Chapter 1 — The day I registered my marriage, I discovered that my husband had two lives

As soon as he received the marriage certificate, his phone suddenly showed up: "Husband, my baby is about to be born." The sunlight in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau's gate was so bright that it hurt my eyes. I held the red marriage registration book in my hand, my mind was still lightheaded and had not yet recovered.

“Let's smile.”

The photographer called out. I reflexively forced a smile.

“Stand a little closer together.”

Lam Trach put his hand around my shoulder. His movements were as natural as if he had done so countless times over the past three years. That moment was captured by the camera. At that time, I really thought... Maybe my whole life will be like that. Not earth-shattering, but at least stable and peaceful. I opened the marriage registration book and looked at it. Inside is the photo we just took. I couldn't help it, I burst into laughter.

“What are you laughing at?” Lam Trach asked.

"Nothing. It's just that I feel... a bit unreal."

He bowed his head and looked at me, his voice very light.

“It will feel real later.”

I was about to reply to him when suddenly... His phone rang. Not a call, but a WeChat message tone. Just a very normal "ting" sound. But for some reason, I unconsciously glanced at it. The screen is on. A message line appears right at the top. Husband, my baby is about to be born. When will you come? My whole body felt like someone had hit me hard from behind. The space suddenly fell silent. I stared at that line, my mind completely blank. Lam Trach still had no time to react, bowing his head to put the phone back in his pocket. I spoke first.

“Your phone…”

My voice is a bit dry.

“There is a message.”

He said "yes" and naturally picked up the phone to look. Right after that, the expression on his face froze. Just in the blink of an eye. But I still see it. That's not surprising. It was the stiffness of someone who had just been caught red-handed. The next second, his finger slid across the screen. The phone immediately went dark.

“Just a work group.”

he said.

“They are pushing the project forward.”

I looked at him. It's been three years. I understand him too well. Every time he lies, he always unconsciously explains one more sentence. But that last sentence... It was said too quickly. I'm not exposing it. Even nodded. I smiled softly, as if nothing had happened. The photographer standing next spoke up:

"Okay, it's done. You two can go."

Lam Trach reached out to hold my hand. I still let him hold. His hand was still as warm as before. But for some reason... I suddenly felt cold. We walked together toward the parking lot. All the way, he kept talking. He asked if he wanted to go celebrate tonight and if he needed to call more friends. I listened and nodded. But in my mind there is only that one line left. Husband, my baby is about to be born. About to be born. Every word was like a hammer repeatedly hitting my head. I suddenly thought of an extremely wild question. If that message is real... So what does this marriage I just registered mean? Coming to the car, he walked over and opened the door. I stood in front of the passenger door and suddenly called out:

“Lin Trach.”

“Besides me, do you have any other wives?”

His movements stopped. Then he burst out laughing.

“You What do you think?

When he said that, his voice was very comfortable, even a little helpless. Like I just told a lame joke. I looked at him and smiled.

“I was just asking aimlessly.”

He laughed.

“In the future, don't read random things on the internet anymore, your mind keeps thinking about where to go.”

I nodded. I got in the car. As soon as the door closed, all outside sounds were blocked out. Inside the car was strangely quiet. He started the car. I placed the marriage certificate on my lap. Red cover. Still brand new. I looked at it for a moment then slowly spoke.

“Are you going to my house tonight or going to my house?”

“Go back to my house. My mother said she wanted to see you.”

I nodded. I bent down to look at the photo on the marriage certificate. In the photo, I smile brightly. Stupid like someone who knows nothing. At that moment, I suddenly realized something. Since seeing that message... My life has probably deviated from its original trajectory. The scariest thing is... I didn't know that the person standing in front of me was actually just an adulterer... A world that I had never fully understood. That night, I didn't say anything else. It's not that I don't want to make a big deal out of it. But because I understand very well... If I tear everything apart right now, I won't be able to investigate anything anymore. Lam Trach is so good at acting. In the three years they've been together, he's never shown even a single flaw. If I turn around now, he just needs to insist and say one sentence: "You saw wrong." The only person stuck in my emotions is me. What I fear most is not being scammed. I don't even know how I was tricked. So I decided to pretend. Pretend like nothing ever happened. When the car stopped below his apartment building, it was completely dark. He turned off the phone and turned to look at me.

“Are you stressed?”

“A bit.”

“First time meeting your mother.”

He grabbed my hand and squeezed gently.

“Don't worry, my mother is very approachable.”

I nodded. But in my heart I thought... How many mothers do you have? As soon as the thought appeared, I was startled. What a myth. But that text message was like a thorn stuck deep in my head. Even if you want to pull it out, you can't. Before entering the house, his phone lit up again. The corner of my eye just caught a glimpse. This time, his reaction was extremely fast. Almost instinctively, he immediately turned off the screen.