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.

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.

During Annika James' sophomore year of college, Xavier Parker returned from Europe after locking down three billion-dollar projects in the financial district and taking over Parker Group. He'd become the youngest business mogul in London. He rolled up to her campus in a limited-edition Rolls Royce to pick her up, and Annika felt a little embarrassed as she slid into the car. She scolded him, "Xavier Parker, if you don't want people on campus spreading rumors that I'm dating some rich guy, maybe skip the flashy cars..."

Before she could finish, he pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms. With a fierce, unexpected intensity, Xavier kissed her, sending a rush of heat to her cheeks. In the front seat, Rayan Henry discreetly hit the button to raise the partition. The sealed backseat left only her and Xavier, their heated kiss charging the air between them.

Xavier kissed her like he'd been waiting forever.

It was their first kiss, and it left Annika's mind spinning, her thoughts scattered, her body weak and flooded with warmth.

Xavier murmured, "Annika, I've waited years for this kiss."

Annika looked at him, dazed, not realizing this was Xavier's confession.

For over a decade, they'd bickered and bantered, and she hadn't yet adjusted to this new, more mature Xavier—a man, not just the boy she'd always known.

After a beat, Annika quipped, "Wow, you really do have a lot of patience."

Xavier blinked, slightly caught off guard.

With a playful pinch, he said, "Annika, you're such a goof."

Annika laughed, tilting her head. "I might be a goof, but if you're into goofs, what does that make you?"

Xavier smirked. "Hmm, the biggest goof of them all."

In that million-dollar custom Rolls Royce, the two "goofs" exchanged knowing glances, their faces lit up with a happiness that was almost too much to contain.

In their first year together, Annika and Xavier kept their old dynamic, often squabbling—little tiffs every few days, bigger blowups here and there. But usually, Xavier was the first to cave and admit he was wrong. Annika never told anyone how Xavier could totally disarm her when he showed up with reddened eyes, teetering on the edge of tears. One look at him like that, and her anger just melted away.

During Thanksgiving, Xavier took Annika to the Parker family estate, only to find Lina Turner and her brother Bowen, along with their parents, already there. The two families had been knee-deep in talks about a marriage alliance between Xavier and Lina.

Annika confronted Xavier, who claimed he knew nothing and accused her of being unreasonable. Furious, Annika stormed out.

On the road, Bowen, driving out to find her, was killed in a car crash.

When Annika heard the news, she rushed to the hospital. There, Lina's mother slapped her twice, then forced her to kneel before Bowen's body.

Annika felt like a hollow shell, numb to the pain and humiliation, completely detached from reality.

She couldn't wrap her head around how things had spiraled so disastrously.

The Turner family demanded Annika pay with her life—until Xavier arrived, standing firm in front of her, declaring that Annika was now Mrs. Parker and anyone who laid a finger on her would face his wrath.

Eventually, Xavier and Annika married. He transferred two billion-dollar projects and five percent of Parker Group shares to the Turners to smooth things over and get them to back off Annika.

Yet, Annika was branded a sinner.

Haunted by Bowen's death, she couldn't find forgiveness—not from others, and not from herself.

On top of that, her married life became another source of pain.

Once so vibrant and full of fire, after just three years of marriage, Annika had become a recluse, too tormented to even step outside.

—

Xavier finished his shower and came over to Annika, who was sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone. He noticed her slender fingers were bare.

"Where's your ring?" he asked, towel-drying his hair, water trickling down his chest to the towel wrapped around his waist.

Annika, not bothering to look up, kept chatting with Emma Sanchez on WhatsApp. "It's worth a million bucks. I'm afraid I'll chuck it in a fit of rage and then regret it."

Xavier arched an eyebrow. "Then just don't get pissed off."

"That's tough," Annika shot back. "This world is crawling with idiots."

Xavier watched her in silence for a moment, then glanced at her phone screen. Annika noticed and tilted the phone away, blocking his view.

But he caught a glimpse of Emma's avatar—a bold white "Get Rich" on a red background, impossible to miss.

"Complaining about me to your bestie again?"

Annika shut off her phone and burrowed under the duvet, staying quiet.

She replayed Emma's earlier advice in her head: "That Lina is a piece of work, always copying your every move just to one-up you. One day, let her choke on your fumes."

Crude, but not without a point, Emma's words pulled a smile from Annika, lightening her mood a little.

Then Xavier's warm arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close, his hand slipping under her nightdress.

Annika blocked him. "Xavier, what the hell are you doing!"

"Fulfilling my husbandly duties," he murmured against her neck. "Did you miss me this week?"

His warm breath against her skin stirred something deep, making her breathing hitch.

Xavier knew her body inside and out. Annika always remembered their first night together—beyond the initial discomfort, it was actually good. She'd asked how he was so skilled, wondering if it was really his first time.

Xavier had replied, "I've never been a butcher, but I've seen pigs run. I prepped for this moment for years. I didn't want you to have any regrets."

Annika scoffed. "Men are such basic creatures, always scheming for a little action."

He ground his teeth. "Annika, other women might want me, but I don't want them."

"Big deal, other men want me too, and I don't want them."

"…"

She used to match him word for word, never backing down.

But somewhere along the line, she stopped the bickering and arguing.

Maybe it was last year, when yet another fight erupted over how stupidly attentive he was to Lina. Xavier, with ice in his voice, had said, "If Bowen were alive, I wouldn't feel like I have to look after her; she's his sister, after all."

In that moment, Annika was left speechless.

She'd assumed that even if the whole world blamed her for Bowen's death, Xavier wouldn't.

She believed he understood her suffering, her pain, and wouldn't be the one to twist the knife.

But she was dead wrong.

The deeper her trust, the bigger the letdown.