Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 391: I’ll Be Strong

Chapter 391: I’ll Be Strong

Fred told the assistant everything, but not me. The assistant whom he couldn’t trust with his company secrets was privy to this information, but not me.

Ah, what am I thinking? He should’ve wanted to protect me from worry. That should be it, Talia. You know he’d trust you with his life.

Talia leaned on the window and stared at the moon trying to put a leash on her chaotic thoughts. The breeze caressed her face and she closed her eyes remembering every time Arthur had been her support. She on the other hand had only made him worry by being weak. She got everything from him, but she couldn’t be there when he was handling the biggest scare for his life.

She knew she has issues. She was not someone who is open with her feelings, except with Fred. When she finally got him back, she thought of him as her person – the one she can share her everything. It was easy to share everything to him.

Maybe I over-shared? He thought of me as someone frail who can’t handle the news about his tumour?

His tumour...

Talia’s heart clenched.

What am I thinking about? I learnt that my Fred has tumour and I’m worrying about why he didn’t tell me. Even in this situation, I pity myself.

Why am I like this? No wonder he didn’t feel like telling me.

Talia took a deep breath. She knew now is not the time to be thinking about anything other than his tumour and how to safely get him to Esteria for surgery.

I should be strong! I should not show any worry in my face and push forward. I’ll prove Fred I’m strong enough to share his sorrows. Then we can be equals in the relationship.

She looked at the ring in her fingers and her lips curved to a smile once more. She kissed the ring and a tear drop rolled down her cheeks when she removed the ring and placed it back in the box.

He planned everything for the proposal and he couldn’t propose in the end. And yet she got the ring somehow.

Fred, when you propose to me properly next time, we’ll be on equal standing. I’ll make sure I’ll be strong enough to make you comfortable sharing your troubles with me.

She closed the box wiping the tear. She didn’t know why she placed the ring in her dress pocket and not in his jacket pocket where she found it. She knew what she was doing and yet she did it.

She took in a deep breath looking at the man still on the bed.

She ran to the doctor and asked him once more why Fed hasn’t woken up yet. The doctor assured he’s fine and he’ll wake up within the hour. The doctor who Arthur consulted for the surgery also said the same after seeing the results of the tests taken.

The doctors assured that it would be safe for Arthur to travel back to Esteria and he can have the surgery the next day. Peggy has been arranging everything in the company and the official statements to be released in Arthur’s absence and what to tell the board of directors.

Talia called the Royal household to inform them that she’d be staying in Esteria for at least a month. She had decided to stay by his side until he recovers completely and help her grandfather in taking care of the company. Her grandfather is also someone who’s not very well and she didn’t want to stress him either.

As she expected, Louis called her. Talia put her words together so that Louis might understand that Arthur’s tumour is discovered only now. She knew Louis won’t trust Arthur anymore if he knew Arthur knew about the tumour earlier and hid it from everyone.

Louis told her to be strong and take as long as she wants to return to Rosandale. Her Gigima and Lambert also called and spoke words of encouragements and asked her to be strong.

Talia sat by Arthur’s bed and held his hand. He looked like he was deeply asleep and her heart became heavy every time she thought about the tumour.

I have to be strong for my Fred. He’d be already scared about this surgery. I won’t add to his worries. I will be strong.

She said that in her heart again and again to make herself believe it.

Arthur felt like he was in a deep sleep without any dreams. He wanted to open his eyes, but he felt very tired and he couldn’t even open his eyes. He didn’t remember clearly what happened to make him so tired.

It was then he heard that familiar angelic voice that gives him immense strength, singing softly.

"... love is not a victory march... It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah..."

He knew she loved this song. She loved the cover of this song done by Jeff Buckley than the original by Leonard Cohen. He was tired to open his eyes but he listened to her singing.

"There was a time when you let me know... but you never show that to me now, do you?"

She continued and he slowly remembered the last thing they were doing.

We were at the beach and I was going to tell her about the tumour. But before that I...

Ugh! Why did it happen at that time? Ah, she’s still singing.

"... It was not a cry, that you hear at night; It’s not somebody, who’s seen the light; It’s a cols and it’s a broken Hallelujah..."

She sang and the feelings she exuded, hit his heart. He felt like in the deepest part of her heart, she’s weeping.

I can’t let her cry, no...

"Iris..."

He didn’t know where he got his strength, but he didn’t feel anymore and he spoke, opening his eyes.

"Fred, you woke up! Thank goodness."

Talia felt like the raging tides of anxiety in her heart turning into gentle waves at the sound of his voice.

She held his hand and placed a kiss in it.

"Thank goodness." She stood up and ran to find the doctor. The doctor did some checks and said that he is fine now. Only then Talia was relieved.

Mr.Ed who was standing by the door the whole time urged Talia to lie down and take some rest, but his concerned requests were rejected by Talia.

"I’ll be fine, Sir Robert. I’ll stay with him." She smiled and her smile only made him worry more than when he saw her bawling her stomach out upon hearing the news of Arthur’s engagement.

Wouldn’t she be more devastated learning about his tumour? Why is she acting like everything is fine?

It would be better if she lets it all out by crying or something, right? Is she bottling up her true feelings?

And why is she addressing me by my name? Everything makes my heart queasy.

Or am I thinking too much?

Dear Princess, please be well!

Talia’s loyal aide worried for her in his heart.

Talia sat back on the chair.

"You must be tired, Fred. Sleep for some more time. We are leaving for Esteria in the morning. The surgery is scheduled in the afternoon. You’ll have to walk by foot leaving the airport. We’ve arranged for pap shots to capture our return. At mid-day, we are bringing you to the hospital in a tinted car and we are going to issue a statement that you hit your head and you need to take some tests in the hospital. We are telling the shareholders and the employees the same lie. It’s exactly the plan you made, except we are bringing forward-"

Arthur observed her expression as she explained. As he guessed, she had learnt about his surgery from someone else and to his surprise she seems to be not bothered by it. She seems to be holding up really well and she still is acting normal with him.

I know she’d be strong when it is necessary.

He was relieved she is well, but he was a little guilty he couldn’t tell her himself.

"Iris, about the tumour and surgery, I-"

"I know you were going to tell me, Fred. It doesn’t matter now. Just rest. You’ll need a lot of energy for tomorrow." Talia held his hand.

"Lie with me," he pulled her and Talia chuckled.

"After almost making my heart stop by fainting, you seemed to have recovered well."

"Iris, come on, sleep with me." he urged her.

"I need to take a shower and change. Sleep now. I will join you after taking a shower." Talia stood up.

Only then Arthur noticed that she was still wearing the dress from the night before. And...

"Is that my jacket?" his voice had a little panic.

She wouldn’t have discovered the ring, would she?

"Yes, here," Talia passed him the jacket. "Mr. Knouf is outside. Call him if you need help. I’ll return after a shower." She took a step but Arthur didn’t let go of her hand and she was pulled to his embrace.

"Iris, are you fine?" he asked running his finger through her back and he could feel sand sticking in her back.

Did she fall on the sand? Why is she covered in sand? And why didn’t she bathe till now? Was she waiting for me to get up?

"I’m fine, except that I need a shower." Talia got up. "Sleep." She walked out with a convincing smile.

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