"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."

As Lucas's groomsman spoke, he tapped open a video and shoved it in front of my face.

In the footage, Portia and Lucas stood beneath the solemn national emblem, holding up their marriage certificates as they leaned in for a sweet kiss.

"Open your damn eyes and look carefully," he sneered. "Forget Lucas—even I feel like beating the hell out of you now."

With that, he stood and drove a hard kick into me.

A muffled groan escaped my throat, but my mind was elsewhere—fixed on the marriage certificate Portia and I had received.

That day at the courthouse, right when the staff member was about to stamp our documents, Portia suddenly said she'd left her phone in the car and insisted I go back to get it.

By the time I returned, she was already holding two marriage certificates.

I hadn't thought much of it then.

Now, it was painfully clear—she had been lying to me from the very beginning.

I forced my head up and looked toward her, speaking one word at a time.

"Portia… so everything from the start was fake, wasn't it?"

She didn't answer. She simply turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.

Lucas's voice cut in, cold and sharp. "Well? Got anything left to say now?"

I pressed my lips together and said nothing. Because I knew—no matter what I said, it would be useless.

But in Lucas's eyes, my silence looked like guilt. He slapped the top of my head hard, his tone growing even more arrogant.

"You've got guts, bastard. Not only did you ruin my wedding, you even dared to slander my wife. Guys, what do you think we should do with him?"

The groomsman who had shown me the video immediately chimed in.

"Lucas, isn't it New Year's Eve today? Why don't we make this bastard kneel and beg for forgiveness? It'll count as both an apology and a New Year's greeting. What do you think?"

Lucas nodded. "Not bad. Let's do that."

The next second, two burly men hauled me up from the ground.

One of the groomsmen kicked sharply at the back of my knees, and I dropped heavily to the floor.

Just as they pressed down on my head, about to force me into a bow, a sharp voice rang out behind us, "What do you think you're doing? Group assault? Don't want to go home for New Year's Eve—want to spend it in detention instead?"

At the sight of the police, the two men holding me immediately let go.

The crowd that had gathered to watch scattered in an instant.

Portia shot Lucas a reassuring glance, then lifted her skirt and walked forward.

"Officer, I'm Portia Reymus, CEO of JP Group. It's my wedding today—everyone's just fooling around. These are our wedding candies and gift packets. Please share in the joy."

As soon as she finished speaking, her assistant stuffed wedding favors and envelopes filled with money into the officers' hands.

The lead officer weighed the envelope in his palm, exchanged a glance with his colleague, and smiled.

"Congratulations on your big day. We won't disturb you any further."

They turned to leave.

"Officer, wait!"

Summoning every ounce of strength, I dragged myself up and staggered toward them.

"I want to report Portia for forging a fake marriage certificate to deceive me into investing heavily in JP Group. The amount involved is huge. Her actions constitute document forgery and fraud—I request a full investigation and that she be held legally accountable!"

The lead officer glanced at Portia, then back at me, his tone casual, almost dismissive.

"Oh? And where is this so-called fake marriage certificate?"

"At my home. I can go back and—"

Before I could finish, he cut me off sharply.