Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 101: She Quit

Chapter 101: She Quit

Talia couldn’t find words to say. She never knew how to console anyone and this time was no different. Seeing the veins on Rebecca’s forehead popping out, signifying the stress she’s in, Talia knew Rebecca herself is confused and arrived at this decision in the heat of the moment.

After all, this is the same one who cried wanting for a baby a couple days back and asked her to make babies with Arthur.

Now she wants to kill that baby? No way!

"Does Joe know?"

Talia wanted to know if Joe knows of her decision and has something to do with it. She knew the probability of Joe asking her to abort the baby is low since she said that they were trying for a baby for six months.

"Why would I tell him?" Rebecca fisted her hands on the table and her eyes were filled with rage.

’Why she asks... Isn’t he her husband and that’s his baby too?’

Talia thought but didn’t say it out loud since she knew Rebecca knows it too.

"I can’t even stand to look at his face... He still insists he met with a ’client’ Tallie...You saw how he was giggling with that Rachel! That lying bastard! Ugh! I don’t even want to say his name much less carry his child!" she gritted her teeth and soon her eyes misted and strings of tears dripped on the table.

So Joe doesn’t even know he is going to be a father?

Talia didn’t want to talk more to Rebecca and sat closer to her and rubbed her back. She knew how Rebecca is feeling. She felt that same way when she left Esteria that day.

She is feeling betrayed and deserted. And that’s not a good feeling.

Talia believed Joe is not cheating on Rebecca. Certainly not with Rachel. She wasn’t sure of the intentions of Rachel, but she believed Joe.

And Rebecca, if she thinks straight for a moment will realise it too. Stupid Rebecca said herself that she was using Joe’s phone when he received the message from Rachel.

Seriously! Which cheating husband will leave his phone lying around for his wife to use it any time she wants? Talia knew Joe uses password to lock his phone and if Rebecca used his phone, she’d know his password.

If Joe actually cheats, Wouldn’t he take his phone with him in case his side-chick contacts him and his wife catches him red-handed? No man would be that stupid!

But Talia could empathise with Rebecca.

When you feel like you are abandoned, you won’t be thinking rationally and you won’t be in a place to listen to any advice. Your brain will shut off and you’ll be confined in a bubble you made for yourself with your own beliefs. Even if people around you try and explain the situation, you’d think that the whole world is lying to you rather than accepting the fact that your beliefs are wrong.

"I filled the tub for you. The temperature is perfect! Have a nice bath," Talia said coming out of the bathroom after her shower.

She couldn’t help but sigh seeing Rebecca’s listless eyes staring blankly at the floor. She had never seen Rebecca like this before. Well... Only once before.

And after that she had never seen Rebecca this despaired. There was once when Joe lost his control as his drug addiction kicked in and the result... Rebecca’s face was swollen the next day. Even then she had joy in her eyes. It hurt Talia’s heart to see her friend like that.

"Am I intruding, Talia? Where is your man? Never mind me... I’ll find a hotel to stay, okay?" Rebecca got up from the couch and tried to get her bag and leave.

Talia gripped her bag, "He left already. It’s just me here. You can sleep with me." Talia was not willing to let Rebecca out of her sight. Who knows what she might do?

Talia knew she has to keep Rebecca from acting precipitous and abort the fetus. She might think it is the best decision for now, but Talia knew Rebecca would regret it in the future.

Right now Rebecca is not even trying to find the truth. She is not even thinking along the lines of what if her husband didn’t cheat. And when she realises the truth, it would kill her knowing she killed her baby for no reason.

Talia was sure since she herself acted without seeking the truth first and ended up with a lot of regrets. She didn’t want Rebecca to end up like her too.

But if Talia says anything now, it would only make Rebecca hate her. And so Talia decided to not convey her opinions immediately and wait till Rebecca calms down to talk about everything. Till then she decided to keep Rebecca close to her.

A couple days passed and Talia kept tabs on the news from Esteria and nothing major was reported except the announcement of Prince Edward’s return with her girlfriend Olivia Graham. The papers were a little critical of Olivia since she is not from their country and the people felt like the future Queen Consort of Esteria might nor know about the cultures of their nation. Talia didn’t care about those two.

