"Mrs. Evans," the woman on the other end said, her tone professional but warm. "Your test results are ready."
Jerica’s heart leaped. "Could you tell now?"
There was a pause, one long enough to make Jerica’s stomach twist. "I’m sorry," the woman said carefully, "but we’ll need you to visit the clinic in person to discuss your results. And please, bring soone with you."
Jerica frowned, her grip on the phone tightening. "Why do I need to bring soone?" she asked, her voice tinged with unease.
"It’s standard procedure in certain cases," the woman replied, her tone nonchalant yet not entirely convincing. "We’ll explain everything when you arrive."
Jerica sighed heavily as she ended the call. She couldn’t help but replay the woman’s words in her mind. Bring soone with you? Did she co off as overly emotional or unsteady during her last visit? Or was there sothing more serious lurking behind those words? The thought made her stomach churn.
Before she could dwell further, Jared appeared, his face still composed from his discussion with the authorities. "They’ve got my statent," he said, brushing his hands on his jeans. "They’re going to handle the bear."
Jerica nodded, and together they walked over to give her account. Once the formalities were out of the way, they started toward the bus, Jared walking slightly ahead, as though shielding her from any lingering stares. He was unusually quiet until they reached the vehicle, his eyes scanning her face as if sensing her unease.
"What was that phone call about?" he asked, his voice low but steady. He sensed that she was not the sa after the phone call.
Jerica hesitated, unsure of how to explain the strange request. "It was the clinic," she finally said. She did ntion her visit to the fertility clinic to him. "They’ve got my test results, but they wouldn’t tell over the phone. They want to co in and bring soone with ."
Jared’s brows knit together, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. "They asked you to bring soone along?"
Jerica shrugged, attempting nonchalance. "I guess it’s just protocol or sothing. It’s probably nothing."
But Jared didn’t seem convinced. His eyes searched hers, a flicker of worry breaking through his composed exterior. "Jerica, that doesn’t sound like nothing."
"It’s fine, Jared," she replied, trying to wave off his concern. "I’m sure it’s just because I’ve been a little... emotional about this whole baby thing."
He didn’t say anything imdiately, his face unreadable. But his silence spoke volus. Jared was the kind of man who didn’t overreact—he was logical, asured. For him to look this concerned was enough to make Jerica’s chest tighten.
"I’ll go with you," he said finally, his tone leaving no room for argunt. "When’s the appointnt?"
Jerica blinked, surprised by his insistence. "They didn’t give a ti yet. I have to call them back to schedule."
"Then do it," he said firmly. "And let know. You’re not going alone."
For a mont, Jerica felt a pang of gratitude, mixed with sothing deeper she couldn’t quite na. She nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Okay."
As they boarded the bus, Jared’s hand found hers, squeezing it gently, and he didn’t let go the entire ride. Jerica leaned against Jared’s shoulder, not caring about the curious eyes of their coworkers around them. The warmth of his presence was a soothing balm, grounding her after the chaos of the day.
Jared, however, noticed the subtle glances and the furtive movents of phones as a few snapped pictures of them. He smirked, his sharp eyes catching on to their antics. It wasn’t long before his phone buzzed with a series of anonymous texts, accompanied by the very sa pictures being taken.
"Looks like your wife is cheating on you, Mr. Evans..." one text read.
"She’s gotten herself a successful man at work—guess you weren’t enough," another taunted.
Jared’s smirk deepened as he scrolled through the ssages. He had anticipated sothing like this. Without hesitation, he forwarded the texts to Nick, his trusted friend and tech-savvy confidant. Within minutes, Nick had tracked down the senders and sent Jared their nas.
The bus was filled with chatter and laughter, the group imrsed in their gas, when Jared suddenly stood and moved to the front of the bus. His commanding presence silenced the conversations almost imdiately.
"Sorry to interrupt," Jared began, his tone casual but laced with a sharp edge. "But I thought we could all enjoy so... light reading." He held up his phone, scrolling dramatically. "I’ve been receiving so very interesting ssages. Let’s start with Nolan, shall we?"
