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

that the innocent

must have suffered back then listening to

a

family had enough servants to carry out menial tasks! Why on earth was she

made a beeline for another woman in public! Am I nothing to you? Be honest with me.You owe me that much.If you no longer love

after this tirade.She was fully aware that Ayla and Toby

was aware that people wouldn't easily forget

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

arms and lovingly remarked, "Molly, I am

indecisive in the

because he saw how she was

nothing without the Smith family.Molly gazed

about her? Can you erase every memory of her? If you make every

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

taking her in his arms as gently as a newborn, he whispered

pain in that diseased hospital bed.Molly was the only person who had stood

destined to be a

words brought a beam of sunlight to

spend the night in the hotel?

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

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

"I'll take over now.You get some well-deserved rest,

no one else was around.Ayla replied sweetly, "It's okay.I need to keep busy right now.Thank

out all

desperate she would be.Suddenly Maria pulled Ayla towards

you bruise your face so badly? Oh no! Your lips

it's nothing,"

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

Ayla on the

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

when he finds out." Maria's eyes scaled

too kind hearted.She distances herself from conflicts as a rule.What could have possibly transpired at the

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

to run into

not mention to me? Why don't

their conversation in

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

ice pack crushed to the

expecting you back so soon!" she

much earlier

the bruise

"What happened to you?"

a