I'd been assigned overseas for three months, but I wrapped up my work ahead of schedule and flew home early to spend New Year's Eve with my wife.

While waiting for a ride, I scrolled through TikTok and came across a video captioned: [Marrying the one you love feels like winning a war.]

Then the scene shifted, and my world tilted. The bride slung over the groom's shoulder… was my wife.

At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. But then I spotted familiar faces—her relatives, unmistakable in the crowd.

I didn't hesitate. I checked the hotel location tagged in the video and shoved my phone toward the taxi driver.

"Change the route. Take me here," I said. "I'm going to catch them in the act."

The moment I stepped out of the taxi, I saw it from a distance—a wedding portrait set up at the hotel entrance to welcome guests.

The bride in the photo was smiling sweetly, radiant and full of life. There was no mistaking her. It was my newlywed wife, Portia Reymus.

I strode forward and kicked the display over without hesitation.

The crash immediately drew the attention of the hotel security, who rushed over.

"Where the hell did this punk come from? How dare you vandalize Ms. Reymus and Mr. Wynham's wedding photo!"

I was about to speak when a vaguely familiar male voice sounded from behind me.

"The wedding cars are almost here. What's all the noise about? If anyone dares to ruin my wedding with Portia today, I'll make sure they're thrown out of Garthem City immediately."

The security guard instantly put on a fawning expression and hurried over.

"Mr. Wynham, this guy kicked over your wedding portrait. I'll have him removed right away!"

Then he turned to me, pointing as he barked, "You—get the hell out of here! Do you even know whose wedding this is? You've got a death wish causing trouble here? Don't plan on staying in Garthem City anymore, do you?"

I heard every word, yet it was as if none of it registered. My gaze was locked on the man standing not far away, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. The longer I looked, the more familiar he seemed.

And then it hit me. Wasn't he Lucas Wynham—the finance department intern assistant I had personally instructed Portia to fire three months ago?

The evidence of his fraudulent invoices and embezzlement was still sitting in my computer.

I had only been abroad for three months. And now, somehow, he had become the groom to my newlywed wife.

Before I could process it further, Lucas, clad in his high-end suit, had already walked up to me.

Since I rarely showed up at the company—and even meetings were mostly held via voice calls—he had no idea who I was. He simply stared at me with a dark expression, his tone icy.

"You've got some nerve kicking over my wedding photo. Do you even know who I am?"

I looked at him with a faint, mocking smile. "Who are you?"

He puffed out his chest, his voice brimming with arrogance and disdain.

"I'm the husband of Portia Reymus, the CEO of JP Group! If you piss me off, my wife will make sure you can't survive in Garthem City!"

I had already guessed what he was going to say. But hearing it out loud still felt like a hand had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart tight. It hurt—badly.

Seeing me fall silent, lips pressed together, Lucas mistook it for fear. His grin widened with smug satisfaction.

"What's wrong? You were acting pretty tough just now. Scared already? Tell you what—go pick up that wedding photo, then kneel and beg me for forgiveness. Do that, and I'll have my wife let you off."

I forced down the bitterness and anger churning inside me and said, "You said Portia is your wife?"

"Of course. The wedding photo's right there—what, you blind?"

"But three months ago, I just married Portia myself. Wedding photos? I've got plenty of those on my phone."

With that, I pulled out my phone, scrolled through, and displayed my wedding photos with Portia to the gathered crowd.

The moment they saw the bride's face clearly, shock spread across their expressions.

"Wow… she really looks exactly like today's bride. Could it actually be the same person?"

"What the hell is going on? One woman marrying two men?"

"So who's Ms. Reymus's real husband?"

As the murmurs spread through the crowd, Lucas's expression darkened instantly. He suddenly snatched my phone and smashed it hard against the ground.

"You sick bastard! You actually Photoshopped pictures of me and my wife to fantasize over? I'll beat you to death!"

Before I could react, his fist slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.

"My wife is with me every single day—we eat together, sleep together, go to work together. The only people in her contacts are me and her coworkers. There's no other man in her life! How dare you spread filthy rumors about her?"

At that moment, one of Lucas's groomsmen stepped forward.

"That's right! Portia and Lucas grew up together—they're childhood sweethearts, inseparable. There's no way she'd have another man!"

"I say this bastard came here today just to cause trouble! Come on, guys, let's teach him a lesson!"

The next second, fists and kicks rained down on me.

But compared to the pain tearing through my chest, the blows to my body barely registered.

So Portia and this Lucas were childhood sweethearts. No wonder I'd always felt something off about their relationship.

