I Announced Our Divorce To Airport Reporters

Annika's gaze flicked to the car Xavier was driving.

A pink Aston Martin. Lina's.

A small, tight smile tugged at her lips before she turned to Rayan. "Rayan, can you take me home?"

Rayan hesitated, glancing nervously over at Xavier.

Before Xavier could get a word in, Annika cut in smoothly, "He's got a ride. He'll probably be dropping Miss Turner off first anyway."

Xavier watched her—the stubborn set of her jaw, the way she wouldn't even look at him. His lips pressed into a hard line.

After a beat, he told Rayan, "Take her home first."

Then, gently catching Annika by the wrist, he added, voice low, "If you're not feeling well, go home and rest. I'll come back after dinner."

Annika smiled again, this time effortlessly slipping out of his grip as she slid into the car.

The engine hummed, then faded into the distance. Xavier stood there for a moment before turning and walking back into the family estate.

Inside, Molly was practically fuming. "Who does she think she is? Waltzing in and out of here like she owns the damn place?"

Xavier's brow furrowed. "Mom, this *is* her home. She has every right."

Molly let out a sharp scoff. "This house carries the Parker name—not hers."

Xavier replied, his tone utterly calm, "And neither does yours. Yet here you are, living in it."

Molly's face flushed a deep, angry red. "Xavier Parker! Is that really how you speak to your mother?"

Sinking onto the couch, exhaustion weighing heavy on him from the long night and Annika's cold demeanor, Xavier rubbed at his temples. Weariness bled into his voice.

"Mom, please. Don't make things harder for Annika. She's my wife. Even if you can't love her like your own, you don't get to mistreat her. You told her to leave—and now you're pissed she actually did? What exactly do you want from her?"

Molly's voice cut through the room like a blade. "I'd be over the moon if she just divorced you!"

The word *divorce* landed like a physical blow.

Xavier's entire expression shifted. His jaw locked tight, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop as his gaze settled on his mother.

"Mom." His voice was soft—but ice-cold. "The word *divorce* might be something Annika and I toss around in private, but no one else has the right to bring it up."

And *no one else*—in his mind—included his own mother.

The atmosphere curdled. Both Lina and Molly wore matching expressions of displeasure.

It was Willa, Xavier's grandmother, who finally broke the tense silence. "Alright," she said, voice gentle but firm. "She's just a little spoiled, Xavier. You've indulged her too much. If this is a private matter between the two of you, make sure it stays private. Don't let it spill out into the open."

Xavier dropped his gaze.

He knew he'd been so wrapped up in work lately that Annika felt invisible. That little stunt with the press? That was just her acting out. Her way of screaming for his attention.

But he hadn't expected her to actually say the word *divorce* to a reporter.

A heavy sigh escaped him. He wasn't staying.

"I'm heading home."

Lina approached as he moved toward the door. "Not staying for dinner, Xavier?"

He glanced back at her. "Did you actually come to the office with me last night?"

Lina blinked, caught completely off guard. "No... I didn't."

His frown deepened. "Then why did Mom tell Annika you were at the office with me?"

Lina shot a quick look at Molly before admitting, "I was worried about you. You'd been taking care of me all day, so I just... went to the café downstairs. In case you needed anything."

Xavier's frown turned into something sharper. "And what exactly did you think you could do for me from a café?"

Lina looked like she'd been slapped.

Molly jumped in immediately. "Xavier, watch your tone. Lina was just concerned about you."

"Her condition seems more concerning than mine," Xavier shot back. "Don't do that again. If something happens to her child, how am I supposed to explain that to Nash?"

Nash—Lina's husband—was out of town on business.

Lina had called Xavier the day before, saying she wasn't feeling well, and he'd gone with her to the hospital.

Now, with her eyes lowered, Lina murmured, "I understand. I'm sorry, Xavier. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

Xavier gave her one last glance, said nothing, and headed for the door. "I'm leaving."

"You're not taking Lina home?" Molly called after him.

Without turning around, Xavier replied, "Nash called earlier. He'll be here in half an hour to pick her up."

---

When Xavier walked through the front door, Annika was curled up on the couch, takeout in hand, watching some reality TV show at full volume. The noise was obnoxious—and so was the spread of junk food in front of her.

He walked over and turned the volume down a notch, eyeing the greasy containers. "You skipped a home-cooked meal for... this crap?"

"That wasn't *my* home," Annika said flatly, not even glancing his way.

Xavier knew she was hurt. He softened his voice. "You know how my mom is. Sharp tongue, soft heart."

"Wouldn't know. I've known her for over twenty years now, and all I've ever seen is the sharp-tongued part," Annika shot back.

Xavier let out a low chuckle. "What, you want a taste of her soft side now?"

A loud clatter. Annika dropped her fork onto the plate and whipped her head around, eyes blazing.

"You think this is funny, Xavier?"

The room went dead silent. Without the TV blaring, every word hung in the air, thick and heavy.

Xavier killed the television completely.

"Why'd you turn it off?" Annika demanded.

"You never used to watch these brainless shows," he remarked.

"So what if I do now? What's wrong with enjoying something mindless if I want to? Does every damn thing in life have to have some grand purpose or meaning?" Her words came out in a rush, sharp and defensive.

But Xavier just listened. Patient. Unmoving.

He knew she felt wronged. Over the years, Molly had torn her work apart, calling it worthless, and Xavier himself had often nudged her toward more studying, more schooling. But Annika was never the academic type. Reading put her to sleep. Words on a page made her eyes glaze over. She only ever loved painting—using colors and strokes to say what she couldn't put into words.

"Just being alive is a value all on its own," Annika added, quieter now.

Xavier just looked at her. That same calm, unreadable expression.

Annika felt the fight drain out of her, and she nearly laughed at herself. What was the point? He always looked at her like that when she was upset—like she was some kid throwing a tantrum. Like her feelings were just... small. Insignificant. Something to be managed.

Over time, she'd learned to say less and less.

She stood to leave, but Xavier's hand caught her wrist.

"What do you want? Let go," she snapped.

There was a flicker of anger in his voice now. "I didn't come at you for throwing around the word *divorce* to reporters. And here you are, giving me attitude."

Annika turned back slowly, a bitter smile curving her lips.

"Well, maybe you should stop and think about *why* I said it in the first place. And next time you escort Lina to her prenatal appointments? Try not to get caught. They won't dare question you—but they've got zero problem cornering me!"