I Was Never Her Real Husband

Lydia glared at me before linking her arm with Trevor's. "You don't have to leave. If we're leaving, we're leaving together."

She led him toward the door, comforting him in a soft voice the entire way.

Before she left, she looked back and warned, "Owen, you'd better not regret this."

I did regret it.

I regretted not recognizing her true nature sooner.

I wished I hadn't waited until I was hurt over and over again before I finally saw the light. I detested myself for waiting until I had almost lost everything before finally seeing the truth.

Right now, I only found it an utter shame that she hadn't taken a look at the names written on the marriage certificate.

To be honest, I was looking forward to that.

I wanted to see Lydia's reaction when she found out I had married someone else.

Later, I took a cab to the hospital and had my wounds bandaged.

…

On the way home, Trevor sent me a message with a few photos and two lines.

The photos showed his marriage certificate with Lydia, along with a used condom discarded in the trash.

'Does your certificate even have an official seal? I'm the real spouse, so I get to sleep with her first.'

It was almost funny how childish he was acting.

I looked down at my hand that was wrapped in thick layers of bandage.

I did not bother replying.

I just removed him and blocked his number. Those who no longer deserved my attention could do as they pleased.

I lay in bed all night, but I barely slept.

The next morning, I hired a cleaning crew to clear out the house.

Before I could finish packing up Lydia's things, the front door swung open with a bang.

Lydia walked in with Trevor and a group of her friends, laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened.

The moment they saw me, they started ordering me around like I was hired help.

"Owie, we're in the mood for seafood. Go to Whole Foods and pick up a few things."

"I only eat king crab. And if you're getting fish, make it sea bass."

"Owie can afford it, no? After all, he never fails to serve us the best food there is whenever we drop by."

"Of course. Owie loves Lydia so much. Lucky us, right?"

I looked at their entitled faces and finally saw them for what they were.

They used Lydia's name as it gave them permission to treat my home like their own.

Even the seemingly friendly nickname "Owie" suddenly felt disgusting.

The first time they called me that, I had stupidly asked why they were using a nickname.

They laughed and told me it was because I was younger than they were, and that "Owen" sounded too serious.

Back then, I actually believed them.

Now, I finally understood.

Since Lydia and Trevor got married, Trevor has been the real member of their social circle. Meanwhile, I'd been the court jester for buying every lie they'd been spewing.

I told them, "Don't call me that. If you're hungry, go buy something yourself. Also, this is my home, so please leave."

My words caught everyone off guard.

The lively atmosphere instantly froze.

Lydia's expression darkened. She deliberately raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear her. "Owen, is that how you talk to my friends? Apologize to them now, then get the seafood. Consider it your apology for ruining everyone's mood."

I almost laughed. 'Apologize? Is that the only word she knows?'

Once upon a time, I had been the person she protected.

When we first got together, one of her friends joked that I was only after Lydia's money.

Lydia was so angry that she almost cut that friend off completely and only forgave her after she gave me a formal apology.

On our first anniversary, the restaurant accidentally served soup containing seafood.

Lydia knew I was allergic to seafood, so she made the manager bring every server over to apologize to me.

I was still allergic to seafood, but she had long since forgotten all about it.

At that moment, Trevor tugged at Lydia's arm, his expression wounded. "Lydia, does Owen not want us here? We only came to celebrate you two making it official."

He deliberately emphasized "making it official" and "celebrate," as if he were waiting for my reaction.

Her friends quickly joined in, bursting into exaggerated, mocking cheers. "Right, Owen. Show us the marriage certificate."

As Trevor spoke, he began looking around the room.

I had not had time to put the certificate away after I got home yesterday.

Trevor had sharp eyes and quick hands.

He immediately picked it up from the TV stand.

Then, he waved it at the others with a grin. "Do you guys want to see their marriage certificate?"

My Real Wife Walked In

My expression went cold.

I held out my bandaged hand. "Give it back."

Trevor looked right at me, smiled, and tossed the certificate to one of Lydia's friends.

He did it on purpose.

He wanted everyone to see it.

I stepped forward to take it back, but they immediately turned it into a game.

One person tossed it to another, and then another. They laughed as I reached for it, passing it around as if I were the joke.

Finally, the certificate landed in Lydia's hands.

She looked smug. "You left it out in the open. Isn't this what you wanted?"

Then, she opened it without permission. "Fine. Everyone can see it for themselves."

She glanced at the first page before lifting it in front of me.

Inside was a photo of my childhood friend and me, stamped with an official seal. Oddly enough, we looked like we belonged together. However, this was not the time to stare at the photo.

I snatched the certificate back and shoved it into my pocket.

Whatever that page meant could wait.

Right now, I needed these people to get the hell out of my house.

I warned them, "I said this is my home. Leave. If you don't, I'm calling the police."

After that, I sat down and reached for the ramen I had just made.

Then, I glanced at Lydia as I recalled something. "By the way, take your things with you when you leave. I've packed them by the door. I don't want you or your annoying friends bothering me again."

Lydia froze.

Trevor looked just as stunned.

"Owen, are you trying to break up with Lydia? Is this because you hate me? Are you only saying all this because you're angry? Fine. I'll leave."

He turned and rushed for the door.

Just as he passed the table, his hand knocked the bowl of ramen straight toward me.

The scalding broth splashed across me. I jerked from the burn, hit the chair behind me, and crashed hard to the floor.

"Ah!" Trevor shook his hand and cried out first. Tears rolled down his face as if he were the one who had been hurt.

Lydia ran to him without hesitation and carefully checked his hand.

Then, she snapped at me, "Owen, was that intentional? Don't think you can behave however you like just because we signed some papers."

I gritted my teeth against the pain and forced myself up from the floor.

My skin burned, but the woman in front of me had hurt me far worse.

I wondered, 'Why would she lie to me if she no longer loves me? Did she think I deserved this treatment just because I was a complete doormat in the past? Or is she just worried she's going to lose her free maid and a useful tool to make herself look good in front of her friends?'

I looked at her and let out an icy laugh. Then, I asked her, deliberately enunciating each word slowly and clearly, "Did we really get married? Am I really listed as your spouse on your wedding certificate?"

Lydia's face went stiff. She lowered her eyes and avoided my gaze. The guilt on her face was obvious.

"What are you talking about?" she snapped, but her voice no longer sounded as imperious as before. "You were there with me that day. Don't you know whose name was on it?"

How shameless could one person be?

I took out my phone and showed her the disgusting messages Trevor had sent me. "You can read it for yourself. Am I making this up, or is your real husband the one running his mouth?"

The proof was right in front of her.

At this point, any excuse would only make her look uglier.

Clearly, Lydia had not expected Trevor to tell me the truth.

She frowned, shot Trevor a sharp look, then turned back to me with clear impatience. "I wouldn't have had to lie if you hadn't kept pushing me to get married."

Then, she softened her tone just enough to make it sound like she was doing me a favor. "Fine. Give me a few days, and I'll go with you to actually make things official."

I almost burst out laughing at her sheer audacity. 'Confident, isn't she? Did she seriously think I was still waiting for her like some stray mutt, hoping she'd pick me?'

Just then, the front door opened again.

A second later, a cool, amused voice sounded from the entryway.

"Wow. Full house. Are you all here to celebrate Owen and me?"