Jennifer Lopez is going all out to save her marriage to Ben Affleck, sources say, adding that their recent time apart has only reinforced how much they love each other, further fueling their determination to avoid splitting up.
The couple, who recently put their $60 million family home on the market, were last photographed together on June 2 and have spent several important occasions, including Mother’s Day and their second wedding anniversary, apart amid ongoing reports that their rekindled romance is headed toward divorce.
But Lopez, 54, has made a concerted effort to focus on her blended family and has postponed work commitments to help get her romance back on track.
“Jennifer is now hoping to save her marriage to Ben,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
“She wouldn’t be spending time with her kids acting like a mother to them if she wasn’t working things out with him or at least on the right path.”
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have realised they still love each other after spending time apart “to think things over”, a source revealed to DailyMail.com (pictured from February)
The source revealed that the couple put their marital home back on the market because their family did not feel “safe” in the Bel Air mansion and had a hard time calling it “home.”
The source added that the real reason Ben and Jennifer haven’t been together until now this summer was to help them determine how much they still valued their relationship.
“They’ve given each other space to think things through and that’s reinforced the fact that they love each other,” the source said.
‘Jennifer has put her work aside to focus on repairing the damage caused. She knows that at times she allowed her career and fame to get in the way of her marriage.’
They continued: “She’s really trying to be a good mother and a normal person for now because she knows that at the end of the day, her wealth and fame aren’t everything. She hopes it’s not too late.”
However, the source added that Affleck had also made his own mistakes, adding: “Those around her have assured her that she is not the only one to blame as Ben is no walk in the park either.”
DailyMail.com previously revealed that Lopez had even been confiding in her husband’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner, who eventually had to step back from an informal mediator role between the pair as she no longer wanted to be part of the “circus” surrounding the couple.
But she still remains in “constant communication” with Garner, who “has helped tremendously.”
“Jennifer is eternally grateful for his help, even though he has now taken a step back,” the source said. “But Jen was able to communicate with her ex-husband in a way that no one else could, not even her.”
Affleck’s eldest daughter, Violet, 18, was spotted spending quality time with Lopez in South Hampton, New York, this past weekend.
A source revealed: ‘Jennifer is really trying to be a good mother and a normal person at the moment because she knows that none of her wealth and fame means anything.’
Affleck and Garner share three children: Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12.
Meanwhile, Lopez shares her 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony.
It looked like their blended family would fall apart after Affleck moved out of his California mansion and into a $100,000-a-month rental located near his ex-wife.
Just weeks later, the house was quietly put up for sale for $65 million and the couple began selling artwork from inside the mansion.
However, the source revealed that the couple had a simple reason for choosing to put their marital home back on the market: their family didn’t feel “safe” in the Bel Air mansion and had a hard time calling it “home.”
“Jennifer and Ben decided to sell their house because neither they nor their children felt that it was their home,” the source said.
“It was too big and the opening made them feel unsafe at times and even though they have 24-hour security, something just didn’t feel right.”
The source added that Affleck, in particular, never truly felt comfortable in the mansion, which likely led him to quickly move out his belongings last month.
They added: ‘Ben hated the house more than Jennifer did, so when things started to fall apart in their marriage, he just got over it.
‘The amount of money it cost just for utilities for that house was astronomical.’
Lopez and Affleck reunited in 2021 and tied the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony the following July, before holding a lavish wedding at their Georgia estate in August 2022 (pictured)
But the duo were spotted on opposite ends of the country as they celebrated their second anniversary apart on July 16 (pictured May 2023).
The couple’s love story began in 2002, when they dated during the filming of the movie Jersey Girl. They got engaged the following year, but split in 2004.
They delighted fans when they rekindled their romance in the spring of 2021. They tied the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, followed by a lavish wedding at their Georgia estate a month later.
But the duo were spotted on opposite ends of the country as they seemingly failed to reunite to celebrate their second anniversary on July 16.
Affleck was seen smiling and dressed like a hero as he arrived at his office in Los Angeles, carrying a large iced coffee and a duffle bag, while Lopez was out in the Hamptons with their 18-year-old daughter Violet.
Whatever happens next, the pair still have plans to work together. How is Lopez? will star in two upcoming films – Unstoppable and Kiss Of The Spider Woman – for Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Artists Equity.