Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 374: Is This Another Minion of Ralph?

Chapter 374: Is This Another Minion of Ralph?

Same condition as Sophia? So Sandy went insane?

Edward now had Talia’s full attention. Since she was very involved in arranging for the Investiture Ceremony the past few weeks, Talia didn’t care much about world affairs.

But something like this really happened?

Talia knew if it really happened it wouldn’t have been front page news. Arnold wouldn’t let the world know that his only daughter became insane. After all he had only two legitimate heirs – Sandy and her brother. Of the two, Sandy was said to inherit the gemstone mining and jewellery business since she is more talented in appraising gems and she has a lot of connections with many rich collectors and celebrities who want to flaunt their wealth.

But it won’t be hard to dig for the truth if I try.

"Follow me," Edward walked in the front towards one of the exit leading to the garden.

Talia wanted to learn what Edward knows and looked around to find Arthur. As curious as she was, she was more wary of going alone with Edward. Although she had other security personnel around her, she felt more comfortable with Arthur beside her than them. Also she didn’t trust them as much as she trusts Mr. Ed.

In a room filled with handsome men and beautiful ladies, it was not hard for Talia to find out Arthur. That tall figure, with a head full of neatly combed red hair, caught her eyes immediately.

The moment her eyes caught him, his eyes met with hers making her heart pound.

I knew he’d be having an eye on me even if he is away from me... Ah, I love him.

Talia gestured that she’s following Edward and Arthur nodded. Talia followed Edward with relief.

Edward was talking to someone as they walked asking the person at the other end to hold back until he gets there. Edward looked serious than ever making Talia surprised.

"News from the grapevine is that she had a "bad trip". It is not odd for her to use LSD; she’s a regular user. It is said that people develop resistance with frequent use, but for Sandy they say with her family’s history with Schizophrenia, she had developed psychosis. The timing is rather odd, don’t you think?"

"So did Sandy tell you that Ralph is alive?" Talia asked. She knew Edward had connections with many rich scions and didn’t question his knowledge about Sandy.

"Jared Cooper – That’s how he introduced himself to me when I first met him with Olivia and later I found his name was not Cooper but Runtley. He liked getting addressed by his middle name and was very... charming. But..."

Edward paused and turned to look at Talia and she pause stopped.

"His hate for you seemed very excessive."

"Oh?" Talia shrugged. It is not odd for her to learn someone hated her. Edward had a guilty expression in his face as he looked at her.

"It’s not as simple as you think Talia," Edward rubbed his lips and he looked distressed. "His hate towards you... even though I wanted to bring you down at that time, I felt uncomfortable as I could sense the hatred he held for you was very deep."

"Oh?" Talia still had the same reaction. "Two people who hated me conspired together to bring me down. So what? I’m still here!"

Talia’s nonchalant reply made Edward feel a pang of pain in his heart. He thought she’d say something snarky or hurtful, but her indifference made him feel like she doesn’t even find him worthy to be minded.

"Two, but it was not me. Olivia wanted you get destroyed. Talia, actually I was wrong to go along with Olivia. Actually, you should know the truth that I never hated you and wished to destroy you. Even when I met you that day I tried to protect you by asking you to divorce-"

"Whatever," Talia didn’t want to hear him speak.

He didn’t hate me, but let Olivia do whatever she wanted against me and never reported anything she or Ralph were planning to do? Right!

Ugh! I don’t want to hear his excuses. Why isn’t Fred here yet?

"Thank you for not hating OUR Talia and stepping aside, so we could protect her from your fiancée, Your Royal Highness," Arthur’s sarcastic voice from behind her made Talia smile.

Tell him, Fred!

Edward was too stunned for words, but he composed himself soon. "Talia, the thing you asked... I didn’t have contact with Sandy, but it is possible Ralph was in Esteria at the time of the attack done by Sophia. Rather than checking for Ralph using facial recognition software, it would yield better results if you check with his connections. It is not hard in these day and age to change the structure of a face. And he’ll use anyone to attack you."

