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

Chapter 20: Pretended Nothing Had Happened 

Ayla waited for Toby in the cafe, but he didn't come, and it was already dark outside.

Would he come today? She was confident that her Toby would come.

But after the night fell, when he didn't show up, she decided to leave.

If she didn't leave now, she wouldn't be able to catch the last bus.

When she was about to leave, a familiar figure walked into the cafe.

"I'm sorry, Lala.I'm late."

She beamed at him.

Finally, her Toby had come.

But, her smile only lasted for a short moment.

How would she explain things to him? She didn't even know how to start the conversation.

Although, she had prepared for this meeting and thought of many ways she could explain, but now they seemed not good enough.

"Lala, what's wrong? You look unhappy.Why? Are you sad because I'm late?"

Toby reached out and held her hand.

His eyes were full of concern.

"I'm really sorry, Lala.I was busy with some important work." Ayla shook her head.

"It's alright.I'm not upset because of that." Toby smiled.

"I thought, you are angry with me.Are you hungry? Let's eat something first, then I'll take you home."

Ayla was about to say something, but Toby didn't notice it.He called the waiter over to order the food.

In fact, Toby didn't have much time.

When he and Molly were at the mall, he lied to her that there was some emergency in the company and he needed to be present there.

So, he must return to Molly as soon as possible.

Ayla refrained herself from speaking.

He had been busy all day long, he must be hungry.

Also, it'd be the same if they talked after eating.

She also wanted to spend more time with him.

However, things didn't go as she had thought.

The steak was just served in front of them when Toby said, "Lala.Let's eat!"

Toby considerately cut the steak into small pieces before putting them on the plate in front of her.

"Thank you Toby."

Ayla was touched by Toby's kind gesture.

He was still so considerate to her.

He had never changed.

Toby smiled and said, "You don't have to thank me.Silly girl, just eat the delicious steak."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

The moment seemed like they had returned to their childhood, as if it was just yesterday and they were still the same.

"Toby!"

A shrill and angry voice caught their attention.

Molly suspected him when he left her at the mall.

So, she followed him and caught him red-handed.

Toby was stunned to see Molly here.Did she follow him?

"Molly!"

"Toby, won't you introduce her to me?"

Molly came and wrapped her hands around Toby's arm intimately.

This man was hers.

She could give him everything, unlike this woman and she'd prove it to her.

Toby saw the calm look on Ayla's face.

She wasn't even surprised when she saw Molly, as if she already knew about his fiancee.

"Lala."

Toby felt a little uneasy as he didn't know how to introduce them to each other.

Things didn't go as he expected.

He wanted to take Lala to his apartment today, but Molly appeared suddenly.

Ayla smiled at Molly politely.

"Nice to meet you.But Toby, I have to go now."

Ayla didn't have the courage to face his fiancee.

She wanted to hug Toby and tell him everything, but she didn't expect Molly would come along.She couldn't do that in front of her.

Now she just wanted to run away as fast as she could.

When Ayla got up, about to leave, Toby grabbed her hand and said, "You haven't eaten anything, Lala."

Molly felt jealous when she saw how intimately Toby held the girl's hand.

But Molly knew better to not show her displeasure in front of Toby.

Instead she acted generous and asked Ayla to stay for the dinner.

A while later, she turned towards Toby.

"Toby, I'm feeling cold.Can you please get my coat from the car? The white one which you just bought me from the mall, " Molly said in an enticing voice.

Toby hesitated to leave Ayla with Molly, but then nodded.

"Okay, if you want something else, you can order it.I'll get the coat for you."

As soon as Toby left the cafe, Molly turned her unfriendly look at Ayla, making her a_ little uncomfortable.

"I don't know who you are, but please stay away from Toby.He is my fiance.I don't want him to have contact with any other woman besides me."

Molly came straight to the point.

"He might have other women in the past, you will be the last one.Toby is a soft- hearted person.He can't refuse anyone if they pretend to be helpless in front of him.So, don't try to fool him."

Her hurtful words made Ayla disheartened.

Unintentionally, she had put Toby in a difficult situation.

"Don't worry.I understand.I won't contact him in the future.I wish the two of you a very happy and wonderful life ahead.But now, I have to go.I have something important to do."

Ayla hurriedly got up and almost ran away from there.At the exit, she bumped into Toby who had Molly's coat in his hand.

"Lala, where are you going?" he asked with concern.

"I'm sorry, Toby.I have something else to do.I have to go now," she said in the calmest tone she could muster, but her heart had been broken into million pieces.

She was hurting inside and the pain was too much to endure.

Toby tried to stop her, but Ayla didn't stop and left quickly.

Toby watched her leave helplessly before he turned and came back to Molly.

"Toby, she left after answering a phone call.I think, there must be something urgent.Why don't you go and check on her?" Molly pretended to be worried.

Toby gave her the coat and said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter.Let's eat."

Ayla went straight to the bus station and waited for the bus.

But to her misfortune, no bus was available even after an hour.

She asked around and came to know, the last bus had already left.

She rummaged through her bag and found out she didn't have much money left to hail a cab.

A sad smile escaped her lips.

She shouldn't have come here and let Toby get involved in her miserable life.

Having no other options, she started walking along the street with heavy steps. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Where would she go now? Because she certainly couldn't go back to Clark villa.

It was almost midnight when she couldn't walk anymore.

Ayla took out her phone, but it was useless.

Because she had no other number except for Brian, and she wasn't willing to call him.

She had no one to ask for help.

A sense of grievance spread through her chest.

How miserable her life had become! She collapsed on the ground and broke down completely.

All her sadness streamed down her face as tears.

There was no one but herself to comfort her.

She felt so alone.

In the meantime, Jaime was driving Brian back to the villa.

As the speed of car was at a moderate rate, he saw a lonely person on the road.

At first, he didn't care about it, because it was night time.

Nothing could be trusted at night.

However when the car passed by her, he saw her face.

It was Mrs.Clark.

"Mr.Clark!"

Brian had also noticed her.

She had tear stained cheeks.

Her shoulders hunched forward as if in defeat.

It meant, she left the villa without his permission.But why was she crying alone on the roadside at this time?

"Stop the car!"

As the car halted right beside her, Brian got off and shouted at her, "Arlene, what exactly are you doing here? Don't even try to make an excuse like you've been waiting for me here."

Ayla looked up at him with teary eyes.

Due to her blurred vision, she couldn't see the man clearly, but his voice was familiar.

"Mr.Clark."

"Get in the car!"

Brian yelled aloud before going back to the car.

Ayla didn't have much of a choice.

She might be scared of Brian, but she was more scared of spending the night alone on the streets.

Back in the villa, Maria was very worried.

Mrs.Clark told her that she'd return home soon but it was past midnight and she still hadn't come back.

If Brian came back before her, he'd be so furious.

Only thinking of that made Maria very scared.

When she heard the sound of Brian's car sliding into the garage, Maria hurriedly went to receive Mr.Clark and saw Mrs.Clark getting off the car along with him.

"Mrs.Clark, you're back. Are you okay?" Ayla nodded.

"I'm sorry to make you worried, Maria.I missed the last bus."

"Mrs.Clark, It's not safe to come back this late.Next time, if you need money, you can ask me.But please take a cab, and come back home on time," said Maria in a low voice.

Although they talked in a hushed voice, Brian and Jaime still heard them.