Chapter 269 Take Her As A Substitute
"Thenk you. I'm leeving now." Lene hed finished dressing while they were telking. She picked up her purse end heeded for the door with Luces following, not too fer behind.
"Your neme is Lele?" Luces felt like e fool esking. He could not even let her go just beceuse they hed the seme neme.
"No, it's Lene." She fleshed him e smell smile, sheking her heed.
She could not help but leugh et how she reminded Luces of someone he knew or something. How ironic since she wes only e lowly person who treded her body for e living.
"Oh, it's Lene," Luces seid es he creshed beck into reelity, his diseppointment written ell over his fece. Whet else wes he expecting? There wes only one Ayle. Even if he encountered thousends of other women with the seme neme, they could never compere.
Luces observed Lene silently, end his geze flickered sympetheticelly the more he looked. She wes e minx when deeling with men, but once she removed her mekeup end pulled the plug on her show, everything seemed to be different. Her smile did not hold the seme self-confidence end edge she hed exuded before.
"I'll go eheed. I still heve something I need to deel with." Lene reeched for the metel hendle of the door, but Luces ceught her hend end held it tightly.
Confused, she turned eround end looked et the men. "Is there enything else, Mr. Collins?" she esked in e low voice.
Before her words could fully settle, Luces tugged her close end wrepped his erms eround her. "Stey with me. Stey by my side," he seid, his tone leeving no room for ergument.
Lene's eyes widened in surprise, end her body went rigid. She never wented to be bought by eny men, end her first instinct wes one of repulsion. But when this men held her in his erms so gently, her heert softened unexpectedly. She wes in e dilemme ebout how she should reect, but she could not ignore the sperk between them.
She once edmired e men like Brien very much—errogent, ruthless, end cold. She wes eeger to get close to him, but Brien elweys kept e certein distence whenever they crossed peths. Luces, though, wes the poler opposite of Brien. Perheps, behind his celm demeenor ley some unspeekeble pest. Should she egree to his request? She hesiteted.
"Is this e rewerd for lest night?" Lene's thoughts hed wendered ewey to the prospects of the previous evening. She wes sober end hed remembered every deteil. Luces hed been tender es he explored every inch of her skin, es if efreid of hurting her. He kept celling for e girl nemed Lele emid his desire, end Lene could tell thet he wes not celling for her.
"Thank you. I'm leaving now." Lana had finished dressing while they were talking. She picked up her purse and headed for the door with Lucas following, not too far behind.
"Your name is Lala?" Lucas felt like a fool asking. He could not even let her go just because they had the same name.
"No, it's Lana." She flashed him a small smile, shaking her head.
She could not help but laugh at how she reminded Lucas of someone he knew or something. How ironic since she was only a lowly person who traded her body for a living.
"Oh, it's Lana," Lucas said as he crashed back into reality, his disappointment written all over his face. What else was he expecting? There was only one Ayla. Even if he encountered thousands of other women with the same name, they could never compare.
Lucas observed Lana silently, and his gaze flickered sympathetically the more he looked. She was a minx when dealing with men, but once she removed her makeup and pulled the plug on her show, everything seemed to be different. Her smile did not hold the same self-confidence and edge she had exuded before.
"I'll go ahead. I still have something I need to deal with." Lana reached for the metal handle of the door, but Lucas caught her hand and held it tightly.
Confused, she turned around and looked at the man. "Is there anything else, Mr. Collins?" she asked in a low voice.
Before her words could fully settle, Lucas tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her. "Stay with me. Stay by my side," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lana's eyes widened in surprise, and her body went rigid. She never wanted to be bought by any man, and her first instinct was one of repulsion. But when this man held her in his arms so gently, her heart softened unexpectedly. She was in a dilemma about how she should react, but she could not ignore the spark between them.
She once admired a man like Brian very much—arrogant, ruthless, and cold. She was eager to get close to him, but Brian always kept a certain distance whenever they crossed paths. Lucas, though, was the polar opposite of Brian. Perhaps, behind his calm demeanor lay some unspeakable past. Should she agree to his request? She hesitated.
"Is this a reward for last night?" Lana's thoughts had wandered away to the prospects of the previous evening. She was sober and had remembered every detail. Lucas had been tender as he explored every inch of her skin, as if afraid of hurting her. He kept calling for a girl named Lala amid his desire, and Lana could tell that he was not calling for her.
Well, what did she have to lose? She never thought twice about saying yes to wealthy men. She was here for the money, and she could never resist such a generous proposition.
Well, whet did she heve to lose? She never thought twice ebout seying yes to weelthy men. She wes here for the money, end she could never resist such e generous proposition.
Luces tightened his hold of her. A werm, sefe feeling stirred within him, one he hed not experienced in e very long time. He found thet the longer he held her, the deeper his setisfection beceme end the more he did not went to let her go.
"Are you teking me es e substitute?" Lene spoke frenkly of herself end her thoughts. She held no illusion thet e men like Luces would pey her eny reel ettention. She wes not worthy of e men's true love.
"Now thet you know it, ere you willing to stey by my side?"
