Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 341: Loss He Suffered

Chapter 341: Loss He Suffered

When Talia woke up in the morning, it was already bright and to her surprise, Arthur was still in bed too. He was holding on to the hem of her slip like a frightened kid, making Talia smile.

Looking closer, she could see he was tired and his skin was dry and a little pale.

Freddy dear, I might have scared you a lot...

She moved closer to him and touched his forehead with hers, resting her head on his pillow. The previous day, she went through a terrifying ordeal and those with her got hurt. She escaped lightly and she ran around worrying for everyone else, while she didn’t care to take note of the state of the man with her.

She remembered the warmth he shared with her everytime she was worried, and she didn’t bother to check his mental state.

Ah... I look back at my past, I look forward for my future, but I always forget to look to my side – my present; my man who always is there for me.

"I’m sorry," she whispered and placed a little kiss on his forehead.

"You should be."

Talia was stunned hearing the hoarse, deep voice and those green marble eyes looking right at her.

Ah... stunning as always.

Before she knew, she was under him. Her slip has already been left her body and was on the floor. His naked upper body was pressing on her and his warm breath fell on her face. "You didn’t even ask for a kiss a whole day. I was waiting."

Talia’s hand naturally went and touched his cheek. No matter how many times she looks at him, he looks more and more handsome each day. And he is hers.

’How are you feeling Fred?" she wanted to ask, but then she realised something. He doesn’t like to be asked that. He doesn’t expect her to ask that either. But that doesn’t mean she can’t find out.

"Kiss me Fred," she wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as his warm lips landed on hers.

His kisses were different and as always she could feel what he was feeling as they connected as one. The fear that stemmed from the love he had. Fear of losing.

Can she handle it? Watching the suffering of the one she loves, unable to do anything? God! If you are real, don’t ever put me through such trial ever! I don’t think I would be able to handle it. Don’t let me watch my Fred suffer... please, I beg you. Please take me before letting me watch him suffer.

She, who never believed in God, said a prayer in her heart.

She didn’t know when she slept, but she had slept again. When she woke up, the pleasant aroma of food made her hungry.

"Your assistant called. Ralph is dead, he says." Arthur said as he took a sip of the soup."He was so tired and fell asleep as he was talking to me," Arthur couldn’t help but smile. He could understand why Talia says he’s a boy.

"Raphael that over-zealous guy... he probably got over-exited and ended up staying awake to finish the assignment I gave. I forgot to tell him to sleep. He’s so careless. Maybe I should ask his father to arrange a marriage for him so he could live his life a little. But Ralph, huh? So he’s dead?" Talia thought for a while. "Ah!!!"

"What?" Arthur stood up wondering why she shouted.

"Now I remember! That janitor... he had the same eyes as Ralph. And he had the same vibe too."

"Same vibe? You’ve met him?" Arthur knitted his brows.

"Met him? No. But I’ve seen him. He was there during the State Dinner as a serving staff, but disappeared at the end of the dinner. I don’t know why he was there, but I could feel the hate he had for me. I knew he wanted to hurt me. I felt the same with the janitor yesterday." Talia rubbed her forehead with a sigh. "You don’t believe me, do you?"

"I do believe you, Iris." Arthur held her hand. She’s someone with good intuition and she is not wrong most of the times.

But the janitor’s background is checked thoroughly and yet nothing popped out other than that he was an ex-gangster who later corrected his ways and started to live honestly. Other than the colour of their eyes, there is nothing similar between the janitor and Ralph. And there is proof that Ralph is dead.

She could be mixing up as she is stressed. But it won’t hurt to keep an eye on him.

"I wonder why your grandpa wanted to stay away from investigating Ralph," Arthur thought out loud.

"Grandpa knows Ralph?" Talia’s eyes widened.

"Hmm," Arthur nodded and scrolled through his phone and passed his phone to her. "You won’t believe this either."

Talia looked at the picture in his phone and she zoomed in on the suspicious figure in the picture. "Is it Ralph with Raymond? They knew each other? How did you get this picture?"

"It seems to be the case. He looks young there and maybe they were in the same class or the same school? I wanted to go back home to find Ray’s old belongings but then I remembered only yesterday that I had a bunch of pictures that my father asked me to digitalise and among those pictures, I found this." Arthur got his phone as Talia passed it back to him.

"So grandpa knew Ralph? I’ll ask him when I see him. You investigate this too. I don’t have much faith that grandpa will tell me the truth. Although he might actually be dead, I wonder what deep hatred he had towards me." Talia said tapping on the table. "I don’t remember coming across him in the past. What might he had against me?"

"I should investigate..." Arthur’s tone was very contemplative and there was a little sadness at the corner of his eyes and Talia noticed it.

What could be the reason? Ah... Jordan! How did I forget about him? Jordan used to be Fred’s right-hand man but he betrayed him by siding with Sophia. He must be hurting.

Talia stood and walked to him and hugged him. His head was resting in her chest and she could see he was surprised by her sudden act. "Why do you think Jordan brought Sophia to me?"

"He was being a fool! What else? He believed the act of that lunatic and thought she had actually turned a new leaf and wanted to apologise. I want to kill him. That scoundrel!" Arthur gritted his teeth.

"Or he did it on purpose as he was not pleased by the way you treated the girl he loves." Talia rested her chin on his head and closed her eyes. There is a probability for that too. But she knew the probability for Jordan taking vengeance for Sophia wouldn’t have involved putting his sisters’ life in danger.

But what does Fred think?

"I didn’t even think of that possibility, Iris...You’re not wrong to doubt him though. But I know for sure he wouldn’t have done it to go against me." Arthur hugged her and Talia was surprised by the trust he had on Jordan. But then again they were together for years and they would know each other well.

"But I did lose a friend yesterday."

Arthur said and Talia’s eyes misted hearing that. Whatever reasons it maybe, Talia knew Arthur won’t forgive someone who put her life in danger. And once the trust is broken, it would be foolish to trust that person again; especially when he is running a billion dollar company that is the source of income of thousands of people. But Jordan was already planning to leave Northern Star and so Arthur won’t have to fire him.

But he did lose a friend.

"I’m sorry Fred," she hugged him closer. She didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t even want Arthur to forgive Jordan even if he was just stupid.

"I’ll definitely get back against him," Arthur said in a decisive way and Talia’s heart skipped a beat.

"Don’t Fred. Just let him go. Getting back against him will hurt you too. You were friends." Talia knew it for sure.

"Doesn’t matter, Iris. He shouldn’t have put you in danger," Arthur said hiding his face from Talia and Talia wondered what he might do.

---

"What are you doing grinning like that? You should have taken a vacation if you wanted to rest, you know... Or if you wanted to be safe, you should have worn the bulletproof vest as I advised," Talia said with a pout looking at Mr. Ed who was now awake and was smiling gleefully looking at her.

"I’m just glad you’re chirpy as always, Your Royal Highness," he really couldn’t hide his happiness. He was wearing the vest. Otherwise he won’t be alive now. All he wanted when the blast was happening was her safety. Seeing her out and about, hiding her joy and scolding him, made him extremely happy.

"Lady Magdalene, your husband said that wearing a bulletproof vest makes him look fat and ugly. So he avoids wearing them. I think you-"

"Oh shut up, Your Highness... And recommend me for a proper medal for saving your life." Mr.Ed waved his hand.

"A medal? Heh!" Talia stormed off the room as she felt embarrassed as she lost her composure in front of Lady Magdalene.

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