Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 36: Tangled Emotions

Chapter 36: Tangled Emotions

Jerica’s mind raced with possibilities, none of them good.

"Is... is this right?" she asked, her voice unnaturally calm as she tried to make sense of what she was reading. "Elizabeth Evans?"

The old man nodded, his expression full of quiet resolve. "Yes, ma’am. I’m trying to get some details about her."

Jerica’s mind spun. Why on earth would he need information about her mother? Her hands trembled slightly as she processed the implications. This couldn’t be a coincidence.

Clearing her throat, Jerica forced a smile and nodded. "Alright," she said, her voice barely betraying the panic bubbling up inside her. "I’ll need a little time to process this request. It might take a few days to gather everything."

The man nodded politely, oblivious to the turmoil his simple request had caused. "Thank you," he said, tipping his hat before turning to leave.

Jerica watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. As soon as the door closed behind him, she leaned back in her chair, her mind racing.

Her mother? Why would anyone be looking into Elizabeth Evans after all these years? What could possibly tie this old man to her family’s past?

Jerica’s fingers shook as she quickly set a reminder for herself to follow up on Monday. But deep down, she knew this was more than just a routine request. There was something else lurking beneath the surface.

But what?

"Jerica..."

Lila Anderson’s cautious voice interrupted the storm of thoughts swirling in Jerica’s mind. It had been a while since she snapped at Lila—an uncharacteristic moment of frustration that now weighed heavily on her. Since that day, Lila had approached her with a gentle wariness, a hesitance Jerica noticed with a twinge of guilt.

Jerica wasn’t happy about the distance between them, but she knew trust, once fractured, needed careful work to be restored. Friendships were fragile, requiring nurturing to flourish.

"What is it?" Jerica responded, leaning closer with a smile, trying to ease the tension with warmth.

Lila fidgeted, her fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the desk as she sat down. Jerica had already told her the news that Harold was engaged to Chelsea Glover, something that seemed to deflate Lila when she first heard it. Lila had a mild crush on Harold, but as it was more an admiration from afar, Jerica believed her friend could move past it. Still, she sensed that some lingering feelings remained.

"Do you think the engagement will break?" Lila asked hesitantly, her voice carrying the fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, things could change.

Jerica held her smile, though inside she felt a dull, familiar ache bloom in her chest. It was always hard to discuss Harold, especially now with the complications of his engagement and their unresolved past.

She saw the sadness in Lila’s eyes and couldn’t help but wonder if there was a deeper attraction there, something more than just a fleeting crush. A part of her almost wished Harold could find someone who truly loved him.

After all, despite their tangled history, Harold deserved more than a marriage of convenience.

"I don’t think so," Jerica answered softly, trying to balance honesty with compassion. "Harold’s family wouldn’t allow it to happen. They’ve invested too much into this engagement for him to walk away from it."

Lila’s face fell, the faint flicker of hope dimming. "Oh," she mumbled, leaning back in her chair, dejection clear in her posture.

Jerica studied her for a moment, curiosity prickling at the back of her mind. Maybe Lila’s feelings ran deeper than she’d first thought. She hesitated, wondering if she should prod a little more.

"Are you... looking for marriage?" Jerica asked gently, not wanting to push too hard but curious to understand Lila’s intentions. The idea of Lila with Harold—someone who seemed to care for him—was an interesting one, but she also wanted to know what her friend truly desired.

She wanted to believe Harold could find happiness, despite the choices he’d made.

Lila’s expression shifted, her lips pulling into a faint grimace. "Marriage?" She let out a small, incredulous laugh. "Oh, Jerica... no, not anytime soon. I want my independence first. I want to live for myself for a while before I even think about settling down."

Jerica smiled, nodding in understanding. Lila’s words resonated with her on a deeper level, stirring old memories, old doubts that had started to resurface in recent months. She was Lila’s age but at twenty-five, she had chosen marriage over personal freedom, a decision she once believed was the right one.

But now, years later, with her marriage to Jared hanging by a thread, she couldn’t help but wonder if that decision had been a mistake.

Her thoughts slipped, unbidden, back to her own wedding day. She had been full of hope, albeit tinged with uncertainty. She hadn’t known Jared well when they married. They had shared brief moments of connection—enough to make her believe that, in time, they could build something real. But had she been naive? Too eager to settle down, to follow the script of life that society had laid out for her?

Was that where she went wrong?

She studied Lila, who seemed so sure of her path, so determined to hold on to her independence before even considering marriage. Jerica admired that. Lila wasn’t in a rush to tie herself to anyone, not even to Harold, whom she seemed to care about. She valued her freedom and was willing to wait until she was ready, until she found someone worthy of sharing her life.

Maybe, Jerica thought, I should have done the same.

Jerica glanced out of the office window, watching the traffic below as her mind raced through the tangled emotions swirling inside her. Her marriage to Jared had been a series of highs and lows—moments of deep affection marred by periods of cold distance.

He had been everything she thought she wanted back then—ambitious, strong, steady. The "Siberian Beast," as he was known, had a certain magnetism that had drawn her in. But the man behind the title had become more of a stranger to her with each passing year.

A stranger she still loved. Or, at least, the memory of who he used to be.

Jerica turned her attention back to Lila, who sat fiddling with her hands, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Maybe Harold wouldn’t be the answer for her, either. Perhaps he was meant to follow his family’s path, tying himself to the Glover family through a loveless engagement for the sake of connections and power.

Jerica sighed softly. Love and loyalty in marriage—two things that seemed so elusive to Harold and, if she was honest with herself, to her and Jared too.

"It’s good that you’re clear about what you want," Jerica said finally, her voice soft but encouraging. "It’s important to take your time and not rush into anything, especially marriage."