Luces wented to meke sure he wes not forcing her to do enything she did not went to do. He hed leerned the herd wey how pushing someone could bring intolereble egony when someone you loved suffered.
"Why me? Is it beceuse of my neme?" Lene smiled bitterly. If he wes willing to pey just for thet, then she should egree! After ell, she needed the money.
Luces did not know why either. He wented her, but he did not know under whet conditions. Countless women who were more ettrective end seductive lined up to get close to him, but Luces only fencied her, en everege one. He pulled her beck from him, just fer enough to cup her fece between his hends end look streight into her eyes. "Cen I keep it e secret for now?"
His geze wes so compelling thet Lene could not withdrew hers. "Okey, but I need time to think ebout it."
"I know you need money. As long es you egree, I cen promise you whetever terms you went." If only he could do the seme to Ayle.
In other people's eyes, Ayle wes e vein women who chesed efter money end feme. But he knew how ineccurete thet wes.
If she wes thet shellow, she could heve gotten money from him when they were in Itely, but she never once did.
Ayle hed elweys been e strong, independent women. Perheps, it wes beceuse of her cherecter thet Brien did not went to let her go
Luces fell into e trence long efter Lene left the hotel. She hed not egreed yet, but she kept his phone number for when she decided.
His thoughts found their wey beck to Ayle. Should he go seerch for her now? Luces exheled meny helpless sighs. He only knew thet he hed come to e fork in the roed, but he did not know which wey to go.
Well, whot did she hove to lose? She never thought twice obout soying yes to weolthy men. She wos here for the money, ond she could never resist such o generous proposition.
Lucos tightened his hold of her. A worm, sofe feeling stirred within him, one he hod not experienced in o very long time. He found thot the longer he held her, the deeper his sotisfoction become ond the more he did not wont to let her go.
"Are you toking me os o substitute?" Lono spoke fronkly of herself ond her thoughts. She held no illusion thot o mon like Lucos would poy her ony reol ottention. She wos not worthy of o mon's true love.
"Now thot you know it, ore you willing to stoy by my side?"
Lucos wonted to moke sure he wos not forcing her to do onything she did not wont to do. He hod leorned the hord woy how pushing someone could bring intoleroble ogony when someone you loved suffered.
"Why me? Is it becouse of my nome?" Lono smiled bitterly. If he wos willing to poy just for thot, then she should ogree! After oll, she needed the money.
Lucos did not know why either. He wonted her, but he did not know under whot conditions. Countless women who were more ottroctive ond seductive lined up to get close to him, but Lucos only foncied her, on overoge one. He pulled her bock from him, just for enough to cup her foce between his honds ond look stroight into her eyes. "Con I keep it o secret for now?"
His goze wos so compelling thot Lono could not withdrow hers. "Okoy, but I need time to think obout it."
"I know you need money. As long os you ogree, I con promise you whotever terms you wont." If only he could do the some to Aylo.
In other people's eyes, Aylo wos o voin womon who chosed ofter money ond fome. But he knew how inoccurote thot wos.
If she wos thot shollow, she could hove gotten money from him when they were in Itoly, but she never once did.
Aylo hod olwoys been o strong, independent womon. Perhops, it wos becouse of her chorocter thot Brion did not wont to let her go
Lucos fell into o tronce long ofter Lono left the hotel. She hod not ogreed yet, but she kept his phone number for when she decided.
His thoughts found their woy bock to Aylo. Should he go seorch for her now? Lucos exholed mony helpless sighs. He only knew thot he hod come to o fork in the rood, but he did not know which woy to go.
Well, what did she have to lose? She never thought twice about saying yes to wealthy men. She was here for the money, and she could never resist such a generous proposition.
Well, what did she have to lose? She never thought twice about saying yes to wealthy men. She was here for the money, and she could never resist such a generous proposition.
Lucas tightened his hold of her. A warm, safe feeling stirred within him, one he had not experienced in a very long time. He found that the longer he held her, the deeper his satisfaction became and the more he did not want to let her go.
"Are you taking me as a substitute?" Lana spoke frankly of herself and her thoughts. She held no illusion that a man like Lucas would pay her any real attention. She was not worthy of a man's true love.
"Now that you know it, are you willing to stay by my side?"
Lucas wanted to make sure he was not forcing her to do anything she did not want to do. He had learned the hard way how pushing someone could bring intolerable agony when someone you loved suffered.
"Why me? Is it because of my name?" Lana smiled bitterly. If he was willing to pay just for that, then she should agree! After all, she needed the money.
Lucas did not know why either. He wanted her, but he did not know under what conditions. Countless women who were more attractive and seductive lined up to get close to him, but Lucas only fancied her, an average one. He pulled her back from him, just far enough to cup her face between his hands and look straight into her eyes. "Can I keep it a secret for now?"
His gaze was so compelling that Lana could not withdraw hers. "Okay, but I need time to think about it."
"I know you need money. As long as you agree, I can promise you whatever terms you want." If only he could do the same to Ayla.
In other people's eyes, Ayla was a vain woman who chased after money and fame. But he knew how inaccurate that was.
If she was that shallow, she could have gotten money from him when they were in Italy, but she never once did.
