Kiss me in the crossfire

Chapterthirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Annika's POV

Despite knowing how much I want the divorce, I wasn't expecting it to come in that manner. The way Ares presents it to me just doesn't feel right.

I am stunned that he had the papers seated in his car all along. I can't wrap my head around why he tried to persuade me to follow him back home when what he truly came for was the divorce.

“She's not getting a divorce.” Charles turns and says firmly.

Dad knows the repercussions of the divorce more than I could ever understand, but why my joy had to be his bait, I do not understand.

I use my hand to wipe my face while I walk back towards Ares.

Perhaps, if nothing else was going to go right today, I'd as well take the divorce papers on a platter of Gold as it has come to me.

“I have signed it off already. You can sign here, and I never want to set my eyes on you again.” He wore a plain look on his face. Clearly unbothered and not angry. “All the money you will ever need is rightly transferred into this account. That's if you know how to use money well or build something with your dull brain. Anyway, you have the help of your father. This will add to his wealth.” He stares at my father with a fulfilled eye as he drags his reputation in front of his investors.

Sucking the drooling light mucus that accumulated in my nose from my excessive crying, I approach Ares and took the divorce file from him.

It was heavier than I expected. I wonder what was written inside.

“Why did you take the file from him? You're not getting a divorce!” Charles yells out of frustration at me. “Why wouldn't you listen to me, your father?”

“Because you don't listen to me, your daughter!”

I walk back towards Sloane, who holds me by the waist and walks with me towards her car.

I've had several walks of fame that always felt like sour fame. But this time around, it feels like I took a walk of shame. I could hear people insulting my outfit, my hair, and my decision. Their laughter, scorn and blank gaze say all about how I had been staying in an environment that didn't wish anything good on me.

I know it's safer if I leave with Sloane.

“I'm not done talking to you. Where are you going?” My dad yells after me, but I didn't flinch or look back. Just like he wouldn't also whenever he's making the worst decisions that affect my life.

“As you leave, know you're not my daughter anymore.” He adds.

I stop to think. Nothing was in my brain to process correctly what he had said. I think I've just always been his daughter because I bore his name, but the moment I stopped bearing his name, and even before then, he had stopped being a father figure to me in actions.

“Let's just keep going. You don't have to listen to more of what any of these people has to say.”

Sloane was helpful throughout my steps away from the drama.

We got to the car and I sat in front, next to Sloane.

She straps me to the seat and helps herself before igniting the vehicle.

“We've got this, okay.” She adds, softly.

While she is about to move, someone knocks on my side of the window.

“Should I swipe down?” Sloane asks

I nod.

“Annika, I just want to let you know you're making the worst mistake of your life. I know I must have hurt you, and you're offended. But” She scoffs. “This right here that you're doing is what everyone who doesn't wish you well will advise you to do. And let me be real with you, you have a lucky life but you don't appreciate all that you have. Ares loves you as a wife. If you ever consider me a friend, I will say you should go back to your Ares and plead for his forgiveness.”

I can not believe that Vivienne has a heart enough to tell me what she thinks is best for me to do.

“Yeah, you should know better about what she needs, Friend,” Sloane says, mocking Vivienne.

I press the button on the door to raise the windows without saying a word to Vivienne. I didn't even look at her face. I couldn't.

I honestly don't know if I'm mad at her or if I just deserve all that is coming to me. It's clear that my life must have been programmed to be one full of disasters because I can never understand why I have to sit in situations like this every day of my life.

Sloane drives away. The drive back home was such a quiet one.

Thinking about it, I feel I should have given myself more time before I went to confront my dad. Maybe I would still be his daughter, and just maybe, these divorce papers would not yet be in my hand.

Unable to take my gaze off the divorce file, I open it and flip through its pages. Ares gave me money in hundreds of millions, including two furnished apartments. That's enough for me to start a new life anyway, but I don't feel anything towards the money or anything. I will not use his money. I just wanted his love. True love.

Closing the book, Sloane asks, “Should we get some cheeseburger? You've not eaten anything today. We need you to eat so you can be healthy for the days ahead.”

I don't know how much impact my traumatic life has had on Sloane. Accepting her care was the only validation I feel I can offer to her.

“Yes, let's get it.”

She smiles and drives into the restaurant we were going to pass.

My phone chimes, and then messages begin to pop up on the screen continuously, which catches the attention of Sloane and me.

“What's happening?” She leans to look over the screen