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.

lying in the bed

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

to him, her

feeling? Do you have

replied, "I'm sorry.I drank

and the bruises were evident on her

immediately that he lost

perfectly fine.Don't worry about these

no if she didn't want it to happen, but

for him made her willing to do anything for

word, Brian gathered his

to waste this opportunity so she stood up and

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

thought of what

with any woman since

night was an accident, fueled by strong emotions and heaps

He knew he wouldn't be

with

around

with me.You can choose the life you

to break free from her

so much for me and I don't deserve

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

wouldn't dare give up over his words and risk not

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

time that you choose your own

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

Anna, her world

her life so living and dying

witnessed how painful it was

Ayla, if it

how much she loved

always

words, Brian held her in his arms tightly

in me to love you or anyone else

never thought he'd fall in love before but that changed when he met

that this great love would also cause

couldn't bring himself to love again

completely understood where

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

of anything in her life than at that

if I destroy her eventually?'’ Brian thought about this possibility too, but with her clear determined eyes looking up at him, he

she curled

spread like

hurts too

could handle this agonizing

endured the painful torture that rendered her weak every

pain, dying was the last

wanted to see Brian

would get married

that he truly found

mind

She missed him terribly.

was sometimes tender with her while always ruthless to

and indifference would surface, she

down to the floor.She couldn't

into the room and found her face

"Lala," he called.

and

her to relax, he

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