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

Chapter 28: She Had Nowhere To Go 

"Misunderstanding? How ridiculous! Do you think I'm stupid? I should have caught you in bed with him.Only then would you have admitted, right? Bitch!" Molly sneered.

"You're even flirting with each other in public.How could you tell me that I'm misunderstanding you after seeing that? Anyone who has eyes can clearly see that neither of you is innocent, and here you're, busy eating cake?"

Molly's eyes darted towards the cake on the table.

"I'll let you eat it then!"

As soon as she finished her words, she picked up the cake and smashed it on Ayla's face.

All the cream got stuck on Ayla's face, making her embarrassed in front of everyone.

Ayla didn't know how to react after this.

She just sat there inadaze.

"Bitch, don't let me see you again!"

Molly pushed on her chest hard, then turned around and left.

There was cream all over Ayla's face.

She quietly stood up, painfully aware of everyone's gaze on her, then left the restaurant.

Walking on the road in a daze, she felt so alone in this whole world.

She couldn't go back to Toby's apartment, so where would she go now? She had nowhere to go.

Despite the world being so big, there was no place for her to stay.

Her life was so pathetic.

Her eyes welled up, but she stubbornly didn't let her tears fall.

Crying couldn't solve her problem.

Meanwhile, Clayton went to her school to ask about Ayla.

But both the school authority and her friends couldn't give any information about her.

After that, he began searching for her on the roads.

Where was she? While Ayla was walking aimlessly on the Melody Road, keeping her head down, Clayton found her.

"You're such a bitch!"

Seeing her, Clayton immediately came over and pulled her hair.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

Ayla grabbed his hand and endured the pain, but winced when she saw the bruises on Clayton's face.

No wonder that he would vent his anger on her.

"What am I doing here? I am here because of you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have to face these dire consequences!"

Clayton harshly pulled her towards the taxi by her hair and pushed her inside.

She didn't need to ask because she knew where they were going.

She cowered in a corner of the car's back seat and waited for her inevitable punishment.

She was going back to that hell.

Yes! Clayton had sold her to that devil.

Where else could she go? She couldn't escape from that cage.

The car finally stopped at the gate of a luxurious entertainment club.

As it was daytime, the club was much quieter than in the night, but there were still some guests.

As soon as Clayton got out of the car, he pulled his daughter into the club by her hair, ignoring the surprised gazes of others.

Upstairs, in a private room, Brian was waiting for them with a glass of wine in his hand.

The room was dimly lit by floor lamps only.

He watched quietly as Clayton pulled Ayla in.

"Mr.Clark, I've found this bitch."

Clayton pulled Ayla down along with him as they kneeled in front of Brian.

There was no dignity in his action.

Brian didn't respond.

He drank the wine lazily, then put down the glass, and focused on the two people in front of him.

"Arlene, Mrs.Clark, you are really daring!"

He stood up from the sofa and walked up to Ayla.

Observing the red mark on her cheek and the cream stains all over her face, he asked, "Whom did you hook up with this time? Perhaps, his partner didn't like it."

"I didn't hook up with anyone."

Ayla lowered her eyes. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

The hateful gaze of him made her not want to face him.

She had escaped, maybe which was wrong.

But it wasn't all her fault.

Longing for freedom was her right, which he was reluctant to give her.

"Really?"

Looking at the cream on her face and hair, Brian asked, "What is this all about then? Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Mr.Clark, it's all her fault.Please let me go now.She won't run away again," Clayton promised.

Ayla looked up at Brian and said quietly but in a firm tone, "I told you I want to be free.Give me some time and I'll make up for what I owe you, but give me freedom.That's all I want."

She didn't want to go back to his prison.

She didn't want to lose her self-esteem anymore.

Brian grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

"Clayton, your daughter wants her freedom, what do you think?"

"No, she won't.Her life is yours, Mr.Clark."

Clayton glared at her, hinting to stop talking nonsense.

Freedom? What freedom she was talking about? They had lost all their money, and they were lucky enough to be still alive.

How could they be longing for freedom!

"You want to be free? Okay then."

Walking to the sofa, Brian looked at Ayla and said, "But your freedom depends on whether you are willing to sacrifice your father's life."

"No! No! Mr.Clark."

Clayton panicked.

As soon as he finished his words, two men came over with thick wood sticks and began hitting him mercilessly.

He couldn't help but scream in pain.

"Mr.Clark, Mr.Clark, please forgive me!"

It was the first time that Ayla had seen such a cruel scene.

How could he be so cruel? Brian poured himself another drink and drank calmly as if nothing was happening.

"Mr.Clark, please let him go.Let my father go.Okay! Okay! I will listen to you."

Ayla saw Clayton's condition with horror-stricken eyes.

He was covered with bloodied wounds everywhere.

"I have decided to set you free, but Mr.Woodsen must die.You will be free when he dies.Isn't it what you want?"

Without shifting his eyes from Ayla, Brian ordered her men coldly.

"Don't stop.Keep hitting! Arlene, I will let you go when he breathes his last."

"No!"

He was a devil, a complete devil! How could he treat a person so cruelly? How could he take someone's life just like that? Ayla stepped forward and grabbed his leg.

"Mr.Clark, please stop."

She bent her knees and knelt down to him.

Brian looked down at her.

If she was so scared, how could she leave him? She could never escape him! He wouldn't let her!

"Are you sure that you still want to be Mrs.Clark?"

Brian bent over and lifted her chin with his finger.

"You must be aware of what you should do and what you shouldn't do.I'll give you food and clothes, and you'll be satisfied and thankful for that without complaining."

This woman had been away from him for only a few days, but he felt bothered, which was odd for him.

He wasn't willing to let her go.

However, what was up with Clayton? How could he treat his only daughter like this? Wasn't she the beloved daughter of the Woodsen family?

"I understand.I won't leave you again."

Ayla agreed, wasting no time.

She couldn't watch Clayton die in front of her.

Brian helped her up and signaled his men to stop.

No other sound except Clayton's groan and Ayla's whimpering from fear could be heard in the room.

Ayla's phone rang suddenly, and she froze.

Toby! She had forgotten about him completely.

Brian stared at her and ordered, "Answer the phone.Why aren't you answering?"

Ayla feared the way Brian would react when he'd see the phone Toby gave her.

She didn't use the phone he gave her, but she was using a phone given by another man.

She took out her phone and on the screen, two words flashed.

'My Toby.' Ayla raised her head to look at Brian.

He was looking at the screen as well.

She was doomed right now.

She didn't know how she could explain this to him.

She feared the devil in him and didn't want it to emerge again, which probably would anyway, soon.