Talia didn’t try to contact Arthur anymore since Cyril told her he was being watched and decided to watch the news closely. She tried to contact her grandfather but he wanted her to stay low for some time.

She really wanted to know what they were planning, but it seemed like she is supposed to be kept in the dark for their plans to succeed.

"Be yourself, Mary Ann. Grandpa will see you soon," her grandpa said and all Tia could do was nod.

After two days of cooping up inside that little apartment, the extrovert in Rebecca wanted to go out.

"Hey Rebecca, let’s confirm your pregnancy first. I heard those tests are unreliable. What if you aren’t actually pregnant and you are worrying needlessly?"

Talia used that situation and brought her to the hospital.

Talia couldn’t help but laugh to see Mr. Ed’s face when she told him that she needed to visit a doctor to check for pregnancy. That guy went pale as a sheet. There is no way it would be accepted if the Princess Royal of Rosandale got pregnant before wedding. And who could be the father?

After explaining it was for her friend, Mr. Ed relaxed and Talia could see the colour returning to his face.

Was it mean? Yep! She might have given that uncle a heart attack. But... Worth it!

It’s little things like these that makes life worthwhile, isn’t it?

Both Talia and Rebecca registered fake names in the gynecology clinic and went along with the nurses who assumed both of them are partners.

"Your girlfriend is pregnant," the doctor told Talia and Talia looked at Rebecca whose expression was muddled.

"Want to take an ultrasound?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," Talia answered immediately. She was pretty sure once Rebecca sees the baby and hears its heartbeat, she’d never think of abortion.

"I want an abortion," Rebecca said with her voice low as a mosquito.

The doctor was stunned and looked at Talia. These two women who are partners are here and one is pregnant and wants to abort while the other wants the child? What should she do?

Is she feeling guilty because she got herself pregnant by cheating on her partner?

Talia really couldn’t guess what the doctor’s thoughts were. She could only imagine seeing her pale look.

"Baby, let’s do the ultrasound," Talia spoke in a coaxing seductive voice as if she was speaking to her lover with her finger tracing her cheek and Rebecca was utterly stunned to say anything.

Is this really Talia?

And using her perplexity as an excuse, Rebecca was prepped for ultrasound and in the end as Talia expected, seeing the image of the little tadpole like creature on the monitor with a strong heartbeat, Rebecca changed her decision.

’Oof! Good for her!’ Talia was relieved.

A couple more days passed and it seemed like Rebecca had told Joe that she was staying with Talia since she was scared to be alone. And so Joe would came to Talia’s apartment during lunch and it was hard for Talia to watch Rebecca getting more and more enraged even though Joe was acting normal as he always does. And Joe seemed to have noted it too and yet he couldn’t figure it out.

She thought Rebecca, the expressive person she is, would blow up at Joe. But the more angry Rebecca got, the more silent she became and even Talia got scared a bit.

"I’m quitting, Joe" Talia said as she tried to break the stifling atmosphere at the dining table that day.

That morning, the news from Esteria was about a rumoured major announcement from Duke of Oakley in the coming year-end party. She didn’t know what it was but she felt like she needed to put everything in order in this country for her return back to Esteria.

"I knew it! You liar!" Joe was really mad. "Stacy quit too, you know. Did she even inform you?" he asked after he composed himself.

Truly, he saw that coming. Her big corporation is waiting for her. Why would she stick around in his little company?

"She did?" Talia was surprised. So she did guess right. Stacy was the informer and she escaped? However Cyril is on the lookout, so she wouldn’t have actually escaped.

"Good for her. Maybe she found another job. " Talia didn’t make a big deal out of it in front of Joe and Rebecca.

"When are you coming back, Becky? Your friend seems fine. Let everyone take care of themselves. No one seem to care for us..," Joe really couldn’t bear that his fear has come to pass and was pouting. Now he has to work double and he was mad at Talia. And so he decided to at least bring his wife back.

His home is empty without his wife. He doesn’t even want to return home without his wife there. He missed her so much.

" Can’t you leave me alone at least for a week? Geez! " Rebecca spoke with her eyebrows furrowed in anger and placed the fork on the plate with a clank. Then she stood up abruptly and the chair ended up making a screeching notice. She then stomped to the bedroom and locked the door.