The Substitute Bride: Making Memories Of Us (Lois Stone)

Chapter 17: She Gave In Again Before 

Ayla could hang up the phone, Brian stood up quickly, grabbed her phone and threw it on the floor.

The phone broke in half instantly.

"My phone!" Ayla screamed.

She looked at the broken phone on the ground in horror.

She bought the phone by saving money for several months.

Although she had used the phone for many years, she couldn't afford another phone at this moment.

"Oh? Are you bothered by that broken phone? You're from the Woodsen family.This inexpensive phone must not be too much for you.If you want to talk to that Toby, I can give you my phone."

Brian was furious after learning Arlene didn't take him seriously when he asked her not to contact Toby anymore.

He walked towards her broken phone and stared at it with a scowl.

"This old model of your phone is making me suspect whether you are really from the Woodsen family." Ayla flinched at his words.

He had suspected her.

What if he found out the truth? If he learned it somehow that she was not Arlene, the whole Woodsen family would suffer the consequences.

Ayla tried to sound firm when she replied, "Of course I'm from the Woodsen family.Let's make a deal.From now on, I'll listen to your every instruction, and in turn, you won't hurt my father or Toby.You agree?"

Brian turned around and glared at her.

"You aren't qualified to make a deal with me.I don't even trust you.Just keep your mouth shut and stay at home."

Ayla had no power to disobey him.

There was no other way but to accept his every command.

Meanwhile, Toby was confused when the call got cut shortly.

He dialed her number again, but the line didn't connect.

He anxiously asked for her address from her classmates.

But no one knew where she lived.

He lingered at the school gate almost the entire day.

But Ayla didn't show up.

When the classes were over, it was almost dusk.

Veronica and Lisa walked out of the school together and spotted Toby in front of the school gate.

"Isn't he Ayla's friend? What is he doing here?" Lisa said to Veronica.

"He must be looking for Ayla.She hasn't come today.She might have fallen sick," Veronica said worriedly.

"How could Ayla be sick? Isn't she with some rich man now? Won't he take care of her like a princess? She doesn't even need to come to school!"

Lisa said that aloud intentionally to make Toby hear what she said.

And it worked.

Toby heard Ayla's name and turned towards them.

His brows knitted in a frown as he approached them. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"What did you just say?"

He abruptly caught a hold of Lisa's arm.

"Ouch! It's hurting.Let go of me!"

Lisa didn't expect he'd pull her arm so roughly.

He looked like a handsome gentleman but didn't know how to behave.

A frown appeared on Toby's face as he let her arm go.

"You are Lala''s classmate.You must know what happened to her, right?" Lisa rolled her eyes.

"Ayla used to live in the same dormitory with us.But she moved out recently and resigned from her part- time jobs.These days she came to school by a luxury car.Although we don't know for sure, everyone has been gossiping that she is hooking up with a rich man."

Toby's face darkened as Lisa said that.

"That's all I know."

Lisa shrugged and stepped away from him.

This man also seemed to belong to the elite class.

Was he too an admirer of Ayla? Veronica walked up to Toby and said, "Sir, it is just a random guess from our classmates.Please don't mind about it.How about you leave your phone number? If she comes to the school, I'll let you know."

Toby agreed.

He took out a business card and handed it to Veronica.

"Thank you so much.I'll come again tomorrow."

They exchanged formal goodbyes before he got into his BMW and drove away.

Meanwhile, Molly showed up in Toby's office without informing him beforehand.

Today she wore a light pink chiffon dress that looked pretty on her just to impress Toby.

She sat on the sofa while a bodyguard stood beside her.

Toby's assistant offered a glass of fresh juice to her.

"Miss Smith, here is your juice."

"Where is Toby? Where has he gone?"

She glared at Toby's assistant.

Molly was an extremely domineering woman.

She never allowed any other woman around Toby.

Even she chose his personal assistant by herself.

All of the staff that Toby dealt with personally, were males.

"Miss Smith, the Deputy CEO only said he had something personal to do today."

Fred Fowler, Toby's personal assistant, just repeated what Toby said before leaving.

He knew that vague answer would make Miss Smith unhappy, but he couldn't help but obey Toby's instruction.

"Something personal? What is it? He never mentioned it to me."

Molly's voice was laced with fury.

Toby had been behaving strange since he came back from abroad.

He was often absent-minded, as if he had something going on in his mind all the time.

She even asked him if something was bothering him, but he never answered her clearly.

This definitely made her more suspicious.

"He didn't tell me, either."

Fred found it really more difficult to cope with Molly's interrogation than to deal with these unruly and insatiable clients.

"Aren't you his personal assistant? You should know everything about his schedule.Shouldn't you follow him when he goes out for business?"

Molly took a sip from the glass and ordered, "Call him and ask him to come back soon."

But it wasn't needed anymore as Toby entered the room pushing the door open.

"Molly! What are you doing here?"

When Molly saw Toby, she beamed.

She put down the juice glass on the table and walked over to him.

Flinging herself onto him, Molly asked, "Toby, where have you been? I want to have dinner with you."

Toby looked at the woman in his arms and agreed.

"Okay, I'll have dinner with you."

"Did I interrupt your work? You must have been very busy today," Molly asked tentatively.

Toby always worked diligently.

He often went to work early and came back late.

This had been more frequent lately.

She didn't even know what he was doing these days.

"It's okay.What do you want to eat? Let's go to a five- star restaurant."

Toby wrapped his arm around her waist and the two left the office.

"Toby, are you too busy with your work lately? You aren't spending enough time with me these days.Let's enjoy tonight with each other.Please?"

It was Molly who persuaded the company directors to make Toby the Deputy CEO.

So, Toby couldn't deny her request.

However, as he had a prescheduled work, he said to Molly, "Molly, tonight it won't be possible.I have some work pending.But I promise, tomorrow night I'm all yours."

"Okay.No problem.Tonight I'll accompany you while you work.I won't be a disturbance, I promise."

Molly was determined to not leave Toby's side tonight.

So, she didn't give him a chance to refuse her proposal.

In the end, Toby had to compromise.

He didn't want to offend her.

In the meantime, Anna went to meet Brian in his office.

"Mr.Clark."

"Anna, have a seat."

Brian didn't look up at her and continued to read the documents in his hands.

"Mr.Clark, I heard from Jaime that you were investigating the Smith Group.Is it because of your wife?"

Anna didn't think it was necessary.

The Smith Group was also a big company.

If Brian was intending to buy it, he'd have to spend a huge amount.A corner of Brian's mouth tilted up.

"Anna, why are you interested in it?" Anna smiled.

"Mr.Clark, I only think about your interests."

After a momentary pause she asked again, "So, is it anyhow related to her?"

Brian got up and pulled her closer.

"Go back to the club and wait for me.I'll come tonight."

Anna nodded before placing a soft kiss on his lips.

"Okay, I'll have them prepare some delicious food especially for you."

These days, Brian rarely went to the club.Maybe it was because of that woman, Arlene.