Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 392: Standing By His Side

Chapter 392: Standing By His Side

She seems fine... really fine.

Arthur didn’t know how to react. He felt something was not right, but she won’t hide her feelings from him usually and he thought she is really not angry that he hid the tumour and surgery from her.

He stared at the darkness around for some time as he pondered.

Surgery, huh? Will I be fine? What if it doesn’t go as planned?

His heart filled with gloom and he clenched the jacket in his hand. It was then he got reminded of the ring box and he checked the pockets. His phone was in there, but the little box was missing.

His heart skipped a beat and he searched desperately in other pockets.

I kept it in this pocket along with my phone. How could it be missing? Did I misplace it?

After searching for some minutes, he still couldn’t find it.

"Mr.Knouf!" Arthur shouted and he came in running. "A box... a little velvet box with a ring in it... It’s gone. Find it. I might have dropped it at the beach during last night..."

"Yes, sir. I’ll send people to look for it." Mr. Knouf got out of the room and he halted his steps seeing Talia standing with a stiff expression leaning on the wall.

"That box... No need for you to search for it." She said and Mr. Knouf bowed his head. Seeing his hesitant look she added. "I’ll speak to him about it myself."

Only then Mr. Knouf got relaxed. Of course he knew what a box with a ring means. And for a billionaire’s proposal, the value of the ring would be in the millions. If it gets lost, a lot of heads will roll even if it is the fault of the boss. He got relieved when the Princess took it upon herself.

She probably has it?

He looked at Sir Robert and his look said it all.

So she has it.

Mr. Ed looked at Talia’s back and checked her finger once more. She was wearing the ring some time before, but now she is not wearing it. Lord Ashwood is searching for the ring and it means he hasn’t proposed yet. Why is the Princess hiding the ring?

What is going on between them?

"Fred, you’re not sleeping yet?" Talia walked in with a smile. "Come on lie down." She fluffed up the pillows for him to lie. "Come on," she patted the pillow and Arthur saying nothing, lied on the pillow.

"You won’t mind if I-"

Before she could finish, she was pulled to a hug by Arthur and she hugged him back.

"You didn’t faint but had a seizure before, Fred. You were unconscious for a while, but the doctors assure that there is no serious trouble. And I have talked to the doctor who’d be performing the surgery and did a detailed investigation on him. He is the best in his field. And he even rested well last night and so he’ll be at his best for the surgery. I asked for his assistants to be also the best of the best and the hospital agreed. The surgery may span for hours depending on the size of the tumour and don’t worry, I’ll be waiting just a wall away from you the whole time."

"Iris, if anyone said anything..."

Of course his prolonged stay in the hospital will be causing speculations and the crowd who still calls her the ’purple-eyed monster’ will say that it was her bad luck that affected Arthur.

"Fred, don’t think about anything else. You know I don’t care about what others say. Just think of the surgery and think of recovering well. I’ll be by your side the whole time. Now get some rest. I need some rest too." she bowed on his face and his eyelids slowly shut.

"I love you, Iris." Arthur could only say that.

Hearing everything she said, he realised how much efforts she is putting in for him. He was scared going into the surgery, but with her by his side, he didn’t feel any fear anymore.

He forgot about everything else. He just wanted to get better to spend a lot of time with her.

"I know you do," Talia kissed his forehead.

Seeing him breathing steadily, she sighed in relief. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but she couldn’t get a wink of sleep.

Will the surgery go well?

-----

When they reached Esteria, Talia wore sunglasses to hide her reddened eyes complete with dark circles. But she didn’t forget to smile holding Arthur’s hand as they walked to their car when there were paparazzi were taking candid shots of them leaving the airport.

In the Oakley Castle, everyone from Arthur’s family was already there along with her grandpa. Seeing their concerned faces, Talia tried and acted strong. She didn’t want them to feel bad for her. She knew they would be suffering too. But it seemed like everyone else knew about his tumour earlier and she did feel her heart clench realising that she was the only one left out from Arthur’s circle of confidants.

As per plans, Arthur was brought to the hospital by Talia. None of the relatives joined them that day to fortify the narrative of Arthur suffering an accidental fall down the stairs.

