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

to remember what happened last night but his drunkenness made

attended to him,

how are you feeling?

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

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

that he lost

fine.Don't worry about these bruises,"

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

her willing

his

didn't want to waste this opportunity so

pleaded, "Brian, Ayla is already dead.Let me be with you and make you happy.You

and thought

hadn't slept with any woman since

by strong emotions and heaps

he wouldn't be capable of loving anyone else after what happened

I keep Anna and let her be with me for

around and faced

can choose the life you want.One where you won't

pushed her away to break free from

done so much for

me back, give me a chance to make you feel my

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

and insisted, "I have held you back

that you choose your own

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

Anna, her world revolved

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

witnessed how painful it

of Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't

much she

would always put him

melting at Anna's fervent words, Brian held

to love

he'd fall in love before but that changed when

that this great love would also cause

he couldn't bring himself to

where he

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

never been surer of anything in her

thought about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up

profusely as she

her bones spread like wildfire all

hurts too much!" she

she could handle this agonizing pain

painful torture that rendered her

pain, dying was the

to see Brian

and Anna would get married

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

she went into relapse, her mind would be flooded with all things about

She missed him terribly.

with her while always ruthless to

times when his dominance and indifference would surface, she was lucky enough to

roll out of bed and down to the

the noise from outside, Lucas rushed into the room and found her face twisted in

"Lala," he called.

helped her up carefully and

to relax, he patted her

soon," he reassured her