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

"I’ll go see."

Adrian Preston’s expression was grave as he went straight to the study.

’Even if Grandpa tells me to get a divorce, I won’t do it!’

He was just about to go over when the study door opened. Mia Kane tensed up instantly, looking uneasily at Grandpa.

"I’m going to rip those old hags’ mouths off and see who dares to spout nonsense in the future. I’m so pissed! Gossiping about something like this behind someone’s back—don’t they have daughters, daughters-in-law, or granddaughters?"

"Clearly... clearly our Mia is the victim here, and they just openly rip her wounds open! Damn it, that bunch of old hags!"

Mia Kane’s head was buzzing; she only registered one phrase.

"Our Mia."

’Grandpa... he isn’t disgusted with me. Is he actually sympathizing with me?’

Her eyes immediately reddened, and she felt a sting in her nose as she fought back tears.

Donovan Preston felt even more heartache when he saw the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Good child, don’t cry. Grandpa will get justice for you."

"Grandpa... they aren’t wrong. I’m... I’m not clean anymore. I’m not worthy of being the Preston Family’s daughter-in-law. If this blows up, I’m afraid everyone will be gossiping about the Preston Family."

’Grandpa is getting on in years. The thought of him having to endure people pointing and gossiping makes me feel terrible.’

She knew very well that she had done nothing wrong, that the villain was the one at fault. But that’s just how society was.

When a woman lost her chastity, people didn’t care about right or wrong. They just thought she was unclean and wondered how she could have the face to go on living.

"What’s this about being worthy or not! You did nothing wrong! It’s not like you tricked him into marriage or deliberately hid this. Since Adrian was the one who rescued you, he naturally knows what happened. The fact that he was still willing to marry you means he doesn’t care. I’m not that kind of old-fashioned prude, either. Grandpa is just angry—angry that you two weren’t more honest. To think I had to hear about this from someone else!"

"If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have let that group of people gossip about you!"

"You brat, come over here. You’re the one who married this girl, so you say something. What I say doesn’t count."

"Grandpa, since I married her, I will be responsible for her."

Adrian Preston spoke each word deliberately, his voice firm and powerful, as if making a solemn vow.

"That’s my grandson. You’ve got guts and a sense of responsibility. You either don’t marry her in the first place, or now that you have, you protect her properly. Don’t let those gossips outside hurt her, you hear me?"

"Understood."

Hearing the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, Mia Kane could no longer hold back her tears.

"Mia, don’t cry. You’re breaking Grandpa’s heart. That damn group, to think they would defend that person and target you."

"Grandpa... thank you. I thought..."

"Quick, take your wife back to your room and comfort her."

Donovan Preston quickly gave Adrian Preston a meaningful look.

Adrian Preston led Mia Kane back to their room.

"You’ve suffered."

Adrian Preston stroked her head, his eyes filled with heartache.

Mia Kane cried silently, her shoulders shaking like a helpless child.

She had thought the wound had healed and wouldn’t hurt anymore, but when Vivian Lynch ripped it open in front of so many people, the pain was still heart-wrenching.

"Let’s move to a different nursing home, away from those people, okay?"

Hearing this, Mia Kane lifted her small, palm-sized face. Her eyes were misty, and her voice was choked with sobs.

"Why should we move? I’m not moving! I did nothing wrong! Let them say whatever they want. It’s a fact that I was violated, and I can’t escape that no matter where I go. If we move and they start gossiping again, do I have to move again?"

Mia Kane said stubbornly.

She couldn’t control the vicious words that came out of their mouths, but she could control herself, slowly becoming numb so she wouldn’t be affected.

Adrian Preston looked at her with a complex gaze, knowing she had a stubborn and unyielding personality.

Otherwise, back when her family went bankrupt and her parents were thrown in jail, an ordinary person would have given up long ago. But she refused to admit defeat, trying every possible solution and facing countless rejections without ever giving up.

A young girl had propped up an entire family on her own slender shoulders.

