Chapter 2 — The Wedding That Became a Goodbye

Lam Tran burst into laughter. She slipped her hand into a hidden pocket of her wedding gown, drew out a piece of paper, unfolded it, and brought it close to the microphone. With a crisp, commanding voice, she read aloud: "Luai Chu, according to Article 7 of the prenuptial love agreement that you personally signed with me: Should an act of infidelity occur during the maintenance of our romantic relationship, the breaching party shall compensate me with a flat sum of five million yuan for emotional distress."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the banquet hall once more. Five million yuan?

"A love agreement?" Mother Luai clearly had no prior knowledge of this. She glared sharply at Father Luai, demanding, "What love agreement is she talking about?"

Lam Tran continued unbothered, her voice echoing clearly. "Article 8: If the partner in infidelity is a mutual friend of both parties, the liquidated damages are doubled. Article 9: If the act of infidelity occurs precisely on the wedding day, the liquidated damages are doubled yet again." She paused for a single beat, flashing a standard, professional corporate smile. "Therefore, the grand total comes to twenty million yuan."

"I have video recordings of the moment you signed and pressed your thumbprint on the document, giving it complete legal validity," Lam Tran added smoothly. "My lawyer has already been contacted. Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, Luai Chu, make sure you come to my office to sign the settlement agreement. Of course, you are also free to choose a courtroom battle; I certainly do not mind submitting today's video footage as evidence to the judge."

Luai Chu's face had turned as dark as the bottom of a burned cooking pot.

"And as for you, Su Van Yi," Lam Tran pivoted, turning her gaze toward the weeping figure sobbing miserably below the stage. "Regarding the necklace you stole, I have already reported it to the police. With an asset value of eighty thousand, that is more than enough to earn you a prison sentence of over ten years. You know very well that I mean what I say, so you would be wise to return that necklace right now. I might just reconsider pursuing charges."

Su Van Yi was so terrified she forgot how to cry. Her mouth hung wide open, tears smeared in chaotic streaks across her powdered face.

"Where is the necklace?" Lam Tran asked in a calm, unruffled tone.

Su Van Yi cast a desperate, darting glance toward Luai Chu. Luai Chu closed his eyes tightly, his voice rasping out dryly, "It is in my car."

"Then have someone go fetch it," Lam Tran commanded. "I will give you both twenty minutes. Otherwise, I will invite the police officers currently standing outside the door to come in and have a little chat with you."

Only then did the guests in the hall notice that, true to her word, two uniformed police officers were indeed standing outside the banquet entrance, wearing expressions of profound disbelief as they watched this theatrical farce unfold. Left with no alternative, Luai Chu had to signal one of his groomsmen to run out to the car to retrieve the necklace. Meanwhile, he stood stranded on the stage, looking like a helpless bull being toyed with by a matador, his chest heaving violently with ragged breaths.

"Lam Tran," he spoke up abruptly, his voice dropping into a harsh, heavy register. "You knew about this long ago, didn't you?"

Lam Tran did not bother to deny it. "I found out a month and a half ago."

"Then why on earth did you still go through with organizing this wedding?"

"Because I wanted to prepare this grand gift for you, of course," Lam Tran said, her eyes curving into bright crescents of amusement. "What did you think I was so frantically busy running around arranging for the past two months? Did you seriously think I wanted to marry you? Stop flattering yourself, Luai Chu. I was digging your grave with my own two hands."

A round of applause suddenly broke out. It came from the table where Lam Tran’s university friends sat. Several young women were clapping enthusiastically and cheering, with one of them even springing to her feet to shout, "Tran Tran, you are an absolute legend!"

Luai Chu’s complexion turned a sickly, bruised green. His lips trembled for a long moment before he managed to squeeze out a single sentence: "You are truly insane."

"On that point, you are entirely correct," Lam Tran nodded affirmatively. "I am indeed quite insane. So do not blame me for turning ruthless and stripping away all our past affection. Back when you were pursuing me, what was it you used to say? Ah, yes. You said you loved my fierce, unapologetic passion most of all—how I dared to love as fiercely as I dared to hate."

She reached out, picked up a glass of champagne from the table, and raised it high into the air. "To all my esteemed family members and friends, thank you for honoring me with your presence at this wedding today—" She cut herself off for a brief, theatrical pause. "Ah, forgive me. I misspoke. Thank you for attending this magnificent farewell ceremony instead."