My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon by Lydia Pierce

Eliza stood at the corner of the stairwell, barely showing half her body, keeping out of sight deliberately.

There was someone else standing in front of Eliza, though half-hidden by her figure. From the slim outline,

Audrey could tell it was a young man.

Soon, Eliza pulled a stack of bills from her wallet and tossed it in his direction arrogantly. She said, "Isn't this

what you want? Take it and get lost. Don't botheragain." The distance was too far for Audrey to catch the

exact words, but she could tell Eliza's tone was anything but pleasant.

The thin young man seemed to flinch, his eyes red as he looked back at Eliza. He threw the money back at her

feet before running out from behind the corner. Distracted by his tears, the man didn't see Audrey standing there

and crashed right into her.

Still feeling a bit full from lunch, the impact nearly made her stomach turn. Audrey steadied herself against the

wall and finally got a clear look at the boy's face.

His cheeks were hollow, his complexion a little sallow, and under his strong brows were bright, clear eyes, yet

the furrowed brows gave him a depth far beyond his years. Audrey didn't recognize him, but something about

him felt strangely familiar.

The boy looked down quickly, glancing at Audrey as he mumbled, "Sorry!"

With that, the boy dashed off.

Audrey, rubbing the spot where he'd bumped her, stared at his retreating figure, frowning slightly. "Where have |

seen him before?’ she thought.

At the stairwell entrance, Eliza looked down at the scattered bills, stomping her foot in frustration, though the

uneasy look in her eyes didn't fade.

‘Damn it," Eliza thought, 'How did Miles find me? Refusing the money, does he seriously think I'll go back with

him? Dream on! I'll be back in the Rhodes family soon."

When Eliza had left the Harpers, she hadn't told them about the baby switch. She'd been too afraid the Harpers

would reach out to Audrey if they found out.

Or worse, that they'd stop her from reconnecting with her real family to keep Audrey with them.

Thinking this, Eliza clenched her jaw and stepped into the stairwell to make a call. "I need you to take care of

someone for me. Make sure he's too hurt to cause trouble for a few days."

As Audrey waited for the elevator, her mind was still on the boy who'd bumped into her. She knew she'd seen

that face somewhere.

Then it clicked. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through a file she'd looked over recently. The rebellious

face in the photo was a match.

That was Miles Harper, her biological brother. "What's he doing here? And what was he arguing about with Eliza?'

Audrey wondered.

Audrey's heart tightened. Even though the Harpers had never reached out after the truth about the switch came

out, she'd long since stopped expecting anything from them.

But Miles was still her little brother, and watching him get humiliated like that struck a chord Audrey couldn't

ignore.

Remembering the anger in his eyes as he'd run off, Audrey felt a pang of worry that he might do something

reckless.

Ding! The elevator arrived, but instead, Audrey rushed out of the office building.

Thankfully, Miles hadn't gone far; he was waiting at a nearby bus stop. Seeing him there, Audrey hesitated,

unsure if she should approach.

'Miles doesn't know me. Wouldn't it be weird to just walk up to him?' Audrey thought.

At that moment, Miles stood under the shelter, his eyes red. As he thought about his mother lying in a hospital

bed, and Eliza's cold, sneering face, his chest ached like it was being squeezed tight. Miles couldn't understand

why Eliza, treated like a princess her whole life, could be so heartless.

Their mother was seriously ill, near death, and Eliza wouldn't even cback for one last visit.

Clenching his fists, Miles felt anger boil inside him. 'l can't let Eliza just get away with this," he thought. Then he

turned to head back in her direction.

In the next moment, Miles felt a rough grip on his wrist, and someone shoved his shoulder, slamming him into

the hard glass of the bus shelter's ad panel.

"Hey, kid! Were you the one who stole my phone?" The man's gruff voice was filled with menace, his eyes

narrowed in a dangerous glare as he loomed over Miles.

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The guy scowled, a cigarette hanging

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Miles shrank back, pushing the man's chest instinctively. "I swear, | didn't take your phone! I just got here!"

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The man was huge, with strength to match. If he landed a punch like that, Miles could easily end up with a

concussion, or worse.

But Miles wasn't about to just stand there. He tried to dodge, but the guy held his arm in an iron grip.

‘Damn it!" Miles shut his eyes, bracing himself for the blow.

"Stop!" A clear, feminine voice rang out.