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.

room, Brian turned to Anna,

going back to the

her apartment, fully intending to

to take the doctor- prescribed medication when she left the hospital in a

resting on the sofa, she

not bothering to peek

the security guard allowed access to her

Brian Clark.

wasn't him

"Who are you?"

man at her doorstep

"Mrs.Clark, I am..."

rose at the way the man addressed

not Mrs.Clark.My

corrected

her that? Must he continue to hurt

years ago, let alone two years after.It was

be his wife in name, but not where it

in Ayla's heart,

to bring

could not fault the guy for

accepted the food and

can go back

called out in a huff, "And

soon as the man left.She placed his delivery on the dining table and laid out its

was a container filled with hot millet

ever so thoughtful?’ She never expected that man to

at

his to get back in

so, she disliked wasting food, and she needed a full stomach to be able to take

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

Ayla

as

this as soon as she came back? What did she do to enthrall

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

now, so she didn't

you just

Anna's arms and

you say is with

Lucas? How could

hurting

truth, so why was he

is it? Say his name again! " Brian