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

"I’m guessing you don’t want to sleep with me."

Adrian Preston’s voice was extremely hoarse.

"Why?"

"I’m paranoid, gloomy, and terrifying—not the person you think I am. My guess is, you don’t want to get involved with someone like that. So, what’s wrong with keeping our relationship the way it is? You married me, but I haven’t actually touched you. If you decide to remarry in the future, it’ll be easier for you to deal with your next husband."

"Mia Kane, as long as it’s not Chase Lockwood, I’m willing to let you go if you meet someone you like and he truly loves you."

"Why is Chase Lockwood not okay?"

"I look down on him."

Adrian Preston scoffed at the mention of Chase Lockwood.

He had never approved of Chase Lockwood’s views on love; Chase Lockwood wasn’t good enough for Mia Kane.

"Then what are you really like?"

"I told you, curiosity killed the cat."

Adrian Preston looked down at her, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing in displeasure.

Mia Kane could sort of guess what he meant, but it also felt impossible. ’Does Adrian Preston have some kind of misunderstanding about himself? How could someone as upright and loyal as him be paranoid, gloomy, and terrifying?’

Just then, a series of rapid knocks sounded on the door.

Mia Kane cut the conversation short. "Your sister is here to call us for breakfast. We should hurry downstairs."

"I’ll change my clothes."

Mia Kane went to open the door first. Shannon Preston eyed her warily, staring at the suspicious blush on her cheeks.

"What were you two doing in there?"

Mia Kane made a show of straightening her clothes. "That’s not for little girls to ask."

"You... you... In broad daylight, you actually... You must have seduced my brother."

Shannon Preston was so angry she was grinding her teeth, a hint of grievance in her eyes. She looked at Mia Kane as if she wanted to tear her to shreds.

Her reaction felt off. ’Is she for real?’

He’s just her brother, not her boyfriend. Why was she so worked up?

’They must have a very close relationship as siblings, and she doesn’t want to share him.’

"Mia Kane, I’ll remember this. You just wait." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She stormed off.

She waited by the door for Adrian Preston to go to breakfast. It should have only taken him a few minutes to change, but he was taking a long time to come out.

Feeling a little confused, she peeked inside and saw he was already fully dressed and on the phone.

"My marriage is my decision. I don’t need Father and Mother to worry about it."

"This is not something you can interfere with."

Adrian Preston said very little, listening for the most part, but the few words he did speak were delivered with absolute resolve.

"She can ask for a divorce, but I won’t. I will never be the one to initiate a divorce with her."

After saying that, Adrian Preston unhappily hung up the phone. The atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy and oppressive.

He turned his head and saw Mia Kane at the door. His brow smoothed out as he reined in his harsh aura.

"Let’s go. Time for breakfast downstairs."

"Was that your parents?"

"You should start calling them Mom and Dad. I’ll handle them. You didn’t marry me to be mistreated. With me protecting you, you don’t have to be afraid even if the sky falls. I’ll hold it up for you."

Adrian Preston’s words were powerful and resonant, making Mia Kane’s chest swell with emotion.

The two went downstairs for breakfast. Shannon Preston was sulking and didn’t come down, so he had a maid take her food up to her.

Unexpectedly, Shannon Preston started a hunger strike.

Adrian Preston shook his head helplessly. He didn’t even go to the office. This workaholic was so concerned about his sister that he was neglecting the company.

Mia Kane felt a twinge of jealousy.

Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the emotion.

’How could I be jealous of Shannon Preston? That’s his sister. Isn’t it normal for them to have a close bond after living together for almost twenty years?’

’Besides, why should I be jealous? It’s not like I’ve fallen for Adrian Preston!’

She patted her cheeks. ’Snap out of it. Men are the last thing you should get involved with; they bring bad luck for three generations.’

Meanwhile, upstairs—

Adrian Preston brought in the breakfast tray.

"If you don’t eat, are you really trying to starve yourself to death?"

"I’m not eating. After you got a sister-in-law, you stopped doting on me. You might as well just let me starve."

