Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 96: Cyrus Knew

Chapter 96: Cyrus Knew

Talia’s hands shook and the little picture in her hand slipped and like an autumn leaf falling from a tree, it ended up swirling. It then slowly rested on the pillow she had on her lap.

She knew this image and what that image is. Cordelia has shown her before. But she was too shocked to believe her eyes.

That black and white image; possibly the first image signifying life, confirming the formation of new life - The image of a fetus.

The black and white image reflected in her blue eyes filled with shock. She forgot to blink as if she was engraving that image in her eyes, like she wanted to make sure she is seeing what she is seeing.

Talia’s brain froze for sometime and she didn’t know how long she held her breath but with a loud gasp, she came to her senses.

If Cyrus was keeping this photo in his locket, it should be because it’s the image of his child.

Talia could understand how he got this image even when Camellia said she didn’t inform Cyrus of her pregnancy.

He must have been keeping an eye on Camellia even though he broke up with her. He really loved her.

But...

Cyrus knew??

Cyrus knew he was going to be a father??

’Keep them safe, Princess...’

His soft voice echoed once more in her ears and tears formed in her eyes.

He knew and yet he asked me to kill him? Why??

Was it really to protect me??

Talia couldn’t bear to think anymore as tears started falling like rain from her eyes.

The tips of her fingers went really cold and she couldn’t even pick up that little piece of paper to keep it safe.

Okay... Stop crying Talia.

She consoled herself.

Cyrus knew he’s going to become a father and decided to leave his little family with you before he decided to leave this world. It’s all his decision. You are not at fault here...you really aren’t!

But...

If only you didn’t pull the trigger...

Talia’s eyes watered once more, clouding her vision. But she held herself back and kept the pictures safe inside the locket where they originally were.

She placed the pillow to her side and tried to get her phone, it she felt her hand had gone numb and her phone dropped on the floor. With a couple of rolls, it ended up far from the bed on the floor.

Thankfully it didn’t break and she couldn’t even crawl over her bed as her legs felt tired too. She felt like she was paralysed.

She tried to move her legs and in the end she couldn’t and in the end, lied on the bed on her face and held her hand out.

At least her hand worked.

She stretched her hand and reached for the phone but it was still away from her reach. Talia could only cry some more and she herself knew she was acting hysterical.

Crying won’t solve a thing!

She composed herself and used her other hand to push her forward and in the end her fingers could reach her phone.

She grabbed the phone as if it was her lifeline and immediately dialled Fred. That’s all she could think of at that moment.

She needed to talk to someone so that she could calm down. She knew that. Or she’d have one of those attacks again.

In the past even when her doctor would advice her to talk with someone when she feels down, she never listened. Her doctor always insisted to have a listening ear along with taking medications rather than suffer alone.

Talia never listened to it since she felt like she had no one who would listen to her even if she wanted to. Everyone she knows will be busy dealing with their own stuff and she didn’t want to be a burden. But now, she felt like she could talk to Fred.

She felt like he’d listen to her woes even if he had other things to do. He always makes her laugh. She wanted to hear his voice.

She dialled Fred’s number and there was no answer from the other end. She tried again and again but she couldn’t understand why he didn’t pick up her call.

She lied on the bed and endless tears flowed from her eyes and she felt like she was nailed to the bed. She couldn’t even move a bit,like she was paralysed.

Why??

Why isn’t Fred talking to me?

Why is this all happening to me?

Why am I useless?

Why am I such a jinx??

Why do I hurt everyone?

Nothing good happens to me... Why?

Her usual thoughts of negativity filled her brain as usual. She knew she couldn’t fight it anymore.

As she was slowly sinking in that quicksand of those worries with her insecurities weighing a ton on her, accelerating her downfall, that joyous ringtone from her phone made her snap out of her depression.

"Fred?"

Her voice was nasal and her sight wasn’t clear as she had just rubbed her eyes and so she didn’t notice the caller ID. She ended up calling the person she expected to call.

"It’s Cyril," the voice from the other end was calm yet a bit surprised as he added.

"Are you crying?"

Cyril had just landed in Esteria with Thomas as he flew in a commercial flight and as soon as he landed, he went through the footage of her meeting with Camellia and wanted to call her to ask her not to visit her anymore. It seemed like the meeting was a waste of time.

And now he could hear her voice and clearly she is in distress. He closed his eyes and the pictures he received from when she was in the mental institution came to his memory. He really didn’t want her to end up like that again. His brother will not rest in peace if that happens.

Talia could hear the noises from the other end and even an announcement of a flight was heard clearly.

"You’re in an airport?" she asked as she sat up wiping her face. She’s not someone who cried in front of everyone and she never showed her vulnerable side to others.

And only then she realised something. He must have been in this country to get Cyrus’ son.

" Don’t mind what she said. I’m his brother. I knew he never liked you romantically. He once beat the shit off one guy we knew just because he suggested romance between you and him... It doesn’t matter what she thinks," Cyril thought this might be the reason Talia was crying and tried to comfort her.

He knew this topic was hurtful to both Cyrus and Talia. Talia considered Cyrus as family and Cyrus considered her as his Princess and considered himself as a Knight. And no one else could understand their relationship. Even he had doubted a bit.

But they had this pure relationship above any normal relationship between a man and woman. Not friendship, not kinship, not love but something more.

Talia heard what Cyril said and laughed to herself. She knew that. Even if God comes in front of her and says Cyrus loved her in a romantic way, she would not believe God.

She needed no affirmation about that. And she gave the time of the day to Camellia knowing she was the woman in Cyrus’ heart. Meeting her and wanting to hear her side of the story was an extension of the love she had for Cyrus and nothing more. She is not going to be worried for what she said.

" Is Cyrus’ boy with you?" Talia asked.

"Yes," Cyril didn’t hide it. "I’m going to adopt him into the family as my son."

"He looked younger than nine. Is it because of the sickness?" her heart squeezed. Such a small child had to suffer such a grave disease. "Is he cured now?"

"Yes, don’t worry. We will take good care of him," Cyril supported his phone between his ear and shoulder and holding the boy in one hand and their luggage at another, walked to the exit.

Talia rubbed her forehead. "What about her?"

Yes, the lockhart family will take good care of their first grandson, but doesn’t that boy need his mother?

Talia might act heartless but she was a bit sympathetic to other people’s sufferings. She grew up without a mother and she wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. She could still hear Camellia begging for her son.

"Don’t go meet her again," Cyril didn’t want to talk about her anymore. She broke her promise and didn’t honour her own word. Such an untrustworthy person is not to be kept close.

Talia took in a deep breath, " Do you remember the last tattoo Cyrus got?" she asked.

Dragging the luggage Cyril was confused. His family had rules against getting tattoos and his brother just to spite their grandfather would get more and more. And he never cared for those tattoos either.

But why is she asking about it?

" Camellia, right beside the Rose tattoo he had over his heart," Talia said and Cyril could understand what she meant.

But still, she did break his trust and his family allowing her to live is a big concession from their side for what she did.

Talia knew talking to Cyril would bit change his mind. Each aristocratic family followed strict rules and they followed their elder’s word as a heavenly order.

If this was the Lockhart family’s decision, nothing can change their mind. Neither begging nor brawling.

"Cyrus knew, Cyril" Talia broke it to him.

Cyril about to get out of the gate, stopped in his steps.

"Cyrus knew he was going to become a father," Talia felt her voice broke as she spoke.

Cyril left the luggage and he looked beside the little boy by his side obediently following him.

"Impossible!"

His entire mind got clouded with various thoughts. He did extensive research to find out any clues of his brother knowledge about his child but came up with nothing.

How is she saying this?