Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 98: The Reason He Was There

Chapter 98: The Reason He Was There

Jerica had packed an overstuffed duffle bag with unnecessary clothing for their first camping trip but forgot essentials like a sleeping bag and proper shoes. By the end of that trip, she was grumbling curses under her breath with every step of the hike, her face a portrait of quiet misery.

This time wasn’t much different. He’d watched her pack for this trip while mumbling a steady stream of complaints about "the ridiculousness of compulsory fun." She’d tossed in clothes and toiletries with no apparent strategy, throwing in first aid supplies as an afterthought. But a tent? Mosquito repellent? Sunscreen? Bear spray? Completely overlooked.

Jared’s smile widened as his gaze lingered on her sneakers. Walking shoes for a trek? he thought with fond exasperation.

Jerica’s glare sharpened. She could feel the amusement radiating off him even before his lips parted to speak. "Didn’t bring your tent, huh?" His tone was light, but there was no mistaking the teasing undertone.

Her temper flared. "I don’t need one. I wasn’t planning on staying anyway," she snapped, crossing her arms in defiance.

Jared raised an eyebrow, his amusement deepening. "Well, you’re here now."

Lila leaned in, thoroughly enjoying the back-and-forth. "You know," she said slyly, "I think Mr. P might have brought an extra tent. Didn’t you, Mr. P?"

Jerica shot Lila a look that could’ve frozen lava. But before she could fire back, Jared casually hoisted his backpack higher on his shoulder. Sure enough, there was an extra tent strapped to it.

"I always come prepared," he said simply, locking eyes with Jerica. "I knew someone would forget such an obvious thing..."

His words were followed by the laughter of everyone. The ones who were stunned to hear Jared talk with a woman, were all surprised by his casual tone.

Jerica’s stomach sank. He’d thought of everything. And now, there was no excuse for her to leave. He even made everyone laugh at her.

While Jerica seethed internally, Jared hid his satisfaction. He hadn’t come on this trip just to tease her—though it was certainly a bonus. He genuinely wanted her to have a good experience. He loved the outdoors—the fresh air, the serenity of the woods, the crackle of a campfire under the stars.

Jerica, on the other hand, was firmly against anything that crawled, buzzed, or required her to sleep on the ground. But he was determined to show her that it didn’t have to be miserable. Maybe, just maybe, he could create a memory that made her hate camping a little less.

Skiing—that was Jerica’s domain, her true element. The crisp bite of snow-laden air, the smooth glides down powdery slopes, and the controlled chaos of a ski lodge—those were the only "outdoors" she willingly embraced. Snow-covered mountains had a way of quieting her sharp edges, softening her usual fire into a rare calm. That’s why, when it came to their honeymoon, they’d gone skiing, where she’d be in her natural habitat.

But this—this was far from her comfort zone. The dense woods, crawling with unseen critters, the damp earth, and the looming prospect of pitching a tent in the middle of nowhere—it was everything Jerica despised.

Jared watched her now, unable to suppress his amusement. She was still glaring at him, her stance defiant despite her obvious discomfort. Marrying someone like Jerica, who treated the outdoors as her mortal enemy, was endlessly entertaining. It made moments like these all the more priceless.

He’d planned this carefully, wanting to surprise her. He knew she’d fight tooth and nail against the trip, and she had. But now that she was here, he had one goal in mind: to help her find at least one thing to enjoy about the woods. He wasn’t expecting a miracle. She wasn’t about to transform into a camping enthusiast overnight. But maybe, just maybe, he could carve out a moment of peace or joy for her here—a memory she could tuck away as a small victory against her disdain.

He loved the outdoors. The serenity of a still lake at sunrise, the vibrant chorus of life humming through the trees, and the simple satisfaction of a campfire’s warmth on a cool night. These were the things that recharged his spirit, and he wanted to share them with her.

It wasn’t just about this trip. If he could help her see the woods differently, even for a moment, maybe in the future, they could go camping—just the two of them. He pictured it already: no colleagues, no awkward social tension, just them, the crackling fire, and a shared sense of accomplishment.

