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!"

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

she didn't seem to

had felt the warmth of family.She stood among the

principal made the announcement that Lucas would

at the stage, shocked, trying to

it did sink in, a sense of betrayal descended

saw Ayla hurry out of the

avoided him for the next

caught up with her outside the library, where he had been waiting for her for

him the moment she walked out of the library, and pursed

lie to you," Lucas said

looked up at him and said, "I should call you Principal Collins,

she didn't want him to be involved in any kind of gossip.She didn't want her classmates talking about him behind

But it seemed inevitable.

Jealous women were horrible.

make up random stories without any

the rumors that 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 two stayed at school late, had

never explained anything to them, because she couldn't stop them

if you call me Lucas," he said, flashing her

that lit up her world

woman who needed warmth and Brian

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

at him, stunned.Was she hearing correctly?

that possible?

big diamond ring glinted on Ayla's

it, saying that he didn't want other men to

ring is too loose for you.You are still

said, "Let's go.I've been waiting for you

give Ayla the chance to

could say anything, he had steered her into his

eat outside.I want

took Ayla a long time

all day and it's now eight at night.I know you didn't eat much at noon.If you don't eat

He not only knew that Brian had driven her to school these past couple of days, but also knew that

today, he was making

a hearty meal and said, "Eat, Ayla.You shouldn't waste

sighed.She had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks and

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