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.

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!"

Xavier Parker's gaze landed on the red, swollen mark on Annika James' face. His brows pulled together instantly. "Who did this to you?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

Annika had been facing him with her right side, so the ugly bruise on her left cheek had been hidden until now. Tilting her head back, she replied flatly, "Take a wild guess."

In all of Seattle, who else but Molly Watkins would dare lay a hand on Xavier Parker's wife?

Understanding hit Xavier like a freight train. His expression darkened, and he drew Annika closer. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you," he murmured against her hair. "You should've told me sooner."

Annika fought back the tears that had been building for what felt like forever. Molly Watkins slapping her hadn't made her cry. Lina Turner pretending to console her while actually stirring the pot hadn't made her cry. Walking home from the estate alone on an empty stomach, she'd held it together. But Xavier's simple apology nearly shattered her.

She felt so pathetic, so damn weak. For years, Xavier had played the game of slap her one moment and treat her sweet the next, and every single time, she caved.

What was she supposed to do? All she wanted right now was to just break down and bawl. Was that not allowed either? Her entire life felt like one giant mistake after another—was crying just another one to add to the list?

Turning her face away, she hastily wiped at her eyes.

Xavier retrieved the first aid kit and gently started tending to her cheek. When he saw her tears streaming down like a faucet, something tightened painfully in his chest. He leaned in and kissed them away. Annika tried to pull back, but he cupped her chin, holding her still. He kissed away every tear until her breathing hitched and turned ragged.

"I'm sorry," Xavier repeated softly. "The mine in South Africa had zero signal. I had to hike out forever just to make a damn phone call. I figured I'd wrap things up fast and get back to you. After Nash and Lina called, I only went to the hospital with her, and I was planning to come straight home right after."

He hadn't expected to be hit with such devastating news, which forced him to rush back and handle the crisis all night.

Annika just sat on the couch, utterly lost for words. Her anger wasn't because Xavier had work to do, or even because he'd gone with Lina. Hell, truth be told, she didn't even know what she was truly angry about anymore. In their three years of marriage, she'd often felt wronged, often felt furious, but whenever she dug deeper, there was never a solid, valid reason. It was just that Xavier's parents couldn't stand her, and the Turner family always treated her like dirt. But who was she to be angry? She was just the daughter of the Parkers' housekeeper. Of course his family was pissed when he picked her over all those wealthy heiresses. Bowen Flores, the Turners' eldest son, had died because of her—so naturally, they despised her guts.

Everyone said she was lucky. They accused her of being ungrateful for the cushy life she'd landed, telling her she should be thanking her stars. But Annika couldn't muster up a single ounce of gratitude. Everyone stared at her like she was some kind of object. As Xavier's wife, aside from Molly, nobody dared openly sneer at her, but nobody genuinely cared about her either. Whenever someone mentioned her name, the conversation would stall, followed by those loaded, knowing glances.

Over time, Annika grew to hate those so-called parties, galas, and holiday shindigs. She fit into no social circle. More often than not, she was home alone. With Xavier consumed by work, she'd become addicted to reality TV. At least there, with all the noise and chatter, she felt human—not just some possession.

"Still hurt?" Xavier's warm palm grazed her cheek. The ointment made her skin flush with heat.

Annika shook her head. "It stopped hurting a while ago."

Xavier looked down at her, then produced a small jewelry box from his briefcase. Inside was an exquisitely crafted pink diamond ring. Pink diamonds are rare and insanely expensive—even a quick glance screamed how valuable this stunner was. Last month, after a huge fight, Annika had hurled her wedding ring away. This was the replacement.

"You like it?" A smirk played on Xavier's lips. "How's it feel having a million bucks on your finger? Next time, don't toss it. That's a million-dollar ring." He knew her taste for the finer things.

Annika stared down at the breathtaking stone. Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "Does Lina have one too?"

Xavier was thrown. "What?"

Annika lifted her head, her eyes glistening like stars as she met his gaze. "This ring—does Lina have one?"

Ever since Bowen passed, anything gifted to Annika was also given to Lina. Molly had said it was because the Parkers and Annika owed Lina. Bowen had adored his baby sister. If he were still alive, he would've given her everything Annika received. So after his death, every single gift Annika got was duplicated for Lina. Handbags, jewelry, houses, cars—you name it. Hell, two years ago, for their wedding anniversary, Xavier had even gifted Annika a tiny private island. A few days later, Lina called to invite Annika to another island to celebrate her and Nash's anniversary. That's when Annika realized Xavier had given Lina and Nash an island too, as a commemorative gift.

After a beat, Xavier flicked her forehead, jolting her out of her spiral. "Annika," he chided, "have those reality shows fried your brain? This is your wedding ring. Why the hell would I give her one? I'm not her husband."

Annika dropped her gaze, but for the first time that day, a genuine smile touched her lips. She slipped the ring onto her finger and admired it. Her slender, pale fingers were perfect against the pink shimmer—elegant and dreamy, like a fairytale princess. Overjoyed, she snapped a picture and posted it on Instagram.

Within five minutes, it racked up likes and comments. Her friend Emma Sanchez joked, "Girl, you better sleep with one eye open from now on, or I might just sneak in and snatch that diamond!" Annika replied with a string of laughing emojis. Then, after posting her reply, she refreshed her feed and noticed Lina had just posted an update one minute ago.

It was a photo of a massive pink diamond necklace—so huge it was impossible to miss, even without enlarging the image.

Annika's happy grin instantly died.

She tapped on Lina's photo. The exquisite necklace matched her ring perfectly in color and craftsmanship. It was clearly part of a set.

Lina's caption read: "Between a ring and a necklace, I went with the necklace. More elegant, and of course, way pricier. Thanks, babe. You always think of everything. I'm so damn lucky."

Annika's mind began to buzz, the sickening realization crashing down on her like a tidal wave.