For now, though, he’d settle for watching her navigate this unfamiliar terrain, both literally and figuratively. She might grumble, glare, and huff her way through, but Jared was patient. If anyone could convince Jerica to make peace with the great outdoors, it was him.

"I forgot the tent too!"

Regina’s voice rang out, slicing through the tense air like an unwelcome alarm.

Jerica froze mid-step, her irritation flickering into a subtle curiosity. Of course, Regina, with her flair for theatrics, would announce her "forgotten" tent in that high-pitched, syrupy tone.

"You can share with me... with me..."

Several voices offered, but Regina’s eyes landed squarely on Jared. A smirk crept onto her lips as she called out, "Mr. P... Can’t you share your tent with me?" Her voice was sweet, coy—almost nauseatingly so.

Jerica squinted at Regina, watching her shameless attempt to charm Jared. Of course, Regina would assume Jared would offer to her, just as he had to Jerica. That was Regina’s twisted sense of entitlement at work.

For the first time, Jerica felt a flicker of interest in the trip. She wanted to see Jared—her husband—shut Regina down in front of everyone. She even thought about stepping closer to Jared, subtly asserting her unspoken claim. After all, Jared’s recent behavior had suggested he had no problem being openly linked to her.

But before Jerica could act, Jared unbuckled one of the tents from his backpack and walked straight to Regina.

Jerica’s mouth fell open. Seriously?

Regina’s smirk grew into a full-blown expression of triumph as she took the tent from Jared’s hands. The look she shot Jerica wasn’t subtle—it was a direct jab, a smug acknowledgment of what Regina perceived as Jerica’s "loss."

"But I can’t carry it!" Regina whined, tossing her hair dramatically.

Jared sighed and adjusted his backpack. "Then hand it to someone who can," he said flatly, his tone devoid of any warmth.

Jerica’s glare sharpened as she stared at him. Her chest burned—not just with irritation at Regina’s antics but at Jared himself. Why was he entertaining her?

Without another word, Jerica spun on her heels and walked away. She didn’t need to stand there and watch her husband play into Regina’s ridiculous game. He might have his reasons, but Jerica couldn’t fathom them, nor did she want to. The sight of him interacting with Regina—of all people

—felt like a betrayal, no matter how small or logical it might be.

Fine, she thought bitterly as she stormed off. Let him deal with her.

Lila chuckled, her grip firm on Jerica’s wrist as if she could physically tether her to the group. "Mr. P! Jerica is leaving!"

Jared’s head snapped toward them, his attention cutting cleanly away from Regina and her incessant whining. His sharp gaze locked onto Jerica, and his voice, loud and commanding, boomed across the group. "Why?"

Jerica froze, startled not just by his tone but by the sudden shift in focus. Everyone else followed Jared’s lead, their eyes now fixed on her.

"I—" she started, but Jared didn’t wait for her response.

"Nick brought a double tent. We can share," he declared, his voice unwavering, as if the suggestion were the most natural thing in the world.

Jerica’s mouth opened but no words came out. She was acutely aware of the ripple this caused. Murmurs spread through the group, eyes darting between her and Jared.

Share? Her mind stumbled over the implication. What was he doing?

Regina’s face twisted in shock, her lips parting slightly as if she were about to protest but couldn’t find the words. The rest of the group erupted into hushed whispers and exchanged amused glances.

"Rumor is you’re having an affair with the Siberian Beast," Lila whispered beside her, her tone laced with humor.

Jerica groaned internally, rolling her eyes. The so-called "rumor" had apparently taken flight, and yet, somehow, no one had pieced together the truth.

Swallowing her frustration, Jerica bit her tongue and followed the group onto the bus, her thoughts a swirl of confusion and annoyance.

Once inside, Lila leaned against the window, her gaze scanning the parking lot.

Jerica felt the warmth of Jared’s breath against her ear as his deep voice hissed softly, "Looking for someone?"

The proximity made her shiver, her earlobes tingling from the unexpected sensation. Jerica turned slightly, catching a glimpse of Jared as he straightened and walked to his seat behind hers.

"Is Harold coming?" Jerica asked Lila, though her tone carried a knowing edge.