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

hard to remember what happened last night but his drunkenness made everything a

immediately attended to him,

are you feeling? Do you

and replied, "I'm sorry.I

Anna's body and the bruises were evident on her delicate

that he lost

perfectly fine.Don't worry about

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

her willing to do anything

his clothes

so she stood up

dead.Let me be with you

thought

with any woman since Ayla

night was an accident, fueled by strong emotions and

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

let her be with me for as long

around and

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

pushed her away to break free

always done so much for me

love me back, give me a

over the years.She wouldn't dare give up over his words and risk not

at her fondly and insisted, "I have held you back for

you choose your own path and

the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we

her world revolved around

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

devastated Brian and she witnessed how painful

would rather fall into the sea instead of Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't have to feel that kind

was how much she

always put him

melting at Anna's fervent words, Brian held her in

don't have it in me to love you or

thought he'd fall in love before but

this great love would also cause him the

was why he couldn't bring himself to love

completely understood where he was

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

anything in her

destroy her eventually?'’ Brian thought about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up at him, he couldn't deny her anymore and

sweating profusely as she curled up on her

from her bones spread like wildfire all over

too much!" she

she could handle this agonizing pain any

endured the painful torture that

pain, dying was the

still wanted to see

would get married soon,

found happiness, she wouldn't think

into relapse, her mind would be flooded

She missed him terribly.

sometimes tender with her

when his dominance and indifference would surface, she was

roll out of bed and down

Lucas rushed into the room and found her face twisted

"Lala," he called.

helped her up carefully and leaned

relax, he

hold on.It'll be over soon," he reassured her in a calm soothing