Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 46: The Lady’s Attention

Chapter 46: The Lady’s Attention

Jerica took the phone, her skepticism giving way to a slow burn of concern as she scrolled through the document. There it was—numbers, dates, transactions—outlined with meticulous precision.

If this was real, if these documents were legitimate, then Aria was right. Something deeply wrong was festering within the foundation.

"Have you sent this to me?" Jerica asked, her voice composed, though her mind was racing.

"To your email listed in the foundation’s records," Aria nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with hope. It was as though she could already sense Jerica shifting from disbelief to tentative trust.

"Thank you for believing me," Aria breathed, stepping closer, reaching out to grasp Jerica’s hand in a gesture of gratitude. But Jerica pulled her hand back subtly, refusing the contact without making it seem rude. She maintained her distance, an invisible but firm boundary. She couldn’t afford to get emotionally entangled, not yet. Not with so much at stake.

"I joined the foundation because of how they helped my aunt," Aria continued, undeterred by the subtle rejection. "She has an autistic daughter, and they did so much for her family. That’s why I wanted to give back. But when I started working here, I was shocked at how the funds were being mishandled. I was angry at you at first," she admitted, her voice faltering for a moment. "I thought you were part of it, but then I realized you weren’t involved in the operations anymore. Ms. Evans... we need you to come back. You should be the one running things, just like your mother."

Jerica’s heart clenched at the earnest plea. She could hear the desperation, the faith Aria was placing in her—faith that Jerica wasn’t even sure she had in herself anymore.

"I’ll look into it," Jerica said, her tone careful and measured. "But until I do, you’re not to mention this to anyone. Understand?"

Aria and Gabby exchanged nervous glances before nodding, realizing the gravity of her words. They were putting their trust in her now, and Jerica felt the weight of that responsibility press down on her shoulders. This wasn’t just about uncovering financial misconduct—this was about the future of the foundation, her legacy, and Susan’s reputation.

"What will you do, Ms. Evans?" Gabby asked, her voice small, her wide eyes filled with stress and uncertainty.

Jerica met Gabby’s gaze, the question hanging heavily between them. What would she do? Jerica wasn’t sure yet, but one thing was clear—she couldn’t ignore this.

"I’ll get to the bottom of it," Jerica finally said, her voice soft but firm. The doubt and uncertainty she’d felt earlier were gone, replaced with a sense of determination that burned quietly in her chest.

No matter what she found, the truth would come out. And Jerica was prepared to face it head-on.

Jerica took a deep breath, glancing at her reflection in the restroom mirror after wrapping up the conversation with the two, securing their contact information. The sound of a stall door creaking open caught her attention.

Out stepped Lydia Sutherland.

Jerica’s heart gave an involuntary jolt as Lydia casually walked to the sink, her presence commanding, yet unassuming in a way only someone as wealthy and powerful as her could manage. Lydia washed her hands with slow, deliberate movements, as if she had all the time in the world, her polished demeanor radiating a calm confidence that made everyone around her feel small.

Jerica stood frozen for a moment, drying her hands, mind racing. This is it. The biggest possible donor for their foundation, right in front of her.

She had heard enough whispers in the elite circles to know Lydia Sutherland wasn’t just rich—she was untouchable. The Sutherlands had assets in every corner of the globe and more wealth than they could ever spend. But it wasn’t the money that made Lydia Sutherland so intimidating—it was her focus, her precision.

After taking over the Sutherland family’s foundation, she had pivoted it toward helping the overlooked causes: Trisomy-13 and 18, conditions far less known than Down Syndrome, and countless other rare genetic disorders that other foundations barely touched.

For Jerica’s mother’s foundation, Lydia’s involvement could be a game-changer. A donation from the Sutherland Foundation would not only bring much-needed funds but also add prestige, open doors, and extend the reach of their mission to support those on the autism spectrum.

Lydia’s arrival at this event wasn’t by accident. It was because of their foundation’s reputation. Jerica knew that. She forced a smile, nodding politely at Lydia as she turned to leave.

"You’re not going to give any excuses?" Lydia’s voice was as smooth as silk, carrying an undercurrent of challenge.

Jerica halted, slowly turning back to face the woman. There was no avoiding this now. She held her head high, a smile pulling at her lips, although inside, her heart pounded. "You’ve already heard about the state of our foundation, Mrs. Sutherland. The final decision lies with you. I’m aware that my groveling won’t change your decision. So..." She shrugged slightly, her smile widening with a touch of boldness. "Here I am."

Lydia’s lips quirked into a half-smile, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and something deeper—respect, perhaps? "I want to say that you’re not interested in the foundation, but..." She glanced around the room, clearly not impressed by the lack of privacy. "This isn’t the right place to discuss it." Without another word, Lydia reached into her bag, pulling out a visiting card and handing it to Jerica.

Jerica blinked, stunned. There, on the card, was Lydia’s name and only a phone number—no title, no company, nothing formal. It was plain, yet it carried the weight of something rare and valuable.

A personal number. Lydia Sutherland didn’t give this out lightly.

"I want to meet with you," Lydia added, her tone firm. "Soon."

Before Jerica could respond, Lydia had already walked past her, the scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air.

Jerica stared down at the card in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. Why did she give me this?