Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 376: Someone Like You

Chapter 376: Someone Like You

"Was it really a poison ring?" Talia got curious and moved closer to Arthur.

"Belladonna poison" Arthur rubbed her back and Talia noticed a murderous aura filling the room. "She took the poison herself and died immediately. She rightfully suffered a lot as she died"

If she had succeeded, it would have been Iris who died the same death.

"Oh? Silly me thought it was a bio-weapon with aerosolised viruses or chemicals," Talia chuckled awkwardly. "This is real life and not a Bond movie."

What a wild imagination I have!

"But you were right about the poison ring though." Arthur’s voice was stern and he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her close to him. "And your first instinct was to save Edward – the man you say you despise for being a hypocrite; before yourself."

Ah, so this is what he is mad about.

"I saved you first, didn’t I? You and Lambert."

Talia gave a bright smile, hoping to calm him down, but was met with his enraged glare. Even the corners of his lips were twitching and his eyes went red because of anger.

"You f*cking should’ve ran for it first before ’saving me’, Iris. I want to knock you hard to drive some sense to your idiotic brain that doesn’t have any sense."

Arthur’s grip on her waist tightened and Talia scooted away from him as a precaution. He was very enraged and although she knew he won’t get violent with her, she was scared.

"There, there... calm down, Fred. Violence is not the answer; especially violence against women. It will be punished by the full extent of the law."

"Idiot, do you think I’d actually hit you?"

"No," seeing his hurt face, Talia felt bad and got closer to him.

Arthur wrapped his arms around her smooth, petite shoulders and rested his head in the crook of her neck.

"Are you crying?" Talia could sense something warm trickling down her back and asked.

"NO!" he answered immediately and sniffed which told the truth.

"Come on, Fred. I am safe. Next time I’ll run for my life caring for no one. Don’t cry, okay?"

"I’m not crying!"

"Okay..."

There was silence except the little splashing noises the bathwater made against the bathtub. Talia let him lean on her and patted his back caringly.

"You asked me to move on after you die and then you ignore your safety... Iris, you made my heart stop for a moment there."

"I’m sorry. I don’t know what made me do that back then. Guess I am more selfless than I give me credit for." Talia tried to lighten up the mood with a chuckle, but stopped feeling his hold getting tightening around her.

"Fred, can I tell you something? I always am careful. I’ll be careful in the future to protect myself too. But I think I need to say this to you. After watching my grandpa holding on to my grandmother for decades after her passing, I don’t want you to be in the same position like him in case I die before you. I still see him looking forlorn and lonely at times. Sure he has me and other friends, but still...Fred, you are the one I love and I don’t wish that on you. Your father stayed single after your mother too. You never found him lonely? It’s just-"

"Stop talking, Iris." His breath falling on her neck got warmer and Talia could feel his heart beat racing. "You have planned a lot, Iris... From your outfit for our wedding to how many kids we are supposed to have and... Even this. And you dare to say I drag you along my pace when it is you who dream for my future."

"Well, you’re not going to blindly follow my dreams, are you? You’ll say what you want, right?" Talia spoke in a soothing tone. These are important talks they needed to have before going into marriage, she believed.

"If you love me as much as you claim, how can you easily ask me to be with someone else? If so, will you do the same in case I die earlier than you?" Arthur asked. His voice was shaking and his heart was racing and Talia didn’t know if it is out of anger or sadness.

"Isn’t that the logical thing to do, Fred? I want you to be happy with or without me. After me, I wish that you’ll find someone who loves you as much as I do even if we have kids. Kids grow up and leave home, and you’ll be left alone in your old age. I don’t want you to be lonely."

"So you’ll find another man after me."

"... We’re talking about you here."

Looking at Arthur’s piercing green eyes, Talia was stunned. He wasn’t angry but looked very disappointed.

"Another man who’d love you as much as I do... will you find him?"

Arthur asked and Talia sighed.

Will there be anyone like that?

"I haven’t thought that far... " Talia gulped. "But I don’t think I’ll stay single for the rest of my life."

She said it, but as she was saying it, she felt her heart squeeze and her chest felt heavy.

"You... At times you make me feel like I’m nothing, Iris."

He looked hurt and defeated and Talia felt hurt seeing him like that. His heavy words made her bow her head as she didn’t know what to say.

"But you’re my everything." She mumbled and she could hear him scoff.

"Sure doesn’t feel that way now."

Arthur got up from the bathtub and walked out wrapping himself in a bathrobe and Talia hugged her knees and rested her chin on her knees.

A life without Fred...

She closed her eyes and thought about it and an unusual fear filled her heart. She didn’t want to stay alone anymore and walked out of the bathroom after wiping herself dry.

I really won’t be able to live without Fred.

When Talia reached the bed, Arthur was already on his side, showing her his back. Talia walked to his side and squeezed herself in the little space between Arthur and the edge of the bed.

"This is my side. Did you forget?"

His tone was indifferent and yet he held her by the waist to support her and inched back to give her more space to lie comfortably.

"You promised you will not die. And so you shouldn’t." Talia buried her head in his chest and took in his scent.

"I will never find anyone who kisses as well as you. So you can’t die." She placed a little kiss on his chest.

"I will never find anyone who makes me laugh as you do. So you can’t die." She hugged him closer.

"I will never find anyone who’d protect me like you do. So you can’t die." Her eyes filled with tears. "Fred, you really are my everything. And I will wish for you to have everything too even if I die." Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"I will protect you then, my love." He placed a kiss on her head. He was disappointed in her, but now he could feel how sincerely she wishes for his happiness.

How selfish is she? She’s asking me to live forever, while she would leave me in a heartbeat. And then she wants me to find another woman.

Where will I find a weird one like her?

Don’t worry Iris, I won’t let you die.

"Let us both live forever together." He said and saw her lips curve upwards.

"Yes, let’s," she mumbled and he watched her fall asleep immediately.

---

"Wake up, Iris... Wake up."

Talia was awakened by Arthur’s incessant buzzing in her ear.

"Shut up! The sky isn’t bright yet. I’m on vacation and I have no job. Get off!" Talia mumbled and tried to turn to the other side, but was lifted up by Arthur.

"We are going to go for a run. Isn’t it awesome, Iris? There is dew on the grass and little birds chirping. Such a pleasant morning for a run! Go change!" Talia was dropped at the closet and Talia yawned groggily.

"Yeah right. Running this early in the morning. Sooo fun... not!"

She gritted her teeth and tried to get back to bed but Arthur blocked her way.

"Fred, I’m not built up for running or any heavy work. I’m a very delicate person who can be compared to the petal of a freshly blossomed-"

"If you want to have four kids, you’ll have to toughen up. Get ready." Arthur pressed his lips together.

"You’ll agree for four?" Talia’s eyes widened and she got ready enthusiastically.

As they were doing warming up stretching exercises, Lambert joined them. The three of them started running and within five minutes, Talia had lost her will to run.

Lambert started to mock her and Arthur whispered in her ears threatening to do the snip if she doesn’t run.

"Bullies!"

Talia shrieked as she continued to run.

After that strenuous exercise, Talia was relieved only after she took a shower and ate breakfast. Her relaxation was short-lived as Lambert found her and brought her to do the music practice.

Lambert was terrible when it comes to music making Talia exasperated. But she persevered.

And so Talia’s days in the Oakley Castle passed with her exercising in the early morning, music practice after breakfast and she’d go to the office after noon. She handled the duties of a Princess in the evenings.

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