Julian’s Stand-In Wife

Lina wasn’t about to let go of Vans.
In front of Nina, she clung to Vans, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
The two stood together, making a wonderful picture. Lina was in an exquisite, handcrafted wedding gown, and Vans was in a
finely tailored black suit. They appeared like a match made in heaven.
For the first time, Nina noticed just how good Vans looked with another woman.
A pang of unease washed over her, prompting her to avert her gaze.
Lina wasn’t about to let Nina off the hook so easily. She was determined to make Nina back off, and saw this as the perfect
opportunity to rid herself of this threat.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Vans,” Lina said, playfully leaning against Vans. “Ms. Ashlee, as Vans’s closest female
friend, will you be attending our wedding?”
His closest female friend? So that was how he introduced her.
Before Nina could respond, Lina threw another curveball.” Vans mentioned you’ve been seeing someone. Is that true?”
While Nina was indeed involved with someone, that someone was Vans. Yet, with Lina’s persistent questioning and Vans’s silent
complicity, Nina found herself unable to speak.
Her heart ached with an inexplicable pain.
“It’s true,” Vans said after Nina stayed silent.
He was weary from facing Lina daily, and pressured by his mother’s insistence on staying connected with the Stanley family.
Because of that, he had no choice but to keep up his facade with Lina.
The Jennings family’s influence had waned recently. Lionel’s current wife was pleased to see this situation unfold. Vans’s
marriage would not only benefit the Stanley family, but also ruin him.
This would ensure he could never be with his true love, and would never attain the woman he genuinely desired!

In essence, if Vans were to break things off with Lina, he’d have to be prepared for his mother to face dire consequences of the
Stanley family’s wrath.
How could he bear it?
His mother had suffered so much already.
He had seen her hurt herself, and had seen how she seemed to have found a newfound purpose in life when Lionel smiled at
her.
Over the years, she had become somewhat unhinged and couldn’t afford to get worked up.
Vans took a deep breath, locking eyes with Nina.
He had made promises to Nina, and he believed that by answering on her behalf now, she wouldn’t mind.
After all, she loved him. She would be willing to compromise.
“I’m sure we’ll hear good news from Nina soon,” Vans said calmly.
Nina’s heart skipped a beat, looking at Vans in shock.
What was he implying?
Was he hinting at a possible reunion with her?
The hope that had dimmed suddenly flickered back to life in Nina’s heart. She looked at Vans with a hint of anticipation.
However, Vans avoided her gaze, refusing to meet her eyes.
Keenly observing Nina’s reaction, Lina recalled how Vans had once defended Nina from some tabloid reporters-even going as
far as to slap them in the dark.
With a teasing and mocking tone, she probed, “Really? Ms. Ashlee, who are you dating now? Are you also preparing for
marriage?”
Nina refused to answer. Lina persisted, eventually confronting her directly, “Or could it be that you’ve set your sights back on my
dear Vans?”

To match the wedding dress she was trying on, Lina had just painted her nails a soft shade of pink. Against Vans’s dark suit, they
stood out prominently.
She continued to tap and drag her fingers over the area of his chest.
Under those clothes, Vans had an impressive chest. Nina had once touched it with her hands, even complimenting his well-
defined abdominal lines.