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 bed of

happened last night but his drunkenness

attended to him, her voice laced

feeling? Do you

and replied, "I'm

Anna's body and the bruises were

knew immediately that he lost

worry about these

said no if she didn't

made her willing to do

a word, Brian gathered his clothes and started getting

opportunity so she stood up

a decisive voice she pleaded, "Brian, Ayla is already dead.Let me be with you and make you happy.You deserve it!

thought of

slept with any woman since

accident, fueled by strong

he wouldn't be capable of loving anyone else after

her be with me

around

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

her away to break

much for me and I don't deserve

for you.Even if you won't love me back, give me a chance to make you

up over his words and risk

fondly and insisted, "I have held you back for

time that you choose your own path and think

had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want

Anna, her world

dying for him didn't sound

she witnessed how painful it

the sea instead of Ayla, if it

much

always put

words, Brian held her in his arms tightly

I don't have it in me to love

before but that changed when he met

would

why he couldn't bring himself to love again after what

completely understood where he was

need you to reciprocate my feelings.Just give me a chance to love you the way you deserve to

surer of anything in

thought about this possibility too, but with her clear

she curled up

spread like wildfire all over her

too

could handle this agonizing pain any

the painful torture that rendered her

the pain, dying was the last

still wanted to see

get married

found

into relapse, her mind would be flooded with all things

She missed him terribly.

with her while always

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

down to the floor.She couldn't bear the pain at

into the room and

"Lala," he called.

up carefully and

her to relax, he patted

over soon," he reassured her in a calm