The Substitute Bride: Making Memories Of Us (Lois Stone)

Haley sneered, "Are you pretending as if nothing has happened? How cruel can you be to say this? How dare you insinuate that nothing has happened? Then what is this?" she asked, pointing at the bruises punctuated all over her body by the previous night's frenzied sex.

'How could he ask me to forget what has happened?' she thought bitterly.

"Lucas, how could you be so cruel to me for the sake of that wretched woman? Can she love you as much as I do? Can she drive you to such levels of ecstasy and passion as I do? She hasn't let you touch her, has she?"

She had done everything in her power to get what she wanted and was determined to win this battle.

"Haley, don't you understand? I always regard you as my sister."

What he meant was that she could only be a sister to him.

Chances of her ever becoming a lover or a wife were nil.

The only woman in his heart was Ayla.

It didn't matter that he could not get her body, but his heart belonged only to her.

"Am I right?"

Haley looked at him and commented, "If a woman doesn't surrender her body to you then it's a clear indication that she doesn't love you!"

"What nonsense! The two of you are like chalk and cheese!"

He liked Ayla's innocence and kindness as much as he disliked Haley's scheming character.

Ayla could shower him with an abundance of warmth that made him long for a home with her.

Haley couldn't offer him anything close to this in a thousand years.

Although Haley had helped him in countless ways when he was suffering in Thailand, that was not the kind of love he sought.

Haley stared at him and said, "I won't force you; but I don't want you to meet that woman now, okay? Please can you stay and accompany me today?"

His heart melted like butter when he saw tears streaming down her cheeks.

She didn't usually break down so easily.

"Are you still hesitant? This is my only condition.I do not expect you to take responsibility for me or to marry me.All I request is that you should spend just one day with me, please."

had no choice but to settle for second best.She would need

He nodded in agreement.

of victory spread across her face.She knew exactly what she

Ayla to the

designed were ready for inspection.The Clark Group was indeed super-efficient.The

do you think? Do they meet up

on the mannequins and examined

and watched in awe as she seriously examined the dresses.He had never imagined that Ayla, who

had brought a beautiful woman here.She didn't need to guess twice that

past two years.She was a

Brian on the sofa, observing Ayla as she checked the sample

was too

days, all

her designs? Had anyone else designed the

but blame

him earlier, then there would

between them to keep them apart, but

would not allow Ayla

raised her head,

distraction caused her to accidentally prick her finger with the needle she was working

pain made

gaze and said, "Come

was as

you really going to do

two

nurtured a space

who resembled Ayla on the street,

and would even

in her heart,

resemblance to Ayla from

that he would

that was a dream

forget Ayla, she mysteriously reappeared, ruining the

look.What's your opinion? Do you find anything wrong?" Brian asked