The Substitute Bride

"You... You are treating me in such a cold and harsh manner for her, aren't you?" Leila questioned him as she raised her voice, being fully aware of where they stood. Noticing that more and more passers-by gathered around them, Leila tried to utilize this growing attention to embarrass Pamela. With a hurt expression, she stared at Burke and asked,"You changed your mind overnight because of her, didn't you? Just tell me the truth."

"It's all between Burke and you. I had nothing to do with it. So why are you suddenly shifting the blame on me?" Pamela snapped back in defense as she flushed pink with embarrassment. Pamela was a shy girl. Realizing that crowd was whispering to one another and casting her reproachful glances, she basked in embarrassment. She explained and defended herself in a hurry to save face,"I just came from abroad. I knew nothing about you. So how can you possibly blame me for your failed relationship? This is not fair."

"Oh come on!" Leila sarcastically led her on. "Burke and I were getting on perfectly before you appeared in the scene, and he even proposed to me yesterday. But now suddenly things have changed and turned sour in my favor. You are a self-righteous and entitled bitch. You must have spoken ill about me in front of him, didn't you?"

"You..." Pamela was too infuriated at this point to even finish her sentence. Her good breeding and demure stopped her from stooping down to her level and scolding her like Leila did to her. She knitted her brows and remarked,"You're being too unreasonable, so there is no point to engage in a conversation."

"I'll teach you a lesson for what you did," Leila pounced at Pamela with a furious look. Burke dashed forward and stood between Leila and Pamela. He seized Leila's hands while howling at her,"That's enough of this charade. Haven't you done enough already that you had to create a public spectacle over nothing and blame this girl for your shortcomings?"

"Burke..." Leila called his name affectionately with a pathetic look. She stared at Burke and begged for mercy,"Please don't leave me. Please just give me another chance. I know you still love me."

"That is impossible," Burke replied with a resolute expression. He realized that the only way to get rid of Leila was to leave the hospital premises. A doctor who was walking past Burke stopped and out of good will, he turned to Burke and reminded as he whispered,"Burke, don't let things get worse. After all, this is a hospital."

"I understand," Burke replied, looking a bit guilty and awkward for the situation he was caught in. 'Fortunately I have resigned. I won't bring shame to the hospital even if Leila continues to stir up trouble like this, ' he thought to himself.

He looked at the passers-by and said,"Just go back and mind your own business. There is no

was wrong. Please give me one more chance. I will do whatever... Anyway, I really like you. I really want to make this work. I will change for you in whatever aspect you want but just give me another chance."

"There is no need for such drastic measures," Burke said in an adamant tone, as he looked at Leila. He then opened the door, and said to Pamela who was waiting at the doorway,"Please come in now, Pamela. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. We will head for lunch right away."

"That is alright, I'm just coming in," Pamela entered the room. Pamela was a sensible girl. She realized Burke needed to bid farewell to his ten-year one-sided love, so she hadn't followed Burke into the ward until this moment.

"Here I am," Pamela said meekly, not knowing what to do next. Burke smiled at her and then turned to Leila,"Didn't you keep asking what Pamela and my relationship was?"

He moved closer to Pamela, took her hand in his warmly and said to Leila,"Well, Pamela is my girlfriend. Now I hope you can stop harassing me. We'd better cut off from each other. Things are over here now."

"No, you're lying," Leila retorted in disbelief of this sudden revelation. 'Burke is mad at me, so he is using Pamela to force me to leave. But I won't give up so easily, ' she was determined. She calmed down and went on,"It's not funny anymore, Burke. We're going to get married, so how can you possibly date her?"

Burke grasped Pamela's hand nervously, his palms wet with sweat. To get rid of Leila, he had no choice but to use Pamela as a pawn. He was growing anxious that Pamela might disapprove and be hurt by his act.

Pamela then tightened the grip, almost like a sign, which made Burke much relieved.

"I will not repeat myself twice. You and I are over. I will never get back with you. If possible, I even want to forget our past. I strongly advise you to do the same."