Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 155: Forgiven Or Not?

Chapter 155: Forgiven Or Not?

"Cyril, my cute little booboo" Vivian cooed.

"Good Lord, Vivi!" Cyril laughed at the other end. He really cannot stay stressed when he is with her. What a fluffy woman!

"Change the topic and Arthur will be there soon. She will get better after seeing him," he added.

"That’s a nice gesture from you..." Vivian laughed and looked at Talia now emptying her wine glass. "I’ll face-time you soon, bye" she waited for him to end the call.

"Just your face?"

Vivian could see the smirk through that voice call as he said that. She giggled and ended the call.

What a lecher!

---

What really happened that day?

Talia, holding the wineglass by the stem, swirled it. There was a little bit of the beautiful burgundy liquid left and it glistened beautifully as the natural light from the outside passed through it.

The more she thought about it, she could only infer that Cyrus actually did what he did to protect Camellia and his child.

Maybe he received instructions through his phone?

But why would anyone want to instruct Cyrus to make me kill him? They wanted to get me hurt? There would have been many ways they could have achieved that! If they want to end my life, why not instruct Cyrus to kill me?

He might have done that.... Or, would he?

If given a choice to chose me or his child, Who’d have Cyrus chosen?

Ah! The answer is clear isn’t it? He chose his woman and child! He didn’t care for me!

Talia felt a pang of hurt in her heart as she derived to that conclusion. Cyrus was someone she trusted with her everything. And to think she was not that important for him... It hurt!

But... Isn’t the way it should be? A man’s first priority should be his wife and kids, shouldn’t they? What kind of man would Cyrus be if he didn’t protect his own blood?

Maybe it’s been ten years since that happened, and she’s matured, Talia could think rationally. In fact, she preferred Cyrus did what he did to protect his child rather than her. She’d feel more terrible if he decided to end his life when he knew he was going to become a father, to protect her.

"Cyrus knew what he did, Vivian... He was so emotional, but he knew what he was saying when he said it... He wanted ME to... I was the one who was not in a good emotional state... You may doubt my words since there is no definite proof and it is just my word against a dead person’s, but it’s the truth," Talia looked at Vivian who nodded at her. Talia could see no judgement from her eyes that had a layer of mist as if she was feeling empathetic towards her and continued.

"He... Thanked me after the first shot. I know I was acting mechanically and the way he smiled when he thanked me..."

I was lucid when I took the second shot!

Talia felt a shiver pass from her scalp through her spine to the tip of her toes.

I’m a murderer!

It’s a fact that never is going to change!

But... I cannot let that drag me forever!

" I can understand if the Lockhart family never forgives me. I know I cannot even dream for them to let me off. But I wanted to tell you that I’ve regretted for what I’ve done enough. It... I want to go back to Esteria, Vivian. If I know what I could do as an atonement I’ll do it gladly if it means I can be back there," Talia looked at Vivian now with a slight smile in her lips.

" You think Cyril is civil with you, hiding his hatred towards you and it might be his family blocking your entry into Esteria? " Vivian asked.

Talia just looked back at Vivian. She sure has doubts about the Lockhart family. She never had any good impression about Cyrus’ father and she didn’t think they’d just let their son’s killer away just like that.

They might want to keep her alive to find out the one behind Cyrus’ death, but they will never forgive her or forget what she did.

Talia didn’t know what Arthur is doing, but lately she felt scared everytime she thought about her grandfather. Her Grandpa isn’t calling her as frequently as before and she found that doctor’s words pretty unbelievable.

Maybe she was over thinking or maybe her instincts are right, but she just wanted to meet her Grandpa sooner than later. She still wasn’t sure if her Grandpa can make the trip to Rosandale.

"That’s not the case?" Talia asked back. Vivian here is gong to be the next Lady of the Lockhart family, the Countess of Tressux. She is privy to what the Lockhart family might be thinking.

"Did you know how much efforts Cyril put to protect you recently when the Ruby Panthers tried to kill you?" Vivian’s tone was flat as she asked. Her eyes weren’t smiling. It seemed like Talia had offended her.

"I can only imagine, Vivian. He did try to protect me. But wasn’t I a bait in the first place? I’m just aware of what I did to your family, Vivian. I know how vindictive the Lockhart family is," Talia maintained her eye contact with Vivian.

Vivian was a bit offended that Talia doubted Cyril but as she thought deeply, she could understand why Talia thinks what she thinks. How many can truly understand the plight of someone who hurt their family?

" I can’t speak for the Lockhart family, but I can speak for Cyril. He knows you were just the arrow and his beef is with the person who manipulated Cyrus and in turn you into killing his brother. He loved his brother as much as his brother loved you. And Cyril really wants you to be happy since that’s what his brother would’ve wanted," Vivian said holding Talia’s hand.

" Be happy..." Talia felt her throat getting heavy, "It’s funny though, Cyrus told me to be happy; to ’celebrate my life no matter what’ before he asked me to do that cruel thing..." Talia said and before she knew it tears started dripping from her eyes and Talia quickly composed herself since she was in a public place.

" I’m sorry Vivian. I think I’m drunk. I can’t handle alcohol... Please excuse me. I’ll be back soon, " she said politely before standing up and leaving for the powder room.

Vivian looked at Talia’s back as she walked away. It seemed like she is filled with guilty consciousness about what happened. She has serious trust issues too.

Who can blame her? Even Cyrus; the one she trusted the most, broke her to pieces. But it is not her place to say anything now, is it? What can she say?

Cyril did use her as a bait. How could he do that to this cute girl? Who knows? In the future, he might offer her up in exchange for his brother’s killer. He is too obsessed in finding his brother’s killer. But if he hurt Talia in anyway, she’d leave him with no second thoughts.

She cannot be with someone without basic human decency and morals.

But he won’t! Vivian could say for sure. She knows the man she is marrying.

Talia washed her face and patted it dry, looking at the mirror. She felt weak for not being able to control her emotions. One moment she is fine and the next moment she is not.

She looked closely in the mirror as she reapplied her makeup. There was a small pimple on her forehead.

Huh! Not that time of the month again!

Talia sighed and walked back to her seat.

Why is that only women have to go through PMS every month? Can’t I have a break? Ugh! I acted like a rogue. Now Vivian must think of me as a freak! This is not the way to act when you first meet someone!

Talia was relieved when she got back, Vivian seemed normal and as of she forgot what happened sometime before. She casually charred about some other stuff as the main course was served.

"Did you receive the Carrickmacross lace? Was it how you expected it to be?" Talia asked and she was pleased to see Vivian’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

Vivian got really excited as she spoke about it and she showed Talia pictures of the design of her wedding gown and how the lace suited her perfectly.

She even scooted closer to Talia in the circle shaped couch they were sitting leaving her plates even.

The mood changed extremely cheery as she spoke non-stop and Talia was relieved.

Talia was intrigued too as she heard Vivian explaining every detail in her wedding gown design. There seemed to be a lot of hidden interpretations in the designs as she explained. Rebecca was this excited too as she chose her wedding ground.

Talia felt that weird feeling in her heart as she saw the happiness of Vivian as she spoke about her wedding arrangements. It was not a strong feeling that was uncontrollable, but it wasn’t pleasant either.

Oh, Talia! Why are you getting jealous?

"Gee, sis! Have you started your boring blabber again?"

Talia was stunned to hear Jordan’s voice behind her.

Jordan’s here? If so... Fred?

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