Three Years as His Kept Woman

Chapter 1 The Perfect Substitute

During the years Lucia Hart spent as Adrian Cross's kept woman, she worked especially hard. She even enrolled in a finishing school for socialites.

On the first day of class, the instructor handed each student a banana. Everyone else burst out laughing, but Lucia studied it with complete seriousness. Armed with everything she learned there, she did her best to please Adrian.

In the end, she conquered him with her body. From that day on, she became the woman he favored most, and for her sake, Adrian even stopped touching other women.

One of his friends once teased him. "You're not telling me you've actually fallen in love, are you?"

Three years passed without anything changing. Even Lucia began to wonder if Adrian might truly mean it.

But one day, by chance, she overheard a conversation between Adrian and a friend.

"Viv will be back soon. Are you planning to get rid of the substitute?"

"Not yet. She still has her use. With her around, Viv will come back to me."

Only then did Lucia understand the truth. She had always been nothing more than a substitute. Something meant to be used.

Still, it didn't matter.

Looking at the admission letter from Northbridge Institute of Technology in her hand, Lucia smiled faintly. She had already saved enough money for tuition.

******

On the first day Vivian Snowe returned to the country, Adrian brought Lucia to a welcome banquet.

Ever since overhearing that conversation, Lucia had quietly done her research. Three years earlier, Vivian had debuted as a model and grown very close to Adrian. Later, she left the country to pursue her career and abandoned him.

At the banquet, Adrian deliberately sat with Lucia far away from Vivian. Vivian came over several times to propose a toast, but Adrian pretended not to notice.

The last time, Vivian spoke sincerely. "Adrian, I'd like to talk to you alone."

Instead of responding himself, Adrian had Lucia answer for him.

"I'm afraid I must refuse. Lucy doesn't like me talking to other women."

To anyone watching, Lucia looked like the woman Adrian cherished most. Only she knew the truth. Adrian was simply putting on a show.

Vivian's eyes reddened instantly, as though countless grievances were hidden inside them. She bit her lip and glanced at Lucia before speaking in a trembling voice.

"Fine. Then I won't bother you anymore."

She turned and walked away.

Yet there was not a trace of joy on Adrian's face. He stared at her retreating figure for a long time before coming back to himself and draining the wine in his glass.

Lucia thoughtfully poured him another drink. Adrian didn't notice and knocked the glass over.

He frowned. "What's wrong with you?"

Someone nearby quickly spoke up for Lucia.

"Come on, Lucy definitely didn't mean it. Let it go."

In truth, besides the wine glass Adrian had knocked over, there had also been a cup of hot coffee. Lucia covered her hand, her face twisting in pain from the burn.

Adrian loosened his tie, clearly irritated. "What are you pretending for?"

Everyone around them froze. For three years, Lucia had been Adrian's favorite. He had always treated her with indulgent affection and had never spoken to her like this before.

"Adrian, that's a bit harsh…"

If Lucia hadn't overheard that earlier conversation, she might have believed he truly loved her. After all, during the past three years Adrian had cleared away every other woman around him.

Once, a small internet celebrity refused to accept it. She pointed at Lucia and called her shameless, accusing her of being a kept woman. Adrian happened to witness the scene.

Lucia never knew what he did, but soon afterward the influencer showed up with a bruised face to apologize. After that, she disappeared from social media entirely.

Another time, on Lucia's birthday, Adrian personally made a ring for her. Seeing all ten of his fingers wrapped in bandages, Lucia had felt a faint stir in her heart.

But she had always seen herself as someone working for Adrian. She took the money and did the job. As for feelings, she never allowed herself to touch them.

Just as she was lost in thought, Adrian suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Lucia was puzzled. Just a moment ago he had seemed annoyed with her, so why was he suddenly acting so affectionate?

Instinctively, she glanced toward Vivian.

Sure enough, Vivian was watching the commotion. Adrian was clearly performing for her.

He nervously checked Lucia's hand.

"Did you burn yourself? How could you be so careless?"

His voice was so gentle it could melt someone's heart.

"I… I'm fine."

Adrian fondly rubbed her head.

"You're always pretending to be tough."

Then he carefully blew on her hand.

Across the room, Vivian was clearly shaken. Her expression turned sorrowful as she lowered her head.

At that moment, a fat, greasy man sat down beside her and grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?" Vivian cried out.

The man chuckled, clearly unimpressed.

"What's the yelling for? You're just a third-rate model. You went abroad and failed, so now you've crawled back here."

"I'm telling you, it's not easy to survive here either. If you still want runway shows, stop acting so proud." As he spoke, his hand slid toward Vivian's thigh.

"Don't touch me!" Vivian jumped to her feet, her face pale with fear.

Although Adrian appeared not to be looking their way, Lucia could tell he was paying close attention to everything happening nearby.

When Vivian rejected him, the man's expression darkened immediately.

"Don't push your luck. I'm taking you tonight. Let's see what you can do about it!"

He roughly dragged Vivian into his arms and began groping her.

The man was an entrenched old aristocrat in Harborfell, with influence in both investment and education. For a moment, no one dared step forward to intervene, afraid of offending him.

When no one came to help, Vivian finally looked toward Adrian.

"Help me…"

The words had barely left her mouth before tears fell from her eyes.

Adrian suddenly pushed Lucia out of his arms so abruptly that she nearly fell. Then he rushed forward without hesitation and punched the man.

"Don't touch her. She's my woman."