Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 431: Letting Her Know

Chapter 431: Letting Her Know

When Talia woke up, she was met with the disapproving glare of Arthur.

"I will call Vivian and apologise for ruining her-"

"No one is blaming you. And the party was a success in their own words. Lord Lockhart took responsibility for making you drunk. What were you thinking to go and pick a fight with him? And why did you drink?" he asked gritting his teeth.

"He was so condescending, Fred. He talked to me like I am a five-year-old and it provoked me. He called me ’stupid’, ’half-wit’ and-"

"Stop laughing, dummy!" Talia hit Arthur’s arms seeing him struggling to hold his laughter.

"The way he said it might be provoking, but he was right. I can be called ’inconsiderate’ if put mildly or plainly ’arrogant’ and ’uncaring’. I’m glad he talked to me."

In the end, Talia was relieved she got the perspective of someone other than her family on her behaviour. This is why she reads the criticisms directed at her too since sometimes they raise valid points as they look at her from another perspective.

No one can indeed satisfy the world and be perfect at all times,but there are certain things they can change about themselves. She decided to improve herself too.

"We can visit Papa tomorrow if he is free. And we need to buy a birthday gift for Carl. After I gifted Catherine, he’d be expecting a gift from me too. And we all can visit your mother. What do you say? Are you free tomorrow?"

Talia looked at Arthur and he nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead. He realized he has been ignoring his own family at times and decided to spend some more time with them.

He looked at her wondering what kind of gift would make a nine-year-old happy and his heart skipped a beat out of joy and he felt light.

Ah, I really chose my wife well!

"You can rest if you’re tired, Iris. I’ll be back-"

"No, I’m not tired. I will attend the party as your plus one."

Talia got down from the bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. There is an award ceremony that celebrates business people and this year they have already informed that the winner is Arthur to make sure he attends. Talia wanted to attend the party as Arthur’s girlfriend.

She talked to the Palace and they said that as long as she doesn’t give away any promises on behalf of the Rosandale Palace, she can do anything. It was already acknowledged that as Arthur’s girlfriend/ future wife, she would be supporting him and she will be attending parties that are not usually attended by Royalty.

And wherever she goes, she would be representing the Rosandale Palace, since she is a Royal, but there is an unwritten promise and agreement that she won’t use her title to help her husband.

It is a tricky situation since both of them are influential and there will be always people who want to exploit them. It should be their choice not to embarrass themselves and the institutions they represent.

"Help me with the zipper, Fred," Talia called him from the closet and Arthur walked in with a smile. The open zipper of the black sequin dress contrasted her pale white skin and his hands naturally grazed over her supple skin.

"You’re stunning." he kissed the back of her neck. His finger got a hold of the thin strap of the dress and it took him a lot of effort to not rip that dress off her and carry her to bed.

"Fred... that abstinence thing I talked about..."

She placed her hand over his hands and turned to look at him. "I don’t want to do that anymore. Ralph is dead and I am still fearing for him and keeping him alive in my mind. He tried to ruin our relationship and I don’t want to let him achieve his mission by being paranoid. I don’t want to keep you away for silly reasons. I still fear he might have done something to ruin my fertility, but we can wait for the test results to be sure, right?"

She looked at him and all Arthur could feel was an uncontrollable delight. He thought he should wait for a month at least, and here she is...

"What changed your mind?" he asked wondering if she is pushing herself because he struggles to keep it in his pants.

"Lord Lockhart... He was mean, but he was right. I say I want to get over everything, but I still cling on to the unpleasant memories not letting go completely. From now on, I am going to selectively forget unpleasant memories and only remember the good ones."

Seeing her blue eyes glittering with determination, he was impressed. "So what have you planned for your birthday. Should we announce our engagement?"

"That’s what I want everyone to think. But I am going to reveal my initiative ’Call Out’. I’m going to make my people tease about an important announcement on my birthday in my social media posts to hype it up... Everyone would be thinking that it would be my engagement announcement. But then ’Call Out’ will be announced with the documentary we’ve been working on..."

Talia happily explained away and Arthur was impressed. He could feel it in his heart that Talia still doesn’t want to spend her birthday being happy for herself, but she could push herself to do something to help others.

Whatever!

He knew this is a step in the right direction. Little by little she can get over her hesitation to celebrate her birthday without thinking that she is disrespecting Cyrus. He knew for all his flaws, Cyrus wouldn’t want her to stop celebrating her birthday for him.

But he did wonder why she isn’t talking about the engagement announcement anymore. Preparations for the wedding are already undergoing secretly in Rosandlae, while she is lingering to announce the engagement.

"Talia, are you waiting for the test results to announce the engagement?" he asked. His doubt was confirmed as he saw her hands fixing her makeup pausing.

She was always thin and these recent incidents took a toll on her body and she had lost some weight. And looking at the mirror, he saw her petite figure looking more pathetic.

"You don’t want to wait... just in case?" her voice was trembling and she turned to look at him with the rims of her eyes reddening. "I know you’ll say you don’t care, Fred. But is it a fact though, Fred? How much are you willing to lose for me?"

"Just in case for what, Talia?" he walked closer to her and knelt in front of her. He knew she would feel intimidated whenever he calls her ’Talia’ and still he purposefully used that. She might be ’Iris’ for him, but her given name is Talia and he wanted to use that name now.

She might have forbidden him from proposing to her with a ring, but that doesn’t mean he can’t propose.