The Substitute Bride: Making Memories Of Us (Lois Stone)

Ayla ruffled through the folders from the drawer until she found what she was looking for.

"This is for Mr.Clark."

Her smile was confident as she handed her documents to Ellie.

She was sure her design drafts fully showcased her abilities which she knew were rather considerable.

Ellie quickly received Ayla's papers and handed them to Brian.

"These documents require your attention, Mr.Clark."

She felt her heartbeat anxiously speed up as Brian took the folder from her hands.She had heard so much about him even before she entered the company, and it was the first time she saw him in person.She found him quite intimidating.

"Hmmm," Brian murmured as he carefully perused Ayla's designs, leafing through each draft one by one.

Anna, who was standing beside Brian, sullenly watched him as he calmly examined Ayla's work.Her fists clenched into tight balls.

She knew that Brian would abandon her because of Ayla's appearance.She would not allow it! Done with his scrutiny, Brian closed Ayla's folder.

"Anna, tell me, what's wrong with these design drafts?"

His tone of voice was strictly professional when he spoke, cold and devoid of any hint of tenderness.

Unable to come up with a suitable response, Anna could only press her lips tightly together and sulk in silence.

"You have nothing to say, right?" Brian's eyes narrowed in warning.

"Anna."

He had always allowed Anna to do whatever she wanted, even when she challenged his decisions time and time again.

He tolerated her simply because of all that she had done for him in many years.

When it came to Ayla, however, it was time he drew a bottom line.

Ignoring the tension in the room, Ayla stood up and put away the design drafts.

"So, what do you think, Mr.Clark?"

She chattered nonchalantly as she fixed the papers in their folder.

"If you think there is no problem with these design drafts, you can use them to make sample clothes.But there is not much time left.If you find them unsatisfactory, you can return them to me and I will make the necessary modifications."

Brian just looked at her, and said, "There's no need for that.I will deal with the rest.You can rest today."

"Miss Anna, you heard Mr.Clark.You won't count it as an absence if I took my leave now, will you?"

Having said thus, Ayla blithely picked up her handbag and left the office.

Ayla out of the room, Brian

to the company with

to her apartment, fully intending to rest even without

mind that she had forgotten to take

of resting on the sofa, she heard the

the door, not

allowed access to her

Brian Clark.

wasn't

"Who are you?"

the strange man

"Mrs.Clark, I am..."

the way the man addressed

mistaken, I'm not Mrs.Clark.My family name

corrected

did Brian make the man call her that? Must he continue to hurt

years ago, let alone two years after.It was an empty title, devoid of

in name, but not where it

anguish he'd awakened in Ayla's heart, the man continued

Mr.Clark asked me to bring this to

but she could not fault the guy

food and medicine

go back

began walking away, Ayla called out in a huff, "And please don't call

the man left.She placed his delivery on

them was a container filled with hot

thoughtful?’ She never expected that man

at the

his to get back in her good

so, she disliked wasting food, and she needed a full stomach

watched as Brian personally arranged for Ayla's designs to be made into

studio for Ayla here in

as he finalized his

to treat me like this as soon as she came back? What did she do to enthrall you so? Don't you

a stricken look came upon Brian's face.She didn't wish to hurt

was with Lucas now, so she didn't

did you just

Anna's arms

you say

Lucas? How could it be?’

you're hurting me!"

truth, so why was he so

Say his name again!