Even when people pointed and gossiped, she still held her back straight, unwilling to concede defeat.

"I will protect you."

Adrian Preston said, each word deliberate.

’I’m so furious I could kill Chase Lockwood. To think he abandoned her so ruthlessly just to celebrate Vivian Lynch’s birthday.’

Mia Kane thought Adrian Preston was just saying it, but in less than half an hour, there was a commotion at the nursing home.

The few seniors who had been gossiping earlier were picked up by their families.

Their younger family members came over, looking ashamed, to apologize. They promised to discipline their elders in the future and not let them spread baseless rumors outside.

Mia Kane was somewhat moved.

"You don’t have to do this. The news is already out; it can’t be hidden."

"Even if the entire world is criticizing you, I will still shut their gossiping mouths."

Adrian Preston’s voice was soft, but it carried immense weight.

There was another sentence he didn’t say out loud.

’Otherwise, I’d be the president of the Preston Group for nothing.’

’I’ve protected so many other families and brought them peace. Can’t I even protect my own family now?’

"Thank you."

Mia Kane’s heart felt warm, and her gratitude was sincere.

"There’s no need for thanks between us."

Just then, a caregiver came over.

"Mr. Preston, Mrs. Preston, Old Mrs. Ziegler would like to see you."

"Grandma?"

’I can understand her summoning me, but why did she call for Adrian Preston too?’

"Let’s go see. Grandma must have something important to discuss, or she wouldn’t have sent someone to get us."

Adrian Preston nodded and led her over. She was surprised to see Vivian Lynch was there too.

Facing her grandma’s imposing presence, Vivian Lynch didn’t dare to make a sound.

"Grandma, what’s going on?"

Mia Kane vaguely had an answer in her heart, but she wasn’t entirely sure.

"There’s one more person who hasn’t arrived. Let’s wait. They should be here soon."

Grandma glanced at the time. Just as she spoke, Chase Lockwood’s figure came rushing in from outside.

He glanced at Mia Kane, his expression complex.

But he had no time for her now. He hurried over to shield Vivian Lynch.

"Grandma, are you going to make things difficult for Vivian again?"

"Do you know what she did?"

"I heard about it on the way here. Vivian didn’t bring up the matter; she just chimed in with a few words. She didn’t name any names. Some people are just unchaste and impure, so they’re getting desperate."

Hearing this, Mia Kane’s fists clenched.

’That bastard is still defending Vivian Lynch.’

She wanted nothing more than to go up and slap him, but unexpectedly, Adrian Preston, who was beside her, moved first.

He threw a punch, sending Chase Lockwood stumbling back several steps, his cheekbone instantly bruised.

Grandma didn’t stop him, watching with cold eyes.

Vivian Lynch tried to step forward and stop it, but Mia Kane made her move.

She grabbed Vivian Lynch’s hand.

"They’re settling a score. What are you getting involved for?"

"Grandma, Chase is being beaten..."

"He deserves a good beating. As a man, even if you don’t love a woman, you shouldn’t push her into a pit of fire. I’m ashamed to have a grandson like him. A woman’s most precious possession is her reputation, and look what he’s done!"

Grandma said in a cold voice. She had summoned Adrian Preston precisely to teach this bastard Chase Lockwood a lesson.

’He’s morally corrupt, completely bewitched by a siren, and has forgotten his own deceased parents in the underworld. Doesn’t a man like that deserve a beating?’

"It’s Mia Kane’s own fault! She could have preserved her honor by dying, but she chose to live and let them defile her. You can’t blame others for that."

"You scoundrel! You’re a woman, yet you say such vicious things. Isn’t being alive more important than anything? To throw away your life for some ridiculous notion of purity?"

Grandma was furious.

’I’m a woman too. A woman’s purity shouldn’t be located in her vagina!’

’This society devours people, so why must women make things difficult for other women!’

"Mia, hit her for me!"

Grandma commanded coldly.