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."

second best.She would need more time to plan how to

He nodded in agreement.

victory spread across her face.She knew exactly what she wanted from this

the Clark Group

had designed were ready for inspection.The Clark Group was indeed super-efficient.The dresses were presented to her in a steady

think? Do they meet up to your

the mannequins and

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

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

his while to spoil her so much? Ayla and Lucas had grown close over the past two years.She

she spotted Brian on the sofa, observing Ayla as she

too

two days, all

else designed

help but blame herself

handed Ayla's designs over to him earlier, then there would have been no need for him

created difficulties between them to keep them apart, but

allow Ayla

Ayla raised her head, she noticed

to accidentally prick her finger with the

pain made

followed her gaze and

voice was as cold as

are you really going

so ruthless? In the past two years that they had been 'together', he had not reciprocated

that he still nurtured

woman who resembled Ayla

would even help him investigate those women who looked like

deep in her heart, he

resemblance to Ayla

hoped and prayed that

a dream short

Ayla, she mysteriously reappeared, ruining the peace they had shared

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