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

Audessa: [Stop calling her that! She's my wife!]

[Haha, look at the top supporter getting jealous!]

[She's everyone's wife, but since you're putting in so much effort to help her with this live battle, we'll make you a "Queen" for now. You can have her one day first, and we'll have her the next!] 'Everyone's wife? I have her one day?' Alistair thought. His face darkened as he typed another response swiftly.

Audessa: [Audie is really my wife. If you keep calling her that, I'll have my lawyer send a cease-and-desist!]

[Top supporter is hilarious-"lawyer warning"!]

[Shut up! Nobody messes with our top fan's wife!]

Clearly, the fans didn't take Alistair's words seriously.

Even Audrey, reading the chat, just laughed it off. 'My sweet husband is working late in his study. He'd never waste thousands on gifts like this,' she thought.

Seeing that they didn't believe him, Alistair didn't press further. Threatening a lawyer was just talk anyway, not something he'd actually pursue.

Frustrated, Alistair decided to drown out the competing comments by flooding the chat with gift after gift. That way, the chat would be full of his support for Audrey, and they'd stop claiming her. With that move, Audrey's battle score surged quickly, putting Eliza behind once again.

Watching Audrey's popularity soar on the screen, Eliza grew restless. Feeling the sting of jealousy, she turned to Fiona and said, "Maybe we should just give up, Mrs. Rhodes. That top supporter has too much money, and we can't keep up." Eliza's voice wavered with emotion, her expression heartbreakingly pitiful.

Hearing this, Fiona felt her heartache. She thought, 'She's my daughter! How can I let her lose over something so trivial? Especially when she's had a lifetime of hardship, thanks to the Rhodes family. This little victory should be hers.' Determined, Fiona opened her app to add more funds, but after she typed in her password, a "low balance" message popped up.

For a moment, Fiona's face froze in embarrassment. She'd never been short of money before, with Audrey always transferring funds for her living expenses on time every month.

grown so used to spending freely that her private savings had dwindled to the last 700 thousand dollars. And

who poured money into online battles, but now? She was stunned by how the funds disappeared quickly, even compared to her own luxurious shopping trips. "Eliza, I'm really sorry, I..." Fiona began, about to confess

alright, Mrs. Rhodes. I'm used to people looking down on me by now. Let's just let it

Fiona heard this, her heart sank, as if pierced by a dagger. Then she said quickly, "Absolutely not, Eliza. I'm

money herself, but Audrey certainly does. All I have to do is ask, and Audrey will surely help,' Fiona thought. Filled with resolve, she picked up her phone and dialed Audrey's number. Audrey had been deep in thought about Fiona's recent spending when her phone started ringing. Seeing her mom's

hadn't once reached out, not a single call or message. It was as though Fiona had forgotten about her

phone lighting up with Fiona's call, a hopeful warmth spread through her as Audrey picked up. "Hi,

was brisk. "Audrey, can you

instantly. Fiona had just been throwing money at Eliza's livestream. That much was obvious. It wasn't hard to guess where this new "loan" would go. Clinging to a last shred of hope, Audrey asked carefully,

knew Audrey didn't like Eliza, so telling

with a convincing excuse, Fiona said finally,

soft, incredulous laugh, and muttered, 'I should have known better. Guess

cold laugh, Fiona frowned. She snapped,

stream had gone dark, with a notification reading. [The

what was left of her composure and said bluntly, "I don't

mean, you don't have money?" Fiona's voice rose in irritation. "You're a senior manager at the Rhodes Enterprises! Your salary alone is in

that money be going? You live at home; it's not like

be deliberately refusing to use it for me, right? I've raised her for so many years; she

icy, "Have you forgotten? For years, I

teas, gatherings, designer clothes, and all your little indulgences, came for free? "You wanted to keep up appearances as Mrs. Rhodes, but didn't want Mr. Rhodes to think

years, apart from my fixed salary, I haven't taken a penny from the company. I've given it all to you. What more do you

were like a cold slap, her tone distant and unfeeling. Fiona hardly recognized this daughter of hers, who had never