Jerica. But even as she reached for a hug, Jerica noticed the subtle tension in the woman’s movements, a hesitation that was almost imperceptible. Something about it didn’t sit right with her.

Was Natasha uncomfortable with her presence, or was it something else?

Jerica tried to ignore the unease creeping up her spine. Maybe it was just the awkwardness of the situation—meeting a family member out of the blue, especially after that strange interaction with Jared earlier. Jerica forced a smile and returned Natasha’s embrace, though her mind was still racing with a thousand unanswered questions.

Natasha spoke with a thick Eastern European accent, her voice lilting in a way that sounded almost too rehearsed. She explained that she had come to Jared for some legal advice on a complicated matter. Jerica barely heard the details. She was too busy trying to process everything—the woman, Jared’s sudden possessiveness earlier, the way Natasha looked at him.

Before she knew it, Jared and Natasha were walking away together, their footsteps echoing down the hall. Jerica stood frozen at her office door, watching them leave, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion, relief, and something she couldn’t quite name.

Her lips curved unconsciously into a small smile, though. She had met another member of Jared’s family—someone he had never spoken of. And, despite her initial suspicions, Jared had introduced her as his wife.

But just as the hallway quieted, Natasha turned around and waved playfully at Jerica, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. Then, she looked up at Jared with a twinkle in her eye.

"Cousin? Seriously? Mother’s side? Guess what they say about lawyers is true," Natasha chuckled, her voice suddenly devoid of any accent. "You do lie so easily."

Jared’s entire demeanor shifted the second they were out of Jerica’s sight. His face darkened, his jaw clenched as he glared at Natasha with barely concealed fury. "What the fck* are you doing here?" he growled under his breath. "I told you to stay away. We almost got caught."

Natasha merely smiled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Relax, Jared," she said, her tone playful and teasing. "It’s just a little fun. You’re too serious, as always."

Jared’s fists tightened at his sides, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "This isn’t a game, Natasha. I’m not risking everything because you can’t follow simple instructions. Stay. Away."

But Natasha just laughed, brushing him off as if his words meant nothing. "So, what did you find out?" she asked, her eyes turning serious.