Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 218: The Bird Was Confused

Chapter 218: The Bird Was Confused

"I reflected on that and I realised that I should have vocally conveyed my feelings to you, than by that forceful means that frightened you, Ellie," with his hand on his heart, Archibald said, his gentle gaze trained at Marcella. His words were filled with sincerity and Talia could feel it.

Talia could feel her sleeve held by Marcella’s pearly white fingers, clutching hard.Talia looked at Marcella with her peripheral vision and noticed her moved to tears.

Well... If my man apologised this sincerely, I would forgive him too.

Talia’s thoughts skipped to Arthur and her lips curved unconsciously.

"I hate you still. I don’t like you calling me Ellie... My name is Marcella. Marcia is what everyone calls me and Ella is fine too... But Ellie... It seems like it’s the shortened form of Elizabeth."

Marcella spoke the truth. This guy and her sister were friends for as long as she remembered. They were inseparable (unless both of them were busy fornicating). Whenever her sister forced her for ’outings’, this guy would be there too. She’d personally seen him flirting with women and she never cared.

But then in the past couple of years, he started calling her ’Ellie’ and started following her everywhere. At first she was wary of him since she was her sisters friend and probably secret lover but he was very helpful for her in dealing with other homosapiens, which she was very terrible at. Also he brought the best puddings and sorbets for her each time. So she let him stay around her.

She could feel in the past few months, she started to rely on him more and expected him to be around her. Whenever she couldn’t find him, she’d feel heavy in her heart, like when her research failed at the final stage.

And oddly, after that...she hated it when he called her ’Ellie’. She also didn’t like to see him smiling and laughing her sister either.

Isn’t she married? Why is he grinning like a Cheshire cat? Can’t he get over her?

Don’t blame her. She tried to control these feelings. But it only got worse. She wanted to be near him... Closer to him. But when he was closer, she’d feel like she had arrhythmia.

She hated to see him smiling at another person; mostly women... Well, only when he smiles at a woman.

She thought there was some chemical imbalance in her brain and tested it in every way. But she was physically fine. Even her heart was fine.

If so what about that odd feelings in her heart?

And that day at the elevator, there was plenty of space for them to stand apart. In that elevator that could easily hold twenty people, only him and her were there. Why did she want to stand closer to him?

Vivi said that she might be in love with him. And she just laughed it off.

It can’t be love! She hated him... at times! And...even if it is love, there is no way that guy would ever fall for her.

Maybe I am his next mark? Is he using me to replace my sister? What would she know? She is not good at reading humans. Humans are too complicated. Their neurological system is too developed, no research can get through it. How would she understand it then?

But now she knows that he neither has nor had such feelings towards her sister. Even Princess Talia attests to it. So it must be true.

And that day... when he placed his lips over hers...his big hands around her waist... his scent... and... everything he did afterwards...

She was frightened.

Frightened how it made her feel. She loved it would be an understatement to describe the feeling, and she wanted more of it.

She was frightened by her own reaction and pushed him away and even slapped him.

Even now, she wouldn’t mind if he kissed her. But she was scared that she hit him and he might hit her back.

She is too sensitive to pain and that guy is too strong. She won’t survive his hit.

She hates me.... She says she hates me... What should I do?

Archibald’s brain shut off hearing that sentence. He didn’t even listened to the rest of the sentence.

"Um... Marcella, I don’t think you hate Archibald. I think you’re just jealous," Talia said placing her hand over Marcella’s hands.

Talia was not an expert in these kind of things regarding relationship. Well, she didn’t even know you’re not supposed to say ’That’s it?’ to a man after s*x until recently. What is she supposed to do with this complicated relationship?

And both of these people are practically strangers to her. Since they are almost eight, nine years elder than her and close to Cyrus’ age, she never had the chance to know them and she didn’t care to k ow about them either.

And so... She just said what she felt.

Oh, Rebecca! Wish you were here! Should I bring you here?

Talia sighed as she looked down at her hand. She knew Rebecca would handle this better than her.

Talia was surprised as she noticed that Marcella’s hands are paler than her hands.

How does she even handle the sun?

"Jealous?" Marcella’s confused voice brought Talia out of her distraction and Archibald perked up too.

She got jealous of me? Does she has feelings for me then?

"It seems like you are jealous of Elizabeth and think Archibald uses you as a replacement for Elizabeth since he calls you Ellie."

Talia looked keenly in Marcella’s eyes.

Please say yes... Please say yes... I have no idea what else the problem between you two could be...

Talia mumbled in her heart.

