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.

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

happened last night but

immediately attended to him, her

feeling?

"I'm sorry.I drank

eyes roam around Anna's body and

knew immediately that he lost

perfectly fine.Don't worry about these

and said no if she didn't want it to happen,

love for him made her willing to do anything for

a word, Brian gathered his clothes and

didn't want to waste this opportunity so she stood up and embraced him

already dead.Let me be with you and make you happy.You deserve it! I'm

thought

slept with any woman since Ayla

was an accident, fueled by strong emotions and

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

with

around and faced

the life you want.One where you won't have to settle

to break

so much for me and I don't deserve

me back,

up over his words

insisted, "I have held you back for

choose your own path and

dismissal, she continued, "I don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since

her world revolved around

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

Brian and she witnessed how painful it

if it

was how much she

would always put

resolve melting at Anna's fervent words,

I don't have it in me to love

in love before but that changed when

love would also cause

he couldn't bring himself to

understood where

love you the way you deserve to be loved." She said all this with

anything in her

but with her clear

profusely as she curled

sharp tingling from her bones spread like wildfire all over her

hurts too much!" she

she could handle this agonizing

twice each day, she endured the painful torture that rendered

dying was the last thing on her

to see Brian happy

and Anna would get married soon, '

unless she was sure that he truly found happiness, she wouldn't think of quitting just

time she went into relapse, her mind would be

She missed him terribly.

tender with her while

were times when his dominance and indifference would surface, she

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

from outside, Lucas rushed into the room

"Lala," he called.

and leaned

her to relax, he patted her

be over soon," he reassured her in