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

Ayla looked at Molly totally aghast.Then she stared at Toby quizzically.She said, "Get up, Mrs.Brown.I promise not to ever see him again!"

After all that had transpired recently, there was certainly no reason for her and Toby to ever see each other again.

Toby tried to interject but Ayla knew that anything he uttered at that moment would further exacerbate the problem.

She instructed him, "Mr.Brown, take your precious wife home! We are in a public place now."

Ayla was not in the least bit concerned about anyone's opinions about her.

But she knew at the back of her mind that if the daughter and son-in-law of the prestigious Smith Group continued to misbehave in public, they would promptly feature in the following day's news broadcast.Ayla then made a hasty exit from the shopping mall.

Lyle, who had been patiently awaiting her at the gate, hurried forth to assist her with her bag.

He immediately detected that something was amiss.

Deeply concerned, he enquired, "Miss Woodsen, are you all right?"

Lyle was horrified to see her swollen face and the bloodstain at the corner of her mouth.

She had been in the mall for barely an hour.

What could have possibly happened to drive her into this tragic state?

"I'm just fine, Lyle.Don't mention a word about this to Mr.Clark," she pleaded.

Ayla slumped against the seat helplessly.

She gently closed her eyes and introspected.

Tears cascaded down her burning cheeks.

She was consumed by old emotions of heartbreak and bitterness.

Past pain of misery resurfaced.

Coupled with this emotional torture, she had reached a new low of extreme pain and helplessness.

Meanwhile, after quickly assessing the gravity of the situation, Toby swept Molly off to a nearby hotel.

Miley, on seeing them safe, gestured to the driver to take her back home.

Molly was visibly disturbed.She couldn't bear to look Toby in the eye.

"Molly,"

Toby comforted, "please don't be angry.You know that I had lost all contact with Lala.Was all this embarrassing drama even necessary? And in full view of the public?"

Toby asked her with some concern in his voice as he sat beside her.He was genuinely worried about Ayla.

Four months into her pregnancy and he did not notice a baby bump.

Chances were great that she had miscarried.

clearly misunderstood the relationship

innocent

back then listening to the baseless accusations snarled upon

looked like a

servants to carry out menial tasks! Why on earth was she asked

for another woman in public! Am I nothing to you? Be honest with me.You owe

tirade.She was fully aware that Ayla and Toby had

had sexual relations.She was aware that people wouldn't easily forget those

given herself to him so early in their relationship.Besides, there was one thing confusing

"Molly, I am truly sorry.Let's put this unpleasant episode behind us and

been indecisive

up on Ayla because he saw how she was

nothing without the Smith family.Molly gazed

absolutely sure? Do you really mean it? Can you promise never to see Ayla ever again? Not to even think about her? Can you erase every memory of her? If you make

Molly concluded.

sacrifice to sustain this love, but at the end of the day, was he

as a newborn, he whispered convincingly,

pain in that diseased hospital bed.Molly was the only person who had stood by him and helped him get back on his

destined to be a

brought a beam of sunlight to her

we spend the night in the hotel? We should not head home.You know how inquisitive my parents

her being that she truly loved Toby.She had always been a caring, protective, somewhat

Ayla had returned to the villa

"I'll take over now.You get

only called her "Lala" when no one else was around.Ayla replied sweetly, "It's okay.I need to keep

to wash out all disturbing thoughts

she reconciled her thoughts, the less desperate she would be.Suddenly Maria pulled

in heaven's name did you bruise your face so badly? Oh no! Your lips are also swollen!" she

nothing,"

a nasty bump." Ayla's lies literally ate her up.She knew that

Lala.Tell me what happened.I can't bear to see you in such pain.Who did this to you?

tenderly nestled Ayla on

with an ice pack which she wrapped in a towel and dabbed on her face.Ayla took the

happy when he finds out."

conflicts as a rule.What could have possibly transpired at the mall that resulted in her sustaining such

to know.I'll ensure that I'm back in my

was determined not to run into Brian

must she not mention to me? Why don't you want me

their conversation in the

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

crushed to

not expecting you back so soon!"

much

the bruise on her

"What happened to you?"

a wall and