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

Chapter 34: I Can't Say No 

Ayla sat in the car as Brian drove her back.

Outside, the rain was getting heavier and heavier on their way to the villa.

As soon as they pulled up the driveway, Maria came out with an umbrella and greeted them, "Mr.Clark, Mrs.Clark, welcome back."

"Thank you for driving me home," Ayla said as she walked alongside Brian into the house.

"You can ask the driver to take you anywhere in the future," Brian replied.

He went straight to the sofa in the living room and sat down.

"No, thanks.I won't go out again."

There was clear disappointment and despair in Ayla's tone.

"Are you sure? I thought you didn't like it here."

Brian didn't even look at her as he spoke and his voice sounded cold.

He could instantly tell what she was thinking, especially since Ayla could never really hide her feelings.He knew exactly what she thought and wanted to say.

"Mr.Clark?"

‘'What did he mean?’' she wondered.

Could she finally get in and out of the estate freely?

"As I said, as long as you know perfectly well what you should and shouldn't do outside, you can go out as you please."

After all, Brian could easily learn wherever she was with a phone call.

With his permission, Ayla went back to school.

She even gave Brian her schedule even though she knew that he wouldn't even read it.

The driver, Lyle, picked her up every day.

She would go to school whenever she had classes and would stay in the villa during her days off.

She seldom went to the library now.

She only went there whenever she needed to borrow some specific books and references.

"Mrs.Clark, dinner is ready."

When Maria went upstairs, she saw Ayla sitting in front of her desk and reading a book.

Maria immediately thought, '’She's such a good girl! I don't understand why Mr.Clark doesn't like her? Why does he ignore her every time?”

"Thank you, Maria.I'll be right there."

Ayla turned off the light in her room and asked, "Won't he come back tonight?"

"Mr.Clark is on a business trip," Maria replied.

Apparently, Brian didn't even inform her of his plans.

"Okay." This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Ayla sat alone at the table and looked at the empty seat that he would usually occupy.

Wasn't it better to stay in the villa without him? Why was there a sense of emptiness in her heart?

"Are you worried about Mr.Clark?" Maria asked when she saw Ayla lost in her thoughts.

"Don't worry.It's usual for Mr.Clark to go on long business trips.He'll be with Miss Anna anyway.She will take good care of him."

"Miss Anna is close to him, isn't she?"

While she wasn't allowed to stay in his room and sleep beside him, Anna could do all of these and more.

Once Brian was asleep, Ayla must always head back to her room.

She was different from Anna.

She was nothing but a plaything for him, while he treated Anna as his lover.

Why was this causing pain in her heart? Did she have feelings for him? How was that possible? She was always so scared of him.

"Mr.Clark, it's already late.Are you still going back to the villa?" Anna gave Brian a curious look.

At that point, they had been on a business trip for a week.

But although they had been together every day, Maria would always call him to report about Ms.Woodsen.

"You must be tired after spending so many days with me. Go home and have a good rest," Brian said calmly, stretching out his hand to smoothen her hair.

"Okay, good night." Anna leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

The black car drove into the villa in the dark night.

From the ground, Brian could clearly see a dim light coming from one of the rooms on the second floor.

It was late.

Why wasn't she in bed? Standing at the door of her room, Brian looked at the woman who fell asleep on her desk.

Her long hair looked soft under the gentle light.

Her lithe figure was clothed in a powder pink nightdress.

The style of the nightdress was old-fashioned, but she looked quite lovely in it.

After noticing the open book in front of her, Brian took it away and examined the notes she left on it with a pen.

Suddenly, Ayla woke up and stared at the man beside her.

"You...you're back."

"Were you waiting for me?"

Brian put down her book.He knew that she seldom stayed up so late.

"I didn't know you would come back today."

Ayla stood straight and looked at his tired face.

"Well, I...You can go and get some rest now!"

But instead of listening to her, Brian leisurely sat on the sofa and asked, "Are you driving me away? Or do you want me to stay?"

Ayla didn't answer.

She knew that he would be unhappy no matter what she said.And after seeing his exhausted expression, she decided that it was not a good idea to provoke him.

"Why won't you answer me?" Brian asked as he looked up at her.

"This is your villa. I have no right to say anything." Ayla felt a little annoyed.

Why was he always pushing her around? He was so forceful.

Sure, he had not done anything cruel recently and he did allow her to go back to school.

But every time she was close to thinking well of him, he would always ruin any chances of her liking him.

"I haven't seen you in a few days and it seems like you're beginning to be disobedient now."

Brian then knocked on the table beside him.

Immediately, Ayla fetched a pitcher and poured him a glass of water.If he wanted a drink, he could just say so.Why was he being a jerk on purpose?

"Bring me coffee." Brian didn't even look at the water in front of him.

"You can't have coffee!"

Ayla took a look at the clock and saw that it was already past midnight.

She wondered why he still wanted to drink coffee.Didn't he want to sleep?

"Are you ignoring my orders?" Brian reached for her hand and pulled her to sit on the sofa beside him.

"Yes, it's not a good idea to drink coffee at this hour."

Although Ayla had always been obedient, she wouldn't follow him regarding this matter.She was only doing this for his own good.

A smirk appeared on Brian's lips.

"Then what should we do now?"

"It's very late."

Recognizing the lustful look in his eyes, Ayla immediately shrank backwards.

"Well, what if I don't want to go to sleep and I want you?"

She instantly understood what he meant.She was his wife and she needed to fulfill her duty as a wife.

Ayla froze.

"I can't say no, can I?"

But before she could wait for a response, he had already held her in his arms and pressed his body against hers.

After having sex, Ayla leaned weakly against the sofa while Brian was in the bathroom.

As he stepped out of the shower, he was only wearing a robe and he looked seductive with his damp hair.

She held her breath and gripped the thin blanket tightly as he stared at her.

"Don't worry.I'll eat the contraceptive pill," she said in a weak voice.

He didn't want a baby and neither did she.

Besides, he would never allow her to carry his child.

This was the one thing they both agreed on, and she never dared forget it.

At school, Ayla still felt pretty much alone.

She didn't hang around in the campus and would prefer to head home directly once classes were dismissed.

But one day, just as she was walking out carrying a few books as usual, she saw Toby standing by the school gate.

Pretending not to see him, Ayla walked hurriedly towards the car on the other side.

"Lala! Lala!"

Toby immediately came over as soon as he noticed her.

He heard that she had returned to school.

Perhaps Brian had really kept his promise, but he had to confirm it with his own eyes.

He grabbed her arm, but she immediately shook him off.

"Toby, please don't do this."

"Are you hiding from me? Is it because of Brian? Has he forbidden you from talking to me?" Toby looked at her.

Why was she hiding from him? They were not really in a relationship now. Did she really need to avoid him?