Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 297: Will a Man Forget?

Chapter 297: Will a Man Forget?

That man who cruelly killed my mum.... He left an heir? And I was treating him so nicely?

Talia’s thoughts were disturbed by Arthur.

"Take what you said back, brother!" he bellowed, "How could you say that we are not brothers?"

Gregory plopped on the chair and he held his chest with his hand. It was a secret very well-kept by the adults in the family. There is no way Roderick should know about it.

"Fred, calm down." Talia spoke in a soothing voice. Sure it is a big thing for her to know this truth, but for Arthur, it is life-altering. The brother whom he loved dearly is telling him he is not his brother. "He should be lying to convince me. He is your brother. How is he not?"

She didn’t want Roderick to be Jonathan Sinclair’s son either. She is Fred’s brother whom she likes too.

"Do you know why our grandfather didn’t like me much? It’s because I was a bastard. I am the r@pe child of a nurse and she wanted nothing to do with me and left me here. He and your mum were gracious enough to take me as their own. Ray was their son and the legitimate heir and that’s why he was loved more. We are not brothers by blood, Arthur... It’s the truth. Ask Father. He knows that I’m telling the truth... "

Roderick went on and Talia looked at Gregory who looked petrified. Arthur went speechless and Talia had to be composed.

" Papa...? " she crouched beside Gregory. " Why is Roderick lying? " her voice shook as she spoke.

" Dear child, " Gregory patted Talia’s head. "I apologise for what happened in the past in this house. I’ll talk to your grandfather too. Never mind what Roderick says. You two love each other and no one can ask you to not get together. Now, go home and rest. You had a tough day today and tomorrow is the announcement, right? Take Arthur with you. I’m sorry I asked you for dinner and not feeding you properly. Forgive me, okay? " he spoke in a soft voice.

" Oh please... Don’t apologise papa. It’s not your fault. You don’t have to talk to my grandpa about this. He won’t mind it either. The feud between our families cannot be entirely forgotten within one generation. It will take a lot of time for either side to come together truly. I understand that. Please don’t worry yourself thinking about me. Take care of your health. Maybe.... Fred can stay here for the night? I think it’s better for everyone to talk?"

Talia looked at Arthur who took in a deep breath. " No need, let’s leave. I’m not staying in this place one more minute. This place only gives me bad memories. Thank you, brother! Father! " he said sarcastically and helped Talia up." Anything more I should know? Am I this family’s son? Or am I some bastard too? Is my mother even my mother? Or-"

" Fred!" Talia stopped him from making his father feel more guiltier. He becomes a drama queen when he gets mad.

"Let’s go!" Arthur didn’t speak further and pulled Talia towards the door with him. "And no one who is not my brother needs to talk to me anymore." Arthur said pausing at the door and then walked in larger strides pulling Talia along.

"Don’t frown, I’ll order you something to eat," Arthur pulled his phone out.

"No need. There will be always good in the castle kitchen. We can get something there." Talia stopped him from ordering and held his hand.

"How could he say he’s not my brother, Iris? He’s cruel." he whined and rested his head on her shoulder as they walked.

"I know." Talia agreed with him. "But he seems to be suffering too, right? I don’t know how he found out, but it must be much more devastating for him than you, right? Don’t be a drama queen! Just talk to him."

The Spring breeze ruffled her hair. With her hand in his hands, warming her, she felt blissful. The soothing sound of the creak tricking didn’t sound so awful for her anymore for some reason. Maybe because she has dealt with the one person whom she held accountable for the confusion that day at her wedding is properly dealt with, she felt a lot relieved.

Even the fact that Roderick is Jonathan Sinclair’s son didn’t make her feel that different. She was shocked at first, but later she didn’t find it that big a deal. Come to think of it, she felt like even if Fred was Jonathan’s son, it wouldn’t have made any difference now.

Yes, she might have sulked for a day or two. Breaking up with him for who his father is... That’s doubtful. But her Grandpa... Hmm...

