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

Chapter 174: Subtle Changes 

The second fashion show went smoother than the first one.

Ayla honestly didn't need to worry about anything else.She just stayed with Brian the whole time, and let her assistants and stylists handle what needed to be done.

As she sat beneath the stage, Yareli glanced at Ayla, and said, "You've made astounding progress lately! Keep up the good work, Lala!"

If the company's fashion season events continued to succeed, Ayla would make leaps and bounds in her career as a designer.

Yareli lived on her own and she didn't have any children.

It took her the majority of her life to build her company from the ground up, so she didn't want Starlight to be passed down to someone unworthy.

Out of all the people she had met, the only person worthy of inheriting her legacy was Ayla.

That was why she asked her to go back to A City and work with the Clark Group.

Meanwhile, Brian hadn't said a word since the beginning of the show.

His stern silence was stressing Ayla out.

This man's mind was too strange to understand.

Moreover, the more she tried to read him, the less she understood what he might be thinking.

Linda walked out of the backstage.

Upon seeing Yareli with Brian and Ayla, she immediately figured out what was happening.Yareli neither had children nor kin she could trust enough to pass down her company.

A company as big as hers needed someone capable at the helm once she retired.

And as of this moment, the most suitable person in her mind to lead the company was Ayla.

Linda wondered what trick that woman had played to fool everyone into liking her, especially Yareli and Brian.

"Miss Linda, what are you looking at? Do you wish speak to Ms.Evans?" her assistant asked.

"What are you talking about? Get back to work! If anything goes wrong, you're fired!"

Linda was seething with anger.

The assistant had chosen a terrible time to talk to her.

Immediately, the assistant turned around and went back to work.

Linda noticed that Ayla was wearing an exquisite and expensive dress, surrounded by many reporters and guests.She was as glamorous as a twinkling star.

Brian treasured her like a gem.He helped Ayla get everything that Linda had ever wanted.

But what could that woman even give him in return? Perhaps all men were like this? They kept wanting whatever they couldn't get, and turned a blind eye to those who were willing to give themselves out of their own volition.

Maybe that was why Brian was so uninterested in Linda? Because she kept throwing herself into his arms? On the other hand, Ayla was always playing hard to get, and he fell head over heels for her.

As he looked at the woman beside him, Brian felt relieved.

When the fashion show concluded, a party was held at the banquet hall on the Hyatt Hotel's third floor.

Ayla had never been one for such occasions.

Usually, she would just hide somewhere as far as she could.

But alas, this was one event she couldn't avoid.She was the star of this party.

Last time, due to her accident, they had to cancel both the party and the press conference.

And so, this time, they wanted to make up for that blunder by holding a grand banquet.

Ayla's tolerance to alcohol wasn't that high.

If she had one too many toasts from all these guests, she would probably get hammered.

"I can see that you're tipsy already.That's enough alcohol for you today." Brian took the glass from her hand.

‘Is she not even aware of how much she drank?’

She couldn't hold her liquor well, and what made it worse was her habit of non-refusal to anyone who wanted to toast with her.

Besides, she might get so drunk that she could cause a scene.He just didn't want her to humiliate herself in front of all these people.

It was fine if she did something outrageous in front of him alone, but there were numerous reporters and guests at this party, so he decided to stop her before it could happen.

"Mr.Clark, just step aside and give me back my glass." Ayla glanced at him.

She actually didn't want to drink that much, either! However, people kept asking her to drink with them.

How could she refuse them? It would be rude not to!

"What? You don't want me to step in when I know something terrible might happen? Give me one good reason not to stop you from doing that." Brian stared at her intently, wondering why this woman was so ungrateful.

As she looked back at his stern face, Ayla figured out what she must do.

Just for today, she would listen to him.

"Fine, you're right.I do think that I've had one too many drinks.I'm done drinking."

Since he wanted to swoop in and save her from drinking too much, she was happy to oblige.

"Good.You should've listened to me from the beginning." Brian replaced her wine with a glass of juice.

"If you're tired, get some rest at the lounge."

Upon hearing his suggestion, Ayla’s eyes lit up.

"Wait, what? Did you just say I can get some rest?" He nodded slightly in response.

He had noticed how stiff her face had become because she had to keep smiling for the guests.Other than letting her get some rest, what else could he do?

"Sounds great.Get rid of this juice, I don't want it."

Ayla transferred the glass into his hand, and made her way to the lounge.

With a glass of wine on one hand and orange juice on the other, Brian shook his head helplessly.

Naturally, Yareli saw this scene unfold.She noticed that this time, they were much more in sync than the last time she saw them.

"Mr.Clark, it seems that the two of you have been getting along quite well," Yareli said to him as she walked over.

"You're joking, right, Ms.Evans?" Brian replied with a chuckle.

'She and I are getting along? Yeah, right! Maybe that'll happen a hundred years from now! He honestly wanted to get back together with her, but due to Ayla's stubborn character, the odds of that happening were slim to none.

"I'm not kidding.Anyway, I'm going to talk to her for a bit."

With that, Yareli followed Ayla into the lounge.

Meanwhile, Ayla had taken off her high heels and sat on the sofa.

The soothing sound of a silent room was her ideal way to relax.

After knocking twice, Yareli entered the room.

"Ms.Evans!" Ayla greeted.

As soon as she saw Yareli, she got up from the sofa.

"Please sit down!" Yareli replied to her greeting.

She had to say that because Ayla was standing barefoot on the Carpet.

"Are you tired?" asked Yareli.

"Not that much." Ayla shook her head.

"Ms.Evans, what's going on? Why are you here?"

"I came here to see you.You've been really busy lately, haven't you? I heard about what happened to you during the last fashion show.Thankfully, this event today was a huge success," Yareli remarked.

Moments later, a waiter brought them two glasses of honey water.

"Hello, ladies.Mr.Clark told me to bring these over."

"Mr.Clark has been very considerate to you.Haven't you changed your mind yet?"

Yareli was aware of the fact that they used to be in a relationship, but now, their ation was something ineffable.Although Brian was said to be a ruthless man, his feelings for Ayla were sincere.

He treated her so much better than everyone else.

Perhaps it was true that those who were too closely involved in something couldn't see as clearly as those who were not.

It was clear to Yareli that Ayla was also stubborn.

"Why would you ask something like that, Ms.Evans?"

Ayla looked at the other woman in confusion.

It seemed as though Yareli was pertaining to her relationship with Brian.

Perhaps there had been some changes in their relationship, but she just didn't want to admit it.

Maybe she was too scared to face that fact.Yareli handed her a glass of water.

"I'm sure you know why I'm asking you this question." Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

She could see how happy Ayla was whenever she was with Brian.Even if she didn't explicitly say it nor display the fact, Yareli could see it in her eyes.