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

hard to remember what happened last night but

immediately attended to him, her voice laced with

are you feeling?

replied, "I'm

his eyes roam around Anna's body and the bruises were evident

that he lost

worry about these bruises," she

said no if she didn't want it to

him made her willing to

a word, Brian gathered his clothes and started

opportunity so she stood up and embraced

Ayla is already dead.Let me be with

stilled and thought of

hadn't slept with any woman since Ayla

an accident, fueled by strong emotions and heaps of

knew he wouldn't be capable of loving anyone

her be with

turned around and faced

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

away to break free from her

always done so much for me and I don't

love me back, give me a chance to make you feel my love.I have

give up over his words and risk not having a chance at

fondly and insisted, "I have held you back for many

that you choose your own path and think about your

had eyes for you ever

Anna, her world revolved around

life so living and dying for him didn't sound

witnessed how painful it was for

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

how much she

would always

Anna's fervent words, Brian held her in his

me to love you or anyone else anymore," he

in love before but that changed when he

love would also

bring himself to love

completely understood where he was

love you the way you deserve to be loved."

in

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

was sweating profusely as she curled up on

spread like wildfire all over her

too much!"

could handle this agonizing pain any

twice each day, she endured the painful

the last thing on her

wanted to see

Anna would get married soon,

he truly found

relapse, her mind would be flooded with all

She missed him terribly.

with her

and indifference would surface, she was lucky

of bed and down to the floor.She

rushed into the room and found her face twisted

"Lala," he called.

helped her up carefully and leaned her against

her to relax, he patted

he reassured her in a calm