The color drained from Nolan’s face as Jared began reading aloud. "’Nolan wrote that my wife’s been cheating on with a successful man in the office. He also added that she’s materialistic and—’" Jared paused, humming as though pondering sothing deeply. "’—oh, here’s the kicker. Nolan says I should ’do better.’" Jared looked up, his smirk widening. "Nolan, should I be flattered? Or... is there sothing you want to confess? Crush on , perhaps?"
The bus erupted in laughter, though Nolan shrank back in his seat, muttering protests.
"And here’s another gem," Jared continued, scrolling to the next na. "Greg says, ’I feel bad for your wife. She deserves a real man.’ Greg, I appreciate your concern, but my wife seems quite satisfied with her real man, thank you very much."
The laughter grew louder, and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the group. One bold individual tried to deflect. "Wait... didn’t you give us the wrong number or sothing?"
Jared turned to the speaker, feigning shock. "Seriously? You all don’t think much, do you? Wow."
Before the scene could escalate further, Harold, who had been watching the unfolding drama with obvious amusent, stood up. "Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands for calm. "Let’s settle this once and for all." He looked around the bus before his gaze landed on Jared. "Jared Petrovski is Jerica Evans’s husband. They’ve been married for four years. That’s the truth. Period."
The bus fell into stunned silence. Whispers of disbelief and murmured apologies followed.
Jerica glanced up at Jared, a mix of amusent and pride flickering in her eyes. Jared t her gaze and shrugged playfully, a knowing smirk on his lips. The air of awkward tension began to dissolve, replaced by a shared sense of acceptance, however begrudging it might have been.
"Now that we’re all on the sa page," Jared said, his voice carrying a teasing lilt, "let’s continue this lovely ride, shall we?"
With that, he returned to his seat beside Jerica, reclaiming her hand. No one dared take a picture or whisper behind their backs this ti.
As they stepped off the bus, Jerica hooked her arm tighter around Jared’s, an unmistakable smile lighting up her face. She couldn’t help but relish the situation, especially the expression on Regina’s face—a mix of bitterness and defeat.
That’s right, bitch. He’s my man! she thought, her hold on Jared’s arm tightening possessively. Regina scoffed, turning her face away in a huff, which only deepened Jerica’s satisfaction.
"Having fun?" Jared asked, his voice tinged with amusent as he glanced down at her.
Jerica lifted her nose in a mock display of arrogance and leaned against his shoulder, her smile softening. "Yes. I got the best man," she said confidently. Pride radiated from her voice—pride in the man she married, in the life they shared. She’d always known Jared was one in a million, but seeing the jealousy in other won’s eyes only validated what she had known all along.
Jared chuckled, his lips twitching in amusent, but then his expression shifted. A thoughtful frown crossed his face. If she’s so proud to show off, could she have thought I wasn’t proud of her? he wondered. The possibility gnawed at him, stirring an uncomfortable pang in his chest.
His mind wandered back to her occasional strange behavior, the fleeting monts when she seed hesitant or insecure. Was it because she thought he was ashad to show her off? Did she think that was why he had kept their marriage a secret? The realization stung more than he wanted to admit.
But that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
Jared tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her just a little closer as they walked. The truth was, he had kept her a secret out of an instinct to protect her. He wanted to shield her from the bad people he was going against. It had always been about protecting her, not hiding her.
And yet, seeing her glowing with pride, completely unbothered by the stares, he realized he might have done her a disservice. She deserved to be seen, admired, and celebrated. And Jared decided he’d make sure the whole world knew exactly who she was and how lucky he was to have her.
His thoughts drifted further. No one even knows she’s a millionaire, he mused. People assud he was the successful one in the relationship, but they had no idea. Jerica was smarter, wealthier, and kinder than he could ever hope to be. It baffled him still that soone like her had chosen him—a man who had started with nothing.
Jared glanced down at her, his heart swelling with affection. He leaned close, his lips brushing against her temple. "You’re wrong, you know," he murmured.
Jerica tilted her head, confused. "About what?"
He smirked, his voice soft but firm. "I’m the one who got the best."
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