02

Mia nearly passed out. For what reason did Adam still want to still get the marriage certificate? And with her? 

"But I'm not Nyla.."

Adam glared at her, turned around, and made his way to the couch. He sat down, pulled out a cigarette, lighted it, and took a long drag before putting it back on his lips.

"If you don't want to see your father dead, obey my orders," he said, blowing forth smoke.

Mia couldn't say anything. Adam learnt to employ the same tactic that had previously only been used by her mother and sister to threaten her with her father. These individuals truly understood how to take advantage of her vulnerabilities! But she wasn't a moron.

Adam’s meaning was clear to her. He would not reveal her as a replacement bride as long as she complied with him. If such were the case, neither her mother nor her sister would be aware that the scheme had failed. Her dad would also be secure.

"Okay.”

Adam didn't look pleased, so Mia dared not ask any more questions. She didn't want to agitate him further and cause herself additional problems.

….

She and Adam went to the city’s court at eight in the morning, each carrying a piece of stamped paper.

Mia felt apprehensive as she glanced down at the marriage certificate she was holding when she got out of the court with Adam. She was now his wife in papers. She now had to cope with Adam’s threats in addition to those from Nyla and her mother. Her life was genuinely wretched.

"Ny." A breath suddenly wafted into her ear. A large hand drew her into his arms despite her natural desire to dodge.

"What kind of car do you like?" Adam suddenly asked, while Mia looked up at his suddenly soft eyes.

"Huh?" She stared at him in shock.

With a quiet chuckle, he said, "Consider it a wedding gift for you."

Mia grasped it right away. It made her very happy. However, the word "Ny" seemed to pierce her heart like a needle. She was aware that she was a substitute bride.

Adam had no intention of disclosing her true identity, despite the fact that she was the one who married him and possessed the marriage license. For the time being, this was the only way to keep her father safe. She was still depressed, though.

Her eyes flushed from the intense pain in her heart.

"Lamborghini Huraćan Evo.” Mia exclaimed, giving him an angry look. She added another words, "Tesla"

Why couldn't she, the stand-in, demand more if everyone was threatening her with her father?

Adam did nothing but stare at her in silence. In a panic, Mia questioned whether she had asked for too much.

However, his thin fingers barely touched her lovely nose before she could defend herself. "You have good taste." he said in a rich, slightly indulgent voice.

Mia had the impression that a thunderbolt had hit her skull and exploded. It felt like a lightning strike! Even more frightening than when he was furious was his kindness right now! She became somewhat attached to him because of his sensitivity. However, she was aware that everything was phony.

Adam lifted up her tiny hand and gave it a gentle kiss while observing her flushed eyes. "I'll order the car," he said. “Let me now show you how to dress nicely. We're going to meet my friends tonight, Ny. Hope you know how to play a piano, cause they’ll expect you to play it for them.”

Mia’s eyes widened in surprise. In an instant, her body tensed! He was truly horrible! First he kept on calling her “Ny” like she was Nyla and now he was taking her to show his friends and expected her to play the Piano like she was Nyla.

But she wasn’t Nyla.. why did he expect her to play the piano?

Or maybe because she has identical appearance with Nyla, he was going to make her pretend to be Nyla to his friends.

But all she wanted was still be Nyla’s shadow in silence.

Adam gently arched an eyebrow at her outraged expression and inquired, "What's wrong? Do you not want to go?”

He did it once more! Did he just threaten her?

With a faint smile, Mia calmly removed her hand from his palm and said, "No problem."

Adam’s deep eyes narrowed abruptly, as though he was analyzing, examining.

Mia remained composed and let him gaze at her. Adam laughed after a moment. He put his large hand around her delicate waist and said, "Don't disappoint me."

….

Adam took her to the City’s most opulent club, Rio. As soon as they got in, he received a call and picked the call.

The friends he was supposed to meet here didn’t come again cause something came up.

Adam turned to Mia after ending the call and told her they should go back home.

As soon as Mia and Adam turn to head back, someone suddenly yelled, “wait, isn’t that Mr. Bowen and his wife, the famous pianist?”

“Yes. It’s them.”

The person rush and stood in front of Mia and Adam.

“Are you people leaving? Please don’t go. Come in.”

“We—“

“Mr Bowen, it’s been a while you came here. Please come and join us.”

With no other option, Mia and Adam turned back and walked in with the person.

Mia caught everyone's attention as soon as she got in, gripping Adam’s arm.

"Mr. Bowen! Ha-ha, almost two years since you last came here, you're finally back. Welcome.”

Adam was instantly mobbed by the audience, who kept praising him, but their attention was drawn to Mia.

Mia gazed at them with a smile on her face, displaying no symptoms of anxiety. Adam introduced Mia by his side, saying after speaking and laughing with them, "This is my wife."

"Ha-ha.. We know, this is the famous pianist Nyla Burton, right?" asked Anthony Smith, one of the men.

"Yeah, how could we not recognize such a big star?"

"But why do I think she looks more beautiful than on camera?"

"Yes, without a doubt! After applying a lot of makeup, those celebrities are unable to identify themselves. Even without cosmetics, Mr. Bowen's wife is naturally beautiful.”

Every time the terms pianist and famous celebrity were spoken, Mia’s heart was pierced. She had expressly requested that her makeup artist replicate Nyla’s typical makeup for tonight thinking the people might mistaken her for Nyla, and she was right.

She could pass for Nyla with her similar makeup style. This people wouldn't notice the difference unless they knew Nyla very well.

Mia smiled and nodded to them in greeting,

enduring the agony and humiliation. Artists were even more conceited than stars, who had always been haughty. Their perception of Mia greatly changed when they saw how personable she was.

They also felt more confident.

"Mr. Bowen, we have always loved Mrs. Bowen piano skills. At such an early age, she developed into a superb pianist. If you don’t mind, I was wondering if Mrs. Bowen will be performing live for us tonight now that she’s here. You know she’s very busy and not always     around in this city, and now that she’s here, let’s enjoy a live performance.”

"Yes, Mr. Bowen,” another first person responded, and the others nodded.

Mia’s  heart clenched at what they had spoken. She looked to Adam for assistance. She wasn't Nyla, after all. If she stood up and performed, wouldn't it be obvious?

Adam shifted his intense look to her and laughed softly. "Ny, since they’ve pleaded, why don't you go up and play?" he asked, grinning as if he hadn't noticed her beseeching gaze.

Mia’s mind blew up in an instant. She remained still.