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

"Sorry, I have a wife."

Adrian Preston replied without even looking up.

"What? I won’t tell your wife. I swear I won’t break up your family."

"You’re already doing that. Get out."

"President Preston..."

Still unwilling to give up, Faith Donovan lunged at him, and then... Adrian caught her in a reverse arm lock, pinning her against the desk.

CRACK! Her arm was dislocated.

"Go find an orthopedist to set it yourself."

Faith Donovan’s face was already white with pain. If she didn’t know what was good for her and stayed, she feared her arm would actually break.

’Adrian Preston is actually so immune to women!’

Furious and indignant, Faith Donovan ran off in tears.

Mia Kane was so absorbed in watching the drama unfold that she forgot to get out of the way, and Faith Donovan ran right into her.

Faith Donovan’s face paled. She already felt humiliated and couldn’t believe someone had witnessed the whole thing.

She left in a huff, and Mia Kane started to slink away as well. But Faith, unable to stomach the insult, stormed back and snapped, "What are you so smug about? Don’t think just because you’re prettier than me that you’ll fare any better. If you try to seduce him, you’ll get thrown out too!"

"Huh?"

"I’ll bet ten thousand that you’ll end up just like me!"

"Ten thousand? Are you sure?"

Mia Kane’s eyes lit up. ’Who would say no to money?’

"That’s right. And if you lose, you give me fifty thousand."

"You’re on!"

Brimming with confidence, Mia Kane knocked on the door.

"Get out—"

It was Adrian Preston’s extremely hostile shout.

Hearing this, Faith Donovan felt much better, watching Mia Kane smugly.

Mia Kane felt a little helpless. ’What is there to be so competitive about?’ But for the money, she had to give it a try.

"Adrian, it’s Mia."

"Come in."

Adrian Preston’s voice softened considerably. Mia Kane went in, leaving a crack in the door for Faith Donovan.

She intentionally lowered her voice so Faith wouldn’t overhear them, afraid she’d be accused of cheating.

"Are you hot? Your forehead is all sweaty. Let me wipe it for you."

As Mia Kane wiped his brow, she plopped down onto his lap.

Adrian Preston raised an eyebrow, his expression inquisitive.

Mustering her courage, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I saw you reject her. She just had to compete with me, saying that if I tried to seduce you, I’d get thrown out too. If I don’t get thrown out, I win ten thousand."

"And if you lose?"

"Fifty thousand! But I can’t possibly lose, right, Adrian? Hurry and carry me into the inner room. We can split the ten thousand!"

Mia Kane’s eyes sparkled.

Adrian Preston actually did sweep her up into his arms. She glanced triumphantly toward the crack in the door and saw Faith Donovan grinding her teeth in anger, stomping her foot so hard her heel was probably swelling.

Mia Kane was about to laugh in triumph, but then Adrian carried her toward the door.

"What are you doing?"

"Guess."

Adrian Preston kicked the door open with one foot and then tossed her outside.

Then, he slammed the door shut with a BANG.

Mia Kane was stunned. A very real pain shot from her rear end through her entire body; she felt like she’d landed hard enough to split it in two.

Faith Donovan emerged from behind a money tree, laughing so hard she was doubled over. Her dislocated arm swung back and forth, creating a bizarre sight.

"Haha, I’m dying! And you thought you were different. Did President Preston tell you? He’s married!"

Mia Kane’s cheeks flushed red. She was too embarrassed to tell Faith Donovan that she was the ’official pairing’!

If she said it out loud, Faith would probably laugh even harder.

"The money!"

Faith Donovan held out her hand, looking at her triumphantly.

Mia Kane could only accept her loss. With extreme heartache, she transferred the fifty thousand.

The pent-up frustration in Faith Donovan’s heart finally dissipated. Although she had been rejected, she found some satisfaction at Mia Kane’s expense.

Faith Donovan patted Mia Kane’s shoulder. "Don’t be discouraged. We shouldn’t even dream of possessing an ’unattainable flower on a high mountain’ like him. Even one night would be a win. We can add each other as friends. I have a group chat for everyone who wants to get their hands on the unattainable flower... ahem, for everyone who admires President Preston. We can share tips."

’I’ve already spent fifty thousand,’ Mia Kane thought. ’If I don’t join the group and learn some advanced techniques, it’ll be a total loss.’

So, she decisively joined the group.

Her group nickname had been changed to: Fan #109 Rejected by President Preston?

’He’s rejected that many girls?’

This wasn’t the time to dwell on that. She had to go find Adrian Preston and settle the score.

She opened the door, went inside, and angrily demanded, "Why did you throw me out?"

"I didn’t want to fake it."

Adrian Preston crossed his arms, leaning lazily back in his swivel chair.

"What do you mean, fake it? You just had to carry me into the other room to ’rest.’ You wouldn’t have had to do anything, and she wouldn’t have known..."

"It’s still faking it. I’m a man of principle."

"That’s not a matter of principle! Adrian Preston, you did it on purpose! You deliberately threw me out and made me lose fifty thousand!"

"Who told you to be greedy and make a bet like that?" Adrian Preston narrowed his eyes.

"You... you just love bullying me! My butt hurts like hell... Theo Thorne was worried something had happened since you’ve been living here, so I came to check. Turns out... I would have been better off watching a stray dog on the street."

Mia Kane stormed off, but Adrian couldn’t sit still. He stood up and grabbed her hand.

"Let me go."

"Let me put some ointment on it."

"I don’t need your fake concern..."

Mia Kane was in no position to refuse him. With the vast difference in strength between a man and a woman, Adrian simply carried her inside.

He placed her on the bed. Adrian always kept a first-aid kit with him, which contained a medicinal liquor for improving circulation and reducing bruising.

There was a large, dark bruise forming on her buttock.

Adrian Preston frowned. He blamed himself for being too rough. He was used to wrestling with men and had forgotten that Mia Kane was a delicate girl who would get a red mark or a bruise from the slightest touch.

At first, he was genuinely focused on applying the ointment, but then, his mind wandered, and he... delivered another slap. It had the bouncy feel of smacking Jell-O.

A crisp sound echoed. Mia Kane was stunned.

’So painful...’

"You... you hit me?"

Adrian Preston came back to his senses and coughed awkwardly. "This is punishment for gambling. All forms of gambling, big or small, should be curbed."

He said, sounding high and mighty.

"Alright, hurry up and get dressed."

He turned away to stop himself from looking any longer.

Mia Kane got dressed, feeling deeply wronged. "You’re such a bastard! So heartless! You didn’t help me in front of an outsider, and now you think you’re in the right? If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have gotten married..."

"What did you say?"

Adrian Preston pulled her back again, trapping her in his embrace and setting her firmly on his lap.

"If you didn’t marry me, who would you want to marry?"

"Anyone but you. It could be anyone..."

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!—

Adrian Preston delivered a few more slaps.