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

Until there was enough evidence to prove Mia Kane’s innocence, the police station was actually a form of protection for her.

She was held in a detention cell, and Adrian Preston pulled some strings to ensure she didn’t have to interact with anyone else.

He had seen people locked in detention for years—no one to post bail, their cases unresolved, just held indefinitely.

At first, those people had a spark in their eyes. But gradually... they became pools of stagnant water.

He didn’t want Mia Kane to see that kind of darkness.

With Mia Kane in custody, Chase Lockwood had at least vented some of his fury and wouldn’t lash out so cruelly again.

Adrian Preston went to visit her, but to his surprise, Mia Kane refused to see him.

But that couldn’t stop Adrian Preston.

The door to her private cell opened. She assumed it was a female officer for a routine check, but was shocked to see Adrian Preston walk in.

"Didn’t I say I wouldn’t see you?"

"But I wanted to see you."

Hearing this, Mia Kane’s face paled.

She bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood.

’Why does Adrian Preston always see me when I’m at my worst?’

Her eyes glistened with tears that she stubbornly refused to let fall.

Adrian Preston’s heart ached to see her like this.

He stepped forward to wipe away her tears, but Mia Kane resisted, backing away from him.

But in one easy stride, he was before her, one hand firmly gripping her slender waist, preventing any further retreat.

The warm pads of his fingers gently brushed the corners of her eyes, wiping away the moisture.

"Are you getting used to it in here?"

"Thanks to President Preston’s special treatment, I’m much better off than the average person."

"I’ll get to the bottom of this, so you don’t have to worry. I will get you out of here!"

Every word from Adrian Preston was crisp and carried immense weight.

Mia Kane knew he could do it.

She asked nervously.

"The baby... is it still alive?"

Adrian Preston gently shook his head.

Mia Kane’s heart sank to rock bottom, though it was the answer she had expected.

’After losing so much blood, there was no way the baby could have been saved.’

"I can’t believe she would go so far as to kill her own child just to frame me!"

Adrian Preston pursed his lips. Even if he suspected the baby was already stillborn, he wouldn’t voice it without conclusive evidence. That was a basic tenet of being a police officer.

"She really risked it all. She’s so ruthless! What about her? How is she?"

"She can never get pregnant again."

Chase Lockwood had ordered the news to be kept quiet, but while he could hide it from others, he couldn’t hide it from the powerful Adrian Preston.

"Why?"

Mia Kane was stunned.

"She hemorrhaged so badly they had to perform an emergency hysterectomy to save her life. She’ll never be able to have children again. That’s the price for framing you. It’s her just deserts."

A heaviness settled in Mia Kane’s heart. Normally, she would have been thrilled.

Vivian Lynch’s plan had backfired spectacularly, but this time, it came at the cost of a life, and Mia couldn’t bring herself to smile.

"Mia Kane, I’ve got things covered out here. I know you love to draw, so I had some things sent over. In here, aside from your freedom being restricted, I can arrange anything else you need."

Adrian Preston had the items brought in: a digital drawing tablet, a laptop, a gaming console...

There were all sorts of magazines, and even makeup and skincare products.

"Why all this?"

"I heard that when women put on makeup and feel pretty, it improves their mood."

Adrian Preston said with a completely straight face.

Mia Kane felt a sense of exasperation. ’I’m practically in jail. How could I possibly be in the mood for makeup?’

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them. After all, he meant well.

"How about I come stay with you tonight?"

"COUGH, COUGH..."

Mia Kane, who was in the middle of drinking water, nearly choked to death when she heard him.

She looked at Adrian Preston. He didn’t seem to be joking—it was clearly a carefully considered offer.

"Adrian Preston... Don’t you know that’s against the rules?"

"I know, but rules are meant to be broken. I’m not a public servant anymore, so it’s fine for me to be a little impulsive."

"Let me come over tonight, okay? I’m worried you won’t be able to sleep in this kind of environment."

"No, thank you. I’m perfectly fine on my own!"

