The wedding reception was humming with soft laughter and clinking crystal glasses when the groom’s mother stepped up to the microphone with a radiant smile. Instead of offering a standard sentimental toast about love and partnership, she reached into her elegant sequined handbag and pulled out a crisp, printed sheet of paper. The room quieted down instantly as she announced she had prepared a special guidebook for the bride. Printed in bold black ink across the top were the words every newlywed dreads: ten strict rules for being the perfect wife. Whispers immediately rippled through the crowded tables as guests strained their necks to catch a glimpse of the unexpected list. But nobody was prepared for what was written right at the very top of the page.
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