Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 121: Meaningful Flowers

Chapter 121: Meaningful Flowers

Sophia’s snow white fingers that were around the bouquet trembled a little seeing that piercing green eyes looking at her straight in the eyes as if scrutinising her.

This is the man she waited for all these years. She waited patiently for his eyes always following that other woman to finally look at her; only her. She tried in every way and when she thought she didn’t have a chance anymore, there he is... In front of her! And he is looking at her. There is a smile in his perfect thin lips and she could even see her reflection in his clear green eyes.

But why is it scary?

Her eyes darted back to the flower bouquet in her hand. It looked beautiful with twelve yellow carnations surrounding a single purple petunia flower and it did have some filler flowers to make the piece beautiful.

She knew he asked a question and she needed to answer but all that was going on in her mind was his words. ’I chose them myself’. At a glance, this looked like a beautiful bouquet. But...

Does he know the meaning of these flowers?

Petunia: The petunia flower symbolizes anger and resentment especially when they are presented by someone with whom you have recently had a heated disagreement. They can also symbolize your desire to spend time with someone because you find their company soothing and peaceful.

So which meaning should she take it as? She didn’t have to think because he made it clear with the other flower.

With yellow carnations, you’re telling them that they have disappointed you or it can even express your thoughts of rejecting them.

And she doesn’t even have to think about it more. There are thirteen flowers in the bouquet! Who gives thirteen flowers to his fiancée? Really, thirteen?

So he picked these for me knowing the meaning?

Unknowingly, her eyes teared up and slowly the bouquet started to blur in her vision.

She could vaguely see some people murmuring among themselves, some laughing and some looking pitifully at her.

Ha! What a joke am I! The man I waited for all these years, knowingly humiliated me in a room full of strangers without even saying a word! But why?

Arthur looked at the woman in front of him looking pitiful with her eyes filled with tears and the corner of his lips twitched unable to hold his smile.

What a class act!

For some reason, he despised the woman trying to act pitiful. Should women cry to garner sympathy each time?

Sure Iris does it too... But she does it better! Plus she is cute.

"Aww! You made the Lady sad, sweetie," and old lady dining in the table next to them interfered and the old man beside her tried to stop her, mumbling.

"She never learns... She cannot interfere in other’s business..."

Arthur shifted his glance at the short old lady sitting with an old man possibly her husband. He noticed they were holding hands above the table and his eyes softened unknowingly.

Although it seemed like the old man was complaining, when he looked at the old lady, there still was a helpless affection in them.

How amazing would it be if he and his Iris grow old together!

Seeing Arthur looking at her fondly, the old lady continued after smiling victoriously at the old man.

"You cannot gift petunia and yellow carnations to a young lady, sweetie..."

"Oh? I apologise then ma’am," Arthur’s smile got more soft. "I don’t know much about flowers. I just thought they looked pretty," saying this he looked at the waiter, "Throw them out, please."

Sophia felt like her heart was getting plucked from her hand as the bouquet was about to leave her hand.

He is not even willing to give a flower on my first date with him?

But then she was relieved as there is a silver lining to this dark cloud - he really didn’t know the meaning of the flowers.

"I appreciate your help, ma’am. I almost did a blunder on my very first date with this fine Lady here," Arthur spoke to the old lady with a genuine smile. He enunciated the word ’first date’ since he knew he’s being recorded. There were still people who believed he was in love with this Sophia woman for longer.

He didn’t even care what Sophia was talking to the waiter. He found that old couple more intriguing.

" See... He appreciates me! " the old lady slightly pinched the old man’s hand and he mumbled some more.

"Yeah right! He is just a polite young man and pretends to not-"

The old lady just ignored him with a snort and looked at Arthur, " You are a fine young man but need to up your game or you won’t make a woman stay ," she advised gently and Arthur nodded politely. "Just for your future knowledge... When in doubt go with roses!"

"Roses?" Arthur raised his brows with a slight nod accepting her advise, "I love Iris! But guess roses are fine too" Arthur then politely gestured the old lady to continue her meal and took his seat.

He pretended to not see the bouquet still there for the rest of the meal and silently listened to the conversation of the old couple.

They seemed to be bickering with each other.

While he was secretly listening to (technically eavesdropping) the couple, he find it annoying when Sophia interrupted him for small talk.

Isn’t disturbing someone impolite and illegal? What kind of lady is this Sophia Clairmont? Impudent!

Arthur glared at Sophia one last time making her shudder and went back to his adulation of the old couple. Even though they were bickering, they also reminded each other of the things they didn’t like and ordered their other half’s favourite food and desserts and then shared among themselves. From their conversation, he could infer that today was their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Golden jubilee? That’s amazing!

Arthur was only imagining how his married life with Iris would be in fifty years. They’d probably be bickering like this too.

Ah!

Somehow watching that old couple, made his heart full.

Jordan who was sitting at a distance, could see the detachment between Sophia and Arthur. He also see the sadness swirling in Sophia’s eyes and even though she was smiling, he could see her face red with embarrassment and she was holding herself back from crying.

That Arthur! Can’t he at least give her face in front of others? Who treats dainty young ladies like this! Wasn’t he the one who agreed to marry her? And to now treat him like this...

Jordan looked at Sophia whose eyes watery and pretty like that of a doe, looking at Arthur with a slight blush as he was turning to the waiter and ordering something.

Hmpf! Why is she not throwing hot water in his face and looking at him with adoration? To think this ruffian is the one getting swarmed with woman!

Jordan felt the steak cooked perfectly tasting like rubber in his mouth and threw the cutleries on the plate in anger.

It’s a clown world! That’s why! Women only like bad boys! Stupid women!

Jordan glared at Arthur.

Arthur felt like there was a hole being bore to the back of his head but he couldn’t understand why.

The old couple finished their dinner first and he watched the old man giving his shoulder to the old lady to help her walk. It seemed like the lady had a bad knee.

Soon after the old lady left the restaurant, Arthur finished the meal too and offered to drop Sophia Clairmont in her home since she was waiting for her driver to arrive.

Jordan felt bad sitting beside the driver and was squirming trying to look past the opaque partition glass behind him and in turn made the driver very uneasy.

Isn’t the cup bearer a bit too wormy today?

"I learnt that your brother has a lot of gambling debts and the creditors are forcing your father now," Arthur leisurely leaning on the fine leather said lazily.

Sophia who had her heart beating out of her chest sitting in close proximity with the man she loved forever and that too in this luxurious car with a romantic ambience as the small lights twinkling like stars on the roof above her head, felt her heart skip a beat with that question.

Did he think I agreed to marry him because my family needs money?

Of everything he did that day, she felt this question more offensive.

"Do you think I followed you around all these years predicting my brother will make our family go bankrupt?"

Sophia wanted to ask that man who was looking at her for an answer. The corners of his lips were raised to a smirk and in his eyes she saw disgust and mockery.

Is he looking down on me?

But then in her vision, his stiff face slowly morphed into the boy she once saw in the basketball court. That boy who was cheerful and the one who laughed a lot. The boy who was tall with an athletic build with firm muscles developed at that tender age.

That day he scored sixty three points. Each time he looked at her direction, he’d score a point and everytime he scored, he’d look at her and wave.

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