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"

him

that operation? Need I remind you that no matter how many times we have sex, I won't bear another child ever again and

her shackled

was at a 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 he would

I've already finished what needed to be done.You should go back now,"

let it fall to the floor.She

sure you're going out

really wanted to teach her a lesson because of how stubborn she was being, but he chose otherwise when he saw the fresh bruises

of her torn clothes and threw back

do you want

reminded her possessively, "I'm the only one who can

touch her, much less lay a finger on her! 

on the couch and not long after, Brian came back

you to dinner,"

shook her head in

prefer to eat instant

appetite if she had

dinner as well, but for now, he would give in

as she put on the new clothes, he said, "Okay, fine!

he pulled her out

the noodles, the awkward silence in the room was too unbearable

had a few bites and Brian went on his way shortly after finishing

finally relaxed the moment

off her chest and she could finally

bathroom

tossed it into the trash can where

the bathtub, hoping the water and soap would cleanse whatever he left on her body.  She didn't want to keep on feeling

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

who would sleep

resort in doing that to make herself the kind of woman he hated, so he could finally let her go? If so, how far was she willing to go to

the

to Ayla's apartment.He was a bit hesitant to go at first, since he

he craned his neck upwards

did before? Or will you come back to Brian without hesitation and throw yourself into his arms the

with Ayla every

her, she wouldn't turn

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