No Longer Anyone’s Accessory Chapter 04
The London lab sat on the south bank of the Thames. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was a gray-blue — nothing like the harsh white glare of the Bay Area.
I liked it.
By my fifth day in London, I was still in the lab past 8 p.m. when my phone rang. A video call from my best friend, Nadia. I hesitated a second, then picked up.
Nadia’s face filled the screen, her brows drawn tight.
“Corinne. Do you know what your husband is up to?”
“What do you mean?”
“Trevor posted on Facebook. Said you’ve been away on a work trip for days and he can’t reach you, that he’s really ‘concerned’ about you.” She hooked air quotes with her fingers. “All his tech bros flooded the comments. One said, ‘She’s probably off having a good time with some Euro guy.’ Another said, ‘I heard she’s been working late a lot lately, heh.'”
Nothing on my face.
“What else?”
Nadia’s voice dropped.
“Your mother-in-law. She flew into the Bay Area yesterday. Went straight to your parents’ house.”
The pipette in my hand went still.
“She parked herself on the front lawn and started screaming abuse. Called you scum. Said you’re the most selfish person alive, that you dragged the Wexler family name through the mud.”
Nadia’s voice was shaking.
“Your mom nearly fainted right there. Your dad had heart bypass surgery less than a year ago, and she stood outside his door screaming for a full twenty minutes.”
My fist closed tight.
“How are they?”
“Your mom called me crying. Asking if I knew where you were. I didn’t say a word. Corinne — what’s your next move?”
“Divorce.”
Three seconds of silence.
“Finally. It’s about damn time.”
