【Dear family, apologies for the interruption.】

【Owen and I have officially broken up due to irreconcilable differences.】

【The engagement party is canceled. There will not be another one.】

【Thank you all for your concern. Wishing everyone good health.】

Owen's mother was the first to respond：

【Bobbie, what on earth are you saying? Why would you two break up out of nowhere?】

My mom panicked too and called me immediately on voice.

I didn't pick up. I just switched my phone to silent.

Less than five minutes later, the keypad on the front door beeped again.

Owen stormed in, practically shaking with rage.

His phone was clenched in his fist, the screen still open to the family group chat.

“Have you lost your mind, Roberta?”

He crossed the room in three long strides, disbelief burning in his eyes.

“Why the hell would you post something like that in the group chat?”

“You know my mother has a heart condition. She can't handle this kind of shock!”

I sat on the couch and took a calm sip of warm water.

“I stated a fact.”

“We broke up. Of course the family should know.”

“Who agreed to break up?”

Owen's voice cracked upward, a vein pulsing at his temple.

“Roberta, there's a limit to how far you can push a tantrum!”

“Is this all because I didn't spend enough time with you the past few days?”

“Rosie is an orphan. I'm the only friend she has in this city.”

“She was in a car accident. The psychological trauma is serious. What's wrong with me looking after her a little more?”

He drew a deep breath and switched to a tone of weary sincerity.

“Bobbie, we've been together eight years.”

“Since college. I'd like to think I've treated you well.”

“You can't throw away eight years over something this small.”

“Eight years?” The corner of my mouth curved, but there was nothing warm in it.

“Owen, do you even remember what I was wearing the day of the accident?”

Owen went still.

His mouth opened, but nothing came out for a long time.

Of course he didn't remember.

Because that day, he never once looked at me.

“You don't remember.” I answered for him.

“And you don't remember that it was the day of my wedding-gown fitting.”

“I was wearing that white dress you always loved. By the time they loaded me into the ambulance, it was soaked red with blood.”

Something shifted behind Owen's expression.

“Why are you bringing this up now?”

“You're sitting right here, perfectly fine, aren't you?”

“Rosie's different. She's sensitive. She can't handle the slightest bit of hardship……”

“So I'm the one who deserves to suffer. Is that it?”

I cut him off.

“Bobbie, that's not what I meant……”

He stepped forward, reaching for my hand.

I stepped back, just out of his reach.

“Owen, drop the act.”

I looked at him, my gaze ice-cold.

“You know exactly who you chose.”

“Since you chose her, don't stand in front of me pretending you care.”

I turned and walked to the bedroom, pulling a pre-printed property-sale authorization from the drawer.

I came back and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of him.

“This apartment is joint property. I've already contacted a broker. It goes on the market tomorrow.”

“Proceeds split fifty-fifty.”

Owen stared at the document. The rims of his eyes were turning red.

“You're serious?”

His jaw clenched, his voice trembling faintly.

“Roberta, you think you'll find someone better than me out there?”

“You're twenty-eight. Who else is going to want you?”

“That's no longer your concern.”

I turned and walked to the foyer, picking up my bag.

“I'm getting married next week.”

Owen's head snapped up. He stared at me, unblinking.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I'm getting married next week.”

I looked straight at him and said every word with perfect clarity.

Owen froze for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

“Roberta, you'd really make up something this ridiculous just to get under my skin?”

“Married? To who? That guy from college you turned down a hundred times? Jayden Henson?”

His face was pure mockery as he looked at me.

“You think marrying some random guy is going to make me regret anything?”

“Grow up.”

I walked out the door without looking back.

“I'm not playing games. Believe what you want.”

Early the next morning, my best friend Janet Fox showed up at the apartment with a crew of movers.

The second she saw how pale I was, her eyes went red.

“Bobbie, you……”

She walked over and wrapped her arms around me, gentle, like I might break.

“I'm fine.”

I patted her back and forced a smile.

“Everything's packed. Let them get started.”

“Where's that piece of trash?” Janet asked through clenched teeth, shoving my clothes into a suitcase.

“Still at the hospital keeping his precious little 'friend' company.” My voice was flat.

Janet slammed the hanger in her hand onto the floor.

“Are you kidding me? Is he even human?”

“You just had a miscarriage, and he's……”

She didn't finish. A low male voice at the doorway cut her off.

“Which car should I load these into?”

I looked up and saw Jayden Henson standing in the doorway in a simple white button-down.

“Jayden?”

Janet blinked, then it clicked.

“The black SUV. Thanks.”

Jayden nodded and came inside to help the movers carry boxes.

When nearly everything was loaded, he walked over to me and held out a cup of warm ginger tea.

“Drink something warm. You don't look good.”

“Thank you.”

I took the cup. My fingertips brushed his warm palm, and a small shiver ran through me.

“I already booked your follow-up appointment. Tomorrow at ten. I'll pick you up.”

He looked at me, his gaze steady and intent.

“Okay.”

I nodded.

Just then, the phone on the coffee table rang.

Owen's name flashed across the screen.

I didn't answer. I let it ring.

Jayden glanced at the phone, then back at me.

“Want me to answer it for you?”

“No.”

I picked up the phone and hit decline.

But Owen called right back.

I frowned and pressed accept.

“Roberta, what the hell are you doing?”

Owen's voice came through the speaker, seething.

“The realtor just called me. You're selling the apartment?”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“I said I'm selling it, so I'm selling it.”

My voice was calm.

“I already signed the paperwork. All you need to do is come in and sign yours.”

“I'm not signing a damn thing!”

Owen shouted on the other end.

“Roberta, don't push me!”

“All I did was spend a few extra days with Rosie. Is that really worth tearing apart our home?”

“That was your home. Not mine.”

I was about to hang up.

The line went quiet for a moment.

Then Owen's voice dropped, turning cold.

“Is there a man with you?”

“Roberta, don't tell me what you said yesterday about getting married was real.”

There was a thread of panic in his voice he didn't even seem to notice.

“It's real.”

I watched Jayden's back as he carried boxes toward the door. My voice didn't waver.

“Owen, don't call me again.”

“You disgust me.”

I hung up, then blocked his number.

Janet walked over and looked at me.

“You sure about this?”

“Yeah.”

I looked around the apartment I'd lived in for three years.

Then I looked at Jayden, standing in the doorway, waiting for me.

“Next week. Come with me to get the marriage license.”