Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 338: Suspicious Janitor

Chapter 338: Suspicious Janitor

Just then, someone in a janitor uniform came inside the room and insisted that he needs to clean the room immediately. He was wearing a mask and rubber gloves and even his shoes were covered with shoe covers which seemed excessive for a normal ward usually. But since these few rooms were occupied by pretty important people, Talia had noticed the safety protocols were strictly followed by the hospital, and everyone was so diligent.

But still, that brown eyes that were peeking out from the mask, made Talia a bit doubtful as he seemed suspicious. Talia doubted that person might be recording. After all a picture of Princess Talia confronting the person who tried to kill her would fetch a lot of money.

She knew the nurse in the room won’t be a threat as she seemed diligent and didn’t have a phone with her and so she tried to provoke Sophia, without being too obvious. Also that nurse seemed to be very curious about Talia and she could see she was admiring her and she let her be.

But the other person... What if he is a journalist? Well...

Talia got an idea.

"Fred, I need to talk to Lady Sophia alone. Can you wait outside for a moment?"

"Yes, sure, Your Highness. I’ll leave you alone with the person who tried to kill you and stand outside." Arthur spoke in a sarcastic tone and gave a bow, glaring at her. Talia sighed as she knew it would be no use trying to argue with him. He surely won’t listen.

"Lady Sophia, I cannot understand why you did what you did and why I was the target of your grievance. It was no secret how you were so in love with Arthur and I hold those memories of our days in high school dearly..."

Talia began to speak in a soft, graceful voice dripping with compassion and Arthur was stunned and wondered what she was planning on doing by bringing this topic. Also how can she smile like a fool at that woman who almost killed her?

Talia didn’t turn to look at Arthur and continued, "I was very happy when Arthur’s engagement was announced with you. I as happy that your love finally was fulfilled and I hoped you’d be a good partner to him. But unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I don’t understand why you resented me for the failure of your prospective marriage when all I wished for is Arthur’s happiness and a good future for the Dukedom of Oakley which my grandfather holds dearly in his heart. Although Arthur had openly expressed his feelings for me, I rejected him plainly. I wished for your marriage to succeed and for both of you to thrive. But you..." Talia’s eyes teared up and she sniffed rubbing her nose with her head bowed making her look depressed.

"Ha...ha..." Sophia who was silent till then let out a laugh. It was so soft like the rustling of wind and her voice was so frail, like the owner of the voice would break just by holding them tight. "You b*tch...You’ll die for sure... He’ll kill you..." Sophia’s eyes turned to look at Arthur.

Is she saying Fred’s going to kill me?

"Talia, let’s leave," Arthur placed his hand on Talia’s back and she stood up. The janitor was about to clean around the bed and she didn’t want to stay there anymore.

"You made me realise how smart Arthur was to reject you. You’d have destroyed the good name of the Dukedom of Oakley. And you still aren’t feeling any remorse. Maybe I was the fool... maybe if I stayed in my marriage with Arthur back then, the situation wouldn’t have-"Talia’s eyes widened as if she had realised something and she paused.

"Ta-Talia..?" Arthur only then understood why Talia was enacting such a hearty performance for a couple of audience. He could see the nurse looking at Talia with misted eyes and her hands over her mouth. He had seen the same expression on Talia while she watched romance drama.

My Iris has now set the base for us to date openly! She even has written a proper story of our romance.

Boy loves girl, girl rejects boy, boy tries to date another girl, the other girl was evil, girl feels bad for boy, girl then realises her love for boy...What happens next? Will the girl confess or will she bury her feelings? Is the boy still in love with the girl? Let’s find out in next season!

A trailer ran in Arthur’s mind and he got distracted by the nurse’s eyes on him.

Oh right! According to the story, Talia had just now realised her love for me. What should I do? Ugh! Why do I suck at acting?

"Fred," Talia turned to look at him. "I think we need to talk."

"Sure." Arthur smiled.

