Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 95: A Surprise Call

Chapter 95: A Surprise Call

This time, Jared waited longer, his fork poised but unmoving as he studied her. Jerica felt a pang of guilt as she watched him, knowing his health depended on him eating properly. He was still recovering, still needed strength for the medicines to work as intended.

After a tense standoff, she finally relented. She sat across from him, picking at her food in silence. Jared didn’t speak, and she didn’t try to break the stillness. They ate together, a semblance of normalcy that felt hollow and strained.

In the days that followed, Jerica resumed her role as his caretaker, ensuring he took his medications, brought him to the hospital for check-ups, and tended to his needs. She remained diligent, her love for him evident in her actions even if the emotional chasm between them seemed insurmountable. Jared healed well, but the distance between them remained.

On the morning Jerica returned to work, she braced herself for the routine grind—a welcome distraction from the emotional chaos at home. Jared had been advised to rest for another week, though she doubted he would follow the doctor’s orders without some resistance.

As she prepared to leave, she found him sitting on the couch, his newspaper open in his hands. The aroma of freshly toasted bread and eggs lingered in the air, a sign that he had made breakfast for both of them. It did taste wonderful.

On the counter sat a neatly wrapped sandwich—her lunch, thoughtfully prepared. She picked it up as she didn’t want him to skip lunch.

Jerica hesitated by the door, her hand resting on the latch. Memories of the last time she left him alone swirled in her mind: he left the house when she was not there and the accident he met with had nearly claimed his life.

The thought sent a cold shiver through her. She couldn’t bear a repeat of that day.

She turned her head slightly, her voice steady but edged with concern. "Stay home. If you need to go anywhere, I’ll go with you. Do not go anywhere alone..."

Her words were cut short by the sound of his approaching footsteps. Startled, she turned to face him, only to be pulled into a warm, unexpected embrace. His arms wrapped around her, strong yet gentle, and his hand brushed against her cheek.

"I’ll miss you," Jared murmured, his voice soft and sincere.

Jerica blinked, her heart skipping a beat. She had steeled herself for silence, for the cold distance he had maintained over the past days. So, we’re talking now? she thought. No more silent treatment?

Before she could process her relief, his lips found hers—soft, warm, and unhurried. He kissed her deeply, his touch filled with a tenderness that melted her lingering frustration. His presence enveloped her, grounding her in his warmth, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissolve.

When he finally pulled back, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering long enough to whisper his unspoken care. He smiled, brushing a thumb along her jaw before placing one last soft peck on her lips.

"Take care," he said, his voice calm but carrying a weight of affection.

Jerica left the house, her heart racing and her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. By the time she reached the office, her usual composure returned, but her thoughts lingered on Jared’s unexpected gesture.

Stepping into her office, she was met with a sight that caught her off guard. Near the entrance, Lila stood holding a Tupperware box, which she handed to Harold. He accepted it with a broad, genuine smile, one she immediately recognized. It wasn’t just politeness or gratitude—it was something deeper.

Harold was in love.

Jerica raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. Lila? She glanced between them, noting the way Harold’s eyes softened as he thanked her. It didn’t add up. Lila had made it clear she wasn’t looking to settle down anytime soon, and Harold was still technically engaged to someone else. What was going on between them? Are they dating now?

Before she could dwell further, Harold noticed her. His expression shifted subtly, the intimate smile he had given Lila replaced with a more formal one. He tucked the Tupperware into his bag and walked toward her.

"You’re back," Harold said warmly, his tone bright and welcoming.

"I am," Jerica replied, returning his smile. She fought the urge to probe him about what she had just witnessed. The questions burned on the tip of her tongue, but she pushed them down. Whatever was happening between Harold and Lila, it wasn’t her business—at least, not yet.

Still, as she settled into her office, she couldn’t help but wonder. What’s really going on here?

Jerica sat under the sprawling oak tree, her lunch resting untouched on her lap. The gentle rustle of leaves above her did little to soothe her frayed nerves, and the sandwich she had packed seemed far less appetizing now that her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Jared. She glanced at her phone and typed a quick text.

[Did you eat lunch?]

She stared at the screen, waiting for a reply that didn’t come immediately. She didn’t want to admit it, but worry gnawed at her. Jared’s history of recklessness when left to his own devices made her uneasy. The last thing she needed was a repeat of the accident that had nearly claimed his life.

A shadow crossed her line of sight, and she looked up to see Judge Jefferson walking toward her, his leather briefcase swinging at his side. Her shoulders stiffened. Of all the people to interrupt her moment of quiet, it had to be him. She considered getting up and walking away, but that would only give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d unsettled her. Instead, she focused on her phone, hoping her apparent busyness would discourage him.

No such luck.

"I heard his suspension was lifted," Jefferson said, his voice carrying an air of self-importance as he stopped a few feet away.

Jerica’s jaw tightened, but she slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. Jared had told her the news—his suspension was lifted, and the charges against him had been dropped. Yet the details surrounding it all still didn’t add up.

Why would the Glover family, who had gone to such lengths to ruin him, suddenly back off after the accident? Was it guilt? Or was it a calculated move to avoid the scrutiny of a public trial? The unanswered questions lingered like a bitter aftertaste in her mind.

"Have you figured it out, Uncle?" she asked, her tone sharp enough to draw blood. She still couldn’t fathom how someone in Jefferson’s position hadn’t pieced together her connection to Jared. Surely, he wasn’t that oblivious—or was he?

Jefferson frowned, clearly confused. "Figured out what?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation.

Jerica let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to ward off a headache. How could someone who prided himself on his intellect be so clueless? If she had been holding out hope that he might offer some insight into the Glover situation, it vanished then and there.

"I can understand why the government operates the way it does now," she said, leaning back against the tree.

Jefferson tilted his head, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

Jerica’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Slow, retarded, and dumb," she said, her words landing with deliberate venom.

The effect was immediate. Anger and humiliation flashed across Jefferson’s face, his mouth opening and closing as he searched for a retort. For a man who was rarely at a loss for words, the jab seemed to cut deeper than she expected.

"If they employ people who are slow, retarded, and dumb," Jerica continued, unrelenting, "then it’s no wonder everything moves at a snail’s pace."

Jefferson’s face turned crimson. His jaw worked furiously, and his fists clenched at his sides. "You’re one to talk," he finally spat. "Criticizing the government while you work for it. What profound wisdom."

Jerica raised an eyebrow, her expression calm but laced with disdain. "Profound indeed," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

For a moment, Jefferson looked like he might argue further, but then he seemed to think better of it. He shook his head in frustration, muttering under his breath as he turned and walked away.

Jerica watched him go, her expression unreadable. Her appetite was gone, but the satisfaction of silencing Jefferson lingered. She leaned back against the tree, letting out a long breath. At least now she could finish her lunch in peace—or so she hoped.

As Jerica leaned back against the rough bark of the tree, savoring the cool shade and momentary escape from her chaotic day, her phone buzzed insistently in her lap. She glanced down, startled to see Jared’s name flashing across the screen. A video call? Her brows furrowed in surprise. Jared rarely called her during work hours, especially not when they were fighting. A video call was even more out of character.

Her stomach fluttered with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. What could prompt this? Unease settled in the pit of her stomach, the kind that accompanied the unexpected. Taking a deep breath, she swiped to answer the call.