I Announced Our Divorce To Airport Reporters

On the drive back, Annika James was starting to feel sleepy. The wine she'd had at Xavier Parker's place wasn't as fine as the bottles in his cellar, but even the cheap stuff packed a punch. She frowned, swaying slightly in her seat, and complained, "Can't you drive any smoother? Why's it so bumpy?"

Xavier raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, amused by her kinda unreasonable complaint. She was pretty endearing like this.

"The road's full of potholes from all the trucks. Even a Ferrari couldn't glide over 'em."

Annika pointed out the window. "Look at that car, it's not bouncing around, it's just cruising along so smooth."

"You only think it looks smooth from out here. If you were inside, you'd be bouncing up and down, too."

"Nonsense. You're just a crappy driver."

"Yeah, yeah," Xavier grinned, "I'm the second-worst driver in the world."

"Why second?" Annika murmured sleepily, eyes closing. "Who's the worst?"

Of course, it was Annika herself—who once, during a driving lesson, knocked over traffic cones, panicked, and refused to go back, never getting her license.

Xavier said, "My star, my Annika will always be number one."

Whether she heard him or not, Annika dozed off, the gentle motion of the car and the wine lulling her to sleep.

When they got home, Xavier carried her inside. Since she'd overindulged and couldn't exactly shower, he gently undressed her and wiped her down with a warm cloth. The house was warm, and her cool skin felt soothing beneath his fingertips.

A few times, Xavier nearly lost control; it was torture. But he didn't want to make her uncomfortable or wake her, so he held back. Once he'd dressed her and tucked her in, he took a cold shower. When he climbed into bed, he wrapped an arm around her waist. She murmured, "Ah, so cold."

Xavier chuckled softly. After a cold shower, how could he be anything but chilly? Still, he moved away a bit, letting his body warm up before pulling Annika close again.

—

When Annika woke the next morning, Xavier was already gone. The spot beside her was cool, meaning he'd left a while ago. Checking her phone, she saw it was nine o'clock.

She shot up, puzzled why her eight o'clock alarm hadn't gone off. When she checked, it had been turned off. Annika, who prided herself on her reliable memory, was positive she'd set it. After a moment, she called Xavier.

"Did you turn off my alarm?"

"Yeah," Xavier replied, his voice barely audible over the background noise. "I turned it off so you could sleep in."

Annika clenched her fists. "Did it ever occur to you that I set that alarm for a reason? Maybe I actually needed to get up?"

There was a pause before Xavier said, "Oh, sorry. I just thought maybe it was a glitch since you never get up before eleven."

Annika gritted her teeth. "Did you forget we're supposed to visit my dad today?"

"My dear Annika," Xavier sighed, "I haven't forgotten. That's why I came to the office early to handle some things. I've sent Rayan to wait for you at the door. You head there first, and I'll be no more than half an hour late."

Annika instinctively wanted to ask if he'd actually show up, but she held back. Never mind. She hung up, got ready quickly, and opened her closet. From among the high-end coats, she chose a cream wool coat she'd bought herself; it wasn't pricey but was super comfortable and warm. She paired it with cashmere wide-leg pants and a bright blue scarf—her father once told her a pop of bright color in winter gave a lively look.

Once ready, Annika left the house. At the door, she found a food container. The moment she opened it, she recognized the meticulous handiwork of their housekeeper. A note was tucked inside.

"Mrs. Parker, Mr. Parker mentioned you had an early start today, so I packed some breakfast for you. Safe travels."

Annika smiled slightly, folded the note carefully, and put it in her pocket before grabbing the breakfast and getting into Rayan's car.

Inside, a faint cinnamon scent lingered. Annika noticed but didn't comment. Instead, she asked, "Is Xavier really busy today?"

Rayan hesitated, then nodded. "Mostly dealing with PR stuff. It's a busy time."

"Did something happen that needs PR?" Annika asked.

Rayan couldn't say much, so he replied vaguely, "Nothing major. Mr. Parker will deal with it."

Seeing his reluctance, Annika decided not to push, figuring it was company business.

By the time Annika reached the care home, it was ten forty-two. In the hallway outside her father's room, she spotted a familiar woman on the phone, looking a bit annoyed. Seeing Annika, the woman ended the call and faced her.

Annika approached, greeting, "Mom."

Ocean Watkins, Annika's mother, was forty-five but looked well-maintained, exuding an elegance straight out of an old movie. Annika had inherited her mother's beauty and was considered even more striking.

Despite this, her relationship with her mother was nowhere near as close as the one with her father. Ocean and Annika's father, Andrew, divorced when Annika was ten—Andrew's constant involvement with the Parker family was a life Ocean no longer wanted. She chose to leave, and Annika stayed with her father, who continued to send Ocean a generous portion of his income after the divorce.

When Annika was eleven, Ocean remarried and had a son, Timothy. Since then, interactions between Annika and her mother dwindled to birthdays or holidays, often with Timothy in tow. Whenever Annika tried to connect with Ocean, Timothy's cries would draw Ocean away, leaving Annika feeling like an outsider watching her mother dote on another child.

Even now, those memories still stung.

Since Andrew's accident, Ocean rarely visited the care home, so this was the first time Annika had seen her mother here.

"Mom, what brings you here today?" Annika asked first.

Ocean seemed put off. "Are you implying I don't visit your father enough?"

"I didn't mean it that way," Annika replied. She considered saying more, but let it go. "Let's go see Dad."

"Your father's asleep," Ocean said, sitting down on a bench by the room. "I need to talk to you about something. Sit down."

Annika pressed her lips together but complied.

Ocean's gaze swept over Annika's outfit, and she sighed with clear disapproval. "Annika, you're Xavier Parker's wife now, married to the CEO of Parker Group, a figure in high society. Why dress like a teenager? Look at that wool coat—it has no shape. And those pants…" She shook her head. "Annika, you're not a schoolgirl anymore. Dressing isn't just about being comfortable; it's about presenting yourself. In this outfit, who's going to recognize you as Mrs. Parker?"