Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love-Chapter 141: Accepting the Truth

Jared could feel the tension tightening in the room. He understood Jerica’s reaction—she was overwhelmed, caught in the chaos of too many revelations at once—but her words bordered on cruel. She didn’t need to lash out, not when it was clear Arthur and Lydia were doing their best to tread carefully.

Jerica glanced at Jared, and the look in his eyes made her pause. She let out a slow breath, her voice softening. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to... I just—this is a lot. A lot to take in."

Arthur nodded, his expression softening. "We understand. And we don’t expect you to process this overnight. We just wanted you to know the truth. We can get there gradually." He was holding Lydia’s hand. It was for all of them.

Jerica’s gaze flickered to Lydia, who hadn’t spoken a word since the revelation. Lydia’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a mixture of hope and vulnerability that tugged at something deep inside Jerica. For a brief moment, Jerica wondered what it must have been like for Lydia. She grieved for her "dead" daughter when her daughter was alive even though she wasn’t aware of it. It was pitiful in a way.

"I don’t know what to say," Jerica admitted, her voice almost a whisper.

"You don’t have to say anything right now," Lydia finally spoke, her voice trembling but kind. "Just... take your time."

Jerica nodded slowly, her hand moving once again to her abdomen, a silent reminder of the family she was creating, the one that mattered most.

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Jerica sat perched on the kitchen counter, her legs swinging idly as she plucked grapes from the bowl in her lap. They were organic grapes, freshly picked from the nearby farm. The sweetness was a welcome distraction from the emotional storm swirling inside her. She watched as Jared moved around the kitchen, his movements fluid and purposeful as he prepared what seemed like an unnecessarily elaborate lunch.

She popped another grape into her mouth, her gaze narrowing slightly. Why had Jared asked Arthur and Lydia to stay for lunch? She had hoped to process everything privately. Instead, she felt like she was on display, with her newly discovered biological parents lingering in the background.

"What?" Jared asked, catching her scrutinizing gaze. He tilted his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Jerica shrugged, her expression neutral, though her eyes betrayed her unease. "Why are they still here?" she muttered, her voice low but pointed.

Jared sighed softly, turning back to the skillet sizzling on the stove. He understood her frustration, even if he didn’t entirely share it. "They’re staying for lunch. I asked them to. Don’t you remember?" he replied, glancing at her with a cheeky grin.

Jerica shot him a glare, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Of course, I remember. I just don’t understand why." Her voice was sharper now, edged with the stress of the day’s revelations.

Jared chuckled, shaking his head as he stirred the contents of the pan. "They’re your parents, Jerica. They didn’t raise you, but that wasn’t their choice. It was an accident—one they had no control over."

Jerica bristled at his words. "So? Does that mean I’m supposed to just sit down and have lunch with them like everything is normal? Like none of this is completely absurd?" She tossed a grape into her mouth with a little more force than necessary.

Jared turned off the stove, setting the spatula down as he approached her. He leaned against the counter opposite her, folding his arms. His smile softened, his eyes searching hers. "I get that it feels overwhelming. I do. But think about it—if they had raised you, maybe things could have been different... Give them a chance."

Jerica’s brows furrowed, and she looked away, chewing on another grape to avoid responding immediately. Jared was right, but that didn’t make it easier to accept.

"Why does it all seem so... unbelievable?" she muttered, her voice quieter now. Her legs stilled, and she rested her hands in her lap, suddenly feeling the weight of everything. "They’re saying I don’t have cancer. That I’m pregnant. That I’m their daughter. It’s just... too much."

Jared moved closer, placing a comforting hand on her knee. "It is a lot," he said gently. "But just because it’s overwhelming doesn’t mean it’s not true."

Jerica looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "How do I know this isn’t some kind of elaborate manipulation? Everything is too perfect, Jared. It doesn’t feel real."

He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You know I wouldn’t let anyone manipulate you. Not while I’m here."

Jerica nodded slowly, her expression softening as his words sank in. Despite the chaos, Jared was her constant, her anchor. Still, the doubts lingered, swirling in the back of her mind. She wanted to believe, especially about the pregnancy. But the rest of it? Her being switched at birth? That felt like something out of a far-fetched drama. And yet, Arthur didn’t seem like the type to fabricate something so monumental.

She sighed, leaning her forehead against Jared’s shoulder. "I don’t know what to think," she admitted.

Jerica nestled deeper into Jared’s embrace, her thoughts a tangle of confusion, understanding, and the tender comfort his presence always seemed to provide. His words lingered in her mind, filling the spaces between her doubts with a warmth she hadn’t realized she needed.

"You believe them?" she asked again, her voice softer this time, tracing lazy patterns on his chest. Her fingertips moved absentmindedly, but her mind was sharp, scrutinizing every nuance in Jared’s expression. Did he truly believe them, or was he forcing himself to act supportive for her sake? She knew Lydia’s history—she was the sister of the man who had ruined Jared’s mother’s life. That wasn’t something easily forgotten.

Jared didn’t falter. "I do," he said with quiet conviction. His hand moved gently along her back, grounding her. "And I believe they love you so much."

"Love me?" she echoed, her voice tinged with skepticism. "They don’t even know me."

Jared leaned back slightly to look into her eyes. His gaze was steady, filled with a depth of emotion that made her heart ache in the best way. "When I see Arthur trying to stop Lydia from getting too excited, I see his love for her. But I also see the care he’s trying to show for you. They’re being careful, Jerica. They don’t want to scare you off. They want to get to know you. And you don’t always need to know someone to love them."

Jerica fell silent, mulling over his words. She trusted Jared’s insight, even when she couldn’t fully trust her own feelings. If he believed in their sincerity, maybe she could, too.

"How can you love someone you don’t know?" she finally asked, her tone softer but still unsure.