The Day He Called Off Our Engagement, I Bought Iceland Tickets Chapter 03
The next day, Michael came home.
His suitcase was packed with expensive supplements, skincare products, and premium teas.
After digging through it for a long time, he finally pulled a keychain from one corner and tossed it to me.
“Here. This is yours.”
I caught it on instinct, and the plastic edge dug painfully into my palm.
I looked at the pile of beautifully wrapped gift boxes on the floor, my throat tightening.
“And all of these?”
“They’re for Sophia’s parents. They’re not in great health, so they could use the boost.”
He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, without even looking up.
“And the china set is for Sophia. She said the one at home was getting old, so I brought this back for her.”
I gripped the cheap dollar-store keychain in my hand, my fingers tightening around it little by little.
For the past eight years, my parents had sent care packages from back home every now and then, but none of it had ever even registered with Michael.
He could not even be bothered to offer a polite greeting, let alone prepare a gift for them.
I took a deep breath, lifted my head, and looked at him.
“I still want to take our wedding photos in Iceland. Can we?”
He paused and frowned.
“Didn’t we already book an indoor shoot? Why are you insisting on dragging this all the way to Iceland? We’re not kids anymore. Can you be practical about building a life together?”
The corner of my mouth twitched, and my heart went completely cold.
With me, it was always “be understanding” and “be practical.”
With Sophia, he gave her anything she wanted.
Just as the air between us froze, the door opened.
Mrs. Whitmore and Sophia came in, chatting and laughing.
Mrs. Whitmore swept her gaze over the living room, and her brows immediately drew together.
“Lily, I don’t mean to be harsh, but you’re supposed to be a designer. Why does this place look so dull? It has such a cheap, small-town feel.”
She looked at me without the slightest hint of courtesy.
“The only reason you still have a place at the company is that Michael opened doors for you, isn’t it? Without him, how exactly would you make it in New York City?”
In the past, whenever I heard words like that, I swallowed my anger.
And Michael would always stand off to the side and toss out the same careless sentence.
“That’s just how my mom is. You’re the younger one, so just let it go.”
But this time, I did not want to back down.
“Since Mrs. Whitmore thinks it looks bad, how about I tear everything out and redecorate it according to your taste?”
Mrs. Whitmore froze. Then the contempt in her eyes deepened.
“You don’t have much to show for yourself, but you sure have a temper.”
“Look at what Sophia did with the family estate. That is what warmth and class look like. When you have time, learn from her and stop embarrassing the Whitmores.”
Seeing this, Sophia immediately took off her coat and smiled as she tried to smooth things over.
“Mrs. Whitmore, Lily isn’t from New York. It’s normal for her taste to be different.”
Then she turned to Michael with a playful pout.
“Oh, Michael, I’m hungry. I’ll cook today and let Lily try my cooking. Will you come be my sous-chef?”
Michael lowered his head to look at her, his tone familiar and indulgent.
“You’re always ordering me around. What do you want to eat?”
Sophia blinked at him. “I want that shrimp salad you make from scratch.”
The two of them walked into the kitchen as if I were not even there.
Michael casually picked up an apron, lowered his head, and tied it around her waist. The gesture looked so natural that it hurt to watch, as if they were the married couple.
Mrs. Whitmore sat down on the sofa and spoke in an unhurried voice.
“Honestly, Michael should have married Sophia in the first place. They grew up together and know each other inside and out.”
“Lily, since you have no money and no family backing, you should learn to know your place. You should count yourself lucky the Whitmores are even letting you marry into this family.”
Standing in the shadows, I suddenly smiled.
It was fine.
I would never fight for this again.
At dinner, the three of them talked about elementary school stories I had never been part of and gossip from their social circle.
I lowered my head and ate quietly, feeling like an outsider.
Then I suddenly noticed a bright diamond ring on Sophia’s left hand.
On Michael’s left ring finger, which had always been bare, there was now an identical men’s version.
It felt as if a sledgehammer had slammed into my chest.
That night, Michael stood beside the bed, unbuttoning his shirt.
I stared at the ring and asked, “Those are matching couple’s rings, aren’t they? Michael, what is this supposed to mean?”
He answered carelessly, “This? Sophia’s birthday is coming up, and she kept saying she wanted to know what it felt like to wear a diamond ring. She pestered me into wearing it with her for a few days, just for fun.”
“It’s just an accessory. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”
My chest ached with pressure, and the emotions I had been holding back finally broke loose.
“An accessory? Michael, I am your fiancée. You’re wearing matching rings with another woman while discussing our wedding with me. What exactly do you take me for?”
Michael’s face darkened at once, and he yanked off his tie and threw it onto the bed.
“Lily Hayes, are you ever going to stop?”
“I added your name to the deed of the apartment so you could get established in New York, and you didn’t have to pay a dime. Marrying me gives you a real foothold in New York.”
“Do you know how many people from outside the city would kill for the chance to stay here and still never get it? What more do you want?”
He scoffed.
“Sophia and I grew up together. What’s wrong with wearing a ring for a few days to make her happy? Are you really that petty?”
With that, Michael slammed the door and left.
I stood frozen in place for a long time.
Then a new notification suddenly popped up on my phone.
That couple’s account had updated again.
In the photo, their ringed hands were interlaced, both of them wearing the matching couple’s rings.
The caption read, [Making my little princess’s birthday wish come true.]
Suddenly, I laughed.
Michael, you’re right.
This city really doesn’t have a place for me.