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.

Brian woke up and found himself lying in the bed of the lounge

what happened last

him, her voice laced

feeling?

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

his eyes roam around Anna's body and the

immediately that he

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

refused and said no if she didn't want

her willing to do anything for

his clothes and started getting

didn't want to waste this opportunity so she stood

me be with you and make you happy.You deserve it! I'm willing to be her

thought of what she

with any woman since Ayla

an accident, fueled by strong emotions and heaps of

wouldn't be capable of loving anyone else

her be with

turned around

have to tie yourself up with me.You can choose the life you want.One where

her away to break

always done so much for me and I

you.Even if you won't love me back, give me

over his words and risk not having a chance at being

gazed at her fondly and insisted, "I

time that you choose your own path and think

don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we

Anna, her world revolved around

and dying for him didn't

devastated Brian and she witnessed

instead of Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't have to

was how much she loved

would always put him

Anna's fervent words, Brian held

have it in me to

never thought he'd fall in love before but that changed

this great love would also cause him

was why he couldn't bring himself to love again

where he was coming

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

of anything in her

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

profusely as she curled up on her

from her bones spread

too much!" she

could handle this agonizing

day, she endured the painful torture that rendered her weak every

the pain, dying was the

still wanted to see

get

he truly found happiness, she wouldn't think of quitting

relapse, her mind would be flooded with all

She missed him terribly.

her while always

surface, she was lucky enough to see his soft vulnerable

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

outside, Lucas rushed into the room and

"Lala," he called.

up carefully and leaned her against his

he patted her

over soon," he reassured her in a