Hubby #1: 'I don't know what really went wrong'

THE serial bride first hit the headlines in July last year.

A man - believed to be the fifth victim - had filed a police report accusing Michelle Lee Pei Yin of theft and of conning him into marriage.

But as his story was published only in a magazine in Mentakab, a small town in Pahang state, few people paid attention.

It didn't help too that Lee had assumed several other names: Lee Kai Xin, Lee Pei Ying and Celine Lee.

Mark was Michelle Lee's only legally registered husband.

In a telephone interview, her first and only legally registered husband told The New Paper on Sunday: "She was my first love. But our relationship died a long time ago.

"She was the one who initiated the divorce. What else can I say?" Mark (not his real name) lives in Tangkak, Johor, which is also Lee's hometown. At his request, we are not using his real name.

He was only 19 when he fell in love with Lee, who was then 17.

He got to know her through her cousin. When she became pregnant, they decided to marry.

Mark said: "If you ask me, I don't know what really went wrong."

Mark's father told Feminine magazine that he and his wife doted on Lee at first.

This was because of her pitiful background - Lee was raised by her paternal grandfather.

Mark's father said: "We treated her like our own (daughter). She was also very respectful and filial to us."

But six months after Lee married his son, she started to show her true colours.

He said: "She told us she wanted to do some business and asked my daughter to join the venture.

"But somehow, nothing materialised after we passed her the money."

Mark's father also claimed that Lee stole their jewellery and sold it.

He conceded she had never been caught red-handed, but said: "She's usually the only one at home, who else can it be?"

Lee also got into frequent fights with Mark after their eldest daughter, now eight, was born. They have two sons, seven and six, and another daughter, five.

Mark's father said: "Later, we even found out that she took money from our relatives and friends. She claimed that my son was in financial difficulties after his (fashion) business partners cheated him."

Lee also allegedly borrowed money from loan sharks.

Mark's father said: "I was furious when they came knocking on our door and I wanted to report to the police, but my wife stopped me."

He added: "She had nursed the hope that Lee would repent and the family could reunite, but I can tell you, I'd never allow it for the peace of everyone."

Lee walked out of the marriage and left home when her youngest daughter was only six months old.

She'd return occasionally to visit the children and take them out.

Mark said: "She never asked for their custody or that I pay her alimony."

It was only in October last year that Lee finally signed the divorce papers.

Mark's father said: "I suspect she did that only because she wanted to marry (the fifth husband)."