The Day He Called Off Our Engagement, I Bought Iceland Tickets Chapter 06
After the call ended, Michael’s expression changed at once.
He quickly opened his phone. Lily’s post was already gaining traction across several social media platforms.
She had posted the few photos they had taken together over the years.
There was a selfie they had taken outside the dining hall in college, crowded together at the entrance, and another photo from when she celebrated his birthday, her eyes shining brightly as she smiled at him.
Below that was the order record from the wedding photography studio.
The five-thousand-dollar wedding photo package had been canceled.
Beside it were photos from that couple’s account, showing him and Sophia holding hands under the northern lights, embracing, and wearing matching couple’s rings.
Once people compared the timeline, the comments blew up instantly.
[Oh my God, so she was the real fiancée?]
[I used to envy that couple’s account. Turns out the guy was two-timing?]
[So much for ‘eight years in, still you.’ Turns out the whole love story was really a side-chick saga.]
[The most disgusting part is that he was watching the northern lights with another woman right before his wedding photo shoot with his actual fiancée.]
[She posted the canceled wedding photo order. How is anyone still defending him?]
[That childhood sweetheart isn’t innocent either, right? She knew he had a fiancée and still ran a couple’s account with him. What a total fake-innocent pick-me.]
[I used to think they were so sweet. Now I just feel sick.]
[Eight years. They used someone else’s eight years as the backdrop for their love story. That is shameless.]
Michael stared at the screen as his palms slowly went cold.
He realized with absolute clarity that this time, Lily was not throwing a tantrum.
He immediately called Lily.
“We’re sorry. The person you are trying to reach is temporarily unavailable…”
He called again, but no one answered.
The third time, her phone was turned off completely.
He shot to his feet, grabbed his coat, and was about to leave.
Sophia immediately sat up in bed and grabbed the hem of his shirt, her eyes reddening on cue.
“Michael, is this because of me?”
“Did Lily misunderstand something? Maybe… maybe I should go explain it to her. There’s really nothing between us.”
That was what she said, but she could not suppress the little flash of delight in her eyes.
This was perfect.
If Lily really left, then after all these years of waiting, wouldn’t Sophia finally get the chance she had been waiting for?
Michael frowned and gently pulled her hand away.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m going to find her and clear this up.”
Sophia bit her lip and nodded, pretending to be hurt.
“Then explain it to her properly. I really didn’t think Lily would mind this much…”
Michael did not wait for her to finish. He turned and left.
On the way, he kept calling Lily.
No one answered.
Then he sent her messages.
Michael: [Where are you? Turn your phone back on.]
Michael: [Lily, we need to talk. The account isn’t what you think.]
But every message vanished into silence.
When he got home, the apartment was terrifyingly quiet.
There was only one note on the dining table.
[Michael, I canceled the wedding photos, and the wedding is off. These eight years end here.]
The short line made his heart sink sharply.
He rushed into the bedroom almost at once.
The closet door had been opened, and part of it was empty.
The laptop she used most often was gone from the desk. Some of the skincare products she always used were missing from the bathroom. The pair of white shoes she loved most was gone from beside the entryway.
Lily had truly left.
Michael stood there, his chest aching dully, as if something had slammed into it.
Only then did he realize the apartment suddenly seemed empty.
So empty that even the sound of his own breathing felt painfully loud.