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

Chapter 78: She Forgot Her Promise To Him 

Regardless of how sore her hands felt, Ayla grabbed her bag, and said, "How about this, Mr.Collins? I'll help you get out of here.Outsiders are not allowed to stay in the school for too long, so I'll just tell the guard you were here to help me with the work in the library."

Thinking that her suggestion was reasonable, Lucas said, "Thanks for your help."

"It's no big deal.Anyway, let's move it!"

Ayla flashed him a beaming smile.

Perhaps she was the type of girl who would easily trust people.

She showed her Student ID to the guard and said something to him, and then she and Lucas ran out of the school quickly.

"It's okay now.You can go home quickly.I'm going home, too."

Lyle must've been waiting for a while now, so Ayla had to get home as soon as possible.

As soon as she turned around, Lucas grabbed her wrist.

"Lala, you helped me.How about I treat you to dinner?" he asked.

Glancing at her watch, she said, "I'm sorry, Mr.Collins, but it's getting late, and I have to go home."

Lucas looked at the car nearby and saw a middle-aged man step out of it.

"It seems that someone has come to pick you up, so never mind.But maybe we can just have lunch together at that restaurant tomorrow.Would that be fine with you?"

He pointed at an ordinary restaurant across the campus.

Lucas seemed that he knew her well.If he suggested a high-end restaurant, she might've declined right away.

However, a simple meal at a simple restaurant was something she couldn't refuse.When Ayla returned to the villa, she insisted on staying at her room in the servants' house.The main villa was dark, indicating that Brian hadn't come home yet.

It looked like he had become quite busy after his vacation.

Maria cooked dinner for her and asked her to eat before she went back to her room.

Meanwhile, Lucas was holding a glass of red wine in front of the French window of his apartment.

He didn't expect to run into Ayla today.It was as if they were fated to meet each other.

"What's the matter, Lucas? Are you not in the mood?"

A voluptuous woman approached, taking the glass from his hand, and drinking it down in one gulp.She then kissed him and transferred some of the wine into his mouth.

"What are you doing here?"

Lucas pulled her away from him, his eyes turning colder than before.

"I heard that you were back, so I came to see you."

This woman was close enough to him that she had a spare key to his apartment.

"Sunny, next time, don't come by without my permission."

Lucas went to the sofa and sat down.

Sunny Connell sat beside him, and asked, "Mr.Collins, are you starting to like another woman?"

Continuing his drink, he didn't respond to her question.

That woman suited his preferences well, and he did like her very much.

"But that woman isn't here tonight, so just let me have fun with you instead!"

Sunny had been with Lucas for more than five years now, so she knew him well enough.He put down his glass, pressed her against the sofa, and removed her scant clothes.

Sunny was a sexually active woman.

Her curvaceous figure was very inviting and she could make any man surrender to her wiles.

After having sex, she put on her nightgown and leaned against Lucas.

"Aren't you going back to Thailand this time, Lucas?"

"Why are you so interested in my personal affairs?"

He had been traveling around all these years.

"Hey, I was just asking casually.There's no need to get upset," she responded.

"Just go home! I have something to do tomorrow."

This was the first time that he prohibited her from staying overnight in his apartment.Sunny did not go against his wishes.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems that you really care about this new woman.Well then, I won't bother you anymore.Remember to contact me whenever you have time."

On the table, she put down a piece of paper that had her new address written on it.

Afterwards, she changed her clothes and left.

Ayla had classes for the entirety of the morning, and she had one more class in the afternoon.

Afterwards, she must go to the library to work.

And because of how busy she was, she had forgotten that she promised to meet up with Lucas at the restaurant today.

Meanwhile, he waited for her at the restaurant for an hour, but she never showed up.

When he went to the school's cafeteria, he found Ayla sitting alone and eating rice with vegetables.

Wasn't she supposed to be Mr.Clark's woman? Her way of living was surprisingly simple.

"Lala, you'd rather eat cafeteria grub than to have lunch with me, I see.That makes me really sad!"

Lucas sat across her.

It was only when Ayla saw him that she finally remembered her promise to have lunch with him.

"Sorry, I forgot."

Embarrassed, she looked him in the eye, and said, "You probably haven't had anything to eat yet, have you? Let me buy you some food instead."

She really didn't mean to abandon him like that; she just forgot.

Lucas looked at her stir-fried vegetables and tofu soup, shaking his head. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

"Do you want me to eat that? Besides, I don't think there's any more left."

"I'll treat you some other day then.I'm really sorry for what happened today," said Ayla.

"You don't have to apologize.If you want to treat me a meal, you just have to be sincere."

Ignoring the gazes of other students, Lucas led her out of the cafeteria and then they left the school together.

Ayla noticed his firm grip on her hand.

"Mr.Collins, please let me go.This isn't good."

She had had enough of rumors, and she didn't want to add another scandal to her name.However, Lucas ignored her plea and brought her to the restaurant across the school.The two of them went to the VIP room on the second floor.

"Mr.Collins, can you let me go now?"

Ayla's wrist was starting to hurt.

Letting her go, Lucas helped her to her seat.

"This restaurant looks good, but the dishes are served rather slow.Are you okay?"

His question embarrassed her.

Nodding her head, Ayla said, "I just had lunch."

She didn't have that much appetite anymore, so she wouldn't be able to eat all the dishes he ordered.

It was too much for her.

Pouring her a cup of tea, Lucas said, "Have some tea first.We can eat slowly."

Afterwards, Ayla poured him a cup of tea as well.

"I'm really sorry for what happened, Mr.Collins.To make up for it, today will be my treat."

"It's fine.We agreed yesterday that I'll pay for the meal.I'm the man after all.How can I let a student like you pay the bill?"

How could Lucas allow her to pay for his meal? No matter how much money Brian gave her, he wasn't going to let her pay.The two of them looked at the home-cooked dishes served by the waiter.

"Let's eat! Why are you just sitting there?" Lucas picked up some food for her.

Staring at the dishes that had been served, Ayla was touched.

All of them were her favorites.

He locked his eyes on her and thought, 'She's not only a simple woman, but she's also easily moved.Why would Brian keep her by his side? He must've made a big mistake.'

Later that day, while Ayla was busy in the library, Lucas entered.

When the head librarian saw him and was about to greet him, he cut the librarian off.

"Pretend like you don't know me.Is Ayla inside?"

"Yes, she's the only one working in here today." The head librarian nodded at him.

"Don't let anyone else in."

Heading straight inside, Lucas closed the door behind him.The head librarian shook her head helplessly.The new vice-principal of the school was really weird.

Why was he so interested in Ayla? Meanwhile, Ayla was organizing the new books alphabetically and neatly placed them on each self.

All of a sudden, someone took the books from her hand.

"Why are you carrying such heavy things by yourself? Let me help you."

Ayla was startled when she saw him.

"Mr.Collins, what are you doing here again? I'm afraid you won't be able to get out tonight."

"With you here, how can I not go out? Big deal! I'll treat you to another meal!"

Lucas took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and placed the books into the shelf for her.

"Mr.Collins, I don't need your help.I can do it.You don't know the proper way to organize these books."

Ayla was more than capable to do it on her own.

Moreover, Lucas was wearing an expensive suit, so it wasn't appropriate to ask for his assistance.

"Then you can teach me how to sort them, yes?" Lucas handed her some books.

"Where should I put these?'’

Realizing that he wasn't going to take no for an answer, Ayla gave up.