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

Chapter 27: What Else Could She Expect 

Brian was sitting on the black leather couch while Jaime and several men in black were standing towering over Clayton, who was kneeling on the ground.

All the men had weapons in their hands.

On the ground, Clayton looked like a mouse caught by a fierce cat.

Several bruises were on his face.

"Mr.Clark, I promise I'll pay you back.I'm trying to find a way.Please give me a few more days."

He begged and hoped Brian would spare him a little mercy.

"Clayton, have you forgotten the conditions we made?" Brian asked in a harsh voice.

Did he think that he could escape from Brian's reach after he fled abroad?

Clayton made a big mistake by underestimating Brian's power and contact all around the world.

"No- no.I didn't forget.Believe me, I'm trying my best to collect the money.I can pay you some amount right now, but I don't have the full amount."

Clayton was about to get up from his position when he was hit down on his shoulder and he fell on the ground again in front of Brian.

"Clayton, your daughter is very cunning.She ran away from me.Do you think you still have the chance to leave? You don't deserve to live, Clayton," he leaned forward and whispered in a deadly tone.

Ayla ran away? That bitch! Clayton couldn't believe the news.

Now he understood why Brian had captured him and brought him here.

It was all her fault.

He wanted to live the rest of his life in peace, but because of that bitch, it seemed impossible now.

"Mr.Clark, don't worry.I'll find her and bring her back to you soon.You can then do anything to her, and I'll support you,"

Clayton promised, grabbing Brian's legs.

"Tomorrow.I'll give you only one day.If you can't bring her to me by tomorrow, your life will be in danger.Don't forget that you sold your daughter's life to keep yourself alive."

Brian could have killed Clayton directly, but he didn't want to.

He wanted to see Clayton suffer, and he wanted to keep humiliating his daughter.

He would torture her all the way possible.

"Mr.Clark, do you really think that Clayton will bring her back? What if he runs away too?"

Jaime thought that Brian shouldn't let Clayton go because he was not trustworthy.

So, he asked Brian as soon as Clayton left.

"He can't run away.He doesn't have the guts.If he really dares to run away, he knows he'll die."

Brian gazed at Clayton's back as he fled in a hurry.

After living in Toby's apartment for so many days, it was the first time Ayla went out.

Toby had bought her many new clothes.

Today, she chose a light pink chiffon dress with long sleeves, and left her long hair down casually.

"You look so beautiful, Lala."

Toby took a white coat and put it on her.

"It's slightly cold outside.You'll need it.I don't want you to catch a cold."

Standing in front of the mirror and looking at her image wearing these expensive designer clothes, Ayla felt uneasy.

But as Toby assured her, she nodded and followed Toby out of the apartment.

Toby drove her to a restaurant.

However, they didn't notice a specific car following them all the time.

"Miss Smith, Mr.Brown is in the restaurant.Shall we go in?"

The driver turned to ask Molly, who was sitting in the back of the car.

"No.Not yet."

When Molly noticed Toby had been behaving strangely in these past few days, she started to keep an eye on him.

He didn't attend a lot of social engagements and remained punctual at work, but didn't go back to the Smith villa or his original apartment.

Eventually she found out he bought another apartment to hide his mistress.

That bitch dared to pester her man again and again! Molly wouldn't spare her this time! As soon as Toby and Ayla sat down in the restaurant, Toby's phone buzzed.

Toby answered the call and immediately Molly's voice flew in.

"Toby, this is Molly.Where are you now? Dad wants you to come home now."

"I'll come later."

Toby hung up the call after saying this briefly.

Ayla sensed his dilemma and realized it was because of her.

"Toby, if you have something urgent to deal with, you can go! Don't delay your things because of me."

Ayla was really thankful to Toby for whatever he had done for her these days.

"It's alright.I have promised to celebrate your birthday today.We'll celebrate it, then I'll go,"

Toby said with a smile, trying to make her feel at ease.

Toby had ordered a big birthday cake for her.

When the waiter brought the cake and placed it on the table, Toby exclaimed, "Lala, congratulations! You're a grownup now."

When she was eighteen years old, he wanted to say these words to her on her birthday, but he couldn't.

Today he'd make it up to her.

"Thank you." Ayla blushed.

Back then, she celebrated her birthday alone with a small cake and spent the entire night crying.

She was truly grateful to Toby that he celebrated her birthday today like this.What else could she desire?

"I hope you won't blame me anymore, Lala."

Toby felt that he owed her too much.

He loved her, but couldn't give her what she truly deserved.

He couldn't even give her the status of his legal wife.

The Smith family had helped him a lot, so he couldn't refuse Molly.

But what about Lala? What should she do? Where would she go? The Woodsen family wouldn't let her in, and Brian, he'd make her life a living hell.

"Don't worry, Toby.I'm very happy." Ayla smiled.

"Toby, you can go.I'll be fine.I can go back by myself.You just go!"

Toby cut a piece of cake and gave it to her.

"First, eat it! I'll go after you finish this."

Ayla didn't want to waste his time, so she finished the cake in a few big gulps.

"This cake is really delicious.Can you buy another one for me?"

"If you want, I'll buy it for you every day."

Toby wiped off the cream from the corner of her mouth with a tissue.

Molly, who was sitting in the car outside the restaurant, saw everything through the big glass window.

She clenched her fists in anger.

She would not let that bitch go so easily! When Toby left, Ayla stared at the cake in front of her.

It was big and beautiful.

It must be very expensive.

She was reluctant to eat it and destroy its beauty forever.

If there wasn't any chance of it becoming sour, she would have kept it for a lifetime.

Toby left a red brocade box in front of her.

He said that she could look at it after he left.He hoped that she would wear it, if she liked it.

She opened the box and saw a diamond ring in it.

Was this his proposal to her? But she couldn't accept it.

"Bitch!"

As soon as Toby left, Molly barged into the restaurant and saw the diamond ring in Ayla's hand.

All hell broke loose as she angrily slapped Ayla in front of everyone.

"Miss Smith?"

Ayla was stunned to see Molly there.

Her face burned from the sudden slap.

"Shut up! You have no right to call me like that! Bitch!"

Before Ayla could say anything, Molly slapped her again.

"I'm sorry."

Ayla knew that it would be meaningless, but she could only apologize to her.» Molly hollered, "Sorry? You have been harassing my fiancee since he came back.Do you think you can just say sorry and I'll forgive you?"

She hated the word 'sorry' the most. Could a 'sorry' solve all the problems?

No! Problems like this couldn't be solved with a 'sorry'! She couldn't anymore let this woman be closer to her man.

Molly was done being a generous woman.

"Don't misunderstand us, please," Ayla said.

She just didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings between Toby and Molly because of her.

She knew eventually this day would come. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

If Toby didn't belong to her by fate, he would never be, no matter what.Everything was predestined.