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

 "You're the one who didn't stay true to your promise to Lala!" Brian exclaimed, while pointing accusingly at Toby.

Feeling the anger rolling off his body, he kept his steely gaze trained at Toby.

Toby was rendered speechless as Brian's words rang true in his ears.

'I did break my promise to Ayla, ' he thought regrettably.

However, it was undeniable that between the two of them, Brian hurt her the most.

"There's no excuse for what I did.I know that and I'm truly sorry for her.But you seem to forget that you caused her so much pain too,"

Toby managed to say.

At that, Brian stared at him, his eyes a mirror of questions.

"Lala loves you so much she couldn't bear to leave you," he continued.

Falling in love with someone wholeheartedly was no easy feat for a woman, but once she did, she would love that man deeply for as long as she could endure.

Reminiscing the past, Toby could still remember how Ayla decided to leave everything behind for the man she truly loved.

Like the selfless woman she was, Ayla made sure he would be fine despite her leaving.

"You and Molly have my blessing, Toby.I'm letting you go so you can be happy with her," he recalled Ayla saying.

Toby's words pierced through Brian's heart like a double-edged sword.

It dawned on him how much Ayla chose to give up just to be with him.

"You see, she chose you over me.She loved you so much and gave you all that she has, yet you did nothing but cause her pain.I will never forgive you for this! You missed your chance at having that one true love for wasting what she did for you.Now you lost her and you will pay the price," Toby vehemently said, as he left without a backward glance.

At that moment, Brian began to realize Ayla's efforts and sacrifice to keep the baby back then.

After he forced her to have an abortion, she demanded a ligation procedure out of sheer desperation.She gave up the hope to become a mother.

A drunk and wasted Brian was sprawled on the lounge when Anna arrived at the private room.

It was a first seeing him this way, since he knew how to control his drinking.

'Toby must have said something to make him drink this much, ' Anna thought disapprovingly.

"Brian, you have drunk too much.Let me drive you home," she said calmly as she held Brian by his upper arms.

Anna was trying to get him up the seat when his warm solid arms went around her slim waist and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry.I'm so sorry!"

Brian cried out.

Being drunk didn't help at all.

Memories of his difficult conversation with Toby still weighed him down and he mistakenly thought of Anna as Ayla.

Anna knew he was thinking about Ayla but she couldn't find it in herself to refuse him.She was willing to be a substitute.

When their lips met, she could taste a hint of spice from the wine he had been drinking.

"Forgive me," he muttered while keeping his lips close to hers.

Anna could only manage a slight nod as fresh tears wet her expressive eyes and streaked her supple cheeks.

Knowing he was still in love with a dead woman hurt her.

She had loved him for so long and she only wished he could love her back.

"Brian," Anna replied softly, her voice a tad louder than a whisper.

She would think of the consequences later, but on that night, she would be willing to do anything for him.

found himself lying in the bed of the lounge with Anna closely beside

last night but

to him, her

feeling? Do you have a

shook his head and replied, "I'm sorry.I drank too much

roam around Anna's body and the bruises were

that he

perfectly fine.Don't worry about these bruises," she

she could have refused and said no if she didn't want it to

him made her willing

a word, Brian gathered his clothes and started getting

to waste this opportunity so

with you and make you happy.You deserve it! I'm

thought of what

with any woman since

fueled by strong

he allow it to happen again? He knew he wouldn't be capable of loving anyone else after what happened with

I keep Anna and let her be with me for as

turned around and faced

can choose the life you want.One where you won't have to

her away to break

done so much for me and I don't

for you.Even if you won't love me back, give me a chance to make you feel my love.I

give up over

fondly and insisted, "I have

time that you choose your own path and think about your

by his dismissal, she continued, "I don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want anyone else but

her world revolved around

owed him her life so living and dying for him didn't sound so

she witnessed

Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't have to feel

much

always put him

words, Brian held her in his arms

don't have it in me to

before but that changed when he met

would also cause him the

he couldn't bring himself to love again

completely understood where he

you to reciprocate my feelings.Just give me a chance to love you the way you deserve to be loved."

been surer of anything in

about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up at him, he couldn't deny

sweating profusely as she curled

sharp tingling from her bones spread like wildfire all

hurts too much!"

she could handle

painful torture

was the

to see Brian happy

get

was sure that he truly found happiness, she

she went into relapse, her mind

She missed him terribly.

was sometimes tender with her while always ruthless to

surface, she was

to roll out of bed and down to the floor.She couldn't bear the

noise from outside, Lucas rushed into the room and found

"Lala," he called.

up carefully and leaned her

he patted

on.It'll be over soon," he reassured her