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

Audrey was momentarily taken aback, but then it all clicked into place. It must be infuriating for Alistair to hear that his wife once so desperately wanted to marry a different guy. "Audrey, can you please explain what's happening?" Violet's voice cut through her thoughts.

Audrey shot another glance at Alistair, feeling a surge of impulse. She blurted out, "Violet, I'm married now."

"Huh?" Violet froze, clearly caught off guard. "I thought your wedding was called off. How did you end up tying the knot?"

Once those words slipped out, Audrey had no reason to hold back. She confessed, "Dominic bailed on me, so I found myself a new husband."

The words hung in the air of the car, and hearing them seemed to draw a subtle smile from Alistair, sitting next to her.

"Audrey!" Violet's shrill roar of anger came over the phone. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Who did you end up marrying? You didn't just marry some random guy at the wedding, did you? Even if you're trying to get back at Dominic, this isn't the way to go-marriage is a big deal!"

Honestly, even Violet, who thought she knew Audrey well, would see it as just a fit of anger. It looked like Audrey was really into Dominic in everyone's eyes.

But as Violet shouted out in frustration, Audrey felt a little warmth inside. It was clear that only those who truly cared about her would worry about her making a mistake.

She glanced down and replied calmly yet firmly, "Violet, I'm serious."

"Serious my ass!" Violet casually scolded Audrey and then switched to a serious tone. "Listen, if you really want to be mad at Dominic, I can hook you up with some super handsome guys.

"There's a whole lineup at your disposal, all way better than him, so you're guaranteed to have a blast every night. Just don't settle for some random dude and rush into marriage."

As she said, Audrey could feel the temperature drop in the car. She turned her head stiffly and locked eyes with Alistair beside her, who had a noticeably cold expression.

'It was tough to cheer him up. He's not upset again, is he?' Audrey thought.

With her cheeks flushed, Audrey hurriedly explained, "Those good-looking guys? They've got nothing to do with me. I've already got a marriage certificate I'm officially a married woman, so let's not spread any rumors."

Before Violet could react, Audrey quickly added, "And by the way, my husband is not some random dude. He's way more handsome than Dominic!"

She wasn't kidding. Alistair was definitely one of the best-looking guys in all of Riverdale. There was no way to compare Dominic to him.

Alistair was grinning, but Violet seemed skeptical. Still, since the certificate was already in hand, there wasn't much point in arguing. She sighed, resigned. "Well, since you've tied the knot, I guess you can bring him around for me to meet. I want to see who snagged such a catch."

Audrey chuckled softly, feeling a bit lighter. "Sure thing."

Just as Violet was about to end the call, her tone softened. "Hey, Audrey, I've heard some rumors about your birth."

Audrey's smile faded instantly at the mention of the topic she dreaded most. The whole "noble lady turned ordinary girl" joke had been the talk of the upper-class circles lately.

Violet's reassuring voice cut through Audrey's thoughts. "No matter what your background is, you're still my best friend! Don't forget that if things go south, you can always get a divorce. I've got your back."

Audrey felt warmth spreading inside her as she replied, "Thanks, Violet." She really appreciated Violet standing by her when everyone else had turned their backs.

"Enough of the mushy stuff. Just remember you always have a way out. I've got some things to handle, so I'll hang up now."

After ending the call, the knot of hesitation and confusion in Audrey's heart began to unravel. Sure, heading into the unknown was daunting, but suddenly, it didn't seem so scary.

Just then, Alistair beside her chimed in, "In the Hayes family, you might be widowed but never divorced."noveldrama