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

"Why!"

Owen Sinclair grabbed him by the collar.

"You knew how I felt, so why did you still go after her? Why did you steal her from me?"

"You’ve got it wrong. We were already married before I knew you liked her. You’re the one who was coveting my wife!"

Adrian Preston’s voice was firm and resolute, each word landing with force.

"Then why didn’t you just tell me? Why? Was it fun messing with me?"

"I’m sorry. We couldn’t go public because of our secret marriage. I did warn you. I told you she wasn’t right for you because she was already a married woman."

Owen Sinclair froze. When Adrian had said that before, Owen had just thought he was prejudiced against Mia Kane. He never imagined this was what he’d meant.

Mia hadn’t given him any hope, either. She admitted she had a boyfriend the very next day.

’It was me... I was the one who refused to give up, who kept deceiving myself.’

Defeat was written all over Owen Sinclair’s face, but he quickly pulled himself together.

He let out a heavy breath. "I was a step too late. I admit defeat. As long as you two are married, I won’t do anything out of line, and I’ll keep my distance from her. But—but if! If you don’t treat her well, if your marriage starts to fall apart, I will absolutely take my chance!"

Adrian Preston frowned. He hadn’t expected Owen Sinclair to be so persistent. ’He must really be in love with Mia.’

"So, you have to treat her well. If you don’t, I’ll be the first one to convince her to divorce you!"

"You’d still want her, even if she’s divorced?"

"I would. Where else could I find someone so wonderful? I’d take her even if she were on her third or fourth marriage! So, you’d better watch yourself."

Owen Sinclair’s heart was a tangled mess. A despicable part of him hoped they would divorce so he could seize the opportunity to be with Mia Kane.

But he also didn’t want to see Mia get hurt. The pain a marriage could inflict on a woman was endless, and he wanted her to be happy.

This warning was the only way he could make Adrian Preston understand that if he didn’t want her, someone else was waiting in the wings. He had to realize he’d gotten the greatest treasure.

He wanted to keep Adrian Preston on edge forever, to make sure he would always treat Mia well.

"Don’t worry," Adrian Preston said, each word laced with conviction. "That day will never come."

Their gazes clashed mid-air, and the scent of gunpowder seemed to fill the space between them.

"I hope so. Go take care of her. I’m leaving."

In the end, Owen Sinclair conceded defeat. He no longer had any reason to be there. Her husband had arrived; she didn’t need comfort from her senior from school.

Adrian Preston returned to the hospital room. Mia Kane asked nervously, "What happened to your face? Did Owen hit you? Is he furious? Does he blame us for hiding it?"

"He’s angry, but he’s angry at me. It has nothing to do with you. He’ll cool down in a few days. It’s nothing."

"What about your face... Does it hurt?"

’The injury looks pretty bad. I can’t believe someone as gentle and refined as Owen would actually hit someone.’

"Are you worried about me?"

"You’re overthinking it." Mia quickly looked away.

Adrian Preston stayed with her for a little while longer before getting a call and having to leave.

Chase Lockwood came by again, and Mia Kane felt a massive headache coming on.

"Feeling any better today?"

Shannon Preston stood at the door, snapped a few photos, and sent them to Adrian.

"Brother, look. Chase is here again."

Adrian Preston didn’t reply, but Shannon Preston didn’t care. ’The seed has been planted. Now I just have to wait for time to pass and for it to take root and sprout.’

"Much better. You don’t have to come."

"I was in the area for business and decided to stop by."

Chase Lockwood wasn’t lying. He had just met a client in the building across the street and figured he’d come take a look since it was so close.

He didn’t know why he’d come, either. He just couldn’t get her off his mind.

Mia Kane rubbed her temples. ’I have to get discharged tonight!’

’Who knows what else will happen if I stay here any longer?’

"You came at a bad time. I was just about to go for a check-up. You’ve seen me, so you should head back..."

She was trying to send him away, but before she could finish, Vivian Lynch unexpectedly showed up.

She had expected Vivian Lynch to make a scene and cause a huge fuss, but instead...

She arrived with many expensive nutritional supplements, acting incredibly gentle.

"Vivian... Let me explain..."

Chase Lockwood felt a pang of guilt. While he felt his intentions were pure, he couldn’t deny that his actions were inappropriate.

But Vivian Lynch just smiled, seemingly unconcerned.

"Oh, you. If you were coming to visit Mia, you should have told me. I’m worried about her too. I wouldn’t have stopped you; I would have come with you."

"Are you okay? If I hadn’t thought to pick Chase up to go home, I never would have discovered he was here visiting you. Both Chase and I are very concerned about you. We’re hoping you get better. Only when you’re well can we be together in peace."

"That’s right. When you’re all better, Vivian and I can finally be at ease."

Chase Lockwood thought Vivian Lynch was absolutely right.

Mia Kane almost felt like applauding Vivian Lynch. ’What a master manipulator. When I think about how I used to act, all I did was fight endlessly with Chase as if it were a life-or-death struggle.’

’Vivian showing up so magnanimously, visiting me instead of starting a fight... With such generosity, how could she not have Chase’s heart wrapped around her finger?’

"Chase, since Mia is about to go for a check-up, we shouldn’t disturb her. I just asked the doctor, and everything is fine, so we can rest easy. Mia, from now on, if anything happens, just come to us. Treat us like family. Chase and I will do everything we can to help."

"Yes, just ask if you need anything. Don’t be a stranger."

Mia Kane just wanted them to leave. She felt like she was going to be sick.

She used the excuse of a check-up, and the two of them left.

"Vivian, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hidden this from you."

Downstairs, Chase Lockwood took the initiative to admit his mistake.

"It’s okay. I never doubt your feelings for me; no one can shake that. I also know you’re a kind person at heart. Even if you don’t have feelings for Mia anymore, you were still together for three years. People aren’t made of stone; how could you not feel anything? Seeing her like this, you naturally feel responsible and want to help her. I understand all of it."

"Just please don’t hide things from me, okay? I won’t stop you. On the contrary, I support you, and I want to walk by your side. I’m not mad that you came to see Mia. I’m mad that... you hid it from me."

Vivian Lynch squeezed out a few tears, looking so pitifully beautiful that Chase Lockwood’s heart instantly melted.

He quickly pulled Vivian Lynch into a hug, gently stroking her back.

"I understand, I understand. I’ll never hide anything from you again. Vivian, you’re the person who understands me most in this world. What more could a man ask for?"

Vivian Lynch hugged Chase Lockwood back. She let two fake tears fall, but where he couldn’t see, her eyes were filled with coldness.

’I still have to find a way to get rid of Mia Kane. I can’t let her stick around!’

Even though her stitches hadn’t been removed yet, Mia Kane insisted on being discharged from the hospital, taking her anti-inflammatory medication back to the villa.

She could get out of bed now, but she couldn’t walk for long periods, as the wound still hurt.

Sitting in her wheelchair, she needed to use the restroom. Too embarrassed to ask for help with something like that, she struggled to push the wheelchair to the bathroom herself. At the doorway, she gritted her teeth, shakily got to her feet, and began to shuffle her way inside, one difficult step at a time.

Just then, the door opened, and Adrian Preston strode in.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m going to the bathroom."

"I’ll help you."

"Huh? You’ll help me?"

Mia Kane froze.