My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon (Audrey)

The awesome physique Alistair had shown off in front of the mirror this morning kept popping into Audrey's mind.

'With a body like that, there's no way he didn't have some serious skills, right? Hold up, Audrey, what are you doing? How can you even think about that stuff with him around? That's kinda embarrassing!' Audrey thought. Audrey felt herself blush and quickly looked away from Alistair, eager to change the subject. "So, what brings you here? Have you eaten yet?"

"I came to pick you up, and no, I haven't eaten," Alistair replied, a teasing smile lighting up his eyes as if he could read her like a book. It only made Audrey feel more flustered.

Trying to regain her composure, Audrey said with a forced grin, "Alright then, I'll treat you to dinner. Let's make this whole 'living off your wife' thing official so no one gets the wrong idea."

Alistair shrugged, clearly amused. "Okay, but since my wife is treating me, I get to choose the place. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good to me." Even though the term "wife" made Audrey cheeks heat up, Alistair was right about it being his call for dinner.

They ended up at Shanyeats Pavilion, a fancy new spot in Riverdale boasting a stunning mix of traditional decor and a peaceful setting with plants.

The place was bustling, and luxury cars lined up outside, making it clear that only the elite could afford a meal there. Even bigwigs had to wait for a table, thanks to the restaurant's popularity.

Audrey swallowed hard as she took in the opulent surroundings. Sure, she was the Rhodes family's daughter, but she'd never set foot in a place like this.

Spending money wasn't really her thing, and she worried about whether her wallet could handle it. Still, since they were here, she didn't want to disappoint Alistair.

Audrey clenched her jaw, ready to take Alistair over to the line, when a mocking voice cut through the air behind her. "Oh look, it's the fake princess," the person taunted.

Audrey didn't even need to turn around. She could feel her mood plummet. The last thing she wanted was to engage in this nonsense.noveldrama

Sophie Brooks wasn't letting up. "How pathetic! Pretending to be someone you're not, and yet you still have the gall to spend someone else's money just to invite your husband to dinner."

Before she could brush it off, Sophie caught sight of Alistair, and her expression shifted to surprise, the sarcasm fading for a moment.

'Wow, how had Audrey ended up with someone like him? It's a shame, though. What good is being good-looking when he's driving a cheap car? Typical that only Audrey would fall for someone so superficial,' Sophie thought. Sophie snapped back to reality and shot Audrey a sharp comment. "So what if Mr. Hayes dumped you? No need to go around finding a look-alike, right?"

Audrey couldn't help but roll her eyes, unimpressed. "Are you serious? How is Alistair even close to looking like Dominic?"

She then playfully threw her arm around Alistair, leaning into him with a smirk. "My husband is way too handsome to be anyone's double. Some people just have to settle for old and ugly fiancés they're too embarrassed to take out, right?" Sophie's expression shifted dramatically. Her family had just set her up to marry, and her fiancé definitely fit the 'old and ugly' description. "How dare you say that!" she shot back, clearly irked.

Sophie felt humiliated as she stood there in public, her anger boiling over. In a moment of frustration, she waved her hand, aiming to slap Audrey.

But before her hand could even connect, a strong grip grabbed her wrist, almost causing her to wince in pain.

"Ow! That hurts! Do you even know who I am?" she snapped, trying to regain some dignity.

"I really don't care," Alistair replied, his tone icy and dismissive. He released her with a scoff, his eyes filled with an intimidating coolness. "I'm not the type who doesn't hit women. If you can't control your hands next time, well, I'll do it for you." Caught in his cold stare, Sophie felt a chill run down her spine as if she'd been plunged into an ice-cold room.