She refused in a hurry.

Adrian Preston pursed his lips and said nothing.

He stayed with her a while longer before having to return to his company on business.

Mia Kane had thought time would drag on endlessly, but with all these items, it was much easier to pass the hours.

Worried the bed was too hard, Adrian Preston had even added a mattress and arranged for a sofa to be brought in.

Mia Kane stared at the room full of new things, lost in thought.

She called for a female officer.

"This is all against regulations. Why did you let him bring it in?"

"It was on the Chief’s orders. He said you’re his family, so we can make appropriate accommodations. Officer Preston is so good to you!"

As the female officer spoke, her eyes were sparkling with admiration.

’Who couldn’t fall for an outstanding man like Adrian Preston?’

"Then please help me take all of this out. Just leave a few books."

"But..."

"I don’t want him to break the rules for me. Once he starts, it will be hard to stop."

The female officer didn’t dare to make the decision herself, so she reported it to her superiors.

A call was immediately made from the station to Adrian Preston.

"She only kept a few books?"

"Yes. She said she doesn’t want you to break the rules, that once you start, it will be hard to stop."

Adrian Preston was silent for a long moment. ’If left to my own devices,’ he thought, ’I would surely become an out-and-out villain.’

But with Mia Kane in his life, he knew he would always be a good man.

Anyone else would have been overjoyed, accepting his gifts with glee.

Mia Kane could get carried away with joy, but she would always calm down quickly, knowing what was right and what was wrong.

She used her actions to show that everything in the world has its own order, that one should not be arrogant, indulgent, or conceited.

"I was the one who overstepped. Those things were indeed against the rules. I apologize for putting you in a difficult position."

"It’s no problem. It’s all in the past now."

"But there is one more thing I might have to trouble you with. I’d appreciate your help..."

...

Mia Kane read her books, and time passed quickly.

Night fell in the blink of an eye.

She ate dinner and practiced a set of military combat forms.

These were the forms Adrian Preston had taught her, and she was getting quite proficient.

Tired from her practice, she washed up and went to bed.

There were no cameras in the restroom, but the main area was monitored.

Mia Kane worried if people would see her messy sleeping habits.

But then she figured they probably weren’t so bored that they’d watch her sleep.

She lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, the bed felt crowded. She found herself forced to shift further inward.

Eventually, her back was pressed right up against the cold wall.

’What in the world was fighting her for space on the bed?!’

Slightly annoyed, she opened her eyes.

In the pitch-black darkness of the room, she made out a familiar silhouette.

His clean, crisp scent enveloped her completely.

"Adrian Preston?"

She was utterly shocked. ’Did he really sneak in to sleep with me?’

"You didn’t seem to be sleeping peacefully. I was worried."

Adrian Preston spouted this nonsense with a completely straight face.

Mia Kane found this ridiculous. She had been sleeping like a log.

"Adrian Preston, this is against the rules!"

"I know. But I’m not sending in any more random junk—just myself."

"Adrian Preston..."

"Let me stay with you. I don’t want to leave you here all alone. I won’t be able to sleep otherwise."

His voice was impossibly soft, carrying a hint of a plea.

Mia Kane’s heart melted in an instant.

"But... you’re crowding me."

The bed was small, just big enough for her. Now, with the tall and broad-shouldered Adrian Preston in it, the slightest movement made the frame CREAK and GROAN.

Adrian Preston shifted to the side until half of his body was hanging off the edge, giving her more than enough space.

Mia Kane sighed. ’How is anyone supposed to sleep like this?’

"You can sleep like that? Aren’t you just making yourself suffer?"

"You can’t make me leave anyway."

His roguish behavior left her completely exasperated.

"Whatever!"

she huffed, turning her back to him to sleep.

He really didn’t move closer, just remained precariously balanced on the edge of the bed.

In the end, Mia Kane’s resolve softened. "Just move closer. I’m going to sleep."

Adrian Preston silently moved closer, his chest pressing against her back.