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

the innocent baby that

suffered back then listening to the baseless accusations snarled

looked like a

Why on

woman in 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 have to feel obligated to marry me just because I

this tirade.She was fully aware that Ayla and Toby

believe that they had not had sexual relations.She was aware

knew that Toby had married her so soon only because she had given herself to him so early

taken any contraceptives 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 trust.I

been indecisive in the

only decided to give up on Ayla because he saw how she was pressured and

without the Smith family.Molly gazed into Toby's

you 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 every attempt to avoid her then there will be no more run-ins between Ayla and

Molly concluded.

confessed to herself that 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 breath of

as a newborn, he whispered

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

to be a major part

a beam of sunlight to

spend the night in the hotel? We should not

truly loved Toby.She had always been a caring, protective, somewhat possessive lover, but it had all

him with the hues of the powerful rainbow.Meanwhile, Ayla

over now.You

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

out all

desperate she

your face so badly?

nothing,"

got a nasty bump." Ayla's lies

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

tenderly nestled Ayla on

the fridge and returned with an ice pack which she wrapped in a towel and dabbed on

too happy when he finds out." Maria's eyes scaled

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

need to know.I'll ensure that I'm

not to

she not mention to me? Why don't you

conversation in the living

Mortified, Ayla stood up.

crushed to

you

much earlier than

the bruise on

"What happened to you?"

walked into a wall and got a