Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 355: Having A Talk in the Terrace

Chapter 355: Having A Talk in the Terrace

"You look worse, Talia," Lambert took a sip from the beer bottle.

"Ah, I feel bad. I didn’t think Jolene would leave like that. I couldn’t reach her either." Talia pulled the drawstrings of the hood to cover her ears and sat hugging her knees on that lounge chair. The weather has warmed a bit these days, but Talia felt a little chilly sitting in the terrace.

Thank you Fred for your hoodie!

"Is she not answering your calls?" Lambert asked. Jolene left his room just like that and he had already confirmed if she reached home safely using one of his people. He was worried if she’d go drinking once more or do something out of sorrow, but nothing happened like he feared.

He couldn’t bear to be alone and he decided to use the offer Talia previously gave for a talk. And she didn’t look good either and was sighing looking at the distance.

That Rusty... why isn’t she answering Talia either? Judging by what she said, it seemed like she is not angry at Talia. Did she lie?

"No, I think her battery died. Why else would she not answer me? She’s a hot-head, but she won’t make me worry by not answering my calls even if she’s angry." Talia rocked herself. "By the way, how did you know we had a tiff?"

What a friendship they share! Both never give up on the other even if they are angry at each other. Great!

"Umm... We live in the same place and our staff gossip, you know." Lambert gave an elusive answer as he didn’t want to tell her the truth.

To be honest, he wondered if Talia is playing dumb with the situation between him and Jolene. Their great grandma found out about them, it is surprising she haven’t found out about it till now.

"It’s just... she reminded me of my dad and it was not a good feeling and...I should have been nicer to her and explained rather than pushing her away. Ugh!" Talia sighed and Lambert fell silent and pushed the pizza to her.

He knew her father was an alcoholic and she was kept away from him and Jolene did stink. No wonder Talia got those unpleasant memories of the past.

"Why am I telling you all these?" Talia grunted realising she’s being a loose-lip, uncharacteristic of her. "I’m not even drunk," Talia picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite. "And for someone who said he’s not attentive, you stalk me a lot. If you were not my cousin, I’d have filed a restraining order against you thinking you were a stalker."

Lambert chuckled. But she does raise an interesting point. He still doesn’t understand why he always wants to know what that orang-utan is doing. He always cares for his brother the same way too. He even broke up with his girlfriends if they speak ill of them.

I’ve considered this orang-utan as family for a long time without even realising it, haven’t I? But why did I felt the need to confront Talia on behalf of Jolene seeing her cry? If she didn’t calm me down immediately, I’d have started a fight with Talia. Do I care for Jolene more than Talia?

And that Jolene...

Thinking about her made his heart clench.

Both of them fell silent. Talia became silent because she had promised that he’d listen to him and Lambert fell silent wondering how to bring up that topic. He thought she’d already known about them, but it seems like Jolene hid it from her.

"Is it about her? Did you have a fight?" Talia broke the silence. She guessed it should be matter of heart that affected him after observing Lambert’s behaviour.

"I think she refused me... I’m not sure." Lambert closed his eyes lying comfortably on the lounge chair. It was a good idea to put these chairs in the terrace for their meetings.

"Because she doesn’t want to lose her business?" Talia guessed. Too bad the talks about changing the laws aren’t going anywhere.

’Ah, if only it were such a simple reason. She thinks I am insincere with my love and says that I am not worthy for her to leave her all."

"Ouch! That’s got to sting," Talia really felt bad for Lambert for hearing that from the woman he wants to marry and she got angry at that woman. "Doubting your sincerity? You are trying to change the centuries old law for her sake. How much more sincerity does she want? You’re like the male lead of a romance story! I mean how many women can come across a Prince who would want to change the laws of the land for their sake? It’s too bad she can’t see it."

Seeing Talia getting angry for him made him feel better, but he didn’t like it when she was angry at Jolene (even if she doesn’t know it is her) either.

