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.

found himself lying in the

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

immediately attended to him, her voice

you feeling? Do you have a

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

around Anna's body and the bruises

immediately that he

worry about these bruises," she assured

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

him made her willing to do anything for

Brian gathered his

this opportunity so

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

and thought of what

slept with any

fueled by strong emotions and

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

be with me for as long

turned around

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

her away to break free from her

always done so much for me

don't shut me out! I'm willing to 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

insisted, "I

you choose your own path and think

the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we

Anna, her world revolved around

her life so living and dying for him didn't

Brian and she witnessed how painful it

it meant he wouldn't have to feel that

much

always put

his resolve melting at Anna's fervent words, Brian held

me to love you or anyone else anymore,"

in love before but that changed

this great love would also cause him

couldn't bring himself to love

completely understood where he

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

anything in her life than at

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

she curled

her bones spread like wildfire all over

hurts too much!" she

could handle this agonizing

she endured the painful torture that

dying was the last thing on her

to see Brian

Anna would get

was sure that he truly found happiness, she

relapse, her mind would be flooded with all things

She missed him terribly.

was 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

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

"Lala," he called.

carefully and leaned her against his

he patted her

soon," he reassured her in a