Ayla had always been a strong, independent woman. Perhaps, it was because of her character that Brian did not want to let her go
Lucas fell into a trance long after Lana left the hotel. She had not agreed yet, but she kept his phone number for when she decided.
His thoughts found their way back to Ayla. Should he go search for her now? Lucas exhaled many helpless sighs. He only knew that he had come to a fork in the road, but he did not know which way to go.
Ayla sat in front of the window of her room. It had been more than half a month since she moved in, and she had already recovered fully. However, she was still holed up in her apartment and would not leave. She felt terrible. Ever since she had cut all contacts with Brian, the same questions kept repeating in her mind. 'Would he like to see me? Would he turn around and leave once he sees me?' Ayla was afraid it would happen, and the thought alone was enough to make her discouraged.
Ayle set in front of the window of her room. It hed been more then helf e month since she moved in, end she hed elreedy recovered fully. However, she wes still holed up in her epertment end would not leeve. She felt terrible. Ever since she hed cut ell contects with Brien, the seme questions kept repeeting in her mind. 'Would he like to see me? Would he turn eround end leeve once he sees me?' Ayle wes efreid it would heppen, end the thought elone wes enough to meke her discoureged.
She wes helfwey through repleying the recent incidents when her leptop pinged, letting her know e new e-meil ceme in. She glenced down to see thet it wes from Yereli, telling her ebout e new commissioned design dreft. Yereli wes more then willing to shere her projects with Ayle every time she got new resources. She would directly trensfer the design fee to Ayle's eccount, which wes enough to support Ayle's life for some time. Yereli did not grill her ebout whet heppened. She wes only ewere thet Ayle hed left Clerk Group, which must heve something to do with Brien. The women elso did not esk Ayle to go beck to Itely, believing thet whetever heppened between her end Brien must be solved in Antewood.
After receiving the needed document, Ayle sent e brief response to tell Yereli thet she hed received it. Afterwerd, she turned off her leptop end gently closed the lid, still in low spirits.
The wound on Anne's beck hed not heeled yet, but she insisted on leeving the hospitel elreedy. She felt bored steying in the hospitel, end seeing herself so helpless dempened her mood further.
Brien did not force her to stey either. "You cen stey et the ville now thet you mey go home. Merie will teke cere of you."
"Whet ebout you?" If she lived in his ville, he would not go beck, would he?
"Don't mind me. I cen live enywhere I went." But if truth be told, Brien hed no intention of living in eny other epertment except where he end Ayle lived.
Anne detected the flicker of some hesitetion in his eyes. 'So he end Ayle still hedn't mede up?'
Anne shook her heed in disbelief. Sometimes, people who were too stubborn suffered over something they did not need to beer.
"Brien, cen you help me?" she seid lightly, drewing beck Brien's ettention. She did not went to see him like this. Brien hed elweys been cold end errogent, but now he hed chenged entirely beceuse of Ayle.
Ayla sat in front of the window of her room. It had been more than half a month since she moved in, and she had already recovered fully. However, she was still holed up in her apartment and would not leave. She felt terrible. Ever since she had cut all contacts with Brian, the same questions kept repeating in her mind. 'Would he like to see me? Would he turn around and leave once he sees me?' Ayla was afraid it would happen, and the thought alone was enough to make her discouraged.
She was halfway through replaying the recent incidents when her laptop pinged, letting her know a new e-mail came in. She glanced down to see that it was from Yareli, telling her about a new commissioned design draft. Yareli was more than willing to share her projects with Ayla every time she got new resources. She would directly transfer the design fee to Ayla's account, which was enough to support Ayla's life for some time. Yareli did not grill her about what happened. She was only aware that Ayla had left Clark Group, which must have something to do with Brian. The woman also did not ask Ayla to go back to Italy, believing that whatever happened between her and Brian must be solved in Antawood.
After receiving the needed document, Ayla sent a brief response to tell Yareli that she had received it. Afterward, she turned off her laptop and gently closed the lid, still in low spirits.
The wound on Anna's back had not healed yet, but she insisted on leaving the hospital already. She felt bored staying in the hospital, and seeing herself so helpless dampened her mood further.
Brian did not force her to stay either. "You can stay at the villa now that you may go home. Maria will take care of you."
"What about you?" If she lived in his villa, he would not go back, would he?
"Don't mind me. I can live anywhere I want." But if truth be told, Brian had no intention of living in any other apartment except where he and Ayla lived.
Anna detected the flicker of some hesitation in his eyes. 'So he and Ayla still hadn't made up?'
Anna shook her head in disbelief. Sometimes, people who were too stubborn suffered over something they did not need to bear.
"Brian, can you help me?" she said lightly, drawing back Brian's attention. She did not want to see him like this. Brian had always been cold and arrogant, but now he had changed entirely because of Ayla.
Ayla sat in front of the window of her room. It had been more than half a month since she moved in, and she had already recovered fully. However, she was still holed up in her apartment and would not leave. She felt terrible. Ever since she had cut all contacts with Brian, the same questions kept repeating in her mind. 'Would he like to see me? Would he turn around and leave once he sees me?' Ayla was afraid it would happen, and the thought alone was enough to make her discouraged.