The Day He Called Off Our Engagement, I Bought Iceland Tickets Chapter 07
The first thing Michael did was contact Lily’s friends.
But after making call after call, he finally realized, far too late, that Lily barely had anyone in this city she was close enough to call a friend.
The few college classmates she had been close to had either gone back home or moved out of state.
The only people left in her life here were work contacts.
For all these years, her life had almost entirely revolved around him.
Aside from going to work, she went straight home.
The thought made the tightness in Michael’s chest grow worse for reasons he could not explain.
With a grim expression, he called Lily’s parents.
When the call connected, he tried to keep his emotions under control and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, did Lily go back home to you? We’re about to get married. Can she stop making a scene?”
The other end of the line went quiet for two seconds.
Then Mr. Hayes’s cold voice came through.
“Who are you accusing of making a scene?”
Michael froze, and his tone softened a little.
“Mr. Hayes, there’s been a misunderstanding between us. I’ll explain everything. Please tell her to stop throwing a tantrum…”
Mr. Hayes cut him off directly.
“Michael, we already know what you did. You don’t need to explain.”
“People like us, from outside New York, really aren’t good enough for your family, so this engagement ends here.”
“From now on, our families have nothing to do with each other.”
Michael’s face darkened.
“Mr. Hayes, isn’t that taking it too far? Lily and I have been together for so many years…”
Then Mrs. Hayes took the phone, her voice tight with anger she could no longer hold back.
“So you do remember how many years you two were together?”
“When you trampled all over my daughter’s eight years of devotion, why didn’t you think that was taking it too far?”
“She didn’t come home, and even if I knew where she was, I wouldn’t tell you. There is no need for us to speak again.”
The line went dead.
Michael stood there with his hand still frozen beside his ear, his face slowly turning pale.
He had never imagined that Lily’s parents, who had always been gentle, would speak to him like this.
He also never imagined they would leave him no room at all.
Lost and dazed, he drove back to the Whitmore estate.
The moment he walked in, Mrs. Whitmore was sitting in the living room drinking coffee. When she saw him come back alone, her brows immediately furrowed.
“Weren’t you supposed to take wedding photos today? Where is Lily?”
“She’s getting ruder and ruder. She can’t even be bothered to say a word before skipping out. Does she really think she’s someone important?”
Michael’s throat moved, and his voice was hoarse.
“She left.”
Mrs. Whitmore froze, then her face filled with disdain.
“Left? Is she throwing another tantrum?”
“I told you long ago. A small-town girl from a family with no standing has no real class, but she sure thinks she deserves the world.”
“She’s been with you for all these years. Who else would even want her besides you? And yet she’s always playing hard to please and sulking around like some spoiled heiress.”
She set her coffee cup down on the table, her cold smile deepening.
“Good. Let her leave.”
“This is perfect. You and Sophia can give it a try. Sophia is a hundred times better than her. She comes from a good family, knows how to say all the right things, and knows how to behave.”
Michael abruptly lifted his head, his face turning cold.
“Mom, I only see Sophia as family.”
Even Mrs. Whitmore froze at that.
“Family?”
She sounded as if she had heard a joke.
“You only see her as family, yet you treat her that well? You even take her to Iceland every year?”
Michael’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he could not answer at all.
After a long silence, he finally said in a low voice, “I won’t be with Sophia. Don’t bring this up again.”
As he spoke, Sophia walked in from outside with red eyes.
Clearly, she had heard everything.
“Michael…” Her voice trembled. “Do you really only see me as family?”
Michael clenched his fists, his voice colder than before.
“Yes.”
“Sophia, I indulged you before because we grew up together, but we should never have crossed the line.”
Sophia’s face went white, and tears instantly fell.
She bit her lip hard and ran out crying.
The living room went deathly silent.
Mrs. Whitmore looked at her son and, for the first time, had nothing to say.
Michael lowered his eyes, and only one thought repeated over and over in his mind.
As long as he found Lily and explained the couple’s account clearly, everything would be fine.
It was just an online persona. Sophia had only been playing around.
Lily loved him so much.
Surely… she would understand.
She had to.