When the Livestream Wedding Wasn't Mine

My husband, Ethan Smith, is a major internet influencer with tens of millions of followers across all platforms.

Online users ship him with another female influencer named River Johnson.

During their joint live streams, they create physical contact and openly flirt with each other.

Netizens call them the "streaming couple."

For all these years, their fans have been attacking me relentlessly.

They say I'm a homewrecker who got between him and River.

They've even exposed my personal information and harassed my family and child.

I've fought with Ethan about this, cried about it, and even attempted suicide during my most vulnerable moment.

But all I got in return was one sentence from Ethan.

"Vivian, can you stop making a scene? We're just business partners. Can you not be so petty?"

So from that day on, I stopped making scenes.

Until Ethan told me

"Vivian, I want to hold a wedding with River."

He said this while I was in the kitchen pan-searing a steak for him.

Seeing I had no reaction, Ethan continued talking to himself.

"Don't overthink it. It's just to fulfill the fans' dream and sell some products along the way. My traffic's been terrible lately. I need to create some buzz."

He was about to continue when I answered him straightforwardly.

"Fine. You don't need to consult me about this kind of thing. As long as it helps your career, I have no objections."

Ethan froze, clearly not expecting this reaction from me.

I brought the pan-seared steak to him and asked softly.

"Is there anything you need me to prepare for the wedding? Are the venue and wedding dress already booked?"

Only then did he snap out of it, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.

"Oh, no need. We've already chosen everything. Just letting you know."

I nodded obediently and said nothing more.

Ethan looked at me with some puzzlement.

"Why are you so compliant today? Not making a scene?"

"I was immature before. Now I've come to terms with it."

I said this while serving him the steak.

Ethan was very satisfied with my response.

"If you'd been this compliant earlier, we wouldn't have fought so much."

He lowered his head to eat the steak. I quietly took out my phone.

Opening TikTok, my DMs were filled with the familiar abuse.

"You bitch, can't you just disappear? Must you seek attention?"

"Ethan marrying you is the worst luck. He and River are the real couple! You're the mistress!"

"Why haven't you divorced Ethan yet? Haven't you milked him enough over these years?"

I'd been reading these messages for a full eight years.

Exiting the DMs, their names were prominently displayed on the trending searches.

"Heaven and River Unite Wedding Stream Coming with Fan Giveaways!"

All the comments below were filled with anticipation and blessings. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Ethan was a married man.

In the past, I would have cursed back at every single DM and tried to stop Ethan from doing such ridiculous things.

But now, I'm tired.

I've finally seen clearly that Ethan has never had me in his heart. He only cares about his own future.

No matter how much humiliation and abuse I suffer, he only tells me to endure it.

Since that's the case, I'll just pretend not to see it.

After all, he hasn't mistreated me materially, and we can't get divorced anyway.

When we got married, because he was an influencer, we signed an agreement.

Only he can initiate divorce, not me otherwise it would damage his image.

What's more, we have a daughter.

She's my everything now.

After dinner, River came to our house, saying she wanted to discuss the wedding live stream sales pitch with Ethan.

I smiled at her politely, then left to pick up our daughter from school, proactively giving them space.

River was very surprised by my transformation.

Ethan boasted to her proudly.

"I've trained Vivian to be very obedient now. Don't worry, she won't give you attitude anymore."

When he said this, his tone was like someone showing off an obedient dog.

When I arrived at the school gate, I saw a group of people wearing masks surrounding the school so tightly that not even water could pass through. An ominous premonition instantly rose in my heart.

I desperately pushed my way in.

Surrounded in the middle was my daughter, Sophie.

My daughter was already crying in fear, her body trembling nonstop.

Several young girls in front of her were hurling vicious words at her.

"You're that bitch Vivian's child just like your mom, a little bitch!"

"Do you know your dad doesn't even like your mom? You're a mistress's kid!"

"Ethan is only staying married because of the child. Let's throw her somewhere remote and Ethan can divorce Vivian!"

Seeing this scene, my blood pressure instantly shot through the roof. I immediately rushed forward and shielded my daughter behind me.

"Who are you people? Stay away from my daughter!"

