Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 97: He Has a Plan

Chapter 97: He Has a Plan

"The locket..." Talia patted her chest to enable herself to speak further.

"The locket Cyrus gave me...it has an ultrasound image of a fetus possibly eight to nine weeks... It was behind another picture and I didn’t...have the guts to look at the locket till now. I’m sorry... But... Cyril, he knew... Cyrus knew..."

Talia couldn’t hold back her tears anymore and closing her mouth to not let out a sound, she sobbed.

Cyril tried to take a step forward but he staggered hearing what she said and his hand holding the phone dropped to the side.

What kind of twisted fate is this? He only knew about his nephew three years back and she had the opportunity to learn about it earlier and she didn’t bother to?

But that’s not more important. My brother knew he was going to be a father? So Camellia lied, again?

That’s not important either.

If Cyrus knew, why didn’t he talk about it even to us, his family? Why did he keep it a secret? It’s not like our family would have refused to accept his decision.

Brother! What were you hiding?

"Uncle... Uncle... You’re hurting me," the little boy tried wriggle his hand out of Cyril’s hand and only then Cyril realised he’s squeezing his hand and let go of his hand hurriedly.

"I’m sorry," he ruffled his hair with a slight smile and he could feel his face twitch.

He looked to his front and saw the woman wearing blue jeans and white shirt with her platinum blond hair fluttering in the wind, walking towards him.

She looked like a freshly bloomed blossom that brings a smile to the hopeless, with its beauty and sweet smell.

His girl, his comfort!

Vivian Lockhart walked up to Cyril and he rested his head on her shoulders and hugged her waist. She was stunned for a moment but she felt the stiffness on his shoulders and rubbed his back with a smile.

She knew he had to deal with a lot and even though her cute little brother didn’t say much, he seemed a lot worried too. It should be regarding Talia Brunton.

He looked at the confused little boy by his side and gave him a sweet smile. She knew who the boy was but didn’t know why the boy was here without his mother.

Judging by Cyril’s reaction, her thoughts wandered to many unfortunate circumstances but she pulled the leash on her racing thoughts.

Even though they are a western nation, public display of affection is not something very common in their country and everyone passing them stared at them for the really long hug.

Vivian just gave a dirty stare at them removing her big sunglasses and most people recognised her and with surprised look on their faces scrambled away.

No one liked to mess with the McAllister sisters!

"Cyril, can we go back and talk?" she tried to bring back the man lost in his thoughts. She loved to be in his embrace for all eternity but this is not the place.

"Ah, yes!"

Cyril said realising he’s been blocking the way standing near the exit. He stood straight leaving her embrace before kissing her and pulled out the luggage. Vivian with a slight blush walked beside him holding Thomas.

Cyril realised the call was still connected and placed it over his ears hurriedly.

Talia could hear a woman’s voice at the other end and guessed it might be his girlfriend and didn’t want to dilly dally anymore.

She didn’t want her to misunderstand since she is wasting their time together.

"I asked Cyrus a week before..." she gulped not able to continue.

"What is it?" Cyril walked to the car and the driver got the luggage from his hand.

"Out of nowhere I asked him if he’ll allow me to be the Godmother of his child and..."

’He left me this locket. And I killed him!’

Talia couldn’t finish her sentence. And there was a long silence until everyone got inside the car. Little Thomas sat in the passenger seat in the front and after making sure he is buckled properly, Vivian sat beside Cyril.

She could sense that he is extremely stressed and she wondered who he is talking to. The atmosphere in the car felt stifling.

"I understand. What do you want?"

Cyril broke the silence. He could understand what she says. His brother did leave this information to her. It must be his intention for her to be his child’s godmother.

He didn’t doubt her words. His brother would have considered it his honour if Talia became his child’s godmother. He was such a person.

"Let the boy have his mother," Talia said.

There was nothing binding that she is that boy’s godmother but she felt like she is.

Cyrus asked her to keep them safe - Mother and child.

Maybe he wanted her to have a purpose. He should have known what it would do to her after she does what he asked of her. He must have known it would ruin her.

Maybe it was his way of assuring her he will never hold her accountable for killing him. To assure her he’d still trust his child with him.

Or maybe he wanted his child to know that she is not his father’s killer. That his father wanted her to be his Godmother because he loved her.

