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

Just then, the door to the lounge was suddenly thrown open.

"Adrian, this is bad! A hacker breached the firewall and is trying to..."

Theo Thorne froze, dumbfounded.

’Did I pick the wrong time to come in?’

"Sorry, I didn’t see a thing!"

Theo Thorne slammed the door shut with a BANG.

’Just now, Adrian had his back to the door, and his wife was crouching on the floor. At that particular height...’

’My god, Adrian really knows how to have fun. He’s usually such a serious guy, and I heard he and his wife were even sleeping in separate beds. I never thought... he’d be into such wild stuff.’

Mia Kane wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

When people are embarrassed, they tend to act busy.

Adrian Preston looked down at her and demanded.

"What are you doing?"

"My shoelaces. I’m tying my shoelaces."

"You’re wearing slippers. Where are the shoelaces?"

"Huh? Am I? Oh, right, your inseam. Let me just hurry up and measure it. You can go get busy."

Mia Kane wanted to disappear completely. She quickly finished measuring his inseam, and Adrian left without delay, which let her breathe a sigh of relief.

"Ad... Adrian? You’re out already?"

"Do I look like a hacker to you?"

"No."

"Then what did you need me for?"

Adrian Preston’s face was dark as he spoke coolly.

"The tech department called me. They said there were signs of a constant breach on the firewall, and I was afraid our core data would be leaked, so I rushed over. I must have been in a panic to just burst in like that. I didn’t expect your wife to be here. It was really rude of me. You were blocking her just now, so I really didn’t see a thing!"

"Seriously, though, your wife really cares about you. I only mentioned to her that you’ve been living at the office lately and asked if something happened. She was worried about you, so she came over tonight."

Adrian Preston shot Theo Thorne a dark look. ’Whose secretary is he, anyway? Who signs his paychecks?’

"Adrian, do you want to head to the tech department to take a look?"

"No need. Just report back when you have results. If we get breached this time, they’ll pay until they’re bankrupt. The Preston Group doesn’t employ dead weight. Tell them to figure it out themselves."

Adrian Preston spoke with immense authority. A sense of awe washed over Theo Thorne, and he immediately went to carry out the order.

Adrian also turned on his computer and started doing something, his expression grim. The situation seemed critical.

Mia Kane didn’t dare to sleep, afraid she’d wake up to find all of the Preston Group’s money gone.

If something really went wrong, she could at least be there to comfort Adrian immediately.

’Having your home robbed.’ She understood that feeling all too well.

She didn’t dare to disturb him, but she could at least do simple things like bringing him a drink.

She poured a glass of lemon water.

"Is there any coffee?"

Adrian Preston instinctively wanted coffee.

"It’s so late. If you drink coffee now, will you be able to sleep at all? Lemon water is good. It replenishes your Vitamin C and can even lighten your skin."

Resigned, Adrian Preston had no choice but to drink the lemon water.

About half an hour later, Theo Thorne returned, his expression much more relaxed.

"The intruder has been repelled."

"Have them keep investigating who hacked us. Trying to steal my things... they’ve got some nerve."

Adrian Preston said darkly.

His words sent a chill down the spine.

Mia Kane knew he wasn’t talking about her, but her heart still skipped a beat. She couldn’t imagine what fate awaited her if Adrian Preston ever decided to go against her.

"Understood, Adrian. I won’t come back again tonight even if there’s news. I’ll tell you tomorrow at work. Mrs. Preston, I’m so sorry... You two carry on. Carry on..."

Mia Kane wished she could turn invisible.

She was completely defenseless against the look in Theo Thorne’s eyes.

’This really isn’t what he thinks it is.’

"Go to sleep. I’ll be fine out here."

"Okay, I’m going to bed then."

Mia Kane scrambled to leave.

The night was deep, and she fell asleep quickly. Even in this unfamiliar place, she felt no anxiety. Perhaps it was because this was Adrian Preston’s territory. His presence was pervasive, filling her with a sense of security.

