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.

the relationship between Toby and

to believe that the innocent baby that Ayla was carrying

back then listening to the baseless

a weak,

Why on earth was she asked to go out and

public! Am I nothing to you? Be honest with me.You owe me that much.If you no longer love me then admit it.You didn't

aware that Ayla and Toby had

believe that they had not had sexual relations.She was aware that people wouldn't

her so soon only because she had given herself to him so early in their relationship.Besides,

recently, but why hadn't she fallen pregnant yet?Toby cradled Molly in his arms and lovingly remarked, "Molly, I am truly sorry.Let's put this unpleasant episode behind us and move forward with renewed strength and

indecisive in the

to give up on Ayla because he saw

Smith family.Molly gazed into

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

Molly concluded.

sacrifice to sustain this love, but at the end of

as

person who had stood by him and helped him get back

be a major part of

brought a beam of sunlight to her

sensual smile, she teased, "Shall we spend the night in the hotel? We should

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

Ayla had returned to the villa and

over

else was around.Ayla replied sweetly, "It's okay.I need to keep busy

to wash out all

less desperate she would be.Suddenly Maria pulled

in heaven's name did you bruise your face so badly? Oh no! Your lips

nothing," Ayla

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

know me better than that, Lala.Tell me what happened.I can't bear to see you in such pain.Who did this to you? How can anyone be so

Ayla on the

on her face.Ayla took the ice pack and reassured Maria, "I'm fine, really.I'll be

when he finds

could have possibly transpired at the mall

to know.I'll ensure that

was determined not to run into Brian that

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

conversation in the living

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

crushed

you back so soon!" she

much

bruise on her

"What happened to you?"

a