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

Brian stared at the woman in front of him for a long moment before saying, "Are you waiting for me to come back?"

He was probing, but his steely tone was ruthless.

Ayla merely looked at him wordlessly.She wasn't waiting for him, but she knew he didn't want to hear that.Her only option was to remain silent.

"Why don't you say something?"

Brian tightened his grip on her waist, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh.

"No," she said.

She knew he would be upset, but she didn't want to lie to him.

This was how they got along with each other.

Brian cocked his head as his gaze bore into her and said, "You are getting bolder and bolder with each passing day."

Although he was drunk, he still could steadily steer her towards the second floor.His swift movement made Ayla almost believe that he was sober.

The next morning, Lucas was standing at the school gate, a light gray overcoat around his shoulders as he waited for Ayla to show up.

As Brian drove, Ayla looked out of the window, annoyed.

She wouldn't be late for class if he hadn't forced her into sex this morning.

Luckily for her, it was wintertime and she could wear a turtleneck to cover the hickeys.

Facing her classmates would have been mortifying otherwise.

The car stopped at the school gate.

Brian's eyes found the figure waiting at the gate, but he didn't say a word to Ayla.

Instead, he drove away the moment she got out of the car.Ayla, on the other hand, hadn't noticed Lucas.

But when she turned to find him leaning leisurely against the gate, she was stunned.

"Why are you here, Mr.Collins?"

Lucas made a show of looking at his wristwatch and said, "You are late today."

Embarrassed, Ayla lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Why are you still standing there? Come on in!"

hand and led her into the school square where Ayla noticed

a meeting.Heads turned and whispers broke out as they walked in, hand in hand.Ayla withdrew her hand at once and sighed.She was afraid that she would

she didn't seem to

had felt the warmth of family.She stood among the crowd,

the principal made the announcement that Lucas would be the new

trying to process what the principal was

in, a sense

saw Ayla hurry out of the gathering without meeting his eyes.She seemed

enough, she avoided him for the

her outside the library, where he had been waiting for her for

him the moment she walked out of

you still angry with me, Ayla? I didn't mean to lie to you," Lucas said desperately, stepping in her path to stop

and said, "I should

him to be involved in any kind of gossip.She didn't want

But it seemed inevitable.

Jealous women were horrible.

random stories without any

Ayla was going to dump the old man who kept her his mistress, that she was hooking up with the new vice principal, and that the

them, because she couldn't stop them

you call me Lucas," he said, flashing her

at his joyful smile that lit up her world like a ray

who needed warmth and Brian was always cold and sneering

"Ayla, I don't care what anyone says.Maybe I want what they say to be

him, stunned.Was she hearing correctly? How could

that possible?

big diamond ring

had forced her to wear it, saying that he didn't want other men

and said, "This ring is too

it and said, "Let's go.I've been waiting for you for three hours.Would you like to have dinner with

give Ayla the chance

she could say anything, he had steered her into his luxury

outside.I want to go

Ayla a long time to utter these

eat much at noon.If you don't eat now, your body will become weak" Lucas said, his eyes never leaving the

only knew that Brian had driven her to school these

he was making

hearty meal and

sighed.She had no choice but to

next to the window, overlooking the entrance.They had seen Ayla walking in hand