Mia Kane was sleeping so soundly that she vaguely felt someone caressing her cheek.

Her lips felt damp, as if something was nibbling on them.

A slow savoring, a lingering aftertaste. Her lips were like the person’s favorite toy, unwilling to bite too hard, yet just as unwilling to let go.

"Ngh..."

Mia Kane couldn’t help but murmur.

The sensation vanished completely. She suspected she was dreaming and wanted desperately to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as if they weighed a ton, refusing to budge.

The night grew deeper.

When Mia Kane woke up, Adrian Preston wasn’t in the office.

When she came out after freshening up, a woman dressed as a secretary was waiting outside.

"Miss, you’re awake. I’ll go get your breakfast."

Soon, breakfast was served.

"Where’s Adrian Preston?"

"President Preston is in a meeting. It will likely last until around eleven. He said to let you do as you please—you can stay for lunch or leave, whichever you prefer."

"In that case, tell him I’ve gone to my studio to work."

"Understood."

Mia Kane left. To her surprise, her phone started vibrating wildly. She picked it up and saw it was the group chat she had joined last night.

She had forgotten to turn off notifications, and someone was sending messages now.

She was about to put her phone away when she saw...

"OMG, everyone, I was just waiting on a woman in President Preston’s office!"

Mia Kane: ’Looks like I’m the tea being spilled today.’

She couldn’t help but keep reading.

#51, Rejected by President Preston, spoke up: "How is that possible? Everyone knows President Preston is completely uninterested in women. How could someone climb into his bed?"

#100, Faith Donovan, stepped forward.

"It’s possible. President Preston admitted himself that he’s married and has a wife. Tell me quick, is his wife pretty?"

Secretary #99: "Pretty? She’s drop-dead gorgeous! I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful. She came right out of President Preston’s private lounge, so they definitely must have slept together last night. I’m so jealous! I don’t even dare to feel envious, she’s just that stunning. If those two weren’t together, it would be a crime against humanity."

Faith Donovan was not pleased: "Why are you singing her praises and demoralizing our own side?"

Secretary #99: "It’s not like that! She’s just too beautiful. I think she runs her own studio. When I went in, she had just woken up. No makeup at all, everyone! And her bare face is just killer!"

Mia Kane lurked for a long time, finally figuring out where all these "rejected" women came from.

Many of them, surprisingly, were people Adrian Preston had accidentally saved during his time in the military.

Adrian Preston had been an anti-smuggling police officer, working undercover for several years. He had busted numerous strongholds and smashed the largest smuggling ring in Soutoria at the time into pieces.

He was reassigned to the headquarters in Argent after being severely injured.

Some were victims he had rescued.

Others worked at the Preston Group and had developed crushes based on fantasy without ever even meeting Adrian Preston. After seeing him in person, they were even more hopelessly smitten.

And so, the group grew larger by the day.

Mia Kane was about to quietly finish enjoying the drama when Faith Donovan suddenly @’d her.

"Hey, newbie from last night. I left after my seduction attempt failed. Since you were after me, did you see Mrs. Preston?"

Mia Kane played dead and said nothing.

’She *was* Mrs. Preston. She saw her in the mirror every day.’

Unexpectedly, Faith Donovan sent her a private message.

"I have a sexy private photoshoot of President Preston. Want it? I’ll sell it to you for a thousand."

Mia Kane’s temples throbbed.

’Faith Donovan’s business ventures are really something else.’

"Thanks, but I’m not that kind of person."

The next second, Faith Donovan sent a photo of Adrian Preston. He was showing off his abs, which were covered in glistening sweat. His muscles were full and pumped, and his skin was a little darker than it was now—a perfectly sun-kissed, wheat-toned complexion that was both healthy and incredibly easy on the eyes.

The lower half of the photo was pixelated, giving the impression that you could pay to unlock the censored content.

As expected of a bank president’s daughter, Faith Donovan’s financial acumen was truly unrivaled.

"Fine, one thousand!"

"Nope. Price just went up. Five thousand."

Mia Kane: ...