Jennifer Lopez’s Desperate Plan to Win Back Ben Affleck

It’s been a month since Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on their second wedding anniversary, and the split is seemingly headed for a dramatic and expensive legal battle, due to the lack of a prenup. But last week, things took a surprising turn when the estranged couple met up for a family getaway — and reportedly grew closer in the process.

J.Lo, 55, and Ben, 52, were spotted grabbing brunch with their kids at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, suggesting the pair may be able to resolve their complicated legal and financial situation amicably. And according to onlookers, the pair were even seen holding hands while their children sat at a nearby table.

Insiders tell Heat that J.Lo is hoping her estranged husband will realize what he’s missing out on and fight to win her back for a second time. But considering the exes are also seen tense outside the venue and deep in conversation in the car, it’s safe to say that some light hand-holding won’t change Ben’s mind.

A source tells us: “Jennifer was the one who initiated the meeting – she insisted on showing they were on friendly terms for the sake of the children. They have all become closer over the past few years and she wants to avoid causing them any more pain.”

The source continued: “While Jen has tried to be strong in public, she’s less confident behind closed doors and has admitted that she misses Ben terribly. She was secretly hoping that filing for divorce would prompt him to take drastic action to turn things around and try to win her back, so the fact that she still wants to continue their split is heartbreaking.”

The couple also face the difficult task of dividing up their £489million fortune – the lack of a prenuptial agreement complicating matters even further. Still, if there’s one thing J.Lo has been good at over the past year, it’s putting on a brave face as her marriage crumbles.

The former couple rekindled their relationship in 2021 after calling off their initial engagement in 2003, finally tying the knot in the summer of 2022. So when rumors surfaced in the spring that they were on the brink of a split — just months after Jen praised their marriage in her self-financed film The Greatest Love Story Never Told — the singer remained tight-lipped.

But evidence of trouble has become harder to ignore. Ben reportedly moved out of the couple’s Beverly Hills mansion in May, with the property now up for sale, while Jennifer was spotted enjoying a solo vacation in Italy. And when Ben didn’t attend J.Lo’s Bridgerton-themed birthday party in July, their split was all but confirmed.

J.Lo finally filed for divorce in August, 20 years after calling off her first wedding. However, according to legal documents, the couple officially split in April, suggesting that Jen did everything she could to make the marriage last.

J.Lo’s optimism is understandable. She and Ben have been a part of each other’s lives for decades, and their reunion is seen as a sign that they’re in it for the long haul. The couple has also merged their families, living with J.Lo’s twins Max and Emme, both 16, whom she shares with ex Marc Anthony, and Ben’s children Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, from his marriage to Jennifer Garner.

During the reunion, our source says J.Lo was hoping that she might “spark something” with Ben and make him realize what he’s missing out on. Instead, we’re told, she’s had to come to terms with the opposite.

“He has shown no interest in maintaining any kind of relationship, let alone trying to save their marriage,” the source says. “Jen is clinging to something that is over—she needs to get over it and move on.”

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