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

innocent baby that Ayla was carrying was

suffered back then listening to the

looked like a weak,

Clark family had enough servants to carry out menial tasks! Why on earth was she asked to go out and purchase the

public! Am I nothing to you? Be honest with me.You owe me that much.If you no longer

fully aware that Ayla and Toby had lived

would be naive to believe that they had not had sexual relations.She was aware that people

because she had given herself to him so early

cradled Molly in his arms and lovingly remarked, "Molly, I am truly sorry.Let's put this unpleasant episode behind us

been indecisive in the

only decided to give up on Ayla because he saw

was nothing without the Smith

to even think about her? Can you erase every memory of her? If you

Molly concluded.

the end of the

as a newborn, he

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

be a major part of his

a beam of sunlight to

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

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 name

hues of the powerful rainbow.Meanwhile, Ayla had returned

over now.You get some well-deserved rest,

around.Ayla replied sweetly, "It's

all disturbing thoughts from

thoughts, the less desperate she would be.Suddenly Maria pulled Ayla towards

bruise your face so badly? Oh no! Your

it's nothing," Ayla

nasty bump." Ayla's lies literally

that, Lala.Tell me what happened.I can't bear to see you

nestled Ayla on

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 new in

be too happy when he finds out." Maria's

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

don't mention anything to him.He doesn't need to know.I'll ensure that

to

Why

overheard their conversation in

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

ice pack crushed to the

you back so

had returned much earlier

bruise on

"What happened to you?"

walked into a wall and got