On my wedding day, I was assaulted by my fiancé’s best friend. Afterward, everyone advised me to just let it go. “They’ve been inseparable since childhood with your husband. If you make a fuss, how can you expect him to choose a side?” “Besides, if people find out, what about your reputation?” I didn’t listen to a word. I took them straight to court. On the day of the hearing, however, Ryan tore open their shirt in front of everyone. “Stella, we’re both women.” “Why don’t you tell the judge how I, a woman, could possibly assault you?” I stared at their flat chest, my mind blank. But that day, they clearly had a *tool* for the crime, didn’t they? The courtroom was silent for three seconds. Then it erupted. “A woman?” “So it’s a false accusation?” “I knew it was impossible…” Ryan stood in the defendant’s box, shirt open, their chest binder creating red marks, chest as flat as a board. They didn’t cover up. They even turned sideways, letting Judge Hayes see more clearly. “Judge, Liam and I grew up together. To him, I was always just like a brother.” Ryan forced a smile. “Stella drank too much on her wedding day and insisted on talking to me.” “I helped her to the lounge to lie down, and I was out of there in less than two minutes.” “I don’t know why she’s falsely accusing me.” As they spoke, their eyes welled up slightly. “Perhaps it’s because… Liam is too good to me?” The gallery stirred again. “So this whole thing is about jealousy?” “That’s just too crazy, they’re a woman!” “Some women just can’t stand their husbands being nice to other people…” Judge Hayes rapped the gavel. “Silence.” He looked at me, his gaze complex. “Plaintiff, do you have any response to the defendant’s statements?” What did I have to respond to? I opened my mouth. The scene from that day flooded back. The door locked. I was pressed onto the sofa, my head spinning, figures blurred before my eyes. “You’re so fair, Stella.” It was Ryan’s voice. I felt their hand, their weight, and that *thing*. Cold, hard, pushing inside. I couldn’t be mistaken. “That day…” I clenched my fist. “You had *a device*.” Ryan paused, then burst out laughing. “What *device*? I’m a woman, what would I use…?” They didn’t finish. But everyone understood. Someone chuckled. “Plaintiff, please provide evidence,” Judge Hayes frowned. Evidence. I had the hospital report, which indeed showed signs of intrusion. But the report stated that no traces of semen were detected. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I thought Ryan had taken precautions. Now I understood. That *thing* wasn’t a biological organ to begin with. “I…” “Judge.” Mr. Davison, Ryan’s lawyer, stood up, cutting me off. “The defendant is female and does not possess the physical means for such an act. If the plaintiff cannot provide evidence, this itself constitutes a false accusation.” “We reserve the right to counter-sue.” Counter-sue. Malicious prosecution. I was now the accuser of a false accusation. “Plaintiff?” Judge Hayes’s voice came. “Do you have anything else to say?” Everyone was looking at me. Ryan was looking at me too. They were too calm. Not like a victim of false accusation. More like they were watching me make a fool of myself. I took a deep breath. “Judge, I request a recess.” “I need to gather additional evidence.” As soon as I spoke, someone in the gallery stood up. It was Liam. “Judge, may I say a few words?” Judge Hayes glanced at him. “And you are?” “The plaintiff’s husband.” He paused. “And also the defendant’s best friend since childhood.” The courtroom fell silent.
