Chapter 4 When Lies Became Law

Vanessa suddenly rushed forward and snatched the marriage certificate from my hands, tearing it cleanly in half. "You think you can scam the Whitmore family with a fake certificate? Don't even think about it, Gianna!"

As she hurled insults, she reached into her bag and pulled out another marriage certificate.

Then, she held it up high, pointed at the date, and shouted for everyone to see, "Take a good look! Alexander and I registered our marriage six years ago—one full year earlier than her fake one! This woman will stop at nothing for money, even forging official documents.

"She's a complete fraud!"

I froze, staring at the black-and-white date printed on that certificate. I felt a chill surge from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.

'Six years…'

I hadn't expected Alexander to be capable of something this despicable. He had gone so far as to forge a marriage certificate just to give Vanessa a proper title.

I looked at him coldly. "Alexander, aren't you afraid of being charged with bigamy?"

The crowd erupted into even louder laughter than before.

"This is hilarious. A scammer with a fake certificate accusing someone else of bigamy?"

"Tell me about it. She's been exposed and still won't back down. The audacity."

"Well, now she's not only failed to extort any money, but she's also about to earn herself a fraud charge. Serves her right!"

Alexander's expression had already settled back into calm composure.

He stepped forward, pulled Vanessa into his arms, and cast me a disdainful glance. "Gianna, you really are just like your mother, the nanny. You're both low and filthy.

"To think you'd even forge a marriage certificate and come to my banquet to cause trouble just to get your claws into a wealthy family. It seems I'll have no choice today but to use legal means to protect my rights."

"That's right, Mr. Whitmore! We support you! Bring this scammer to justice!"

"A woman with no morals like her shouldn't be let off!"

Surrounded by her friends, Vanessa sauntered toward me again.

"I've already called the cops!" she announced sharply. "But before they get here, I need to uphold justice myself and teach you a lesson for daring to play mistress and threaten me, the rightful wife, to my face!"

Then, she lunged at me, grabbing my hair and yanking at my clothes. "Strip off those rags! Put her in a server's uniform so she remembers her place!"

My long dress was torn apart violently. Someone had already taken out their phone, snapping photos and recording videos of my half-naked body.

"Let me go!" I trembled with rage, struggling with all my strength. "This is illegal! You're all breaking the law in broad daylight. None of you will get away with this!"

Smack!

Vanessa's slap landed hard across my face, sending stars bursting across my vision.

She held a plate of leftovers before expressionlessly dumping the greasy scraps and foul residue straight over my head.

"You're just a mistress, yet you dare act arrogant in front of me, the actual wife? In Crownmere, my husband is the law! Beat her!" she screamed, her voice shrill with triumph as her high heel came flying toward my face.

I shut my eyes in despair.

Just then, a familiar figure burst into the banquet hall. The instant she saw me lying on the ground, horror overcame her as she shrieked, "Who did this?"

The entire hall fell silent. Someone gasped, "Oh my God… It's Old Mrs. Whitmore!"