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.

himself lying in the bed of the lounge with Anna closely beside

happened last night

immediately attended to him, her voice laced with

you feeling? Do you have

and replied, "I'm sorry.I drank

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

knew immediately that he

about these

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

for him made her willing to

a word, Brian gathered his

so she

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

thought of what

hadn't slept with any woman

fueled by strong emotions and heaps of

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

and let her be with me for as long as possible?’'

around and faced

me.You can choose the

pushed her away to break free

always done so much for me and I don't deserve

love me back,

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

gazed at her fondly and insisted, "I have held you

choose your own

by his dismissal, she continued, "I don't care about the future.I've only had eyes

her world revolved around

living and dying for him didn't sound

Brian and she witnessed how painful it

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

how much

would always put him

fervent words, Brian held her in his arms tightly

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

love before but that changed when he met

would also cause him

why he couldn't bring himself to love

completely understood where

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

never been surer of anything in her life

thought about this possibility too, but with her

sweating profusely as she curled

sharp tingling from her bones spread like wildfire all

too much!"

she could handle

the painful torture that

the last

still wanted to see Brian happy

would get married soon,

found

she went into relapse, her mind would be

She missed him terribly.

with her

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

down to the floor.She

into the room and found

"Lala," he called.

up carefully and leaned her against

her to relax, he

soon," he reassured her