I Announced Our Divorce To Airport Reporters

Xavier Parker didn't pick up on Annika James's distress. Not at all.

After dabbing the ointment on her cheek, he grabbed the first aid kit and headed upstairs. "I'm gonna shower. Come up when you're ready."

Annika stayed silent. She snatched her phone and deleted the post she'd just put up. The small smile on her face dissolved as she looked at her ring one more time—then she slipped it off and tucked it back into its velvet box.

She couldn't even bring herself to ask Xavier about what went down today. No matter how she framed it, his answer would always be the same.

Annika felt like she owed the Turner family everything. Owed Lina Turner everything. Like everything she had was really meant for Lina—some twisted way to give Bowen Flores a little peace in the afterlife.

For years, whenever Annika felt hurt or wronged, the second those thoughts surfaced, a door in her mind would slam shut and steal her voice completely.

Annika sat motionless on the couch. Earlier, the reality show on TV had been a welcome distraction; now, with Xavier turning it off, the silence in the living room was deafening.

In the stillness, Annika's mind drifted back to Bowen.

The Parkers and the Floreses had been family friends for generations. Xavier and Bowen were best friends, while Lina was Bowen's younger sister. Annika was the same age as Lina, three years younger than the boys. The four of them basically grew up together.

Even though Annika was just the housekeeper's daughter, her father, Andrew James, spoiled her rotten and gave her the best of everything. The Parkers paid him ridiculously well—his monthly salary as head of household rivaled what most people made in a year.

So Annika never wanted for anything growing up.

She and Xavier had their fair share of squabbles back then. Everyone at the Parker mansion was straight-up terrified of young Master Xavier, the sole heir. But Annika? She was fearless. She argued with him every single day. She even made him cry once when they were kids—not that he'd ever admit it now.

Eventually, Annika got to know the Flores siblings, who were always visiting the Parkers.

Bowen was incredibly kind. Despite his privileged upbringing, he was always so friendly and approachable, his eyes forever warm with a smile. He treated Annika like his very own little sister.

Both Annika and Lina called him "big brother."

Annika and Lina weren't exactly inseparable, but they had a playful rivalry and didn't actually dislike each other.

When did Annika first notice Lina's growing hostility? It must've started around the time they hit high school.

By the time Annika and Lina started high school, Xavier and Bowen were getting ready to graduate. They snuck into the graduation party, and Lina was a bundle of nerves the whole time.

"What's got you so nervous?" Annika asked. "Worst-case scenario, Bowen gives us a lecture. But he's too soft for even that. If Xavier gets all difficult, I'll take the heat."

But Lina's cheeks flushed as she confessed, "I'm going to tell him how I feel today."

"Tell him what?"

"I like Xavier," Lina admitted, blushing even deeper. "I've had a crush on him since we were kids."

Annika froze, a tightness wrapping around her chest.

On one hand, she didn't want to see Lina upset—that would break her heart. But picturing Xavier as Lina's boyfriend made her stomach twist in ways that hurt even worse.

That was the moment she realized her feelings for Xavier went way beyond anything she felt for Bowen.

Lina went off to give Xavier her love letter, while Annika sat sulking in the corner of the sofa. When Lina came back, her eyes were red and puffy from crying. "Annika," she choked out, "we're not friends anymore. I hate you!"

Stunned and totally confused, Annika bolted to find Xavier and demand what he'd told Lina.

"Do you have any idea what Lina said to me?" Xavier snapped.

"It doesn't matter what she said. You shouldn't have upset her!"

Seeing Annika defend Lina so fiercely, Xavier's face went red with frustration.

Finally, he burst out, "You're such an idiot, Annika!"

Xavier had called Annika an idiot a million times growing up, but this time, he sounded genuinely pissed.

Annika was furious too. She couldn't wrap her head around whatever had gone down between Xavier and Lina—one was cutting off their friendship, and the other was icing her out.

Eventually, Bowen reached out. "Annika, I know this might sound selfish, but Lina's my sister. She's spoiled, got a bit of a princess complex. Please don't be mad at her."

Annika murmured, "I don't even know why she suddenly started ignoring me." After a beat, she added, "Or Xavier."

After a pause, Bowen explained, "Lina confessed her feelings to Xavier."

"I know."

"Xavier told her he has feelings for you."

Annika's breath caught, her eyes slowly meeting Bowen's, confusion and embarrassment swirling inside her.

Bowen smiled softly, his eyes warm with reassurance. He ruffled her hair affectionately. "Annika, you're still young. Promise me, when you graduate high school, you'll sit down and have a real talk with Xavier about this. He promised he wouldn't let it mess with you until then."

Annika's cheeks turned hot.

On her fifteenth birthday, she wrote in her diary: Like the spring breeze that blows overnight and makes a thousand pear trees bloom, it's magical how every flower in my heart bursts open at the sound of his name.

But by the time she graduated high school, Xavier had already left to study abroad. He called her, asking what her college plans were.

Annika shot back defiantly, "Well, I'm not applying anywhere in the U.S."

Xavier was quiet for a second. "I'll be back next year."

"I don't care when you get back."

"Really? You don't care?"

"Nope."

"God, you're an idiot, Annika."

And with that, Xavier hung up.

Fuming, Annika fired off a long, ranty text to him—only to get a red exclamation mark in return.

He'd blocked her again, just like he always did after a fight. He'd insult her, hang up, block her on all social media, and then, a couple days later, unblock her once she'd cooled off.

To the outside world, Xavier was the picture of charm and sophistication—the perfect young heir of the Parker family. But to Annika? He was just petty and childish whenever it involved her.