At that time, Talia’s eyes met with the janitor’s eyes and for her they seemed familiar. But with the scrawny physique and hunched shoulders, Talia couldn’t recognise where she might have met such a person.

The janitor locked eyes with her for a couple of seconds before bowed and he started to mop the floor. Talia found it a little suspicious. Usually janitors won’t look her in the eye. This one seemed rather ...peculiar.

Now, where have I seen those eyes before?

"Talia...Are you- are you considering me then..?" Arthur found some words to say. But why is she distracted again?

"Th- that I... Let’s talk later!" Talia came back to her senses and continued her acting. Covering her face with her hands as if she was blushing, she ran out of the room and Arthur followed her.

"That’s one fine acting worthy of an Oscar!"

Talia looked at Arthur looking like a predator ready to pounce and his eyes lingering on her lips expressed his desire.

"Fred, that janitor... investigate him. Sophia cannot die. I think there is someone behind all these..." Talia was not in the position to give in to his desires. There was a little irritable feeling in her heart as if something was lurking around her.

"I’ll check," Arthur made some calls immediately and he even went back to Sophia’s room to check. He was told that janitor is someone who was working there for a couple of years and he was cleaning the next room. Sophia was fine too. Nothing seemed suspicious.

Arthur returned to the waiting area of the OR where Mr. Ed’s surgery was going on. He asked Talia to wait in her room, but she had come here. His heart hurt seeing her empty eyes staring at the floor. Maybe she was more traumatised than he thought by today’s incident and she’s being paranoid.

When can there be a break for you, dear Iris!

He went and sat by her side, holding her hands. They were chilly and he placed them inside his big hands and warmed her up. Mr. Ed’s surgery was going on for hours and it still wasn’t over and with each passing moment, he could feel her despair.

Maybe she wasn’t that despaired. Maybe he felt she was too depressed as he got used to seeing her happy face these days. Nothing was clear and everything blurred to a blob of greyness. He felt useless as he couldn’t do anything to help her.

"Sir, Ms. McAllister has gained consciousness." One of Arthur’s secretaries came to him and whispered.

"Iris, Vivian woke up." He said gently in her ears and he could see brightness returning to her eyes.

When Arthur and Talia went to Vivian’s room, they were met with Lord Lockhart and Elizabeth in the hallways.

"Cyril is with her. I’m sorry you can’t see her now," Elizabeth looked at the room apologetically.

"That’s okay. Vivian is fine? Did she speak? What did the doctors say?" Talia didn’t mind. They are a couple and after a terrifying ordeal, they’d need their privacy. She didn’t want to disturb them. She just wanted to know about Vivian’s safety.

Elizabeth explained what the doctors said and Talia was happy that Vivian would be fine with some rest.

"Arthur, bring her to her room." Lord Lockhart said in a commanding tone and Talia bowed her head. Isn’t she injured? Why isn’t she resting?

"I’m sorry, Lord Lockhart. I wish to wait until Mr- Sir Robert’s surgery is completed. If you’ll excuse me..." Talia mumbled in a low voice and ran away. Arthur nodded at Lord Lockhart who let out a deep sigh and followed Talia.

"Princess Talia...." Elizabeth chuckled. "She was confident while ordering The King to cook for his wife but she bows her head to you. You must feel proud."

"Do shut up, Lizzy!" Lord Lockhart grumbled while she laughed some more. He didn’t like that child’s reaction towards him. "Why can’t she act like a Princess? Still waiting around for a Knight." he scoffed.

Elizabeth got curious. "So, she really threw a tantrum when Cyrus needed surgery? I thought it was just a rumour."

Lord Lockhart closed his eyes. That day that screeching child, with needle marks all over her arms throwing a tantrum, was a nuisance to him. He was angry she was delaying the treatment his dying child had to get. Only later he realised that it was not a tantrum, but a child holding on to the only thing she thought she had.

Pitiful child!

"Rumours... there were rumours that you slept with Cyrus. But I know it is not true..."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.