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!"

her hand and led her into the school square where Ayla noticed a crowd had

gotten any notice about 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 be

she didn't seem to hate

warmth of family.She stood among the

announcement that Lucas would

stage, shocked, trying to process what

sink in, a sense of betrayal

felt cheated.Lucas saw Ayla hurry out of the gathering without meeting

enough, she avoided him

the library, where he

walked out of the

lie to you," Lucas said desperately, stepping in

said, "I should call

ignored him because she didn't want him to be involved in any kind of

But it seemed inevitable.

Jealous women were horrible.

stories without any truth

dump the old man who kept her his mistress, that she was hooking up with the new vice principal, and that the two stayed at school

explained anything to them, because she

call me Lucas," he said, flashing her a charming

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

warmth and Brian was

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

stunned.Was she hearing correctly? How could he

is that possible?

ring

forced her to wear it, saying that he didn't

the ring and said, "This ring is too loose for

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 sports car and driven

can't eat outside.I want

long

busy all day and it's now eight at night.I know you didn't eat much at noon.If you don't eat now, your body will become weak" Lucas said, his eyes never leaving the

knew that Brian had driven her to school these past couple of days, but also knew that she needed to

today, he was making

and said, "Eat, Ayla.You shouldn't

but to pick up her

different booth in the same restaurant.Their seats were next to the window, overlooking the entrance.They had seen Ayla walking