Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 426: A Strong Message

Chapter 426: A Strong Message

A couple of days passed and Arthur was staying with Talia. This time, he was upgraded to her official boyfriend and was allowed to stay in her place. So they’ve been sharing the bed at night.

Both of them found themselves growing together as a couple although there were not making love. They felt like they were old couples just talking and laughing together. Of course, Talia would offer her ’hand’ but she still wasn’t ready to go all the way.

That morning they were informed that Ralph passed away. From what they heard, Ralph chewed his own wrists off and died of blood loss. He went through terrible suffering with his infections before he took such a drastic method to take his life.

Arthur thought Talia would be a little scared to hear the gory way Ralph died, but he saw the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

This is good! She compliments me well!

That was his thought. The little girl he met at the creek who cried for the death of the bug has turned to this ruthless woman and it was not on her own choice. And he loved the woman with him now as much as he liked the girl he met at the creek.

Talia went to the holding cell with Arthur and the box was cleaned up already. She demanded to see the video and Arthur held her hand as she watched his gory death without even blinking.

It was as if she was imprinting his last moments in her heart. And then she closed her eyes and observed a moment of silence. She said nothing making Arthur wonder what she is thinking.

"Ms. Alexandra Belfauger was the last person who talked to him. She didn’t want to hear his side and she just spoke through the microphone."

The lieutenant passed the transcript to Talia and Talia read it sharing it with Arthur.

’I did love you truly, Ralph... Even though you cheated, even though you never were caring, even though I knew you had a lot of secrets... I loved you. I wanted to marry you because I loved you. I had to beg my father and I was not even a little bit doubtful in my decision to marry you. I was willing to let you live as you please, like the mysterious stream that flows through the rock you are, even after our wedding. I was even willing to have an open marriage with you because I loved you.

I knew you didn’t love me a bit, but I loved you and I thought my love was enough for us both. I knew you didn’t mean it whenever you called me ’Ameca mea’, but still it made me happy because I am the only woman you had a nickname for.

And when you asked me to visit you even after everything, I came because I loved you. I thought that you meant it when you called me ’Ameca mea’ this time.

Heh! I was wrong once more. I don’t hate you still, Ralph. I still love you. I still love you for showing me not to love someone who is undeserved of my love.

Thank you for this lesson, Ralph. And I say this with love- may the light-bringer arrange a special place for you in his kingdom of fire.’

"I will never let you beg for love, Iris."

Arthur kissed her temples and Talia rolled her eyes. He interpretted her statement as the disappointed words of a woman who never got any love, but she found the statement as the promise of a strong woman who made a resolution to never fall for the wrong person.

Even before recovering fully, Sandy was here just to tell Ralph that she hates him to the bones and wished hell on him.

"Ms. Belfauger asked us to pass this letter to you, Your Royal Highness." The lieutenant passed an envelope and Talia got it to read afterward in private.

Sandy Belfauger is someone she admired and she did want to know what she wanted to say to her.

"Did Ralph try to kill himself after his meeting with Sandy?" Talia asked.

She heard the desperation in his final words. "If only I was happy with what I had! Ameca mea..." he clutched his chest, "I did love you!"

His voice got lower.

"But not more than my vendetta... I am sorry."

Those were his last words. He was then staring at the floor for some time before he started to chomp on his wrists like a rabies-infected dog.

He died with great suffering in his heart and that made Talia feel better. It gave her relief at the bottom of her heart.

He is dead! The one who gave me intense suffering is dead! No one will hurt me anymore!

"I expected him to stew in his disappointment for at least ten days... A day for every year I suffered because of Cyrus’ death... But I guess Sandy’s arrival pushed him to die sooner... I am a little disappointed, but whatever!"

Talia shrugged.

"Edit the videos to show how Ralph was led to his death. And make enough copies and send them to the underground organizations along with a cardboard box containing a body part of Ralph. [DON’T TOUCH A BRUNTON!!!] Add a card with golden gilded letters in Oakley Calligraphy. Send a copy of the video to Belfauger with the title ’Justice Meted’. Make sure to keep it untraceable and with some effort, it should be leading to the Oakley Castle and not the Rosandale Palace."

Talia gave the orders and went back to the car with Arthur grinning wide. She really didn’t want to involve a government in her pursuit of revenge.

"What?"

Talia looked at him feeding his stare.

"You can easily become a ganglord. Really? Cardboard box?"

He giggled.

"He doesn’t deserve a proper burial. And everyone should know a new leader has taken over the Oakley Castle and he won’t be swayed with sentiments like the gentleman Jerome Brunton."

"A new leader?"

Arthur stepped in front of her and raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, the one and only ..." She gave an exaggerated bow and a bright smile, " The Bear King – His Gingerness Arthur Sinclair!"

Arthur chuckled. She still has a lot to grow. If left to him, he’d have made sure Ralph lived in suffering for ten months wishing for death.

But yeah... She can get there...

She has taken the first step to ensure the safety of our future children, and I can take care of it from now on. She doesn’t have to dirty her hands unless she wants to.

My love, I will protect you.