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

The two sides were arguing endlessly when, unexpectedly, there was a loud THUD.

Vivian Lynch had fainted.

She swayed and collapsed onto the ground.

Chase Lockwood immediately rushed forward and swept her up into his arms. He ignored whatever his grandmother was saying and carried her away.

"That bitch really has a few tricks up her sleeve. No wonder my grandson is wrapped around her little finger. Mia, you’re just too headstrong. Sometimes you have to pretend to be weak to make a man feel protective."

Mia Kane gave a wry smile at her words. That was something she really couldn’t bring herself to do.

When it came to pleasing men, she had to admit, she admired Vivian Lynch.

...

Vivian Lynch was taken to the hospital. The diagnosis was that there was nothing wrong, but Chase Lockwood didn’t believe the results.

"Then why did she pass out? She still hasn’t woken up. Are you quacks?"

The doctor had no choice but to patiently ask again. Upon learning that Vivian Lynch had fainted after being agitated, he immediately said, "It must have been a drastic emotional fluctuation. We’ll have to wait for the patient to wake up on her own. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine."

Only then did Chase Lockwood relax a little, tightly gripping Vivian Lynch’s hand as he kept watch by her bedside.

As the doctor and nurse left, they couldn’t help but mutter under their breaths, "If she suddenly fainted, she should have taken a nasty fall. But there isn’t a single bruise on her. It’s really strange."

Chase Lockwood had been watching over her for ten minutes when Vivian Lynch groaned and opened her eyes.

"Vivian, you’re finally awake. Are you okay?"

Vivian Lynch’s eyes filled with tears. "Chase... let’s break up. Your grandmother will never let me into your family. You’re a dutiful grandson, I know... Book me a plane ticket. I want to go back."

The more Vivian Lynch said this, the more protective Chase Lockwood became.

"I told you, I won’t let you be wronged again. This time, not even God himself can stop us from being together!"

"SOB, really...? Chase, I don’t want to make things difficult for you."

"It’s not difficult. Not at all."

"Chase, you said we were keeping this from your grandmother. How did she find out? Do you think Mia Kane did it on purpose...? SOB... I’ve put up with her time and time again, why does she keep coming after me like this?"

"Mia Kane?"

Chase Lockwood frowned.

"Who else could it be? She’s just jealous of me, she hates me, and she wants to snatch you back from me."

"Really?"

Chase Lockwood frowned.

"Of course... Who could possibly resist you, Chase..."

Vivian Lynch’s tear-streaked face was a picture of delicate sorrow, making Chase Lockwood’s heart ache for her.

Her words also made him think that Mia Kane still cared about him. She had spoken so sanctimoniously at the castle last night, but behind his back, wasn’t she so restless that she had to call his grandmother back?

’She’s just bluffing, putting pressure on him from all sides, all because she wants to be with him.’

For some reason, Chase Lockwood breathed a sigh of relief.

’As long as Mia Kane was still in the palm of his hand, controllable, then everything was fine.’

Mia Kane had dinner with the grandmother. Throughout the meal, the old woman sighed repeatedly, saying she couldn’t bear to part with Mia and angrily denouncing Chase Lockwood for being blind, for casting aside someone so wonderful for that "crooked melon and split date."

"Don’t you worry, Grandma will get justice for you. Your bond with Chase may be broken, but your bond with Grandma is still here."

When she left the Lockwood Family estate, the grandmother even shed tears, which made Mia Kane feel bad as well.

When she returned to the villa, she was surprised to find Adrian Preston sitting on the sofa. He hadn’t gone to the company.

The moment she walked in, she heard Adrian Preston say, "What’s this? You didn’t stay the night at the Lockwoods’?"

’Why does he sound so sarcastic?’

"Were you waiting for me?"

"You’re overthinking it. What did Chase Lockwood’s grandmother say to you?"

"Nothing much. Just that she won’t allow Vivian Lynch to marry into the family, that she still thinks highly of me, that sort of thing."

"You’re certainly skilled at currying favor with the elderly. Now that the old matriarch is backing you, are you regretting marrying me?"

"Are you feeling even more pleased with yourself now?"

Mia Kane frowned. ’Did Adrian Preston wake up on the wrong side of the bed?’

"Are you hoping I’ll go back to the Lockwood Family, then?"

She threw the question back at him.

"Acting like this, I’m starting to think you don’t welcome me here. If you want me to leave, you can just say so."

Instead of heading upstairs, Mia Kane turned to leave. Adrian Preston couldn’t sit still any longer. He grabbed her hand and, with a swift motion, pinned her down on the sofa.

His entire demeanor turned incredibly dark and terrifying, like a vengeful spirit that had crawled out of Hell.

He wrapped a hand around her neck and said viciously, "Mia Kane, you come and go as you please. What do you take me for?"

"You dare take one step out that door and see if I don’t break your legs!"

Adrian Preston had finally dropped his disguise. In a way, this made her feel a bit more comfortable.

"You seem very angry?"

"I just hate being played with."

"Is that so?" Hearing this, Mia Kane suddenly leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Adrian Preston reacted as if he’d been electrocuted, stumbling back several steps and awkwardly bumping into the coffee table.

"What are you doing?"

"It’s not the first time we’ve kissed. What are you so afraid of?"

Adrian Preston frowned. It was true, it wasn’t the first time, and they had grown more familiar with each other.

But just now, it had come without any warning, catching him completely off guard.

He also realized his reaction was overly strange and quickly composed himself.

Mia Kane found this interesting. She had just acted on a whim. ’When a man acts fierce, can a woman just act cute and make everything okay?’

"Are you afraid I’m going to run off? It’s impossible between Chase Lockwood and me. Regardless of whether I still have feelings for him, I won’t eat this half-cooked rice."

"Adrian Preston, I want to try seriously seducing you."

"You... what did you say?"

"Seduce you, and then secure my position as Mrs. Preston."

Mia Kane had been thinking this over the whole way here. She felt it was best to develop things properly with Adrian Preston. It wasn’t that she had fallen in love with him, but rather that the Preston Family was large and powerful, and with them, she wouldn’t be bullied!

Besides, she would also be able to protect her own family.

’First, I’ll try to win him over. If that doesn’t work, I’ll think of another plan.’

"You..."

Adrian Preston’s brow furrowed deeply. His eyes were filled with shock, and even... a hint of astonishment.

It seemed Mia Kane had turned the tables on him, startling him.

"It seems you really were just joking."

Mia Kane didn’t show any sign of disappointment. Men rarely put up too much resistance to women, and she was very confident in her own looks.

She was exactly the type men found aesthetically pleasing, with a beautiful face and a full, well-proportioned figure.

As long as Adrian Preston was a normal man, he wouldn’t be able to resist someone like her.

’Perhaps Adrian Preston just wants to play around and doesn’t want her to be Mrs. Preston forever.’

’In that case, she wouldn’t play along.’

"Alright, I was just kidding. Don’t take it seriously. I’m tired, too. I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m going upstairs to catch up on some sleep."

Mia Kane yawned, turned, and started upstairs, but to her surprise, Adrian Preston grabbed her wrist again.

His grip was so strong it hurt, and she suspected he was trying to rip her bones from their sockets.

Adrian Preston’s extremely hoarse voice sounded by her ear.

"Fine. Let’s try it. Let’s see if you can seduce me."

"How exactly do you plan on seducing me?"

The next second, Mia Kane was pulled into his embrace. The man looked down at her from his superior height, exuding the air of a conqueror.

"First, tell me, are you really that easy to catch? Or are you lying to me? If you’re too hard to catch, I’ll choose to give up too."