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.

the room, Brian turned to Anna, his

going back to the

fully intending to rest even without Brian's

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

ten minutes of resting on the

door, not bothering to peek

guard allowed access to her room any

Brian Clark.

it wasn't him

"Who are you?"

man

"Mrs.Clark, I am..."

rose at the way the man

I'm not Mrs.Clark.My

corrected

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

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

his wife in name, but not

in

Mr.Clark asked me to bring

she could not fault

accepted the food and medicine he

can go back

man began walking away, Ayla called out in a huff, "And please

the door as soon as the man left.She placed his delivery on the dining table and

a container filled with hot

so thoughtful?’ She never expected that

at

must be a deliberate ploy of his

and she needed a full stomach to be

the company's head office, Anna gloomily watched as Brian personally arranged for Ayla's designs to be made

prepare a studio for Ayla here in

as he

back? What did she do to enthrall you so? Don't you know

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

Lucas now, so she

you

Anna's arms and

did you say is

Lucas? How could it

you're hurting

the truth, so why was

his name again! " Brian growled,