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

Vivian Lynch still felt wronged.

She admitted to contacting the media, but murder? She hadn’t even considered it.

Mia Kane had been a shut-in, so even if Vivian had wanted to do something, she never had the opportunity.

Who knew she would suddenly decide to go out, only to be cornered by those people from the online group.

When she heard Mia Kane was critically ill in the hospital and might die, she prayed every single day, hoping she would actually die!

"Chase, don’t listen to her spouting nonsense! I didn’t have anyone try to kill her. You can investigate it yourself!"

"Then tell me, what is this?"

Chase Lockwood threw the evidence at Vivian Lynch. As she flipped through it, page by page, the color drained from her face.

Adrian Preston had investigated so meticulously. She had gone to great lengths to bribe the media, using a fake identity, but she never thought he’d still manage to trace it back to her.

She kept flipping and saw forged chat logs. The records showed her instructing someone to infiltrate the group, organize an offline gathering, and use the ensuing chaos to kill Mia Kane.

"This... this isn’t real. I didn’t do it."

"So, you’re admitting you hired the media to spread the rumor that I was knowingly the other woman?"

"And weren’t you?"

Vivian Lynch knew she couldn’t deny it any longer, so she brazenly admitted it.

"Chase Lockwood! Vivian Lynch might not know all the details, but I imagine the Lockwood Group is aware of them. Was I *really* the other woman?"

"I’ll make this right."

Chase Lockwood’s face was grim as he clenched his fists.

"How are you going to make this right? Are you going to kill her?"

"I will have people watch her. She won’t be allowed to cause trouble again, and I’ll make sure she stays out of your way for the rest of her life. Is that enough?"

This was a huge concession from Chase Lockwood, tantamount to imprisoning Vivian Lynch.

Vivian Lynch listened from the side, dumbfounded. Chase was actually going to lock her up for the sake of an outsider.

’But I didn’t try to kill anyone!’

"Chase, why do you believe everything she says? I swear I didn’t have people corner her, and I definitely didn’t tell anyone to use the chaos to take her life! She’s obviously setting a trap to frame me!"

"Shut up!"

Chase Lockwood shot her a glare, his eyes filled with a terrifying hostility. A chill ran down Vivian’s spine.

His gaze made him seem like a stranger, and it terrified her. It was as if she had never known him at all.

She froze, forgetting what she was about to say.

"Mia Kane, you can leave. The rest is a private matter between my wife and me."

He was desperate to get rid of Mia Kane. He would never let her see him and his wife turn on each other.

’That would be granting her deepest wish!’

"I’m the victim. If you don’t resolve this for me here and now, then I’m calling the police!"

’Calling the police is the fairest option. After all, that’s what happened to me.’

"Mia Kane, don’t push it. I already told you I’d keep Vivian in line. What more do you want? She is Mrs. Lockwood, and my reputation is on the line. Do you really have to be so merciless?"

"What about me? When you let me be thrown in jail, did you ever think about my reputation? Chase Lockwood, you’ll owe me for the rest of your life. You owe me more than just those three years of my devotion; you owe me far, far too much!"

Mia Kane stood on the moral high ground. Chase Lockwood was undeniably in the wrong; he had wronged her.

No matter how much Vivian had acted out in the past, she had never tried to take her life. But this time, Mia had nearly died.

Being accused by a woman who had nearly died... A chill went down Chase Lockwood’s spine, and he was overcome with shame.

He was supposed to be her savior, a god in her eyes.

Now, he had fallen into Hell, only to be checkmated by her.

Her sharp questioning made him wish he could find a hole to crawl into and hide.

"Someone, please escort Miss Kane out."

Chase Lockwood was still determined to shield Vivian Lynch, hoping to sweep the whole thing under the rug.

He called for his secretary, intending to have Mia Kane forcibly removed.

"Miss Kane, please come with me."

Mia Kane resisted, so the secretary began to physically escort her out. In the ensuing struggle, her wound tore open. Her face went deathly pale from the pain, and tears welled in her eyes.

The secretary immediately froze, not daring to move.

"Sir, she... she’s still injured..."

Chase Lockwood’s heart clenched.

After all, Mia Kane had once saved his life.

"You... Since you’re injured, you should go home and recover. Don’t wander around. This matter ends here. I will make sure you never see Vivian again."

"Mia Kane, don’t be unreasonable. When I say this is over, it’s over."

"And if I insist on pursuing it?"

"Mia Kane!" Chase Lockwood’s eyes turned red. "Do you really want to see me completely and utterly defeated?"

He ground out the words.

’Does she have to trample my pride into the dust? Force my head down and make me admit I was wrong? I already regret it, but I can’t admit it. I still have the pride of the Lockwood Family.’

"So that’s how it is. My life means nothing to you. It’s not as important as your precious pride."

"You yourself have discovered that you married a snake in disguise. She pretends to be fragile, but behind the scenes, she’s a malicious schemer who ruins other people’s relationships. You know all of this; you’ve seen her for what she truly is. But for the sake of your pride, you defend her, turning your back on everyone else."

"You’re not trying to protect her. You’re trying to protect your ridiculous, pathetic pride. To put it nicely, it’s your self-esteem. To put it bluntly, you’re just a stubborn mule who refuses to admit when he’s wrong!"

"Chase Lockwood, you’re a coward. I despise you."

Chase Lockwood’s face was deathly pale.

A man of his status had never been cursed to his face like this.

Mia Kane was the first person to do so. And it wasn’t the first time she had, either. But this time was exceptionally harsh, leaving him mortified.

As she turned to leave, Vivian Lynch finally snapped back to her senses.

’How could I just accept being framed for attempted murder out of nowhere?’

’This is clearly a psychological ploy from Mia. She’s putting on this act, pretending she’s on death’s door, just to force Chase to abandon me completely.’

’That bitch. Her mind is so twisted.’

’I don’t believe Mia would actually risk her own life just for this little show.’

’The wound on her chest has to be fake. Makeup artists are incredible these days. Isn’t that how they do special effects for TV shows?’

’Mia thinks she can fool Chase with this trick? As if!’

Vivian Lynch was filled with confidence.

"Mia Kane, you’ve had your say, and now you think you can just walk away? I didn’t do it, and you’re not going to pin the blame on me."

Vivian Lynch strode forward. Chase Lockwood saw this and tried to stop her, but he was a step too late.

Vivian Lynch forcefully grabbed Mia Kane’s shoulder, then tore at her collar.

RIP! The fabric tore.

Mia Kane instinctively tried to cover herself, but it was too late. Her chest was exposed.

The wound was gruesome, fresh blood soaking through the gauze. It was located just above her bra, perilously close to her heart.

"Vivian, stop it!"

"Chase, I’m about to prove to you that she’s lying through her teeth!"

Vivian Lynch lunged forward, reaching to rip the gauze from her chest.

"Mia Kane, I’ve pulled this kind of stunt before. The difference is, my injuries were real. You don’t have the guts to go as far as I do."

Vivian Lynch was smug. Harming oneself to frame another—hadn’t she done that exact same thing in the past?

Back then, she had slit her wrists, knowing she wouldn’t die right away and would be fine with prompt medical attention.

But this was a wound to the chest. The slightest mistake could be fatal.

She refused to believe Mia Kane would actually go that far.

She gave Mia Kane a triumphant smirk and then mercilessly ripped at the bloody gauze—