Chapter 5

I whispered, "I'm sorry, Oscar, but I can't live like this anymore."

I took a cab to the hotel, the wedding venue. I stood outside the glamorous grand ballroom and caught sight of the welcome sign reading "Wedding of Queenie Sorenson and Joseph Dixon", complete with their wedding photo right next to it.

In the photo, Queenie was in a white wedding gown with a slight baby bump, looking absolutely delighted, while Joseph wore a custom-tailored suit, smiling brilliantly. They made a picture-perfect couple.

I tightened the grip on my bag, which held our original marriage certificate, bank statements, the photos from the private investigator, and the divorce agreement I had drawn up the night before.

I noticed that the ballroom was already packed with guests, and the MC was warming up the crowd. I slipped in through a side door and found a seat in a corner.

The wedding march began on time. Queenie slowly walked in wearing a pure white wedding gown. Joseph stood at the other end of the red carpet in a custom-tailored suit, unable to hide the smile on his face.

Adam, acting as the ring bearer, walked at the front in his suit with the ring box in his hands, his face flushed with excitement. He ran up to the couple and held up the box.

Joseph crouched down to his level, ruffled his hair, and took the rings in the box.

The emcee animatedly shared the story of how the couple had met and fallen in love, while the guests applauded at all the right moments, thinking that it all looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.

It was such a heartwarming scene. If I weren't the husband who stayed home to take care of an elderly relative and waited for her to come back—all while she cleaned out my savings—I probably would have been moved too.

I couldn't take it anymore. I slowly pulled off my mask and hat, squared my shoulders, and headed straight for the stage.

The emcee I had hired beforehand suddenly grabbed the microphone.

The emcee, with a mysterious smile, announced to the guests below the stage, "Hold on just a second, everyone! The bride's side has specially arranged a unique gift for the newlyweds for this joyful occasion. It's an incredibly meaningful gift, so let's now turn our attention to the main screen to see what it is!"

Upon hearing what the emcee said, everyone was caught off guard, though they still turned their attention to the main screen at the back of the stage. Queenie and Joseph looked just as stunned and confused, as this was clearly not a scheduled part of the ceremony.

In the next instant, the main screen slowly lit up, and the first thing to appear was a photo of a marriage certificate, which had both my name and hers written on it.

Once Queenie saw the photo, her face turned deathly pale, and her expression was fraught with shock and panic. She turned her head sharply, scanning the room in a frenzy, until she noticed me standing to the side.

In the meantime, murmurs spread through the audience below the stage.

I walked up onto the stage and stepped right up to Queenie and Joseph. I looked at Queenie with a freezing gaze, a mocking smile playing on my lips.

I then spoke slowly, making sure my voice was loud and clear enough for everyone in the room to hear, "How could you not tell me you were getting married, Queenie?"