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

whispers broke out as they walked in, hand in hand.Ayla withdrew her hand at

seem to

of family.She stood among

that Lucas would be the new vice

looked at the stage, shocked, trying to process what the principal

a sense of betrayal descended

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

him

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

walked out of the library, and

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

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

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

But it seemed inevitable.

Jealous women were horrible.

random stories without any truth to

dump the old man who kept her his mistress, that she was hooking up with the new vice

never explained anything to them, because she

mind if you call me Lucas,"

looked at his joyful smile that lit up

warmth and Brian was always cold and sneering

her face and said, "Ayla, I don't care what

stared at him, stunned.Was she hearing correctly? How could

that possible? I'm

big diamond ring glinted on Ayla's

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

head, Lucas took off the ring and said, "This ring is too loose for you.You are still a student.You

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

didn't give Ayla the

had steered her into his luxury

eat outside.I want

long time to utter these

been 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

about ners. He not only knew that Brian had driven her to school these past couple of days,

was making her break this

hearty meal and said, "Eat, Ayla.You

sighed.She had no choice but to pick up her

sat at a different booth in the same restaurant.Their seats were next to the window, overlooking the entrance.They had