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

to believe that the innocent baby that Ayla was carrying

have suffered back then listening to the baseless accusations snarled

like a

tasks! Why on earth

I who was embarrassed! I was the one who was subjected to humiliation! My husband made a beeline for another woman in public! Am I nothing to you? Be honest with me.You

this tirade.She was fully aware that Ayla and Toby

relations.She was aware that people

had given

cradled Molly in his arms and lovingly remarked, "Molly, I am truly

been indecisive in the

to give up on Ayla because he saw how she was

nothing without the Smith family.Molly

to see Ayla ever again? Not to even think about her? Can you erase every memory of her? If you make every attempt to avoid her then there will be no more run-ins between Ayla

Molly concluded.

she had made many a sacrifice to sustain this love, but at the end of the day, was he really worth it? Toby slowly inhaled a deep

gently 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

was destined to be a major

a beam

the hotel? We should not head home.You

knew in the depths of her being that she truly loved Toby.She had always been a caring, protective, somewhat possessive lover, but it had all been in the

the hues of the powerful rainbow.Meanwhile, Ayla had returned to the villa

take over now.You get some well-deserved

only called her "Lala" when no one else was around.Ayla replied sweetly,

wash out all disturbing thoughts from

less desperate she would be.Suddenly

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

it's nothing," Ayla

accidentally walked into a wall and got a nasty bump." Ayla's lies literally ate her

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

tenderly nestled Ayla on the

an ice pack which she wrapped in a towel and dabbed on her face.Ayla took the ice pack and reassured Maria, "I'm fine, really.I'll be as good as

happy when

a rule.What could have possibly transpired at the mall that resulted in her

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

to run into

mention to me? Why don't you want me

their conversation in the living

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

crushed to the

were not expecting you

much earlier than

noticed the bruise on

"What happened to you?"

a