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

"Young Preston is so considerate."

The aunt praised him again.

As soon as she finished speaking, Adrian Preston placed a piece of sweet and sour pork on her plate.

Mia Kane’s brow twitched. ’How does he know I like sweet and sour flavors?’

Strange. Everything was just so strange.

The uncle and aunt saw it all, exchanging a look. They both understood what the other was thinking.

After the meal, Grandma was already taking her afternoon nap, so Mia Kane didn’t disturb her and left first.

Mia Kane got in her car and noticed something wrong with a tire.

She quickly got out to check and found a nail stuck in her tire.

It was already losing air, and that side of the car was clearly lower.

’It was fine when I got here.’

"It was probably some kids, or maybe you just ran over it by accident."

"Is there a security camera? I want to see who would do something so malicious."

"I’ll go check."

The aunt hurried off but came back very quickly.

On her way down, she met Adrian Preston’s gaze.

"Aunt, who did it?"

"The camera is broken. It’s been broken for a few days, I just found out."

"What a coincidence."

"It’s not a coincidence, it’s been broken for a while. I just never noticed. It’s just a tire, you can get it fixed. You and Young Preston are heading in the same direction, right? Just have him give you a ride."

"Okay, Aunt."

Mia Kane hadn’t even said anything, but Adrian Preston had already agreed.

Mia Kane froze, her suspicious gaze immediately falling upon him.

"It wasn’t me."

Adrian Preston said calmly.

Hearing this, the aunt lowered her head, feeling guilty.

She had seen it crystal clear on the security camera—it was Adrian Preston who had secretly done it.

’He’s really something else, being able to lie with such a straight face.’

Adrian Preston had just helped the Lynch Family, so she naturally knew to play along.

She could also see that the two young people still had feelings for each other; they were just having a spat.

"This is unbelievable."

"Get in the car. I’ll take you home."

"I’ll get a cab."

The aunt quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "How could we let you take a cab home? If you don’t want to ride with Young Preston, I’ll have your uncle drive you."

Hearing that, Mia Kane immediately backed down. She didn’t want to bother her uncle.

She could only agree to let Adrian Preston drive her home.

Mia Kane got in the car first, and Adrian Preston shot the aunt a grateful look.

"Uncle, Aunt, I’ll visit again next time."

The aunt was grinning from ear to ear. He was already calling them what Mia called them, which made him seem much closer.

Only after the car was far away did the aunt start to reflect.

"Chase is your own nephew, but that wife of his turned a perfectly good family dinner into total chaos. His return was supposed to be a triumphant occasion, but now I’ll have to hang my head in shame whenever I see our relatives."

"But who would have thought that these two kids, who aren’t even related to us by blood, would be the ones running around trying to help the Lynch Family? One is worried about the old lady, and the other is concerned with the family’s dignity. Then look at your nephew—he came over and just upset his grandma again."

"Sigh. The Lockwood Family could have had a wonderful daughter-in-law, but now look at this mess... If you ask me, it’s a good thing they broke up. It’s good for Mia. Whether she gets back together with Adrian Preston or not, I’ll always consider her my own daughter."

"As for that precious nephew of yours, he can do whatever he wants."

The aunt didn’t give her husband a pleasant look, flicking her sleeves as she walked away.

The uncle was also fond of Chase Lockwood; after all, he was his sister’s only child.

But this time, he had truly gone too far, and the uncle’s heart grew cold.

’You’re supposed to marry a virtuous wife, but he brought home a menace. She’ll bring misfortune to three generations.’

「In the car—」

Mia Kane thought about what her grandma had said.

"Adrian Preston... are we really divorced?"

Adrian Preston focused on driving and didn’t answer. The atmosphere in the car grew heavy.

Her heart was instantly in a turmoil.

"The divorce certificate... it couldn’t be a fake, could it?" she asked cautiously.

Adrian Preston pulled the car over to the side of the road.

"What do you want to ask? Be direct. I’ll answer you, and I won’t lie."

Adrian Preston, in turn, cut straight to the chase.

She mustered her courage and asked directly, "Is the divorce certificate real?"

"It’s fake."

Mia Kane’s eyes widened. "..."

’How can he be so shameless and defiant!’

’How can he not feel guilty in the slightest!’

Mia Kane was so angry she almost fainted.

"How on earth did you manage that?"

"It wasn’t officially stamped. It’s not valid."

Mia Kane froze. She remembered that when she was filling out the forms, she had suddenly felt a stomachache and had gone to the restroom.

When she came back, the divorce certificate was already prepared.

She had glanced at it, saw the names and ID numbers were correct, and hadn’t thought any more of it. She hadn’t noticed whether there was an official stamp.

It didn’t matter how Adrian Preston had managed it, but he had.

Essentially, they weren’t divorced.

Mia Kane felt her vision go dark.

"Adrian Preston, could you be any more outrageous!"

Furious, she raised her hand and slapped him hard. She was just too angry.

Adrian Preston didn’t dodge, taking the blow full-on. A clear red handprint appeared on his cheek.

’It wasn’t the first time she had hit him; he already seemed quite used to it!’

The extent of his shamelessness made Mia Kane flush with embarrassment, and it only made her angrier.

"Adrian Preston, what do you take me for? Have you just been toying with me and messing with me all this time? Is it fun? Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?"

"I have gone too far. But no matter how many times I could turn back time, I would do the same thing. Even if you come to hate me, I would still do it."

Adrian Preston’s eyes were terrifyingly dark and bright as he stared straight at her. For a second, she couldn’t tell if the man before her was Adrian Preston or his unstable second personality.

His obsession was so demonic it sent a chill down her spine.

"Why... Why me? Why does it have to be me!"

Her eyes were red.

"You... saved me once."

"I saved you?" Mia Kane was stunned. She wracked her brain but couldn’t remember anything. But none of that mattered now. "I save you, and you repay my kindness with malice?"

"If that’s the case, then I wish I had never saved you!"

When Adrian Preston heard this, his face turned deathly pale, and his pupils contracted sharply.

He looked at her, shocked and stunned, unable to believe those words had come from her mouth.

The moment the words left her mouth, Mia Kane felt a pang of regret. They were too harsh.

But words, once spoken, are like water that’s been spilled. You can’t take them back.

She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

"You... regret saving me?"

His voice was incredibly hoarse, each word trembling lightly.

Mia Kane’s lips trembled. They remained in a stalemate for a long while before she managed to force out a single word: "Yes."

The moment she said it, she felt like the Adrian Preston before her was about to shatter.

Truly, on the verge of shattering.

The light in his eyes extinguished, bit by bit, as if it had never been there at all.

"Adrian... Adrian Preston." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Get out."

His voice was very soft.

Mia Kane hesitated for a moment, but still got out of the car.

Adrian Preston’s car suddenly accelerated, the engine roaring. It sped off, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

’At that speed, isn’t he afraid of killing someone?’

Mia Kane felt a little regretful. ’Did I provoke Adrian Preston too much?’

She returned home, feeling uneasy. After a long internal struggle, she decided to call Adrian Preston.

’I shouldn’t have been so harsh. I hope Adrian Preston can forgive me.’

But no one answered!

No, wait. Adrian Preston had blocked her!