The leading girl's eyes lit up when she saw me.

"Vivian, perfect timing! Ethan's about to hold a wedding with River. Now you finally know your place, right? Hurry up and divorce him and get lost!"

I ignored her, crouched down to pick up my daughter and tried to leave.

When the girl saw me trying to leave, she immediately reached out and viciously grabbed my hair.

"You dare leave? Did you hear me? Stop clinging to Ethan!"

A sharp pain shot through my scalp. I could no longer suppress the fury in my heart.

"Let go of me! Are you all insane? Ethan and I are legally married. Whether we divorce or not has nothing to do with you!"

The moment those words left my mouth, the group exploded.

Everyone surged forward, punching and kicking me.

I immediately crouched on the ground, using my body to shield my daughter, terrified she might get hurt.

The beating lasted a full five minutes until passersby called the police and they scattered.

I collapsed on the ground, not knowing how many kicks I'd taken. I only felt like the bones in my back were broken, the pain causing unstoppable tears to flow.

But in front of my daughter, I still forced myself to stay composed.

"Sophie, are you okay? Were you scared?"

My daughter looked at me with hollow eyes.

Ignoring the severe pain in my back, I immediately got up and took her to the hospital.

After examining her, the doctor told me my daughter was just frightened nothing serious. With some psychological counseling, she would gradually forget.

Hearing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The doctor then examined my back. The result was a spinal fracture requiring immediate surgery.

Before entering the operating room, I received a call from Ethan.

"Hello? Where are you right now?"

"The hospital. What's wrong?"

Ethan's voice suddenly rose.

"You have the nerve to ask me what's wrong? Did you fight with my fans again today? Do you know I lost twenty thousand followers because of you? They're all telling me to divorce you now!"

I couldn't hold it in anymore and spoke calmly.

"Oh, then let's divorce. Having a father like you is Sophie's tragedy."

With that, I hung up directly.

Ethan must have seen the video of me being beaten, but his first concern wasn't the safety of me and our daughter it was his precious followers.

Men like this are truly disgusting.

After the surgery, I stayed in the hospital for a few days.

Once my body recovered somewhat, I took my daughter home.

As soon as I entered, I saw River wearing my pajamas, sitting on the living room sofa like the lady of the house watching TV.

Ethan was right beside her.

Seeing me return, Ethan immediately stood up and questioned me.

"Where the hell have you been these past few days? I've been waiting for you to record an apology video. My fans are asking me every day to give them an explanation!"

I handed my daughter to the nanny. After she went upstairs, I turned to look at Ethan.

"Why should I apologize to your fans? Do you know they blocked Sophie's school gate and cursed at her?"

Ethan's eyes flickered.

"How could they curse at Sophie? Besides, even if they did, couldn't you just tell the child to endure it? Fans are my bread and butter!"

That phrase again.

Every time his and River's fans bullied me, he told me to endure it.

"Ethan, Sophie was so frightened she developed psychological issues, and I was beaten by your fans until my spine fractured. Not only will I not apologize, I'm going to hold them accountable!"

Ethan suddenly stood up.

"Vivian, what crazy talk is this? If you dare sue my fans, I'll cut off your mother's medical expenses!"

This sentence instantly extinguished all my emotions.

Right.

My mother is still lying in the hospital. Every month's medical expenses all depend on Ethan.

I smiled bitterly.

"You're threatening me with this? But you've forgotten why my mother became like this, haven't you?"

Back then, it was Ethan's fanatical fans who exposed our home address. Several people secretly broke into our house wanting to teach me a lesson but accidentally encountered my mother.

My mother bore this senseless disaster in my place. She had a heart attack, and because rescue came too late, she became a vegetable.

Afterward, I cried until my eyes nearly went blind, clutching Ethan's hand and begging him to find the culprits and send them to prison to get justice for my mother.

But just like now, he only told me to endure it and not make things difficult for him.

Now, he's actually using my mother's life to threaten me.

Ethan frowned, too guilty to speak.

River spoke up from the side, her words twisting the knife.

"Vivian, you can't blame Ethan for this. It was your mother who couldn't withstand the shock. Our fans didn't know she had a heart condition. Besides, Ethan works so hard to earn money isn't it all for your family?"

