Chapter 1 — He Said The Marriage Certificate Was Fake, I Almost Laughed Out Loud

I attended my best friend's wedding. The groom is the husband who has lived with me for the past ten years. In front of a crowd of guests, he calmly announced:

“Ten years ago you forced me to get married, I had no choice but to make a fake marriage certificate.”

“Otherwise, how could you be willing to volunteer to be my osin for free for ten years?”

My best friend hugged her pregnant belly and smiled gently:

“Without a marriage certificate, the third person is you.”

My ex-mother-in-law slammed her bank card in my face.

"Take the money and get out, don't stop me from holding your grandchild."

I bowed my head, my whole body trembling, my nails digging deep into my skin. They thought I was crying. But actually... I'm just afraid I can't help but laugh out loud. Because last night, I just won 500,000,000 yuan (about 1,750 billion) in the lottery. But according to the law... I don't need to share even one penny with that bastard anymore. The crystal lights in the banquet hall were so bright it was blinding. I stood in front of the signing table, my hand clutching the crimson wedding invitation, my fingertips gradually turning white. On the card it is clearly written - Groom: Phuong Dat Chu. Those three words were like nails, stabbing straight into my eyes. I closed my eyes, then opened them and looked again. Phuong Dat Chu. Don't look wrong. It's Phuong Dat Chu - the husband who has been married to me for ten years. Yesterday morning, he even asked me to iron his shirt.

"On Le? Why are you here now?"

Lieu Man Ninh walked out the side door, her twelve-inch high heels clacking on the stone floor. The mermaid wedding dress trailed behind, her whole body sparkling with jewels. She took my arm, her nails painted blood red, smiling brightly.

“You're my best friend, how could you be late?”

I stared at her, my lips moving slightly.

“Man Ninh… the groom…”

“That's right.” She tilted her head and smiled, the smug look in her eyes almost overflowing. “It's Dat Chu.”

“Surprised?”

My throat was tight as if someone was squeezing me. The entire banquet hall was lavishly gilded with gold, everywhere hung with red silk strips with the four words "hundred years of happiness" written on them. Guests stood in small groups whispering, some recognized me. Phuong Dat Chu walked out from the backstage. Black vest, silver gray tie. Exactly the same outfit I went with him to buy two years ago. He saw me, his steps paused for a moment, then quickly returned to normal, even raising his chin slightly.

“You're here.”

Just three words. As if casually greeting a neighbor who happened to pass by. I stood still in place, the hem of my dress swayed slightly by the cold air of the air conditioner. His eyes glanced at the wall of signatures behind him — wedding photos of him and Lieu Man Ninh were plastered all over the place. Smile as sweetly as an idol movie poster. Below the photo is written:

"We've known each other for three years, and we're finally going home together."

While I have been married to him for ten years. In other words… from the seventh year, he was soon —

“On Le.” Phuong Dat Chu walked in front of me, his voice was very low. “If you want to cause trouble, I advise you to think carefully.”

"Rebel?"

I raised my head to look at him.

“Why should I cause trouble?”

He raised his eyebrows. I'm so familiar with that expression. Every time the food I cook doesn't suit his taste. Every time I forget to buy supplements for his mother. Every time I asked him why he only came home in the middle of the night — He looked at me with those eyes. High and high above. Lose patience.

“Dat Chu.” Lieu Man Ninh stood behind and called him, her voice so sweet it was sickening. “The ceremony is about to begin.”

Phuong Dat Chu glanced at me then turned and left. I stood next to the signing table, squeezing the wedding invitation so hard in my hand that my knuckles made a cracking sound. There were whispers nearby.

"Isn't that Phuong Dat Chu's wife..."

"Ex-wife? I heard they got divorced."

"Didn't you say you weren't divorced yet? What is this, blatantly holding a wedding in front of the main family?"

“Really great…”

I took a deep breath. The ritual begins. The MC's voice rang out from the microphone, each word seemed to pierce the eardrum.

“… groom Phuong Dat Chu, bride Lieu Man Ninh…”

“May I ask the groom, do you agree —”

I stepped forward. The sound of high heels hitting the marble floor. The whole hall immediately fell silent. Hundreds of eyes simultaneously turned towards me. The smile on Lieu Man Ninh's face stiffened. Phuong Dat Chu turned around, frowned and looked at me. I stopped three meters from the stage.

“Phuong Dat Chu.”

My voice was so calm that even I found it strange.

“You are my legal husband with a marriage certificate.”

“So what right do you have to stand here… marrying someone else?”

The whole auditorium immediately exploded. Guests started to make a fuss, some people even took out their phones to record videos. Lieu Man Ninh unconsciously took a half step behind Phuong Dat Chu. A flash of anger flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cold smile. He raised his hand and loosened his tie.

“On Le, do you have to cause trouble on an occasion like this…”

“If you want to hear it, then I'll tell you clearly.”

He took a step forward. The whole hall was silent.

“Ten years ago, your father begged my mother, saying that since you were a child, you liked me and wanted to marry me.

"I don't want to marry you, but you keep clinging and not letting go, and I have no choice."

He paused for a moment, the corner of his lips curled up.

“I made a fake marriage certificate.”

It felt like something exploded in my head. Not because of pain. But because too much information comes at the same time.

“Phuong Dat Chu… what did you say?”

My voice felt hollow for a moment.

“The marriage certificate is fake.” He looked straight at me, emphasizing every word. “From beginning to end, there has never been a legal marital relationship between us.”

When he said that, his expression even carried a feeling of happiness because he had finally turned the card face up.

"Do you really think you're Mrs. Phuong? You're nothing."

“For the past ten years, you have done laundry and cooked meals for me, served my mother, and taken care of the house — all of which you volunteered.”

“What you want is just the three words 'Mrs. Phuong'.”

“I tell you now, those three words are also fake.”

Lieu Man Ninh stepped out from behind, one hand wrapped around his arm, the other hand gently caressing his slightly protruding belly.

“On Le, don't blame me for not reminding you…”

She tilted her head, her tone light.

"The person who doesn't have a marriage certificate... is the one who is the third child."