Liam stood there, looking at me across the aisle, his brows deeply furrowed. “Stella, Ryan is a girl; I’ve always kept this from you.” “I was just afraid you’d misunderstand.” He sighed, his tone like he was coaxing a child. “If you’re jealous, take it out on me at home, whatever you want.” “But you sued them.” “Today, they publicly unbuttoned their shirt in front of everyone, just to prove their innocence.” He paused, his voice dropping low. “How can they ever show their face in public again?” Someone in the gallery chimed in. “This is really too much. Couldn’t she have talked it out? Why go to court?” “A young woman like that, how will they ever marry now?” “Liam isn’t having it easy either, wife on one side, best friend on the other, how can you expect him to choose?” He seemed not to hear those words. He just looked at me, his gaze full of weariness. “Stella, I don’t blame you.” “But you owe Ryan an explanation.” “Apologize, and we can put this behind us, okay?” His tone was so gentle. So gentle that it made me feel like I was the unreasonable one. But then I remembered. That night, when I was pinned to the sofa, desperately screaming for help. There were footsteps outside the door. They paused. Then walked away. I had always thought it was someone unrelated. Now, looking at Liam’s face. I suddenly remembered the rhythm of those footsteps. It was very familiar. I didn’t answer him. I stared at him. “Liam.” “That night, you passed by the lounge door, didn’t you?” Liam’s expression froze for a moment. “Stella, what are you talking about?” He frowned, his tone confused. “That day at the wedding, I was busy greeting guests in the main hall the whole time. How could I have been near the lounge?” “Are you… mistaken?” He said it so smoothly. So smoothly, it was like he had rehearsed it. “I’m not mistaken.” I stared straight at him. “Your footsteps, I wouldn’t mistake them.” Liam was silent for two seconds. Then he sighed, turning to Judge Hayes. “Judge, may I say a few words?” “Regarding my wife’s… condition.” Judge Hayes nodded. Liam paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “Stella… she’s been under a lot of stress these past six months.” “She started having insomnia before the wedding, and her emotions haven’t been very stable.” He looked at me, his eyes full of concern. “I didn’t want to say anything, for fear of hurting her pride.” “But in her current state…” “I’m afraid something serious might happen to her.” I was stunned. “Last October, I took her to see a doctor.” Liam pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “This is the diagnosis from that time.” He handed it to Judge Hayes. “The doctor said she has an anxiety disorder, and…” He lowered his voice, but just enough for those nearby to hear. “…a tendency toward paranoid personality traits, prone to delusions.” The gallery instantly erupted. “I knew it, how could a normal person sue a woman…?” “No wonder Liam’s been protecting her; he was afraid she’d have an episode.” “A mental illness, that makes sense then.” I felt cold all over. “I don’t!” I violently pulled away from his hand as he tried to steady me. “Liam, what are you talking about? I never saw any doctor!” Liam didn’t get angry. He just sighed, his gaze growing even gentler. Judge Hayes took the paper and glanced at it. His brows furrowed. I snatched it. Black and white. “Anxiety disorder with paranoid personality traits, medication and psychological counseling recommended.” The signature was from St. Jude’s Medical Center, the most reputable mental hospital in this city. I stared at the paper. My mind buzzed. October 12th last year… I had indeed gone to St. Jude’s Medical Center that day. But not for a psychiatric visit. It was to accompany my dad for his pre-op checkup, and I had a routine physical myself. I had never seen a psychiatrist. This diagnosis was fake. But how could I prove it?
“Judge.” Liam’s voice sounded again, interrupting my thoughts. “I’ve kept my wife’s condition a secret from outsiders, including her own parents.” “I thought if I just took good care of her, she would slowly get better.” He looked up, his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I never expected something like this to happen on our wedding day.” “She might have been under too much pressure, drank alcohol, stopped her medication, and so…” He paused, as if it was difficult to say. “So she had hallucinations.” “Her memory of Ryan helping her to the lounge was twisted in her mind into… another version.” The gallery again buzzed with whispers. Liam took a deep breath, looking at Judge Hayes. “Judge, I’m not here to accuse my wife.” “I just want to take her home, to get proper treatment.” “This lawsuit… can it please end here?” “Please, don’t provoke her any further.” As he spoke, his eyes were red. Only I knew how fake those tears were. Judge Hayes was silent for a few seconds. He looked at me, his gaze complex. “Plaintiff, do you have anything else to say?” I opened my mouth. My throat felt like it was clogged with something. Say what? Say this diagnosis was fake? But it had the hospital’s official stamp and a doctor’s signature. And I had indeed been to that hospital that day. I was speechless. “This case is adjourned.” Judge Hayes rapped the gavel. “The plaintiff must provide additional evidence within seven days, otherwise, it will be considered a withdrawal of the lawsuit.” “Also, given the plaintiff’s questionable mental state…” He glanced at Liam. “It is recommended that family members take her for a medical re-examination as soon as possible and provide a formal mental health assessment report.” Liam immediately nodded, his face full of gratitude. “Thank you, Judge. I’ll take her tomorrow.” He turned and walked toward me, extending his hand. “Stella, let’s go home.” I stared at his hand. On our wedding day, this was the hand that held mine as we exchanged rings. Amidst everyone’s blessings, he kissed my forehead and said, “Stella, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.” Now, this hand was going to send me to a mental hospital. I stepped back. “Don’t touch me.” Liam’s smile faded for a moment. But he quickly put on his gentle expression again, walking over and grabbing my arm. The grip wasn’t strong, but I couldn’t break free. “Stella, listen to me.” He leaned close to my ear, his voice very low, so only I could hear. “You know how much I love you.” “But in your current state, I have no choice but to send you for treatment.” He sighed, as if genuinely helpless. “Once you’re better, we’ll have another wedding, okay?” I froze. He straightened up, his face once again displaying that deeply affectionate look. “Come on, let’s go home.” I was pulled by him toward the exit. Passing the defendant’s box, Ryan was still standing there. They looked at me, a slight upward curve to their lips. “Stella, take care.” They spoke, their voice very soft, only I could hear. “Next time you want to sue me, remember to get your illness treated first.” That night, I was trending online. #BrideAccusesFemaleOfSexualAssaultAndIsRevealedToHaveMentalIllness# The comment section was full of people cursing me. I turned off my phone, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Every detail from the courtroom replayed in my mind. Mental illness. Delusions. False accusation. They had everything planned. Even if I screamed it from the rooftops, no one would believe me. The next morning, I went to the hospital to retrieve records. But when I searched, that record was gone. I sat in my car, gripping the steering wheel. Liam could make hospital system records disappear. How far did his influence stretch?
