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 bed of the

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

to him, her voice laced with

feeling?

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

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

immediately that he

about these bruises," she assured

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

for him made her willing to do anything

word, Brian gathered his clothes and

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

is already dead.Let me be with you

stilled and thought of what

slept with any

by strong emotions and heaps of

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

I keep Anna and let her be with

around and

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

her away to break free

much for me and I don't

you.Even if you won't love me back, give me a chance to make you feel my love.I have always loved

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

fondly and insisted, "I have held you back

choose your own path and think about your

don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want

Anna, her world revolved around

her life so living and dying for

and she witnessed how

Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't have

much

always

words, Brian held her in his arms

I don't have it in me to love you or anyone else

love before but that changed when

love would also cause

couldn't bring himself

where

chance to love you the way

never been surer of anything in her life than at that

thought about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up at him, he couldn't deny

was sweating profusely as she curled up on her

tingling from her bones spread like wildfire all over

hurts too much!" she

could

she endured the painful torture

dying was the last thing on her

still wanted to see Brian happy with his

get

unless she was sure that he truly found happiness, she

mind would be flooded with

She missed him terribly.

sometimes tender with her while

when his dominance and indifference would surface, she was lucky enough to see his soft vulnerable side

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

rushed into the room and found

"Lala," he called.

her up carefully and leaned her against his

to relax, he patted her

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