Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 363: Changed Feelings

Chapter 363: Changed Feelings

"You didn’t check your phone, right?" Rebecca was not that surprised. "Your little date last night is trending. Apparently a fan of yours from this country recognised you from one of the pictures her friend posted in which Arthur and you were in the background. And she pointed it out and her post blew up overnight. Some people, who supposedly were in the same area as yours, claim that they remember meeting you and some even said they took pictures for you without recognising who you are."

"Eh? Is that so? That’s a bother," Talia sighed. She really didn’t think her outing will get exposed like this. And now the tabloids won’t stop talking about it. "I bet Louis will call me back to Rosandale to make an appearance there, to appease the people there."

"The high-street brand clothes you wore last night – sold out! None left." Rebecca was happy. "Didn’t that unknown designer who designed your State Dinner dress became famous and some celebrities wore her clothes at the red carpet this year? You’ve become an icon, Tallie!"

"Yeah, yeah." Talia wasn’t that impressed and Rebecca shook her head.

She hasn’t changed one bit. Still doesn’t like that much attention on her.

"This necklace is said to be expensive. Was it a gift?" Rebecca was curious.

"Yes," Talia’s face brightened up. "Fred gave it to me after our first time."

"Oooh?" Rebecca made a silly face and Talia laughed with her.

"Ah, I’m really glad you’re fine, Rebecca. When Joe called me that day, I almost died." Talia held Rebecca’s hand.

"And then that crazy actually tried to blow you up." Rebecca’s gaze was filled with concern towards Talia and anger towards Sophia.

"So you know." Talia sighed but was not surprised. Rebecca seems to spend time checking the internet and she must have learnt about it. "Don’t use phones and laptops much. The radiation is not good for the baby."

"I only use it for one hour a day. Joe doesn’t let me use them for long. I’m so bored I even started reading books, Tallie... Actual books with actual paper and words printed on them..."

Rebecca started to complain and Talia with a smile listened to her. She knew this poor woman must be holding back her "sorrows" for long and decided to be a listening ear.

---

"You can rest if you want, Arthur. Do you want a drink?" Joe asked Arthur who was tying the apron following him to the kitchen.

"You’re going to prepare lunch, right? I’ll help" Arthur said and Joe nodded with a smile.

"It should be exhausting for you." Arthur could see Joe being very tired and it looked like he had lost some weight. Arthur couldn’t understand why he doesn’t hire someone to be of help.

"It is. But I want to do it." Joe said and he was humming as he prepared the meal. Arthur nodded and they didn’t speak much further. Maybe they weren’t that well acquainted and maybe because they both were men who don’t like to talk about their feelings, they didn’t speak much as they prepared cooked together.

Joe really wanted to do it all himself. Not only because his Becky is carrying his child, but also because she had done the same thing for him in the past when he was an addict and he wanted to feel the same as her. She was right! When you love someone, doing menial tasks for them and getting exhausted is not a big deal. He felt happier serving her, than when he was served by her. He could now understand why his Becky wanted to do everything herself.

Plus he knew if something happened to the child, his Becky would blame herself for the rest of her life. And so, he wanted to protect Becky and their little girl.

The four of them had lunch together and Talia stayed there until evening before leaving for her apartment.

---

Walter, sitting in his office at the brewery was in deep thoughts. He met the Duke of Trenton accidentally a couple of days back in a pub he frequents. The Duke asked him to join for a drink and Walter couldn’t refuse.

The Duke of Trenton never cared much for him till now. As a relative of The Dowager, the Duke held higher prestige than his peers of the same title. For him to consider him an equal – Walter found it suspicious.

The topic he spoke about was weird. The Duke talked about historical figures who wished to change the society and go against the norms. The people he mentioned all had faced cruel deaths. Socrates, Martine Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and the list went on.

’People say cowardice is a vice, but cowards live longer.’ The Duke smiled baring his yellow teeth and it bought chill to his bones.

Walter was secretly warned by someone from the Palace to keep a close eye on Celine since some people are angry about something the Princess proposed. Since the Princess can’t be touched, it was said that this person involved is directing his anger at Lady Celine who is like a right-hand man for the Princess. Walter wasn’t informed any more than that and Celine laughed when he talked to her about it.

’Everyone knows I am dating you and I am Andy’s and Dom’s sister. Who’d dare to harm me? And I have the protection from the Palace too.’ She shrugged it off.

Walter saw how composed she was and wanted to calm himself down, but still he couldn’t. He did his research and he found that the Palace is making some move on the Duke of Trenton on advice from Prince Lambert, but he couldn’t understand why that Duke is angry at Celine.

The only possible conclusion must be that the advice must have been from the Princess and not the Prince. The Princess involved herself in the issue with his father and Celine openly helped in that issue. So it would not be very hard for that fox to connect this recent move from the Palace to Celine too.

Walter leaned back and closed his eyes. Celine’s bright dace came to his mind. These days he’s been thinking about her a lot. Her sensual fragrance, her soft fingers, her lovely eyes and those pink lips.

Celine, my universe... Why must you be so smart? Can’t you just stay by side thinking only about me? Just think about what you want to wear when you meet me and the food we should order for our dinner out. Cook for me, pamper me, and smile for me. Just think of swaying my heart more. Why are you bothering yourself with that Princess and politics?

Ugh! Since when did I become this selfish? I can’t cage you. I won’t. I should be able to let you do what you want and protect you in spite of any trouble around you. I will protect you, my love!

With a gasp, Walter sat straight.

My love? Did I just think of Celine as my love? Talia became ’that Princess’ and Celine became ’My love’?

Since when?

His phone rang, disrupting his thoughts. Seeing it was a call from Andy, his heart skipped a beat.

She said she’d be in her home today. Did something happen to her?

"Celine was in an accident. She’s admitted in ** Hospital. My family wanted to inform you."

Andy’s voice lacked any emotion and Walter felt the ground beneath his feet slipping away.

"What accident? How is Celine? What happened to her? Hello? Hello, Andy!!"

The call had ended and Walter’s entire body shook with horror.

What happened to my Celine?

Before he knew it, he was already in his car. He wanted to go to Celine as soon as possible. The chauffer seeing his condition insisted that he’d drive and Walter agreed just to stop arguing and waste time.

Hours passed and he had forgotten to eat lunch and when he reached the hospital it was already evening. Asking at the reception the room number, Walter ran through the hallways.

He wanted to reach her quickly, but then the closer he got the more scared he became.

What if something terrible had happened to her? How will I live?

But she’s in a private room and not at the ICU, right?

With many thoughts running through his mind, he reached the room. Andy was standing outside, scrolling though his phone. Hearing the heavy footsteps Andy looked up and his eyes widened seeing Walter.

Why is Andy looking at me like that? Oh no! Celine!

With no second thoughts, Walter opened the door and stepped in.

The rays of the setting sun spilled through the open window painting the entire room in a nice hue of red and on the bed, Celine was sitting. The evening sun glowed on her skin and although she was in the hospital gown, she looked like a fairy from a mystical forest.

Walter checked her from head to toe and apart from a little bandage in her ankle, she seemed to be fine.

"Walter?"

Celine was shocked seeing Walter here at this time. He was out of breath and the perspirations on his forehead glistened in the sun.

"Why are you here in this state?" her heart clenched and she gritted her teeth realising something.

"Andy, you dog!" she shouted at the door. "I’m going to kill-"

A warm hand enveloped around her shoulder and a cold soft feeling enveloped her lips as her view got