I suddenly remembered something. Last year’s corporate physical examination. It was jointly organized by Sterling Corp. and Brightwood Corp., and Ryan had also participated. The report should still be there. No matter how powerful Liam was, he couldn’t have anticipated that I would check that report. I immediately called Sterling Corp.’s administrative department. “Please retrieve a copy of last year’s corporate physical examination records for me, specifically Ryan’s. Send it over.” Ten minutes later, I received the scanned document. I screenshotted that report and sent it to a doctor friend. “Can you take a look at these results for me? Is there… anything unusual about this person’s condition?” Five minutes later, my phone buzzed. I opened my friend’s reply. I stared at the screen for a long time. Then, I smiled. So that was it. No wonder Ryan dared to unbutton their shirt in court. From the very beginning, they were certain there would be no evidence. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. I couldn’t reveal it directly. If I did now, they would accuse me of slander. I had to make them confess in front of everyone. I picked up my phone and dialed Liam’s number. “I’ve thought it through.” I made my voice sound tired and submissive. “You’re right. Maybe I really was overthinking things.” There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone. “You… you’ve really thought it through?” “Yes.” I took a deep breath. “I want to hold a press conference to clarify everything.” “This incident has caused such a stir; I need to give an explanation.” Liam clearly breathed a sigh of relief. “Stella, you’re finally being sensible. I’ll have the PR department arrange it immediately.” “How about tomorrow afternoon?” “No problem.” The press conference was scheduled for the ballroom of a five-star hotel. Liam’s PR team was highly efficient, notifying all mainstream media outlets within a day. An hour before the press conference, Liam held my hand. “Stella, just read from the script later, don’t improvise.” He handed me an apology draft. I took it, glancing over the contents. “I understand.” I nodded obediently. Liam smiled in satisfaction, kissing my forehead. “Good girl. After this, we’ll finally live our lives together.” Ryan also came. This time, they wore a white dress, sitting in the front row, looking gentle and harmless. Seeing me, they smiled, their eyes full of triumph. I walked onto the stage, facing dozens of media cameras. I took a deep breath, picking up the microphone. “Good afternoon, media friends.” “Today, I’ve called this press conference to clarify the events of the past few days.” The hall fell silent. All cameras focused on me. “First, I want to thank everyone for your concern.” “During this time, there’s been a lot of discussion online. Some say I made a false accusation, others say I have a mental illness.” I paused. “These words have indeed caused me great pain.” I glanced at the script in my hand. “I want to say I’m sorry to Ryan.” The reporters in the audience began to whisper. “She’s really apologizing?” “Looks like it really was her fault…” The smile on Ryan’s face was now undisguised. Liam also relaxed, leaning back in his chair. “On our wedding day, I did drink too much.” I continued, “My memory might have been skewed…” “So…” I took a deep breath. “So today, I want to clarify the truth in front of everyone.” Liam’s expression changed. I put down the script in my hand. “But before that, I want to ask Ryan a question.” The ballroom was eerily quiet. Ryan’s smile froze. “Stella…” Liam stood up. I ignored him, walking off the stage, step by step toward Ryan. I stopped in front of them. Looking into their eyes. “Ryan.” “In court, you tore open your shirt, and your chest was indeed female; I don’t deny that.” I paused. The entire room held its breath. “But…” I leaned close to them, lowering my voice. “What about your lower body?”
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