【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.”
