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

Ayla's body was pressed firmly on the couch making it difficult for her to ignore Brian's probing eyes.She looked away instead to evade his questions.

"Why don't you answer me? Does it hurt?" Brian asked as he searched her eyes for answers that her mouth wasn't willing to give.

Bending his head down, he gently kissed Ayla's scar.His lips left a trail of moisture that was impossible to ignore.

That scar would remain etched on her skin for a lifetime and it was a Clear representation of what he owed her.  

"It hurt," Ayla nodded.

No matter how painful the physical wounds were, they all belonged in the past now.

What kept her hurting was the emotional trauma he put her through.  "I'm sorry."

Brian spoke softly.

He remembered how she got that scar and no amount of apologies could turn back time and erase it.

Still, he wouldn't give up easily trying to win her heart.Biting her lower lip, Ayla pleaded, "Why can't you set me free? Why?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of pain and anger that she couldn't quite release.

"I can promise anything else, except this one,"

Brian said with finality.  Ayla gasped in horror and exclaimed, "You devil!"

"So don't ever try to escape from me.Now that you're here, I will never let you go again.If ever you try to leave, I will come find you, understand?" he repeated as he gazed at her pointedly.

There was no sense arguing with him at this point.

Ayla broke free from his grasp and plucked the torn dress from the floor to cover her body.

Brian draped his suit jacket on her shoulders and said, "I'll ask someone to bring clothes for you here."

"No, thanks.There's no way for me to afford it," she countered to decline the offer.

Ayla didn't want to be regarded as a sexual partner.

She tried her hardest to recover from her bitter past and becoming like this would only waste her sacrifices.

"Well, if you hate me that much, it means that I'll be always in your heart." Brian grinned at her.

At the back of his mind, he thought, 'You can hate me.It is better to hate me than to forget me"

to him with blazing

grateful that you agreed to let me have that operation? Need I remind you that no

shackled to him,

loss for words as he stared at her unbelievably.He thought Ayla just wanted to stir up trouble and provoke him.Wasn't she afraid that

what needed to be done.You should go back

the black suit jacket off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.She

you're going out dressed like that?"

because of how stubborn she was being, but he

torn clothes and threw back

you want

in his arms and reminded her possessively, "I'm the only one who can see

on her!  Ayla chose to keep her mouth shut,

after,

you to dinner,"

shook her head

thanks.I prefer to eat instant

would lose her appetite if

clothes for dinner as well, but

put on the new clothes, he said, "Okay, fine! Instant noodles, then.Let's not wait any longer.I'm

out of the studio and

on the noodles, the awkward silence in the room was too unbearable for one's

went

tense nerves finally relaxed

lifted off her chest and she could

second, she headed to the bathroom and stripped off the designer dress that Brian

tossed it into the trash can where

cleanse whatever he left on her body.  She didn't want to keep on

what could she do if he really wanted to continue with this? ‘Isn't there anything I can do for him to give up completely?’ she thought

flirtatious women who would sleep with

could finally let her go? If so, how far was she willing to go to do it? This plan was to set herself free

it in the end?’ Ayla asked herself

hesitant to go at first, since he wasn't sure if he should pay her a visit.He actually missed her so much, but he couldn't come see her constantly anymore.He could only drive

building, he craned his neck upwards to look at her

you hold on like you did before? Or will you come back to

Lucas had been with Ayla every day.He should have faith

her, she

when Lucas saw that Brian's car had just driven away