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.

woke up and found himself lying in the

tried hard to remember what happened last night

immediately attended to him, her voice

how are you feeling? Do you have a

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

his eyes roam around Anna's body and the

knew immediately that he

perfectly fine.Don't worry about these

she didn't want it to happen, but she chose not

him made her willing to

word, Brian gathered his clothes and started

this opportunity so

a decisive voice she pleaded, "Brian, Ayla is already dead.Let me be with you and

stilled and thought of

with any woman

was an accident, fueled by strong emotions and

to happen again? He knew he wouldn't be capable

be with me for as

around and faced

tie yourself up with me.You can choose the life you want.One where you won't have to settle

to break free

much for

love me back,

over the years.She wouldn't dare give up over

fondly and insisted, "I have held you back for

about time that you choose your own path and

care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want anyone

Anna, her world

living and dying for him didn't

devastated Brian and she witnessed how painful it was

it meant he wouldn't have to feel that kind of

was how much

would always put

resolve melting at Anna's fervent words, Brian

in me to love

before but that changed when he met

would also cause him

bring himself to love

completely understood where

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

surer of anything in her life than at that

her eventually?'’ Brian thought about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up

as she curled up on

tingling from her bones spread like wildfire

too

didn't know if she could handle

painful torture that rendered her weak

the last thing

still wanted to see Brian happy with

get married soon, ' she

she was sure that he truly found happiness,

went into relapse, her mind would be flooded

She missed him terribly.

sometimes tender with her while always ruthless

surface,

bed and down to the

into the room and found her face twisted in

"Lala," he called.

helped her up carefully and leaned her against

he patted

over soon," he reassured her in a