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

Just then, Vivian Lynch’s phone rang. It was the person she’d sent to the airport.

Nona had said she would be arriving in Argent today, so Vivian had sent someone to pick her up.

"So, have you picked her up? Please, don’t let anything go wrong."

"Ma’am, we’ve been waiting for a long time, but we haven’t seen Designer Nona. We don’t have a photo, so it’s hard to find her."

"Are you holding up a sign?"

"We are. My arms are sore, but we still haven’t seen her."

Hearing this, Vivian Lynch felt a little uneasy. She immediately tried to contact Nona, but there was no response.

’Nothing can go wrong today, can it?’

Today was supposed to be her day of triumph. Humiliating Mia Kane today and ensuring she could never make a comeback would be incredibly satisfying.

Doing it any other time wouldn’t have the same shocking impact as today.

She typed out a few more messages, but still, there was no reply. Just then, her stylist whispered something in her ear.

"Mia Kane wants to see me? What is she doing here?"

She frowned, confused.

"Let her in."

Vivian Lynch hesitated for a moment but decided to let her in.

Mia Kane was dressed in a stunning red dress, her makeup alluring. She was the very picture of a seductive beauty.

Even though they looked similar, Vivian had to admit that Mia’s bone structure was more distinguished. She was, quite simply, more beautiful.

She silently clenched her fists, a flicker of anger rising within her.

’Who is she trying to upstage, dressing up so beautifully?’

"What are you here for?"

"Can you have them leave? I’d like to speak with you alone for a moment."

"You may all leave."

Only after they were gone did Mia Kane speak.

"Do you remember the bet we made? The three months are almost up. I’ll be honest with you, I couldn’t get Designer Nona. But I’m guessing you couldn’t either. It’s a draw. Why don’t we just call it quits here? We’re both prominent figures now, so there’s no need to make things unpleasant."

"It’s your wedding day, you’ve gotten everything you wanted. You must be happy, so let’s take this opportunity to just let this whole thing go."

Mia Kane was deliberately lowering her stance, baiting the hook.

Vivian Lynch laughed. "You think because it’s a special day, I’ll let you off the hook? You’re quite the opportunist."

"It’s not about being opportunistic. Neither of us was skilled enough to get her to come, so why continue this fight?"

Vivian Lynch wanted to retort that she *had* managed to invite her.

But then she thought about how the person at the airport still hadn’t seen Nona, and how no one in the country even knew what Nona looked like.

She’d heard that Designer Nona was extremely private, disliked people prying into her life, and had requested anonymity.

The event organizers had respected the designer’s wishes and had never publicly revealed what Designer Nona looked like.

’What if that Nona changed her mind again?’

Vivian Lynch was truly in a tough spot now. She even considered just dropping it, since she couldn’t be a hundred percent certain anymore.

"Fine, I’ll call it off. But from now on, you’re forbidden from seeing Chase Lockwood again!"

"Fine, fine, fine. Whatever you say, as long as you call it off."

Mia Kane agreed without a second’s hesitation.

Seeing this, Vivian Lynch was certain. Mia was terrified of losing, which was why she would agree to any demand Vivian made.

Just then, Vivian Lynch’s phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen and excitedly snatched up her phone.

Nona had sent her a message.

"So sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve been back that I mixed up the airports. I’m at Aethel Airport, not Zenith. The flight was delayed, and I just got off. I didn’t have service before. I’m getting a cab now, should be there in about half an hour."

Vivian Lynch was overjoyed when she saw the message.

"Mia Kane, what a pity. I don’t want to call it off anymore."

"How can you go back on your word?"

Mia Kane frowned, feigning anger.

"Did we sign an agreement? Are there any witnesses? On what grounds are you accusing me of going back on my word? Let me tell you, the bet is still on!"

"What good does continuing do you? You didn’t get her to come either. A draw won’t make me look too bad."

"That’s where you’re wrong."

"Unless... you actually managed to invite her? That’s impossible..."

Mia Kane put on an Oscar-worthy performance, acting flustered and scared as she once again begged Vivian Lynch to call off the bet.

Seeing her like this only made Vivian Lynch more determined not to cancel.

She smugly smoothed her skirt. "I still have to get my look finished. I don’t have time to listen to you beg."

She called her staff back in.

"Please see yourself out. I hope you have a pleasant day."

"Vivian Lynch... I don’t believe you actually managed to get her!"

She threw out the words and turned to leave.

Mia Kane left the dressing room and let out a long breath.

’This is in the bag.’

She had specifically scheduled the message to be sent at that time to give Vivian Lynch the feeling that victory was assured.

Now that the fish had taken the bait, all she had to do was watch Vivian Lynch dig her own grave.

She left happily, heading downstairs.

Unexpectedly, the elevator doors opened to reveal Adrian Preston’s grim face.

"Huh? Why did you come up here?"

She was puzzled. Wasn’t Adrian Preston downstairs chatting with people?

Adrian Preston’s eyes narrowed, his heart filled with rage.

’How dare she ask?’ He had only been talking to someone for a moment, and when he turned around, Mia Kane was gone.

He’d asked a waiter and learned she had gone upstairs.

Upstairs... The bride and groom were both upstairs.

’Mia Kane went to find Chase Lockwood.’

And now, he had caught her red-handed.

’Does she really have so little regard for me?’

He strode out of the elevator, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward.

"Where are you taking me? The guests are all downstairs..."

Adrian Preston walked straight to the door of the fire escape, opened it, and pushed her inside.

It was pitch black inside, with only the eerie green glow of an emergency exit sign.

Before she could even react, he had her pinned against the wall, his lips crashing down on hers in a heated kiss.

A violent shudder ran through Mia Kane’s heart.

Her first thought was of the security cameras.

"The cameras... The cameras will see..."

"And you’re afraid of being seen?" Adrian Preston growled, suppressing his fury.

"Don’t... It’s not right for people to see."

When Adrian Preston heard the sob in her voice, the fury that had consumed him moments ago was suddenly replaced by a flicker of panic.

He said in a hoarse voice, "It’s a blind spot. They can’t see you."

He was shielding Mia Kane, so only his back was visible. No one could see what he was doing.

"That’s... that’s still so embarrassing! Don’t... Let me go."

"You walked straight upstairs to find Chase Lockwood with so many guests watching. You don’t find *that* embarrassing?"

"I... I wasn’t looking for him... Let me go."

"Mia Kane, you really are disobedient!"