Shannon Preston was lying on her stomach on the bed, hugging a stuffed animal. Tears streamed down her cheeks, making her look pitiful.

"Who said that? I still dote on you just like before. And now you have one more person to dote on and love you, isn’t that a good thing?"

"Who wants her to dote on me? I don’t like her. Brother, can you get a new sister-in-law? The girl Mom and Dad found for your arranged marriage this time is great. I like her a lot. She’s elegant and intelligent, a perfect match for you."

"But your brother likes this sister-in-law."

Adrian Preston said, enunciating every word.

When Shannon Preston heard this, the tears clinging to her eyelashes, she forgot to even blink, staring at him in disbelief.

She knew Adrian Preston too well. If he said he liked someone, he meant it, and he wouldn’t change his mind easily.

He was a very stubborn person and also very sentimental. He could hide his feelings for someone in his heart for many, many years.

"Brother... Wh-... why? What on earth did she do to make you like her? Is she even worthy of you?"

Adrian Preston’s expression turned grim.

"Shannon, watch your attitude. She deserves the best of everything in this world."

"Then what about me? I want the best of everything in this world, too."

"Shannon, someday you’ll meet someone who will want to give you all the good things in this world, too. As for me... I only want to give them to her. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll mistreat my little sister."

Adrian Preston said softly, stroking her head.

Shannon Preston suddenly flew into a rage, grabbing his hand and biting down hard.

She bit down so hard that it left a deep indentation, and large beads of blood welled up.

Adrian Preston didn’t blame her in the slightest, enduring the pain to soothe her emotions.

’It was always like this...’

’No matter how willfully she acted out, her brother would never get angry; he would always dote on her.’

’But now, when she spoke ill of Mia Kane, her brother would put on a stern face and scold her.’

’Was the brother who used to belong only to her now going to belong to someone else?’

’Would the brother who was so good to her really give all that goodness to another person? Would she have to make concessions?’

She released his hand, tears of indignation falling.

"Hmph. I’ll never accept her. I hate her."

Shannon Preston angrily ran out of the house.

Adrian Preston looked at the wound on his hand and shook his head gently.

"Shannon..."

...

Mia Kane went to the design studio.

Her eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably when Rosalyn Shield told her that Chase Lockwood had come looking for her.

The last time he came, it was to propose marriage.

’What could he possibly want this time?’

She felt like her nerves were already frayed.

She went downstairs and saw Chase Lockwood sitting in his car. One arm was resting on the open window, his posture casual and languid, exuding a compelling charm.

A gilded playboy like him radiated charm wherever he went, and he had already attracted the gazes of several young women.

Mia Kane, however, was completely unmoved.

"What is it?"

"Get in the car. Let’s have a proper talk."

"Can’t we just talk here? I’m afraid your dear Vivian might get the wrong idea, and that wouldn’t be good."

"I didn’t realize you were so considerate. Don’t worry, she’s not like that. She’s very kind and generous; she won’t mind. In fact, she keeps telling me I should compensate you, that she feels we owe you."

Mia Kane laughed. ’That’s what she says on the surface. If you actually did it, I bet Vivian Lynch would be throwing a fit at home.’

’He can’t even recognize when a woman is being sarcastic. Chase Lockwood really doesn’t deserve his reputation as a Casanova. He’s going to spend his whole life wrapped around Vivian Lynch’s little finger.’

She got into the car, and they soon arrived at a café.

She was a little surprised that Chase Lockwood actually remembered her preferences.

"I thought you wouldn’t remember."

"I didn’t used to. I could never seem to remember, but I don’t know what’s changed. Now it’s all becoming clearer and clearer. You don’t like spicy food, you love strawberries and mangoes..."

"Alright, let’s get to the point."

Mia Kane didn’t want to listen to him ramble. She wanted to get this over with so she could go back.

A flicker of disappointment, one he didn’t even notice himself, crossed Chase Lockwood’s eyes.

His expression turned serious. "Stop being Adrian Preston’s mistress. Don’t devalue yourself like this. It—it hurts me to see."