Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 299: Let’s Forget When We Cannot Forgive

Chapter 299: Let’s Forget When We Cannot Forgive

When Talia returned to her home, their kitchen staff were surprised both of them eating dinner there.

Just as Talia finished dinner, she received a call from her grandfather.

"You didn’t cause any trouble there, did you?" was his first question.

"No! What trouble?" Talia didn’t know why her Grandpa seemed this concerned.

"So who caused trouble? Was it Artie? Did you get him mad? You went there and returned without eating anything there and I’m supposed to believe there was no trouble?"

"Ah... Yes, I suppose?" Talia rolled her eyes looking at Sebastian who was trying to hide behind the door. He hid, but his belly couldn’t.

That guy tattled it already to grandpa?

"Grandpa, I was so hungry... It would be impolite to gobble everything in front of me when I’m a guest there, wouldn’t it? That’s why I ate less there. Can’t I get hungry? You’re interrogating me for eating? I’m hurt, grandpa... You’re mean! " Talia pouted. She didn’t want to tell her Grandpa what Wilma did. He’d surely feel bad for her and she didn’t want that.

Arthur was sitting beside her and he could

" OK, I’m sorry if that’s the case," Jerome’s tone softened. " So what gift did you bring?"

"Gift?" Talia winced. Both of them forgot to bring any gifts. Arthur just shrugged.

What’s the need to bring gifts when you go home?

"... I didn’t bring-"

Before she finished her sentence, her Grandpa started lecturing her. He said he was disappointed in her and she had forgotten how she was raised and turned out to be someone who forgot basic decency and that she still is a child at heart who haven’t matured.

Arthur who was sitting beside started laughing hearing Talia getting lectured.

"What did Fred bring you, grandpa?" Talia interrupted her Grandpa who was now preaching the importance of courtesy.

"He brought me a bottle of scotch. It wasn’t a fancy one, but he had bought it with the money he earned. It showed how thoughtful and cultured he is. But you..."

The lecture went on, making Talia sleepy. Arthur who was bearing it for sometime, couldn’t let his Iris getting lectured anymore.

She was humiliated there. Like they could expect gifts! Not to mention my idiotic brother had to talk such drivel.

He got the phone and tried to speak, but then he was the one who got lectured for enabling his granddaughter. "At least you should have reminded her!"

After Arthur’s turn it was Sebastian’s turn to get lectured for letting his granddaughter step out without a gift in her hand. Sebastian was then ordered to send a list of gifts to the Sinclair Manor the first thing in the morning.

---

Gregory tried to get another glass, but Roderick stopped him mentioning his heart. As Gregory was trying to find a way to sneak a drink from his son, he heard his phone ring.

" It’s Jerome Brunton," Gregory was surprised.

"Could she have complained to her grandfather?" Roderick got worried. She really was treated unfairly in their Manor. It won’t be surprising if Jerome Brunton felt insulted.

"Give the phone, dad. I’ll talk to him," Roderick decided to not let his father face Jerome Brunton who’d be rightfully mad. Arthur stayed in the Oakley Castle for years and he never was treated badly by the staff. But Talia...

Gregory waved his hand and answered the phone. It is time for him to face the music. The Sinclair family has a lot to apologise for.

But he was surprised to hear Jerome apologising for his crude granddaughter and Gregory didn’t know what to say.

"She didn’t tell you anything?" Gregory asked.

"... Something happened there, didn’t it?" after a short silence Jerome asked. He had a gut feeling, but he was surprised his granddaughter who complains to him for silly issues, didn’t say a word about it. She even quietly listened to his lecture.

"I want to apologise for the way one of my staff treated her. She actually-"

"No need." Jerome interjected and his tone was a little harsh making Gregory take in a deep breath. "Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to know since I hold grudges when it comes to her. My granddaughter... She didn’t want to let me know. I reckon it is handled?" Jerome’s voice turned gentle once more.

"Yes, she handled it with grace and wisedom. She could have handled it in a hundred other loud ways which would be justified, but she opted for the least damaging path. I’m amazed by the way she was raised, Lord Brunton." Gregory was really impressed.

"Ah, it’s not all me. She’s a lot like her mother."Jerome’s voice couldn’t hide the pride he felt.

Of course she did! She’s my granddaughter!

" And... There is a lot I have to apologise for, Lord Brunton. "Gregory took in a deep breath. "I am ashamed and feeling little in front of you. You apologise on her behalf for not bringing gifts, which is nothing compared to everything I have to apologise for. Today or that day ten years back... I didn’t protect Talia, like I promised. Sure you can blame me I did it with malice, but with God as witness I really wanted to keep her safe. That day my son Ray-"

" Let’s not talk about the past, Gregory. " Jerome’s voice turned hard and cold once more." I know. I know what happened that day and why my granddaughter was delirious enough to run away from the man she loved, even after she got married to him. It’s... It’s fate such things happened. Let’s leave it at that."

Jerome really didn’t want to talk about it. Just months after his granddaughter left Esteria, Arthur who was drunk as a skunk, came to him and babbled everything his brother did and that he killed his brother. As much as he wanted to throw Arthur away from his home, Jerome could see how much Arthur loved his Mary Ann for him to go to the extent of murdering his brother. He tried to investigate, but there was no proof of what happened and Arthur forgot that he mentioned it to him in his drunken stupor. Jerome didn’t want to let Arthur know he knows and so he buried it deep in his heart.

In the end, Talia was safe, which is what he needed.

And when he recently asked about it, her face paled, conforming that what Arthur said did happen. But his little granddaughter didn’t want to complain. It seems like she has dealt with it her own way. She wanted to leave the past at the past and build a future with the brother of the one who deeply hurt her. He could see how much she loved Artie.

And who is he to stand against her happiness? He’d pretend he doesn’t know.

"You’re... Everytime I think I can understand your greatness, you only show me how more magnificent you are, Lord Brunton. We have less than ten years difference in our ages, but... I can’t reach your greatness even if I live a century longer than you." Gregory got emotional.

Who else could be this graceful towards someone who’ve hurt their family time and time again?

" It’s all for selfish reasons, Gregory. Don’t put me up in a pedestal. Our families... Both sides have lost a lot. I thought if I try, it would all end with me and won’t affect the next generation. But it didn’t. My daughter got involved. I should’ve stopped without getting retaliation, but I got by revenge. And then I thought at least it would end with that generation and my granddaughter would be speed with the burden of vendetta and revenge. I was so happy when she befriended Artie. I thought it would all end - the hatred and fighting. But even she got affected. I wanted to retaliate. I would retaliate..." Jerome took in a deep breath and Gregory felt a shudder as he felt how angry Jerome is.

" But... No. Generation after generation the fighting continues in the name of retaliation and revenge. No, I’ll stop first. Or maybe Artie stopped it first by stopping his brother who was going to do a despicable thing. No more retaliation. No more false peace treaties. No apologies. The feud between our families cannot be forgotten with apologies. It’s fine... The next generation... They get along. Artie... He’s such a good boy. I’m glad my granddaughter has the sense to choose him too. They are good together. Let us elders take a step back and let them do what they want. I’m glad my granddaughter hid what happened there. It means she doesn’t want to further the feud. It is good. No one needs to know. And over time no one will remember. Their children won’t have to bear the burden of vengeance on behalf of their ancestors, because there would be no one to tell them anything. It is the only way to bring true peace. Forgetting. So let’s forget it where forgiveness is impossible."