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

Mia Kane’s mind went blank, but she quickly snapped out of it. "Could you... not notify him? He doesn’t know about this. Can you have my parents come get me instead?"

"But I already called him. He’s on his way and should be here soon."

Mia Kane and Adrian Preston might have been able to hide their marriage from outsiders, but not from the police department’s backend system and its network of social connections. The "Spouse" field next to her name was clearly filled in: Adrian Preston.

Hearing this, Mia Kane wished she could just disappear on the spot.

"Where’s Mia Kane?"

Just then, she heard a familiar voice from outside, low and simmering with anger.

"Brother Preston, over here."

The police officer called out.

Mia Kane froze. ’They know each other?’

Adrian Preston walked in, his face dark. His deep, intense gaze landed on Mia Kane.

"Brother Preston, take a look. They’re all gorgeous photos of you."

The officer grinned, dangling the photos in front of Adrian Preston. Mia Kane wished she could snatch them all back.

The more Adrian Preston looked, the uglier his expression became.

He reached for them, but the officer dodged away.

"I’ve got to save these. It’s not every day you get blackmail material on Brother Preston. Anyway, my sister-in-law here must be confused. My name is Dylan Zane, but you can just call me Young Zane. I’m two years younger than Brother Preston. I trained under him for a year before getting transferred here."

"You... Hello..."

"Sister-in-law, while taking photos between a husband and wife isn’t illegal, it’s still not exactly encouraged. And Brother Preston, really now. Didn’t you go back home to inherit a multi-billion-dollar fortune? Did you forget to give your wife an allowance? Otherwise, why would she resort to such unconventional means, selling this stuff for cash?"

"I already said, it wasn’t selling. It was a voluntary gift."

Mia Kane couldn’t help but defend herself.

"Haha, Sister-in-law, you’re adorable. Brother Preston, this is your family matter, so you handle it. I’m about to get off work. I’m treating you to dinner, so you’d better not refuse. I’m just going to hand off my duties. You two wait for me."

Young Zane left, leaving only her and Adrian Preston in the interrogation room. She wasn’t sure if it was the small, stuffy room that felt oppressive, or the terrifying chill radiating from Adrian.

"Distributing obscene materials?"

"No, it’s not like that! They’re not that revealing. You can look, they were shot in a more artistic..."

"Mia Kane, you actually took photos of your own husband to turn a profit?"

"It was a gift, a gift..."

’Don’t even think about pinning a crime on me!’

Mia Kane felt like she was having a run of bad luck. She had honestly only planned on this one job, just to get her money back.

She had just been so infuriated by Faith Donovan that she’d resorted to a desperate measure.

How could she have known she’d sell them yesterday only to be brought in today, and then get bailed out by Adrian Preston himself?

And of all the bad luck, she had to run into his former colleague.

’Adrian must feel so embarrassed right now.’

"I’m sorry... I know I was wrong."

’A wise person adapts to the circumstances.’

She summoned her courage, stepped forward, and tugged on Adrian Preston’s sleeve, giving it a little shake.

"I’ve deeply reflected on my mistake and promise I’ll never do it again."

Her pitiful, innocent act made it impossible for Adrian Preston to unleash the full force of his anger.

’No wonder she was so kind as to buy him fruit wine. So this was what she had planned all along.’

"Look, I made you look so good in the photos. That jawline, sharper than a life plan. Those broad shoulders and that narrow waist..."

"Do you have any idea that even though we’re husband and wife, since you sold my likeness without my consent, I have the right to sue you?"

Mia Kane instantly deflated.

"So... are you going to sue me?"

"Yes."

Mia Kane was on the verge of tears.

"Don’t be so cruel, okay? I know you wouldn’t."

"You’ve miscalculated. I would."

Adrian Preston said with a deadpan, utterly serious expression, as if he would be facing her in court the very next second.

Mia Kane couldn’t tell if he was just trying to scare her or if he meant it.

But thinking about his former profession, she didn’t dare take the gamble. What if he really was that merciless?

"Then, seeing as this is my first offense and I have a good attitude about admitting my mistake, could you give me a chance to turn over a new leaf?"

"And how do you plan to show your remorse?"

"The money... I’ll give it all to you. I made sixty thousand yuan in total."

"And?"

"I’ll write you a formal letter of apology, guaranteeing I’ll never do it again."

"And?"

"And..." Mia Kane was stumped. What else could she do to compensate him? "Can you give me a hint?"

"Your allowance for this month is gone. Also, I won’t be paying for the two custom outfits for me and my sister."

’Giving the clothes for free is one thing, but losing my allowance... isn’t that a little too harsh?’

"The allowance... can we not cut that?"

"Then we can go to the Preston Group’s legal department, and I’ll have them put you away."

The Preston Group’s legal department was also known as ’the Must-Wins’—there wasn’t a case they couldn’t win.

"Fine, fine, fine!" Mia Kane could only concede.

By this time, Young Zane had changed into his regular clothes.

"Brother Preston, I’m ready. Mind if I invite a few friends? You know all of them."

"Fine."

They set off in one car, driving further and further out until they reached the suburbs.

Finally, they pulled up in front of a shooting club.

"What is this place?"

"A private, legal shooting club. A few retired veterans opened it. They also have horse riding and archery here, and you can shoot real guns."

"Real guns?"

Mia Kane’s eyes lit up. She looked at Adrian Preston expectantly. If he didn’t say anything, she’d be too embarrassed to ask to try.

Adrian Preston didn’t meet her pleading gaze, his expression still icy.

Young Zane glanced between the two of them, a smile playing on his lips.

Two more people arrived later, both veteran police officers who were on good terms with Adrian Preston.

They all had dinner together, during which Young Zane brought up what happened today.

"In that case, we have to toast our little sister-in-law! Her courage is commendable. She’s the first in history to do something like this."

Mia Kane was a nervous wreck. She just wished the whole incident would be forgotten, but they had to bring up the one topic she wanted to avoid.

"Little sister-in-law, drink up!"

Mia Kane could only down it in one gulp.

"She can hold her liquor!"

After that, someone else wanted to toast with her, but Adrian Preston surprisingly stopped them. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"She’s had too much. Her hands won’t be steady for shooting. That’s enough."

Mia Kane looked at him excitedly. ’He’s agreeing to let me shoot!’

Adrian Preston averted his gaze and took a sip of tea.

He just didn’t like seeing Mia Kane drinking with this group of rough-looking men. Even though he knew they didn’t have any ulterior motives, he still felt a secret annoyance.

After dinner, they went to the shooting range. There were fixed and moving targets, and the handguns all had a range of fifty meters.

It was Mia Kane’s first time holding a gun. It was pitch-black and heavy, and the cold touch of the metal sent a shiver through her.

She suddenly felt a little nervous.

Just then, Adrian Preston stood behind her, his body pressing against her back and shoulders. He wrapped his arm around and took hold of her hands.

"Hand and eye in a straight line. Look straight ahead into the distance. Legs slightly apart. Your lower body has to be stable."

"Chamber a round, pull the trigger, and then fire."

Mia Kane didn’t know if she was nervous because it was her first time firing a gun, or because he was standing so close.

For this shot, even with an expert guiding her, the unfamiliar recoil made her wrist jerk aside the moment the bullet left the chamber.

’The recoil is surprisingly strong.’

"Is Sister-in-law too nervous?"

Young Zane commented from the side.

"Are you nervous because I’m here?"

Adrian Preston’s voice was right by her ear. She could feel the hot breath he exhaled.

A tingling, electric sensation spread from behind her ear, making her heart clench.