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.

in the

to remember what happened last night but his drunkenness

to him, her voice laced with

how are you feeling? Do you have

replied, "I'm sorry.I drank

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

immediately that he

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

she could have refused and said no if she

him made her willing to do

a word, Brian gathered his clothes and

didn't want to waste this opportunity so

dead.Let me be with you and make you happy.You

thought of what she

any woman since Ayla

night was an accident, fueled by strong emotions and heaps of

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

with me for

around and faced

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

pushed her away to

always done so much for me

willing to do this for you.Even if you won't love me back, give me a

him grew stronger over the years.She wouldn't dare give up over his words and risk not having a chance

fondly and insisted, "I have held you

that you choose your own path

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

world

dying for him

witnessed how

it

was how much she

always

Anna's fervent words,

have it in me to love you or anyone else anymore,"

love before but

great love would

he couldn't bring himself to love again after

understood where he was coming

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

in her life than at

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

profusely as she curled up on her

bones spread

hurts too much!"

she could handle this agonizing

the painful torture that rendered her

the last thing on

wanted to see

would get married

truly found happiness,

mind would be flooded

She missed him terribly.

with her while always

indifference would surface, she was lucky

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

Lucas rushed into the room and found her face

"Lala," he called.

and leaned

relax, he patted her

over soon," he reassured her in