"She was my classmate – a girl I fought with a lot but I never hated her. I didn’t know she liked me then... she said that she had changed her ambition because I never looked at her the way she wanted. And now that I suddenly want to date her... it is hard for her."

"Oh?" Talia tried to understand that woman’s perspective.

If it was Fred and he never reciprocated her feelings and went on dating other women and after ten years he came and proclaimed his never-dying love, she’d have been cautious too.

She can now understand her. Especially with the track record of Lambert with women... she wouldn’t want to rush into the relationship and risk what she already has.

"It must have been hard for her to see you with other women. And you’re not known for maintaining your relationships either, right?" Talia voiced her thoughts.

"I’ve told her that I’m planning on marrying her, Talia. Shouldn’t that make her feel secure?"

"Well bravo! How magnanimous of you good Sir!" Talia spoke in a sarcastic voice and slow clapped. "You’ve promised marriage!"

"What?" Lambert really didn’t understand Talia’s strong reaction. Isn’t marriage a good thing?

"Come on Lambert! First of all, if I were her, with your track record I’d wonder how many women received the same promise from you."

"None! I promised marriage to no one other than her!"

"Really? So why did you bring them along to meet your parents and important balls?" Talia raised her brows and Lambert realised something.

I did it without many thoughts, but I gave the impression of a playboy! Ugh! My stupid self!

"And secondly," Talia continued, "Even if you marry her, what surety is there that you won’t abandon her after you get bored of her like you did with others? Of course, she can’t divorce you and she’d be stuck in that loveless marriage for the rest of her life. Which smart woman would want that?"

"You know others didn’t know our culture-"

"I know, but does she? Have you two talked about it at all?"

"Well actually, we weren’t dating before... when I asked her to go out with me, she suggested we become friends with benefits and..."

"You agreed?" Talia was surprised. "Really?" she shouted seeing him nodding with shame. "Wait ... did you agree immediately or took some days before-"

"Immediately." Lambert answered not knowing what difference that would make.

"You’re a d*ckhead! No wonder she thinks you’re not serious."

"Why?"

"Ugh! It would mean that you’re only interested in sleeping with her more than-"

"But I wanted to date and she was the one... Can’t women be honest? Must they play such games with us to test us?" Lambert got angry.

"Well, I’m not sure if that’s what she thought. I don’t know her. She might have had other reasons like..." Talia gulped trying to find out another reason, "Ah! She might have wanted to move on from you by sleeping with you. You were her first love after all," She sighed in relief seeing Lambert calming down.

"You agreed because you thought you could change her heart with your skills in bed, didn’t you?" Talia rubbed his back.

Lambert pushed her hand away. Although she spoke with a comforting voice, he knew she was mocking him saying, ’Poor guy, his skills in bed weren’t enough to make that woman fall for him.’

"What should I do? I can’t live without her," Lambert held Talia’s hands and Talia really felt bad for him.

"Both of you have complicated your already troublesome situation more. Just sit and talk. What else can I say? Who is she? Do you want me to talk to her to find out what’s in her heart?" Talia asked seriously.

Seeing Lambert going silent once more staring at the sky, Talia sat comfortably too.

"Wasn’t Jolene your classmate too? I’ll ask her about that mystery woman." Talia slapped his back.

"You’re really stupid!" Lambert barked rubbing his back.

"Spot me a way to sneak out for my high school reunion in Esteria," She asked Lambert.

"Get lost!" Lambert was not in the mood to help her.

"Idiot!" Talia stood up to leave.

"Talia, what if I abdicate? "

"Abdicate?"

"My role as a Prin-"

Before he finished, Talia slapped hard on his mouth and he screamed in pain.

"I won’t apologise for what I did! Dumba**! Don’t ever say that word again!"

Talia spouted angrily and immediately turned to leave. She didn’t want to get hit by him.

"This orang-utan... My lips split...There’s blood! Stop!"

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