And when I questioned her, she had sworn up and down that she didn't even know anyone named Lucas.

How ironic.

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "The bride is here!"

At the shout, Lucas immediately stopped, straightened his suit, and hurried forward to greet them.

"Portia, baby, you're finally here. I've been waiting forever! You look absolutely stunning today. I love you so much!"

Supported by Lucas, Portia slowly stepped out of the wedding car. She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"Honey, I love you too."

Cheers erupted all around them, loud and jubilant.

But against that fiery celebration, I felt nothing but an icy chill seep into my bones.

Three months ago, she had worn the same pure white wedding dress, standing before the priest, swearing that I was the only man in her life.

Three months later, she had become someone else's wife.

Rage drowned out reason.

I shoved away the foot still pressing down on me and staggered to my feet, rushing toward them. My eyes burned red as I demanded hoarsely, "Portia, what the hell is going on?!"

The moment she saw me, her face changed drastically. She cried out in shock:

"Jordan Parker?! You're back already? Why didn't you tell me?!"

I let out a cold laugh.

"If I had told you, would I have gotten to witness this grand show today? Portia, don't you think you owe me a proper explanation right now?"

Our exchange caused Lucas's expression to shift as well. He turned to Portia, his voice lowered.

"Honey… do you two actually know each other? The moment he showed up, he kicked over our wedding photo and kept insisting he's your real husband. Who is he?"

All eyes turned to Portia.

"Judging by Ms. Reymus's expression… there really is something between them, isn't there? Could there be more to this?"

"Well, rich people sure know how to play."

The whispers made Portia's face turn pale, then flushed, her expression increasingly strained.

She took a deep breath, then turned to Lucas and said calmly, "Honey, I've only met him a few times. He's nobody important… so I didn't mention him to you."

After saying that, she turned to me, her eyes filled with warning.

"Jordan, leave now. Whatever it is, we'll talk after today."

"'Nobody important'? 'After today'?" My voice rose sharply. "Portia… you've really outdone yourself. I'll give you one last chance. Tell everyone here—right now—who your husband really is. As for JP Group… if I can give it to you, I can take it back just as easily."

The words she had been about to blurt out died in her throat the moment she heard that. She glared at me, teeth clenched.

"Jordan… are you threatening me?"

I shook my head, my tone calm, almost indifferent.

"It's not a threat. I just want to hear you say it yourself."

Her expression darkened, yet she said nothing.

The tension thickened instantly, and the crowd began to stir again.

"Ms. Reymus won't say anything… could she really be playing both sides?"

"Then Lucas's the real victim here—finding out on his wedding day that he's the third wheel."

Both Portia and Lucas looked increasingly grim.

At that moment, Portia's younger sister, Cadence Reymus, suddenly rushed out of the crowd and shoved me hard.

"You pervert! Portia has already rejected you so many times, and you still shamelessly cling to her—and now, you're even here to ruin her wedding!"

Then she turned to Lucas.

"Lucas, don't believe a word this lunatic says. He's mentally unstable—he has severe delusions. He's been harassing Portia for a long time, even stalking her and secretly taking photos!"

I stared at Cadence, burning with anger, but beneath it was something colder—disbelief.

Two years ago, when she had leukemia, it was my bone marrow that saved her life. Because of her condition, she couldn't work—it was my monthly financial support that allowed her to live like a princess.

And now, with a single sentence, she painted me as a deranged pervert.

Before I could respond, Portia pulled Cadence behind her.

As if she had finally made up her mind, she looked at me and spoke loudly, "Jordan, I pitied you before, so I never held you accountable. But today, you've gone too far. I'll say this one last time—I don't love you. The only person I love is my husband, Lucas Wynham. If you continue to pester me, don't blame me for what I do next!"

The moment she finished speaking, Lucas's fist slammed straight into my nose.

I collapsed to the ground as two streams of blood poured from my nostrils.

He planted his foot on my face, his voice vicious.

"You filthy bastard, how dare you harass my wife? You've got a death wish! Today's my wedding day—I was willing to let things go and not bring bad luck on myself. But you've crossed the line. If I don't teach you a lesson, I won't be able to swallow this anger!"

Humiliation burned through me, my vision turning red as I forced out the words, "I'm Portia's legal husband. We're officially registered!"

I thought the marriage certificate would be my strongest proof.

But the moment the words left my mouth, laughter erupted all around me.

One of Lucas's groomsmen crouched down, patting my face mockingly.

"Your 'wife' said you've got serious delusions—I didn't believe it before, but now it looks like she was right. You say you registered your marriage with her? Then take a look at this."