Using Me as a Substitute? Did You Know Your Best Friend Calls Me Wife?

Hearing this, Adrian Preston clenched his fists tightly.

He looked up, meeting her eyes directly, without a shred of guilt.

"I’m not getting a divorce. Not unless I’m dead!"

"Adrian Preston..." Her body trembled with rage. "You can’t stop me, and don’t even think about using your grandfather to control me. He’s *your* grandfather, not mine! Why should I put myself out for a rapist like you?"

Mia Kane thought about how she had pushed her sick body to its limits to maintain stability for him, only to collapse from exhaustion in the end.

And what was the result? He was working closely with the police. If he hadn’t resigned, he’d probably have another medal of merit to his name.

They were all putting on an act. Only her sacrifices were real.

She wished she could just gouge out her own useless eyes. ’Why did I ever trust a man again?’

Adrian Preston slowly rose to his feet, looking down on her imperiously.

"You’ve misunderstood."

His voice was flat and even, as always.

But his eyes were deep and profound, like an infinite black hole that would trap anyone who fell in, never to let them escape.

As she met his gaze, her very soul trembled in fear.

It was the look of someone in a position of absolute power.

"Mia Kane, this time, I’m not going to use any excuses to keep you tied down. I’m not discussing this with you; I’m issuing an order. We are not getting a divorce. Even if I die, we are not getting a divorce."

"I might as well tell you the truth. I didn’t just start liking you. I’ve had my eye on you for a long time; my feelings for you didn’t just appear overnight. You’re the one who delivered yourself to my doorstep! So don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

"Did you know, Mia Kane? I’ve taken negotiation classes. When faced with an absolute advantage, you don’t even have the right to open negotiations. You can only agree. There is no other path for you."

Adrian Preston braced his hands on the sides of the bed and leaned over her.

His handsome, refined face drew closer, his features sharp and defined, radiating a piercing intensity.

Her heart stopped beating, and her breath hitched.

It was as if she was seeing the real Adrian Preston for the first time.

The man he was before, though assertive, was law-abiding and principled, a man who never crossed the line.

But now...

She suddenly remembered what William had said—that he was no gentleman and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He had deceived a woman, and even if it was for a mission, that still made him a hypocritical scoundrel.

She had a feeling that this domineering, autocratic man before her was his true self.

Neither moral principles nor legal boundaries could stop him.

He only looked righteous on the surface. ’Inside... he’s a villain!’

Adrian Preston turned to leave, making no effort to hide his phone call to Theo Thorne.

"Bring in more men to watch her. If she leaves the hospital, it’s your ass."

As he said this, he glanced back at Mia Kane.

"Who told you all this?"

The question was clearly directed at Mia Kane.

Mia Kane remained silent.

Adrian Preston chuckled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, making it a chillingly terrifying sight.

"It’s fine. I have a good idea who it was. He was lucky to escape. I thought he’d learn to tuck his tail between his legs and not cause trouble again. Since he’s got a death wish, I’ll be happy to grant it. The police won’t waste their resources on a stray dog. So let the Preston Group’s people handle it."

"Theo Thorne, listen to me carefully. I want William’s miserable life. No, I want him turned into a ’human swine,’ tortured slowly, and then I want all two hundred-plus bones in his body broken, one by one, and fed to the dogs."

"Oh, and when you catch him, bring him here. Let your sister-in-law have a look."

By the time Adrian Preston finished speaking, Mia Kane’s face was already deathly pale.

Her hands were trembling.

The same hand that had just slapped Adrian Preston.

’What kind of vicious monster have I provoked? After how I’ve treated him, the fact that he hasn’t torn me limb from limb is a sign of his mercy.’

"Did I scare you?"

Adrian Preston leaned against the doorframe, chuckling softly. His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, as if trying to soothe her.