This sentence immediately gave Ethan an out.

"Right, I'm doing all this for you, aren't I?"

I didn't respond. Step by step, I walked to River and slapped her across the face.

"You leaked my daughter's school address to those fans, didn't you?"

River covered her face, staring at me blankly. After recovering, she immediately denied it.

"Of course it wasn't me!"

Ethan immediately rushed over to shield her.

"Vivian, what are you doing? How can you hit people?"

My gaze moved past him to River behind him.

"If not you, then who? Only Ethan and I know Sophie's school address. We didn't even tell the nanny."

River defended herself guiltily.

"Maybe the fans found out themselves, or you accidentally exposed it. Don't frame me!"

Ethan warned me again.

"Vivian, stop causing trouble, or I'll cut off your mother's medical expenses right now!"

Thinking of my mother in the hospital bed, I took a deep breath and stepped back.

Seeing me yield, Ethan quickly struck while the iron was hot.

"Wait here. I'll get the phone stand. You're recording the apology video right now."

With that, he turned and went upstairs.

Seeing Ethan leave, River immediately dropped her pretense and showed her true colors.

"So what if I did it? Ethan won't believe you anyway."

She walked up to me, her tone contemptuous.

"Besides, even if you're his legal wife, so what? The one who gets to stand by his side is me. Do you really think he'd give up his influencer status and me for you?"

I stared at her face, my fists clenching tightly.

"Those fans only hate me so much because you've been manipulating them behind the scenes, right?"

River smiled disdainfully.

"Manipulated? They all just think River and Ethan are perfect for each other."

I raised my hand to hit her again, but she grabbed my wrist.

"I let you hit me just now as an act for Ethan. Now that he's not here, don't even think about touching me again. Let me give you some advice stop making trouble. In the end, you'll only humiliate yourself."

Just as she finished speaking, Ethan came downstairs.

River immediately let go of my hand.

"Vivian, come apologize."

"No need."

I refused coldly.

Ethan's face darkened. I continued.

"Aren't you two holding a wedding? I'll apologize then. It'll add some heat to your live stream."

River's eyes lit up, thinking this would humiliate me more. She immediately persuaded Ethan.

"Ethan, I think that's a good idea. We can sell products first, then have her apologize at the end to keep the viewers. The effect will definitely be better."

Ethan was convinced and nodded.

"Fine. Memorize your lines. Don't mess up on the day."

He handed me a piece of paper. I took it, nodded, and turned to go upstairs.

Of course I wasn't actually compromising.

I agreed to apologize because I'd just received a friend request.

The requester was River's boyfriend.

He sent me a bunch of materials along with a message.

"I saw the video of you being mobbed by those fans. I think you need this. Let's work together."

Those materials both shocked and delighted me.

I'd finally found a way to utterly destroy Ethan and River's reputations.

That's why I agreed to apologize during the live stream just to give them a huge surprise that day.

Over the next few days, I stayed home quietly.

Ethan went out early and came back late every day, busy preparing for his and River's wedding, more devoted than when we got married.

Soon, the day of the live stream arrived.

Ethan and River held a grand online wedding in the live stream. The public screen was densely filled with the same phrase.

"Dream come true."

After the ceremony, they started selling products with perfect coordination and constant small gestures.

When Ethan introduced hand cream, he deliberately touched River's hand.

When River introduced a belt, she slyly mentioned she knew Ethan's waist size.

The live stream viewers were charmed and started ordering frantically.

All products quickly sold out. Ethan was so happy he got carried away. In front of millions of viewers, he directly kissed River.

"River is my bride for the day. One kiss isn't too much, haha."

The live stream's popularity instantly peaked.

Ethan struck while the iron was hot and immediately called me out to apologize.

I straightened my clothes and slowly walked into the live stream.

As soon as I appeared, the public screen was once again flooded with abuse.

Ethan urged me to speak.

I smiled slightly at the camera and slowly began.

"Hello everyone, I'm Vivian. I have a question for you all."

"Ethan just said River is his bride for the day. Does that mean they can also sleep together?"