I Let My Eighteen Year Old Self Cancel Our Engagement Chapter 04

I Let My Eighteen Year Old Self Cancel Our Engagement Chapter 04

After we got home, Owen didn’t say a word to me.

He was probably still angry that I had embarrassed him in public.

Before bed, he only said coldly. “My defense is tomorrow. We’ll talk about everything after it’s over. You’d better not make another scene.”

Don’t worry. I won’t bother you tomorrow.

Early the next morning, after Owen put on his shirt, he finally remembered to remind me. “After my defense, they’ll probably come over to celebrate. Clean up the place, make a few dishes, and decorate it nicely.”

He paused, then added, “Zoey was really scared by you yesterday. Don’t give her that sour face again. Be nice to her.”

The door closed behind him, and the apartment fell completely silent.

I looked around the home we had lived in for four years.

The matching house slippers by the entryway were bought by me. Owen thought they were childish and had never worn them.

The dying pothos plant on the balcony had been forgotten by him because he was too busy to water it, and I had slowly brought it back to life.

The desk lamp in the study was one I had gone to three stores to pick out because I was afraid late nights would hurt his eyes.

None of it was worth taking anymore.

Eighteen-year-old Willow opened the suitcase, her movements clean and decisive.

ID, bank cards, a few changes of clothes. There wasn’t much that truly belonged to me.

The Uber driver arrived right on time.

Before leaving, we placed a letter on the dining table.

Under the envelope was the cancellation confirmation for the engagement party at the hotel.

And the engagement ring he had once placed on my finger when he proposed.

At two in the afternoon, Owen successfully passed his defense.

Zoey quickly posted on Instagram.

She stood beside him, smiling brighter than anyone else.

The caption read: [Congratulations to Owen on making it through his defense. Keep shining from here on out!]

Eighteen-year-old Willow shut off my phone, and she got into the car without looking back.

Eighteen-year-old Willow asked me. Do you think I’m cold-hearted?

I smiled. No. You’re just saving your future self from drowning.

…

That evening, Owen brought a few labmates home.

The moment the door opened, he froze.

The apartment looked like nothing had changed, yet somehow, it felt strangely empty.

“Willow?”

He stood in the doorway, his voice tight.

No one answered.

Zoey followed behind him and asked cautiously, “Is Willow still mad?”

Owen ignored her and quickly pushed open the bedroom door.

Half the closet was empty. The vanity was spotless.

The perfume, hair clips, and skincare products I used every day were all gone.

He finally panicked and immediately called me.

The phone rang for a long time before it connected. The moment it did, he snapped, “Willow, what kind of drama are you pulling now?”

Eighteen-year-old Willow sat in the back seat, watching the streets slide backward outside the window.

“Owen, I canceled the engagement party. I endured ten years. You graduated, and now I’m finally free too. We’re done.”

On the other end, his breathing suddenly turned chaotic. “How could you say something like that?”

“Enough! I’m coming to find you right now. Where are you?”

Eighteen-year-old Willow didn’t waste another word and hung up.

When Owen called again, he had already been blocked.

The room fell deathly silent.

Zoey’s face had gone a little pale. She had just opened her mouth when Brandon suddenly pointed at the dining table. “Owen, there’s a letter over there. Looks like Willow left it for you!”

Owen whipped around.

The envelope lay quietly in the center of the dining table.

There was only one line written on it: [A graduation gift for Owen.]

The labmates looked at one another. Someone couldn’t help urging him. “Maybe you should open it and take a look. What exactly did Willow say?”