Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 57: Reason For The Quiet Distance

Chapter 57: Reason For The Quiet Distance

Three years into their marriage, Jerica had brought up the subject, only for him to brush it aside with reassurances that they "had time." But that vague response only deepened her frustration.

She couldn’t shake the growing resentment, an ache that festered each time he dodged her attempts to discuss it seriously. Cleaning up the remnants of his careful planning the next morning felt increasingly hollow, as though she were merely fulfilling his needs while her own dreams went unheard.

Over time, her disappointment had turned into a quiet distance. She had pulled back in subtle ways, withdrawing pieces of herself she thought might teach him the weight of what he was denying her. But she had to wonder if that unspoken resentment, that quiet, persistent ache, had only added to the rift between them.

Jerica turned to face him, studying the peaceful lines of his face, and her heart swelled with cautious hope. Could this really mean he was ready for a family with her? The very idea made her feel as though her chest would burst with joy. She could almost picture the life they’d always talked about, the family she’d always envisioned.

And then Jared’s eyes fluttered open, a look of warmth in his gaze that reminded her of their wedding night. She felt a warmth rise in her cheeks, heart racing at the tenderness she hadn’t seen from him in so long. She couldn’t help herself as she leaned in, catching his mouth in a slow, lingering kiss, savoring the unspoken promise between them.

In this embrace, she felt whole, the pieces she’d thought lost finally falling back into place. The intensity of the night before had left her feeling alive, like the parched earth receiving long-awaited rain, drinking in every moment of his presence.

She held him tighter, afraid that if she let go, the dream would fade, leaving her in the coldness she’d been accustomed to.

As their kiss broke, Jared’s fingers traced the curve of her arm, his hand finding her waist in a soft, possessive hold. A gentle chuckle escaped him, a hint of teasing in his gaze as his fingers brushed her skin, the warmth radiating between them rekindling the embers of the night.

Her fingers found their way to his cheek, cradling his face as she paused to look into his eyes, finding there a quiet tenderness that took her breath away. Her other hand traced the hard lines of his shoulder, traveling slowly down his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath beneath her touch. Her fingers lingered on his abdomen, then to hers, feeling a flicker of hope bubble up within her as her hand rested there.

Could she be pregnant?

The thought, both thrilling and terrifying, brought a smile to her face so bright she couldn’t contain it. Her heart pounded with the possibility, a hope she’d kept quiet and buried for far too long.

"Have you changed your mind about~"

Just as she was about to give voice to her question, Jared’s lips brushed against hers again, stealing the words before they could be spoken. The question melted away, replaced by the warmth of his embrace, the feeling of his body pressed close against hers.

She closed her eyes, letting herself drown in the moment, each kiss pulling her deeper, as if he were quenching a thirst she hadn’t even realized was so profound. For so long, she had felt barren, like parched earth under an unforgiving sun, waiting for rain. And here he was now, unexpected, overwhelming, drenching her heart with his touch.

His hand drifted along her waist and came to rest on her abdomen, mirroring her own hand, and for a moment, her heart raced again, wondering if he was silently voicing the same thought.

Then he leaned in, his lips moving from her mouth to her neck, his voice teasing as he murmured, "I thought I was the only Alexander in your life..." His voice held a playful edge, but the faint tension beneath it told her he was barely disguising a touch of jealousy.

His large hand rested on her abdomen as he teased, sending a shiver down her spine. She ran her fingers through his hair, her breath catching as he kissed her palm and then her forehead.

The faintest flicker of uncertainty crossed his eyes, his expression betraying the vulnerability he rarely showed. Here he was, her husband—the unwavering, confident man she had fallen for—feeling unsure in her presence. She could see his internal struggle, his attempt to mask the insecurity with his usual cool demeanor, and it softened something deep within her.

A chuckle slipped past her lips, unable to hold back her amusement. Jared’s jealousy was a surprise, especially over Alex, her dearest friend whom he knew meant so much to her. He had never seemed rattled by Harold, not once, yet the idea of Alex stirred something in him she hadn’t anticipated.

She shook her head in disbelief, her laughter a mix of fondness and surprise. Seeing him this way, so adorably vulnerable, was as endearing as it was amusing.

Jared responded by nibbling on her arm, his playful retaliation making her giggle. His gaze, though tinged with insecurity, was brimming with affection. "He’s family, Jared..." Her smile softened, and a quiet reflection slipped into her expression, a look that made Jared’s heart slow with curiosity.

"Alex...he’s like a brother to me...No, more than that," she whispered, her voice taking on a gentle reverence. "He’s been like a father to me in ways my own father never was. I love him, trust him with my life. He was upset I didn’t invite him to our wedding sooner. I think he would’ve come, would’ve stood by my side...But I think he’s forgiven me. I’m just glad he smiled at me again."

Jared’s hand lingered on Jerica’s cheek, his touch tender as he took in the softness in her eyes and the slight curve of her lips. In that moment, whatever shadowed doubts had crept in, any lingering insecurities, were gone, dissolving like mist in the light of her gaze.

She was here, fully and wholly his, and for once, he felt a peace so grounding it took him by surprise.

With a gentle smile, he leaned in, trailing soft kisses down her neck, savoring the way her breath hitched as his lips moved lower, brushing the delicate skin at her collarbone, then down to her sternum, before finding her navel.