The only thing is that Roderick isn’t supporting Arthur’s decision of letting their kids have the Brunton surname and become the heirs of the Dukedom of Oakley.

In the end, would it matter?

Her kids also will bear the titles of Prince and Princess in Rosandale. And they will be theirs. A little bit of him and her... Isn’t that the most amazing thing and not the name?

Yes, Fred told her that their kids will bear her name. She won’t mind it even if he changes his mind in the future.

But the announcement tomorrow... What should I do about it?

" Drama queen? How would you feel if after twenty eight years of your life your let known that your brother is not your broth-" Fred paused speaking realising the truth.

Her brother... Her mother... Were killed by...

"Iris... I didn’t think you... My uncle he.. I’m-" he stuttered. How stupid was he to only think about himself?

"It doesn’t matter, Fred. The same day, it was Roderick who saved me, remember? I don’t know... I’m so tired of thinking about who did what and when and why... I don’t care anymore... Let’s just focus on ourselves more, okay?" she sighed.

In the morning she was told Cyrus was a psychopath and other odd stuff. In the evening she is told that Roderick is Jonathan’s son. She really felt tired.

" Yeah, okay... I bet there will be chocolate cake back home. What do you think? " Arthur decided to change the topic. He still was angry at his brother for revealing this hurtful fact to Talia.

He said it so that Iris will back off from marrying me, right? What a fool! She’s not a child to manipulate!

---

" It was Wilma who told you the truth, I reckon?" Gregory questioned Roderick after both of them left.

"She was worried after it was announced Artie is going to take Brunton’s title and-"

"In what way did you think that Wilma had the best interest of our family in her heart and not just trying to protect the ’Boswell Prestige’ as your grandfather used to say often?"

Roderick didn’t say a word and bowed his head. Surely Wilma wouldn’t care for the actual happiness of anyone in this family. It was obvious by the way she treated Talia.

" You saw how Talia Brunton behaved in our home. She was polite, smart and didn’t overstep her boundaries. Although she was treated poorly, she maintained her politeness right till the end showing the way she was brought up. If little Kate didn’t mention it, we probably wouldn’t have found out about her mistreatment by Wilma. She, an actual Princess, has no need to behave this way in our home other than because she considers us as her family. You see the way she calmed down that idiotic hothead. Tell me one good reason why she shouldn’t marry into our family, other than that she is a Brunton." Gregory Sinclair’s eyes fixed sternly at Roderick.

This son of his... He never had to worry about him since he was always a sensible child. For the first time,this one made him worry so much, he almost had a heart attack. He needs to learn his lesson.

" Even I love her. I was happy Arthur found his happiness in her. But... It’s because she’s a Brunton, she cannot... I mean it wouldn’t have mattered if there is another heir to the Brunton family then-"

"So you’re saying that any family with a single daughter is not worth to have a legacy? Their name should die the moment the girl marries? How regressive is that?" Gregory spoke softly. His son is not an idiot to have regressive views, he is just confused.

".... No...thats not what I mean. "

" Okay, then what do you mean?"

" I... Artie... He’s... "

" You think you’re a bastard and your kids aren’t legitimate heirs to the Boswell family, aren’t you? Geez! How long did Wilma talk to you to make you think like someone from two centuries back?" Gregory was exasperated seeing Roderick’s eyes widen.

" Why didn’t you tell me I was adopted? How could you make myself believe as one of yours only for someone to prove otherwise? Shouldn’t I’ve learnt that fact from you? Why? Why didn’t you tell me dad? " Roderick’s eyes filled with tears.

" Why you ask, son? Why?" Gregory stood up from the chair and walked to Roderick. His eyes misted with tears and he stopped a feet away from Roderick. His son was taller than him and he looked up to him.

" God’s honest truth... I forgot. I forgot you weren’t mine. I forgot your mother didn’t carry you in her womb or birth you. I forgot!"

Tears rolled down his cheeks.