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.

next morning, Brian woke up and found himself lying in the bed of the lounge with Anna closely

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

attended to him, her voice laced

you feeling? Do you have

replied, "I'm sorry.I drank too much last

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

that

perfectly fine.Don't worry about these

if she

made her willing to do anything

word, Brian gathered his clothes and started getting

this opportunity so she stood up and embraced him from

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

stilled and thought of

any

by strong emotions and

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

her be with me for as long as possible?’'

turned around and faced

tie yourself up with me.You can choose the life you

her away to break

always done so much for me and I

do this for you.Even if you won't love me back, give me a

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

and insisted, "I have

you choose your own path and think

care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever

world

so living and dying

death devastated Brian and she witnessed how painful it was

into the sea instead of Ayla, if it meant he wouldn't have to feel that kind of pain

was how much she

would always put

at Anna's fervent words, Brian held her in

have it in me to love you

in love before but that changed when

love would

bring himself to love again

where he was

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

anything in her

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

she curled up on her

spread like wildfire all

too

she could handle this agonizing pain any

each day, she endured the painful torture that rendered her

was the last thing on

to see Brian happy

get married

found happiness, she wouldn't think of quitting

mind would be flooded with

She missed him terribly.

her while

dominance and indifference would surface, she was

to roll out of bed and down to the floor.She couldn't bear the pain at

noise from outside, Lucas rushed into the room and found

"Lala," he called.

her up carefully and leaned her against his broad

her to relax, he patted her back

he reassured her in a calm