" Well, why else would he like me?" Marcella this time, looked at Archibald even though her question was directed at Talia.

Talia knew now she is stepping on something personal and stood up. Also she saw Mr. Ed speaking in a serious tone with a delivery guy.

" Excuse me, "she stood up and left the couple alone.

"Ah, little birdie... I love you for who you are. You’re no one’s replacement...."

Archibald’s voice got lower as she walked away. Somehow these two made her remember Camellia and Cyrus.

Cyrus would have felt the same way when he found out that he’s in love with Camellia. But I took him away....

Talia placed her hand over her chest that felt tight and walked towards Mr Ed. He informed there is a very big box addressed to her, in this building’s address and the movers are adamant to make the delivery and are willing to wait as long as it takes.

Talia wondered what that special delivery might be and walked to where they were checking the box. Mr. Ed was wary of letting Talia near the service elevator but as usual, he couldn’t stop this enthusiastic Princess.

Talia’s eyes widened seeing the delivery packet. It was a wooden crate, not a box. No wonder Mr. Ed got alerted.

They slowly removed the nails and one part of the crate wall fell on the floor and the styrofoam particles inside spilled out. Mr. Ed stood in front of Talia and there were some other people who stood alert around the crate,with their hands on their holsters. Talia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry seeing those people alert like a stretched rubber band. It was like they’d fire even if there was a slight movement inside the crate.

After confirming the styrofoam balls are just that and not any other poisonous substance, some men went in and rolled the wooden trolley out.

"A bear?" Talia was surprised to see the life-like bear coming out from the crate. "Is that a bear? That’s so tall!" she was surprised to see that bear standing tall on its hind legs. It probably is almost eight feet tall.

"Who sent it here?" Talia asked. She didn’t know what to feel about this big stuffed bear. She liked stuffed toys. Except this is a big stuffed real bear. Someone stuffed stuff inside the fur of a bear and made it look like this.

"I’m not sure," Mr. Ed still wasn’t feeling good about this bear. The taxidermy is well done and this seems like an apt gift for a Princess. But who sent it and why?

Talia had an idea who might like these kind of things. And it is not her grandfather.

She called Arthur.

Arthur who just sent away Jordan with his anger not yet pacified seeing what just happened in front of his eyes as that woman mindlessly accusing Jordan, looked at his phone.

He felt like the cold gentle breeze caressing her face, making him calmer.

"Get in. I’ll drop you home," he said without even looking at Sophia and walked a little further.

"Yes?" he smiled.

"There is a bear in front of me," Talia said, still surprised.

"Are you going to take him for a walk?" Arthur asked thinking she was talking about Bear- her dog.

"No, silly! A bear! An actual bear!" Talia said, her tone a bit loud.

"Where are you?" Arthur was confused.

What is his silly flower saying now? Is she visiting a zoo or something?

"In the service... Fred, there is an actual stuffed bear here. Someone sent it here for me. I don’t know why. Do you?" she asked. She didn’t know why, but she had a feeling this has something to do with him.

"A taxidermy bear?" Arthur raised his eyebrow.

That’s weird. Why did someone send her that?

"Is that a brown bear standing on its hind legs and is its lower canine slightly dented?" he asked.

"Yes! How do you know?"

"It’s Graham. That b*stard. He said he’d give me a gift. For him to send it in your name to your place..." he turned and saw Sophia still lurking outside the car without getting in. He walked further away. "He might have sent someone to record you, to see your reaction. Just pretend you’re angry and shout at me before ending the call. And make sure you keep it safe. I like to keep it in my office." he said softly, but Talia could feel the danger emitting from his tone.

He really liked that bear... And wanted to kill the one who sent it.

" It’s yours? You want it? And I should keep it? Why?" Talia got what he said and looked closely at the delivery personnel. Of all of them only one guy was scrawny and was standing in a weird posture.

Oh, Olivia. You’re trying to prove I’m in contact with Fred? Okay then. I am in contact with Fred. But our relationship will not be revealed as how you want it.

After that she started screaming at her phone and Arthur just laughed from the other end.

After a while, she ran out of mean words and she walked out in a huff.

"Leave it here! And bring me gasoline! I’m going to burn it. Does he think my apartment is his storage space?" she said angrily and walked out. Her security shooed the delivery guys away.

"You don’t want to catch the guy with camera, Your Highness?" Mr. Ed realised what she was doing, as he noticed the scrawny guy too.

"No let’s see what they got," Talia waved her hand. "And store the bear properly. Fred likes it, it seems"

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