Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love-Chapter 126: His Plea

In the next room, Jared was a whirlwind of fury and desperation, his breaths ragged as he fought against the crushing grip of his captors. He’d managed to hurl one man away, his strength fueled by sheer panic and adrenaline. But the other was quicker, slamming Jared to the ground with practiced efficiency. A sharp knee dug into his back, forcing the air from his lungs, while the cold, unforgiving barrel of a gun pressed into his temple.

"Don’t move," the man growled, his voice a low and dangerous command.

But Jared barely registered the threat. His mind was consumed by Jerica’s voice, faint and muffled through the walls, but unmistakably trembling with fear. The sound pierced him deeper than any weapon could. His muscles coiled with futile resistance, his need to protect her clashing with the harsh reality of his restraint.

"Jerica!" he roared, his voice raw and filled with anguish, the name tearing from him like a battle cry and a plea.

In the dining room, Jerica flinched at the distant echo of Jared’s voice. Her heart twisted painfully, her own fear momentarily eclipsed by her worry for him. She barely felt the prick of the needle as the nurse drew her blood, but her breaths came shallow and fast, her vision blurring with unshed tears that she refused to let fall.

"Jared..." she whispered, her voice trembling and weak, a sound that disgusted her. She loathed the vulnerability that crept into her tone, the fear that threatened to crack her resolve. She clenched her fists beneath the table, her nails biting into her palms as she forced herself to meet Arthur’s gaze.

Her glare was icy, laced with defiance even as her body quaked. "Are you going to frame me for something?" she spat, her voice sharp despite the tremor beneath it.

Arthur didn’t answer immediately, his expression unreadable. He kept his gaze averted, his attention seemingly focused elsewhere as the nurse finished drawing her blood. The nurse worked with gentle precision, her movements careful, almost apologetic. Jerica didn’t resist—not out of trust, but out of a cold calculation. She couldn’t afford an injury, not now.

When the nurse stepped back, Arthur finally stood, his tall frame looming over her. For a fleeting moment, his features softened, and his eyes flickered with something that almost looked like regret. He leaned down slightly, his hand reaching toward her, as though to offer some strange gesture of comfort—a pat on her head, perhaps.

Jerica’s defiance flared brighter, her glare unwavering. Her voice cut through the tension like a blade. "You’re a coward," she hissed, her words trembling with equal parts fury and conviction. "And when this is over, you’ll regret ever laying a hand on us."

Arthur straightened at her words, his expression hardening into a mask of cold indifference. The fleeting vulnerability in his gaze was gone, replaced by the unyielding control that defined him. He turned to the nurse, nodding briefly in a silent command before striding toward the door.

Jerica’s chest heaved as Arthur stepped out of the room, leaving her with the suffocating silence and the crushing weight of helplessness. Her trembling body betrayed her fear, but her voice was fierce and unyielding as she shouted after him.

"Don’t you dare hurt him! I’m warning you—don’t you dare!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Arthur paused in the doorway, casting a fleeting glance at her, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he stepped through, closing the door firmly behind him. Jerica strained against the grip of her captors, her wrists twisting futilely as frustration boiled over into silent tears.

Inside the other room, Jared was forced to his feet by the two burly men restraining him. His chest heaved, and his face was flushed with the exertion of his struggles, but as Arthur took a seat on the couch, Jared stilled. The commanding presence of the man before him demanded attention, and Jared knew he needed to stay calm to figure out his next move.

Arthur crossed one leg over the other, his hands resting loosely on the armrest. His tone was low but laced with authority. "I believe you know what a foolish thing you were about to do today."

Jared leaned forward, his brow furrowed, his fists clenched in defiance. "And what are you going to do about it?"

Arthur pressed his lips together in a brief moment of contemplation before meeting Jared’s gaze. "Be rational," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You will stay here, for now. Everything you need has been provided. There’s a manual for the panic room in case of any emergencies. Use it if necessary."

Jared’s expression twisted in confusion and frustration. Arthur’s words didn’t make sense—this wasn’t the behavior of someone seeking revenge or leverage.

"You’re... protecting us?" Jared asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "What’s your angle? Are you planning to use me to settle whatever conflict you have with the Glover family? Does your wife know you’re going against her father’s family?"

Arthur didn’t acknowledge the question, rising from his seat instead. His eyes remained on Jared, but his demeanor was detached, as if he wasn’t interested in entertaining any theories.

"Ah, yes," Arthur said almost absently, "you can ride the horses if security permits."

Jared’s frustration spiked. He stood abruptly, his voice rising. "I know this is about Jerica! I’m just the appendix in this equation, aren’t I? You’re doing all of this for her, not me."

Arthur’s steps halted, his hand resting on the doorknob. "Good," he said without turning back. "Then don’t push my buttons."

Jared’s hands trembled at his sides. He could feel the heat of anger and desperation bubbling beneath his skin, but his voice cracked when he spoke again. "Help her," he said, barely above a whisper.

Arthur paused, his back still to Jared.

Jared swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he continued. "I don’t care if you hand me over to the Glovers. Do whatever you want with me. But please... find a way to keep her alive."

A single tear slipped down Jared’s cheek, unbidden and unwelcome. He had tried so many times to find a way to save Jerica, to get her the treatment she needed. But every door he knocked on was closed, every opportunity snatched away before he could grasp it. Arthur had resources, connections—everything Jared lacked.

"She’s dying," Jared choked out, his voice breaking. "You can save her. Just... please."

Arthur exhaled slowly, the weight of the plea pressing into the silence. He turned to face Jared, his expression unreadable but his eyes flickering with something Jared couldn’t decipher—pity, maybe, or understanding.

"Please..." Jared asked.

He didn’t mind begging a man like Arthur. He would do anything for Jerica.