I Announced Our Divorce To Airport Reporters

Annika James had barely cleared the airport doors when a swarm of reporters closed in on her.

"Is it true that the man going with Lina Turner to her prenatal checkups is your husband?"

"Mrs. Parker, Mr. Parker recently canceled all his commitments, saying he needed quality time with family. Yet, he's nowhere near you. Is he spending all that time with Lina Turner?"

"Is your marriage to Mr. Parker just a sham, like the rumors say?"

Annika tried to sidestep left, but they blocked her. She moved right; they cut her off again. Finally, she planted her feet, slipped off her shades, and revealed a calm face with a flicker of a mysterious smile—no anger, no tears.

"Calling it a sham would be generous," she stated coolly. "Xavier and I are getting a divorce. Whoever he spends his time with is none of my business."

The reporters reeled, clearly not expecting her to drop a bombshell like that. They just stood there, speechless.

Annika found their reaction sort of hilarious and let out a laugh. "What? I thought you were starving for headlines? Can't stomach a little breaking news? Now move. I need to get home."

None of them dared block her path after that.

Once outside the airport, Annika sucked in a deep breath. The Seattle winter was always so damn dreary, nothing but endless gray skies she hated. She hailed a cab and headed back to Kensington Gardens.

Late the next afternoon, Xavier finally called. "You're back? Why didn't you say something?"

Phone pressed to her ear, Annika stayed silent.

He didn't say much else, just added, "Come by the family house for dinner tonight. I've got a meeting that's running late, so I'll have Rayan pick you up."

Xavier had been gone a whole week, not stepping foot in their home even once. It was only from yesterday's news she found out he'd been with Lina Turner the entire time. Now that he'd finally resurfaced, his priority was work—first and always.

In Xavier's world, the company ranked above her, and Lina ranked above the company.

Sitting on the couch, Annika let out a soft, bitter laugh and ended the call. This marked the fourth year of her marriage to Xavier Parker.

Everyone said she was lucky, like she'd hit the damn lottery. A housekeeper's daughter marrying the heir to a massive fortune—stuff right out of a fairy tale. But they also whispered that if Xavier hadn't married her, the Turner family would've made her disappear.

After all, the Turner family's only son, Bowen Hayes, had died saving her.

So nobody ever questioned whatever compensation Xavier threw at Bowen's sister, Lina. Annika was expected to stay quiet, not to get jealous, to have no opinions. Xavier's over-the-top generosity to Lina was seen as paying off Annika's debt—Bowen's debt. Annika would forever be in the Turners' debt.

She sat frozen on the couch, the TV blasting some mindless reality show where guests cackled like hyenas. But all Annika felt was noise. Even then, she didn't shut it off—it was the only sound breaking the crushing emptiness of that house.

Time slipped by until Rayan's car pulled up outside and he knocked on the door. "Ma'am, Mr. Parker asked me to drive you to the family house for dinner."

Annika wanted to say she didn't want to go—and yet she found herself grabbing her bag anyway, sliding into Rayan's car.

Rayan was driving Xavier's car, filled with that faint lavender scent that always made Annika's stomach churn. Lavender—Lina's favorite. Annika rolled down the window, gulping down the fresh air.

By the time she reached the Parker family estate, her face was numb from the freezing wind. As she stepped inside, before she could even swap her shoes—

Smack!

A sudden slap snapped her head to the side. But thanks to the cold, she barely felt a thing.

"Margaret, if you've got something to say, say it. No need for hitting." Lina, her pregnant belly leading the way, came over and took Margaret Watkins' hand, rubbing it gently. "Does it hurt?"

Spotting Annika, Margaret's fury exploded. "Have you lost your mind, Annika? We've given you the best years of your life, and it's messed with your head? Spouting nonsense to the press about wanting a divorce?"

"What a joke!" Margaret huffed. "If you actually had the guts to divorce, I'd be lighting candles in the family chapel out of pure gratitude! You think I don't want Xavier to leave you? I've been counting down the days until Xavier kicks you out!"

Margaret raised her hand again.

Annika didn't flinch.

"Lina, stop her from hitting," Lina only voiced concern but didn't move a muscle to step in.

This time, though, the slap never landed. Rayan intercepted it.

The first one had been too sudden for him to react, but now he blocked it.

Margaret glared at Rayan. "Are you siding with the Parkers or with this woman?"

Rayan replied calmly, "Ma'am, Mr. Parker won't be happy if word gets out you hit her."

Margaret lowered her hand with a scoff. "Xavier only married her because of some ancient obligation. You really think he gives a damn?"

Then she shot Annika a venomous glare and stalked back into the living room.

Lina lingered beside Annika, trying to soothe her. "Annika, don't be mad at Aunt Margaret. She's just upset. Last night, Xavier caught wind of your divorce announcement, and even though he was about to head to bed, he rushed back to the office to handle the PR nightmare, working through the night to bury the story."

"Not only that!" Margaret hollered from the couch. "Lina was worried about Xavier and went with him to the office, putting herself and the baby at risk. If anything happens to that baby, Annika, how many lives will you owe the Turner family then?"

Their focus was her public declaration of divorce, while Annika's was on the fact that Xavier had spent last night with Lina. Still, Annika knew she had no right to be angry.

Any mention of the Turners made her feel like a criminal on trial, her frustrations silenced by the eternal debt she owed for Bowen's sacrifice.

It was brutal—knowing that surviving could hurt more than dying ever could.

Annika opened her mouth to speak when Lina cut in, "Xavier, you're here early. Already done at the office?"

Lina's tone was more like a devoted partner than Annika ever sounded.

Facing away from Xavier, Annika didn't turn.

Xavier's hand settled on her shoulder, his voice soft but urging. "Why are you standing out here? Come in and change your shoes."

"What for? She's not welcome here. Get her out!" Margaret shouted, her anger still blazing.

Annika nodded. "Fine. Then I'll leave."

She turned, locking eyes with Xavier. The dark circles under his eyes screamed of his sleepless night. She felt no pity.

After all, he'd had company.

"I came like you asked. Now I'm going," she said.