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 closely beside

what happened last night but his drunkenness made

to him, her voice laced

feeling?

and replied, "I'm sorry.I drank

and the bruises

knew immediately that

about these bruises," she

if she didn't want it to

him made her willing to do anything

his clothes and started

to waste this opportunity so she stood up and embraced him from

with you and make you

stilled and thought

with any woman

accident, fueled by strong emotions

wouldn't

I keep Anna and let her be with me

around and

the life you want.One where you won't have to settle for

to break

always done so much for me and I don't deserve

me back, give me a

for him grew stronger over the years.She wouldn't dare give up over his words and risk not having

her fondly and insisted, "I have

you choose your own path and think about your

don't care about the future.I've only had eyes for you ever since we met.I couldn't possibly want

Anna, her world revolved

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

Brian and she witnessed

it meant he wouldn't have to feel that kind of pain

much she loved

always put

words, Brian

have it in me to

fall in love before but that

love would also cause

couldn't bring himself to

where

chance to love you the way

never been surer of anything in her life than

but with her clear determined eyes looking up at him, he couldn't deny her anymore and finally

she curled

from her bones spread like wildfire all over

hurts too much!"

she could handle this

she endured the painful torture

was the last

to see

would get

she was sure that he truly found happiness, she

went into relapse, her mind would be flooded with

She missed him terribly.

tender with her while always ruthless to

indifference would surface, she was lucky enough to see his soft

bed and down to the floor.She couldn't

outside, Lucas rushed into the

"Lala," he called.

her up carefully and leaned her against his

her to relax, he patted

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