Talia stood by Arthur, holding his hand as they prepped him for surgery. When she saw his hair getting shaved at the site of incision, she wanted to bawl her eyes out, but she held back biting her tongue.

They are going to drill a hole right there and use all kinds of sharp tools on his brain! Ugh!

It’ll be fine. It is necessary for him to get better. The incision will heal, and the hair will grow out. The important thing is for him to have a successful surgery.

"You’ll rock being bald, Fred," she sat by his side and rubbed his head seeing him feeling a little shy to face her with his partially bald head. "It feels nice," she giggled. "You have a nice shaped head. If you grow a beard along with a bald head, you’d be chased by women left and right," she placed a kiss on his head.

"I’d rather shave my chin than my head. My girlfriend doesn’t like beard and likes a man with a full head of hair." He pulled her close.

"Maybe I’ve changed my mind..?" she leaned on him. "I’m asked to stay out from now on, Fred. Just remember I’m out there waiting for you. Think of me when you close your eyes after they give you anaesthesia. I won’t forgive you if you develop amnesia and forget me. I’ll just leave you."

Arthur ran his fingers through her hair. "Even if they remove my brain entirely, I won’t forget you. You’re safely locked in my heart and my memories with you are ingrained in the walls of my heart. No one can scrape you from me unless they kill-"

"You won’t die, Fred." Talia closed his mouth and said. Her eyes clouded. "You won’t die."

She wiped the corners of her eyes as the nurse came in the room. Talia nodded and stood up.

"Fred, meet you soon." She smiled from her heart. She wanted him to remember her smiling face when he goes to the surgery.

"I will," Arthur held her hand and placed a kiss on it.

Taking in a deep breath, Talia stepped out. She saw him getting wheeled out and squeezed out a smile while gripping her dress hard to conceal her anxiety. His father, brother, and her grandpa were there. And she sat with them putting on a brave face, constantly speaking to them about medical advancements and how Arthur is in safe hands.

She didn’t know if she was comforting them or herself by saying those words.

The surgery went on for hours and she was asked to eat in between by Mr. Ed who stuck to her like glue. She didn’t know what she ate as everything tasted like air. But she ate anyway as she knew she’d need energy to take care of him and she knew it would do good to none if she ends up in a bed out of weakness. She didn’t want to be poked with needles either.

Hours passed and the doctors came out announcing that the surgery was a success and they have removed the tumour entirely without any damage to the brain. But they said everything will be said for sure only after he wakes up.

Everyone sighed in relief and only Talia got more stressed.

It still is not over!

Talia after much negotiation sent the elders back home. Arthur’s father has heart conditions and her grandpa is still going through dialysis. She didn’t want them to stay in the hospital for the night.

Roderick stayed with her the whole time, silently. She didn’t know why a silent presence gave her such a great strength.

Talia wondered if everything is going as it is planned in the outside world and decided to check her phone.

"Artie will be fine, Talia. Don’t worry much." He patted her head and gave her a hot cup of coffee.

"Thank you," Talia smiled, "I know he’ll be fine."

He’ll have to be fine.

Roderick started talking with Talia stopping her from looking at her phone as advised by Jordan. The internet is a vile place. He didn’t know how people would spill such venom at a woman they know nothing about.

The news released was Arthur had a fall and had to do some tests and since there was no news released after that, the internet doctors took it upon themselves to diagnose Arthur themselves and some vile people blamed Talia for what happened with Arthur.

What do they know about this beautiful girl with the most amazing heart?

Jordan called him to stop Talia from looking at her phone since he is trying hard to handle the media along with Archibald Wallace.

The night slowly passed and both of them waited for Arthur to wake up. Roderick dozed off often but every time he opened his eyes, he saw her still wide awake watching the ICU and sometimes she’d be talking to the nurses asking about Arthur.

Maybe her body couldn’t take it anymore, she slept after two a.m. Roderick stood up and carefully covered her with his jacket.

To think I once doubted her love for Artie... he’s lucky to be loved by her.

Talia woke up with a gasp as the sunlight fell on her face.

Did I seriously fall asleep for this long?

Fred, did he wake up?

She walked to the door and looked through the glass.

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