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 lounge with Anna

tried hard to remember what happened last night but

attended to him, her voice

are you feeling? Do you have

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

and the bruises were evident on her

immediately that

perfectly fine.Don't worry about

said no if she

made her willing to do

his

to waste this opportunity so she stood up and embraced him

she pleaded, "Brian, Ayla is already dead.Let me be with you and make

thought of what she

hadn't slept with any woman since

accident, fueled by strong

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

with me for as long as possible?’' he

around and faced

me.You can choose the life you want.One where you won't have to

away to break

so much for me and I don't deserve

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 love.I have always loved you,"

up over his words and risk not having

insisted, "I have

your own path and think about your

dismissal, she continued, "I don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want anyone

world revolved around

her life so living and dying for him didn't sound so bad

devastated Brian and she witnessed how painful

sea instead of Ayla, if it

how much she loved

always

fervent words,

to love you or anyone else anymore,"

fall in love before but that changed when he met

great love would also cause

himself to love again after

completely understood where he

don't need you to reciprocate my feelings.Just give me a chance to love you the

anything in her life than at that

destroy her eventually?'’ Brian thought about this possibility too, but with her clear

she

sharp tingling from her bones spread like wildfire

too much!" she

didn't know if she could handle this agonizing

the painful torture that

the last thing on

still wanted to see

would get married soon,

that he truly found happiness,

went into relapse, her mind would be flooded with all things about

She missed him terribly.

was sometimes tender with her

indifference would surface, she was lucky enough to

down to the floor.She couldn't bear

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

"Lala," he called.

her up carefully and leaned her against his

he

over soon," he reassured her in a