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

"President Preston certainly wasn’t showing any favoritism just now." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Someone in the crowd spoke up, clearly just trying to stir up trouble and deliberately provoking Chase Lockwood.

Chase Lockwood’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He shot a cold glare in that direction, scaring the person into taking several steps back and hiding in the crowd, not daring to show their face again.

Chase Lockwood gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly.

Adrian Preston knew the full story. He knew he was in an unassailable position, so of course he dared to say such a thing.

But he had spoken first. If Chase Lockwood were to actually show favoritism to Vivian Lynch, what would become of the Lockwood Family’s reputation?

Besides, it wasn’t just distinguished guests who were present today, but also countless netizens online.

A thousand angry voices can drown a person.

So, even though he knew it was a trap and a loss he couldn’t protest, he had no choice but to accept it.

Honoring a bet is a basic matter of grace.

"I will not show favoritism toward her. Since a bet was made, it must be honored, regardless of who wins or loses. From this day forward, I will shut down the Lynch brand company, and she will never work in this industry again. We will not be hiring you either. The salary we previously promised you will be paid out as a penalty for breach of contract."

"President Lockwood is so magnanimous!"

Vivian Lynch was destined to be a laughingstock.

But Chase Lockwood’s handling of the situation was, at the very least, a redeeming move. It saved him from complete and utter humiliation.

"If there’s nothing else, everyone, please enjoy the reception."

The wedding had to go on, and he couldn’t just kick Adrian Preston and Mia Kane out.

He could only suppress his rage and pretend as if nothing was wrong.

But Mia Kane refused to let him off the hook.

"Vivian Lynch has not yet apologized to me."

She declared in a clear voice, and the people who were about to disperse all stopped in their tracks.

They looked at Mia Kane. She stood with her back straight, gazing at Chase Lockwood with a calm and unyielding expression, clearly not planning to let this end so easily.

A public apology had been promised, and now was the perfect time for it to be public.

In front of millions of netizens, Vivian had to admit her mistake and apologize to her.

Even Chase Lockwood was starting to lose his composure.

"Mia Kane, don’t take it too far."

"Too far?"

Adrian Preston stepped forward, wrapping a large hand around Mia Kane’s slender waist as he spoke coolly.

His words made it clear he was protecting his own.

Vivian Lynch had Chase Lockwood.

But Mia Kane was no slouch; she had Adrian Preston.

The two men were evenly matched, but since Mia Kane was in the right, she clearly had the upper hand.

"A bet must be honored, President Lockwood. You said so yourself."

"She’s already fainted."

"That’s fine. I can wait for her to wake up. If she doesn’t wake up today, I’ll come back tomorrow. I’ll even livestream it."

"Mia Kane, you... Let’s discuss this in private. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer. But today is my wedding. Let the wedding continue first."

"I wasn’t the one who chose this day. It was Vivian Lynch who wanted the entire internet to see me utterly defeated. Chase Lockwood, when she was about to pass judgment on me today, you did nothing to stop it. Why is it only when I’m simply trying to clear my name that you suddenly care about saving face? What? Is your face the only one that matters? Is mine worthless? The two of you are going too far."

As soon as she said this, the entire hall fell silent.

No one dared to even breathe. In the vast banquet hall, the atmosphere was at a stalemate, and the temperature seemed to drop below freezing.

Chase Lockwood was already on shaky ground, his expression dark and grim.

"Then what do you want?"

"Either she makes a public apology online, admitting that she was blind and underestimated me, and sincerely begs for my forgiveness."

"Don’t go too far." Chase Lockwood almost spat the words through gritted teeth. In his eyes, this demand was outrageously excessive.

Vivian Lynch wasn’t just an individual; she was linked to the Lockwood Group and to Chase Lockwood himself. If she lost face, it meant the entire Lockwood Group and he himself would be utterly humiliated.

"Or, she apologizes to me right here, in front of all these people. Admits to knowingly being the other woman and destroying someone else’s relationship."

Her words sent an uproar through the crowd.

Adrian Preston stood beside her, watching her with a deep gaze.

From beginning to end, all she wanted was justice.

If Chase Lockwood and Vivian Lynch wouldn’t give it to her, she would fight to take it back herself.

She had always been this way—she looked meek and gentle, seemingly without a temper.

But he knew that deep down, she was incredibly strong-willed and couldn’t tolerate the slightest impurity.

’Maybe there really was nothing between her and Chase Lockwood.’

’With her personality, one act of infidelity would mean it was over for good.’

’But even so, there must still be a shadow of Chase Lockwood in her heart. After all, she loved him so deeply.’

’Could he ever replace him?’

As Adrian Preston thought of this, his eyes darkened.

Chase Lockwood was a businessman; he immediately weighed the pros and cons.

Obviously, a public apology online would definitely affect the Lockwood Group’s stock price.

It was already fluctuating, so the matter had to be resolved quickly before it could escalate further.

If Mia Kane were just some nobody, he would have even considered having her killed, making her disappear from this world forever.

An uncontrollable chess piece should be completely destroyed.

But now she had made something of herself and had Adrian Preston as her backer. There was nothing he could do to her.

He immediately and decisively agreed. "I will have Vivian apologize to you now."

Mia Kane was not at all surprised by this outcome.

No matter how much he loved Vivian Lynch, that love was built on the foundation of his own superior position as the head of the Lockwood Group.

He loved others, but he loved himself more.

He would never let Vivian Lynch affect his own status.

An apology now would only be known to these guests. In the future, out of respect for the Lockwood Family, they wouldn’t spread it around too much or take it to the media.

His wedding day was already a complete humiliation anyway. He couldn’t afford to lose anything more.

"Fine. Then please bring Vivian Lynch over. I’ll be waiting here."

Chase Lockwood pressed his lips together and left in a fury without another word.

As Mia Kane bent down to sit, her legs suddenly felt weak, and she nearly stumbled and fell to the floor.

It was Adrian Preston who caught her securely, helping her sit steadily in the chair.

"Are you all right?"

She let out a long, shaky breath.

"Adrian, you see? I’m about to prove my innocence. It wasn’t me who took Vivian Lynch’s place for three years. It was Vivian Lynch who was shameless, who knowingly became the other woman and destroyed someone else’s relationship."

"They’re clearly the bad guys, so why was I the one thrown into the eye of the storm? Everyone was celebrating their great love story, so what did that make me?"

Adrian Preston knew she had been wronged. He gently stroked the top of her head with his large hand.

"I didn’t protect you well enough."

"No, you’ve protected me very well. At the very least, by standing behind me now, you’ve basically declared war on the Lockwood Family. Adrian, thank you."

She looked at him with immense gratitude. If it weren’t for Adrian Preston, she didn’t know what kind of retaliation she would have faced after today.

But with Adrian Preston here, they would have to think twice and wouldn’t dare to act so recklessly.

His presence was her greatest source of confidence.

But she hadn’t told him her plan from start to finish. She was afraid he would try to stop her, so she had kept it hidden.

Even so, not only was he not angry, but he stood firmly by her side. That was more than enough.

"Between you and me, there’s no need for thanks."

He spoke each word deliberately, his voice firm and forceful.