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

He knew he was going to die, but he didn’t want to carry the blame for a crime he hadn’t committed.

So, Adrian Preston’s thunderous rage stemmed from the misunderstanding that he had violated his wife.

He wanted to say more, but Blackie couldn’t hold on.

The cuts all over his body were bleeding, and the pain was so intense it numbed his senses. He couldn’t take it anymore.

His vision went black, and he passed out.

Adrian Preston frowned deeply, his mind filled with confusion.

’Blackie’s reaction... it didn’t seem like he was lying.’

’Everyone knew Mia Kane was my wife. Blackie should have known what he’d done wrong the moment he was captured, yet he still demanded to know the reason for his death.’

’What part of this is wrong?’

"Find a way to wake him. He hasn’t finished what he was saying."

Theo Thorne quickly prepared a ginseng-infused broth to keep him alive.

Blackie finally regained consciousness, but he was already taking his last breaths.

"Make yourself clear. Did you touch her or not?"

"No... I knew William brought a woman onto the ship, but I didn’t know who... The jobs we handle are all assigned by the higher-ups. On the surface, William and I got along... but behind the scenes, we were always at odds. He was always stealing my jobs. I went to confront him about it..."

"But... but the discussion didn’t go well. I left in a rage... After that... after that, I don’t know anything..."

Blackie’s face was ghastly pale—probably the palest it had ever been in his life.

"Then what about your men...?"

"No... no..."

Blackie’s mind was failing; he could only force out those two words.

He had lost too much blood and could no longer hold on.

Adrian Preston wanted to ask more, but Blackie, unable to withstand any more torture, had died.

Adrian Preston stared intently at the body. He couldn’t tell if Blackie had been lying, or if something else was at play.

"Get his man here, fast. I want to interrogate him."

"And another thing..." Adrian Preston’s brows locked. ’There’s one more crucial piece of information. There’s someone above Blackie and William.’

’I had assumed the two of them were the local kingpins of the Trivium, but it turned out the jobs they took were assigned by a higher authority.’

’There’s a massive organization above them!’

’I have to notify the Anti-Smuggling Bureau immediately.’

"And William?"

"He was executed by firing squad a while ago."

Adrian Preston frowned. With both men dead, he couldn’t tell who had been telling the truth and who had been lying.

’I could ask Mia Kane. She’s the victim, after all. But that feels too cruel.’

’Mia Kane would never want to talk about what happened. It’s a source of shame for her.’

’When a woman falls into the hands of kidnappers, how can she possibly escape unscathed?’

’When I arrived, her clothes were disheveled, her body covered in bruises.’

’My first assumption was that she must have been assaulted.’

’That’s why I was determined to bring a bloodbath upon anyone who had touched her!’

’Perhaps William, knowing he was going to die, decided to drag Blackie down with him.’

’I was used as a pawn.’

’But it doesn’t matter. All smugglers deserve to die.’

’If Mia Kane truly wasn’t harmed, that would be wonderful news.’

’She didn’t have to go through that horror.’

’I hope William was the one lying. Now I just need to catch that subordinate and get the truth out of him.’

"Adrian, if what Blackie said is true, then... no one on that entire ship harmed her. Except... you did..."

Theo Thorne suddenly realized something.

Hearing this, Adrian Preston’s brow furrowed.

’I had thought Mia Kane was holding on to what I did because she couldn’t accept that someone with my supposedly upright image could do something so shameful.’

’And she hated my deception, my dishonesty.’

’I had just used my own methods to get justice for her, but she still couldn’t accept it.’

’But if it turns out that no one else actually harmed her, that I was the only one who... succeeded... no wonder. No wonder she’s so unwilling to forgive me.’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Nobody would think you’re a mute if you just kept your mouth shut."

Adrian Preston snapped irritably.

Theo Thorne pressed his lips together, not daring to say another word.

Adrian Preston hurried back to the nursing home to find Mia Kane asleep, slumped over the edge of the bed. The old man was also sleeping soundly.

The doctor couldn’t help but comment, "Miss Kane has been watching over Mr. Preston without leaving his side. She’s practically taken over the caregiver’s duties. She insists on doing everything herself. When the old gentleman’s appetite was poor, she even cooked some light, appetizing meals for him."

"We’ve all seen how Miss Kane has acted these past few years. She’s been exceptionally good to the old gentleman. She’s not some schemer trying to curry favor and climb the social ladder; she’s just genuinely kind-hearted."

The seniors who come here are all from powerful, influential families. Their younger relatives are too busy to care for them, and they’re lonely on their own.

So, coming here at least gives them some companionship.

No one in the Preston family was looking after the old man, and he has a withdrawn personality. After a huge argument with Mr. Preston, he moved in here in a fit of rage.

He didn’t socialize with anyone. Plus, with Old Mrs. Ziegler also being here, he felt completely out of sorts and would often just coop himself up in his room, treating any visitor with a cold face.

The other residents had assigned caregivers, but he didn’t. No one could put up with his eccentric temper, so the staff cared for him on a rotating basis.

After Old Mrs. Ziegler was moved abroad, Mia Kane felt out of sorts. She had gotten used to visiting, so she started coming every week as a volunteer.

Her rotation brought her to Donovan Preston, and she was incredibly patient.

He would say harsh things, but Mia Kane never paid him any mind or got angry. She just went about her business.

Later, she started bringing him snacks and little toys, telling him interesting stories about the outside world.

Over time, Donovan Preston’s heart melted, and he began to look forward to her weekly visits.

"I know she’s wonderful,"

Adrian Preston said softly.

He stepped forward, gently lifted the uncomfortably positioned Mia Kane, and carried her to the adjacent guest room to rest.

’He had always kept his distance from her, refusing even to share a bed. He knew himself too well; once he crossed that line, he would lose control and demand more.’

’So he had suppressed his instincts, not daring to cross that boundary.’

’But now...’

He stayed by her side, his large hand gently stroking her cheek.

"Mia, that day... was it only me...?"

His voice grew huskier, his gaze deepening as he watched her greedily.

’In her memory, what did this shameless brute she was married to even look like?’

’She didn’t even see me that day.’

"Am I your second man?"

he asked again.

But Mia Kane, deep in sleep, could not answer.

The question clawed at his insides, making him miserable. The answer was incredibly important to him.

’Who wouldn’t want to hold a more important place in their beloved’s heart?’

Little did he know, he was the first.

In her three years with Chase Lockwood, nothing had ever truly happened.

That night was an agony for Adrian Preston.

She was fast asleep beside him, her even breaths like feathers brushing against him.

She smelled sweet, and her body was soft and warm.

He curled up, hugging himself, not daring to make a move.

But to his utter surprise, the sweet, sleepy kitten burrowed into his embrace, even nudging and rubbing against him before letting out a soft, contented murmur.

In her sleep, she hugged him, feeling as if she were embracing a warm furnace, and it was incredibly comfortable.

She even hooked a leg over him, clinging to him like a koala.

The man’s entire body went rigid, his breath catching in his throat.

’She was playing with fire!’