Or maybe he wanted his family to forgive her. To honour his wishes... That he only wishes for his child’s safety.

That locket was the will he left and he left it with her.

Oh, Cyrus! What were you thinking?

Talia took in a deep breath. She didn’t like that woman who doubted her relationship with Cyrus, but still...

No matter what, that woman raised Thomas for this long. It would be completely unfair for her to be separated from her son. And the little boy is nine years old. He will remember his mother for the rest of his life. He won’t feel good living without his mother no matter how good others take care of him.

A child needs his mother.

Hearing no reply from the other end, Talia continued, " Bring Camellia to Esteria and get her a job and keep her under your watch all you want. Just let her live with her child. Let her find love, let her live her life. I don’t think she’d mess with me again. Cyril, I might not be the person you want to get advice from regarding this matter, but it is a fact that it would have been Cyrus’ wish and you know that too."

Hearing the clear voice from the other end, Cyril was surprised a bit and a small smile formed on his lips.

Since when did that headstrong and nonchalant Princess care about others and even advocate for others?

And she is right. But Camellia broke the trust his entire family had on her.

" Arthur didn’t contact you?" Cyril didn’t want to talk more about Camellia and changed the topic. It seemed like she was expecting his call.

Vivian by his side realised Cyril is now talking with Talia. When she left her home, her cute brother came back and he was not in a good mood. He was mumbling and cussing cutely and when she asked him what bothered him, he even dismissed her cutely.

His anger seemed to be directed towards his boss Arthur Sinclair. Upon talking to him for a while, she could understand what bothered him.

He was actually pouting that his boss is not telling him his plans.

Aww! Adorable!

Her brother Jordan is so cute. He will never tell them anything openly but them sisters can deduce what he is hiding pretty easily. He is such an adorable cutie who cannot hide anything from his sisters.

Vivian listened to the answer from the other end closely. She knew Arthur loved Talia so much and Jordan hated him for it.

And as they bribed him, Jordan told most the most adorable love story ever. The love between the children of two enemy families.

And even now her cute brother was not happy that Arthur wanted to bring back Talia and it seemed like he failed.

Since she had interest in their development, she curiously listened to the call getting closer to Cyril and he didn’t stop her.

Talia knew Cyril does not want to talk about Camellia anymore and is deliberately changing the topic. And thinking about Fred, her heart hurt once more.

He is acting weird.

"Do you know anything?" she asked.

"They reached safely if that’s what you ask. My brother reached home already," Vivian was excited and answered.

Their love story is like the live action version of some old fairytale and she wanted them to succeed. That would change a lot in their country.

Talia was stunned by the female voice that answered. She seemed so familiar as she talked and Talia didn’t know who it was.

But she said, brother... Her brother is with Arthur, so is it Jordan?

She is Jordan’s sister? Cyril is dating Jordan’s sister? But which one?

Jordan had three sisters and each were one of a kind. They were raised with no restrictions and everyone had various achievements under their belt.

Last time she checked, one was an airforce pilot and the other was a research scientist and the third one was Miss Esteria some years ago and became a famous model.

"Ms. McAllister?"

Talia wondered if Cyril has passed the phone to his girlfriend and asked doubtfully.

"She’s beside me. You want to talk to her?" Cyril asked with a slight chuckle.

"Which one?" Talia asked intrigued. She remembered Cyrus tried to bed the first McAllister sister but it was rumoured he failed. But she highly doubted it since Cyrus never misses his mark.

But what is Cyril’s type?

"Vivian," Cyril said and Vivian got the phone from his hand and Cyril gave it to her.

"Ah, so the cute one," Talia said and was surprised to hear a female voice chuckling from the other end.

"Ms. Brunton, if I’m the cute one, how will you describe my sisters?" she asked in an accusing tone.

Talia was slightly embarrassed.

"The belligerent one and the nerdy one. The whole country knows that, Ms. McAllister"

Talia still spoke truthfully. Hearing the genuinely gentle chuckle from the other end, Talia felt her mood lighten.

Her voice really matches her beauty.

Talia never met any of the McAllister sisters before but she had seen them from afar. Each had a charm of their own even though all of them had their trademark platinum blond hair. But of all the three, Vivian was thr most beautiful in her eyes.