"I’ve told you before, don’t provoke me. You have no idea what I’m really like. Mia Kane, I’ve let you go many times. This time, you came looking for trouble yourself, so I have no reason to let you off. As I’ve said, I’m very patient. When it comes to certain things, I either don’t do them at all, or I see them through to perfection."

"Don’t be afraid. You’ll be seeing a lot more of this from now on."

After he finished speaking, Adrian Preston turned and left without a backward glance.

Only after he was long gone did Mia Kane collapse onto the bed, completely numb.

Her clothes were soaked through with sweat.

’What kind of man have I gotten involved with? He seemed so righteous and resolute, but in reality... he’s paranoid, sinister, and terrifying...’

Mia Kane didn’t dare to think about it.

She discovered that more guards had been posted around her, making it extremely difficult to leave the hospital.

Just as she was anxiously trying to figure out a plan, she unexpectedly ran into Shannon Preston.

She was in the same hospital. The gunshot wound on her leg hadn’t healed yet, and she needed a wheelchair to get around.

Mia Kane felt a surge of anger the moment she saw her.

’So, Adrian won’t let me leave, huh? Then he can’t blame me for what I’m about to do to his precious sister.’

Mia Kane was flanked by two orderlies, who were supposedly there for her protection but were in fact her guards.

The two of them were like mutes, turning a deaf ear to whatever Mia Kane said, simply lowering their heads and focusing on their tasks.

As long as she didn’t leave the hospital, anything else was fine.

Shannon Preston, meanwhile, had one orderly pushing her wheelchair.

They all ended up sharing an elevator.

When Shannon Preston saw her, her eyes filled with hatred.

This time, Mia Kane’s insistence on waiting for Adrian Preston to return had really stolen the show.

Although her brother hadn’t said anything to her, she could clearly feel that Adrian Preston was very disappointed in her.

In truth, she had wanted to take charge, but she had been too heartbroken at the time to think clearly.

’Mia Kane only took charge so quickly for her own sake. She was afraid that if Adrian fell, her own fortune would be threatened.’

’She wasn’t doing it for Adrian at all; she was clearly just protecting her own wealth and status.’

Unfortunately, no matter what she said, her brother wouldn’t listen and even told her to stop provoking Mia Kane.

’I’ve already made my brother unhappy. I should probably tone it down for now.’

"Mia Kane, you’re lucky this time. My brother is fine, so I’ll let it go. If there’s a next time, I definitely won’t let you off the hook."

"Hmph. We’ll see about that."

Just as she spoke, the elevator arrived at Shannon Preston’s floor.

Since they were all in VIP wards, the elevator was a private one with no other people around.

Shannon Preston was about to leave when Mia Kane suddenly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back.

Shannon Preston’s scalp felt like it was splitting open, and she let out a series of miserable shrieks.

"Mia Kane, what are you doing? Let me go...!"

Shannon Preston fell out of her wheelchair. Luckily, the wound had mostly healed and the flesh had knitted back together; otherwise, it might have started bleeding again.

Mia Kane pinned her down and ordered her two orderlies, "Don’t let her orderly interfere."

The two men immediately restrained Shannon Preston’s orderly.

Mia Kane, now free to act, started slapping her left and right.

"Shannon Preston, I have put up with you for so long! This is for trying to harm me, this is for being so malicious, and this is for being Adrian Preston’s sister..."

Shannon Preston’s cheeks were red and swollen, and she was crying so hard she could barely breathe.

"I’m asking you, did you and Adrian Preston work together? Did you use me as a stepping stone to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Shannon Preston’s eyes darted away, not daring to answer.

"Still not talking? You think I don’t know about your little schemes? I just want to know, did you and your brother work together to deceive me?!"

’I forgot to ask Adrian, but asking Shannon is just as good.’

Shannon Preston froze. ’If she’s asking me this, it means she doesn’t actually know.’

"Yes... my brother made me do it. Please don’t tell him, or... or he’ll kill me!"

"Don’t worry, he won’t kill you." She paused. "Because I will!"