"You’re saying that he hates me enough to fake his death and then he is still hunting me after changing his face? Whatever did I do to him?" Talia snorted and looked at Arthur. "You believe him?"

"You know a guy called ’Cobra’ right?" Prince Edward turned to look at Arthur and Talia saw Arthur’s face getting pale. "There are a couple more like him and Ralph knows them. If you check, you might find some accounts missing from Belfauger. You might want to check the shell companies Belfauger owns. There are lots of them."

Prince Edward went on talking as he walked in a faster pace and Talia silently followed.

So who is this Cobra guy?

Talia looked at Arthur for answers, but he said nothing and held her hand. It was cold making Talia flinch. She interlocked her fingers with his.

Is he scared? Impossible, right?

They reached the garden and Edward led them to the little room where the tools would be kept. A woman’s cry was heard from inside. A couple of Kingsguards of Esteria were guarding the door. Talia was not that surprised this Edward is using other people’s property as his own without asking permission. He thinks he owns the world.

Edward gave the signal and the guards opened the door. As they entered, they saw Natasha being tied to a chair with zip-ties.

She started cussing like a sailor seeing Edward.

"You son of a b*tch! I thought you were going to help me kill that b*tch! How dare you betray me! Olivia’s soul won’t forgive you!" she screamed.

"I thought you came here for Vivian. But tell me, how were you planning to kill me?" Talia stepped in front of Arthur and Edward and asked with a smirk.

Talia didn’t even want to know why she wants to kill her. It probably is because she thinks Talia is responsible for Olivia’s death or because her career took a nosedive after meeting Talia in that restaurant or because this deluded woman thinks that Archibald became an unattainable fruit for her because Talia helped getting Archibald and Marcella together...

The reason doesn’t matter and Talia wanted to know if Natasha is related to Ralph as Edward insinuated.

"Were planning? I still can!" Natasha smirked making Talia wary of her.

Arthur carefully pushed Talia behind him and stepped forward to interrogate Rebecca. "Did you get help from Ralph?" he asked and Natasha chuckled but the fear in her face was apparent.

"Oh, Talia... It would hurt you more if I hurt your boyfriend, right? I don’t care who dies as long as you suffer..."

Apart from the sound of crickets that was heard from the lawn outside, there was only the vindictive screech of Natasha that was heard inside the room. Edward leaned by the wall rubbing his chin. Talia took a good glance at Natasha who was so sure she could kill in her current state.

She has no weapons and her hands are tied. How could she kill? Is she bluffing?

"Lambert, can you get some interrogation officers from your security personnel?" Arthur standing closer to Natasha made a phone call.

"Sure, but for whom?" Lambert answered and Talia could hear his voice and turned to see Lambert entering the room, ending the call. "Who is she?"

"She thinks she can kill Iris," Arthur snorted and Lambert chuckled.

"Talia, you’re such a trouble-magnet!"

Talia was not in the mood to chat and she observed Natasha. She wasn’t wearing much and there is nothing she could hide anywhere in her clothes. She wasn’t wearing a necklace but was wearing a big earring.

Maybe she is hiding something in her shoes?

As Talia was observing Natasha, she realised she was fiddling with her ring. It looked like a normal ring with a huge gem in the middle, but...

"Fred, get away!" Talia pulled Arthur to the exit.

Before the stunned Arthur could react, Talia noticed Natasha pulling a trap, opening the top part of the ring.

Talia’s heart began to beat really fast and she didn’t even have time to think. She felt her stomach churning and her body felt cold for some reason.

’Fred should be safe!’ was the only thought in her mind.

"Poison ring!" Talia screamed and pushed Arthur out of the door first and Arthur clashed with Lambert standing by the door as both of them rolled out as they lost their balance. "Could be a bio-weapon," she then pushed Edward out.

It all happened in mere seconds and Talia suddenly felt her head spin. The last thing she saw was the stunned Arthur getting up and running at her.

Don’t Fred!

Her world darkened.

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