Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 144: Whose Fault?

Chapter 144: Whose Fault?

Talia nodded her head as it made sense." His picture from before? "Talia reminded and Mr. Ed went through his file in the laptop and turned the monitor towards her.

Talia looked at that picture that was cropped from another picture and enlarged to make it seem clear. At first she was lost, but as she tried to remember where she met him fixing her eyes on the screen, that two dimensional image turned three dimensional and the plain background changed to the weeping willow creek.

She could hear the howl of the wind and the scent of flowers as spring had arrived. The man, squatting in front of her had a pleasant smile that she believed to be genuine even though the weeping willow behind him made her feel nervous.

’Baby! If you light this candle in the Church on the other side of the creek, your mother and brother will survive! Only if you succeed...’

A lot of noise followed as he manipulated her to cross the creek. Slowly the image of the man seemingly smiling went away like a wisp of smoke.

Talia held her chest now hurting terribly as her breathing got heavy.

Mummy! Why did I listen to him? I crossed the creek and you paid the price!

"Princess... Princess..." Mr. Ed got scared as he saw Talia going pale.

"I’m fine..." Talia took a deep breath. "This is the guy who told me to cross the creek that day my mother died..." Talia tried to compose herself but her hands shook uncontrollably as she stood up. "Tell Cyril what I said now. He’ll know what it means..." Talia staggered her way out of the kitchen.

Mr. Ed immediately followed Talia as he knew she is in the verge of losing herself.

Rebecca’s father was now discussing with the police about the poisoning of his dogs and Talia felt her heartbreak.

Even the dogs died?

"I’m sorry for the inconvenience I caused for you, Mr. Turner," Talia said and was about to bow her head, but before she could bow, Mr. Ed stood in front of her and bowed his head.

"On behalf of our Princess...."

He went on saying a long statement and Talia couldn’t hear anything as her eyes clouded.

’Yeah! I’m a princess and I can’t bow!’

Cyrus used to say that to her. There was once when she pushed some girl in the playground who was annoying her and that girl’s angry mother wanted Talia to apologise. But Cyrus stood in front of Talia and ended up getting hit by that mother. He never let her bow her head ever.

Cyrus! Why did you die? To protect me? Why?

Talia looked to her front where Mr. Ed as still bowing and politely apologising on her behalf.

Why is he so similar to Cyrus too? Because he is a Knight?

Even though Talia couldn’t hear everything, she could understand Rebecca’s father didn’t blame them for the dogs and the inconvenience in his farm. He was more than pleased they caught that drug-selling gang.

Talia went to Rebecca’s room and lied on her bed.

"You look terrible," Rebecca with puffed eye told Talia.

"You too," Talia turned to her side and looked at Rebecca who was lying facing her too.

" My husband was thinking about another woman, he hardly heard me." Rebecca said with frustration apparent on her tone. " What about you?" she asked, her tone gentle now.

" Your husband is a fool!" Talia snorted, "And me, I killed my mother," she scoffed and before knowing, tears started falling from her eyes and she turned to the other side, to look at the wall.

She herself didn’t know why she was talking about this to her. She is not someone who shares her thoughts and feelings with others, right?

"Honey, what?" Rebecca got up from the bed and sat beside Talia and gently caressed her hair.

"You want to talk to me about it?" Rebecca asked gently. Of course she knew her friend did not kill her mother. But why on earth would she say that now?

Talia wiped her eyes, but tears still fell from her eyes and she decided not to bother with it. She scooted to her side and Rebecca lied beside her. It was a little cramped for two adult women to lie on a single bed, but it felt cozy as both were in need of the warmth of a friend.

Talia slowly explained what happened the day her mother died and Rebecca listened to her patiently and without interruption.

"So Stacy’s father manipulated you to cross the creek knowing your life will be in danger by Arthur’s grandfather and Arthur’s uncle sent men to ambush your mother? And your family’s security guards were stretched thin trying to find you and guard your mother? And where is your fault? " Rebecca asked and sat up.

Talia was stunned. I explained everything and anyone could see I’m at fault here, and why is she asking me this question? Is she mocking me?

" I crossed the creek! If only I didn’t cross - "

Before she could finish, Rebecca fisted her hand and started knocking Talia in the head.

"Hurts!... It hurts!... Stop!... Rebecca! "

Talia really couldn’t beat the pain. Has this woman gone mental?

"You idiot! How is it your fault? You were a f*cking five year old and after seeing your mother suffer, when a guy told you a way to help your mother, and previously seeing Arthur crossing the creek, you wanted to help! To help your mother, you f*cking moron! Where are you at fault here? It was the fault of that creepy old foggy who wanted to hunt a five year old and the fault of that douchebag who sent you there knowing what might happen and it was the fault of that psychopathic uncle who lacked the heart to kill a pregnant woman! Stop being an idiot or I’ll kill you myself! "

Rebecca started hitting Talia once again. Talia really couldn’t bear the pain and started to defend herself.

" Ugh! Stop it Rebecca! " she held Rebecca’s hands.

By now both of them looked terrible with their swollen faces and messy hair.

" Know this Talia! Your mother was killed by Nicholas Sinclair. And if not for the help from Arthur and Roderick, you’d be dead that day too! " Rebecca repeated. "So don’t blame yourself anymore. No one is that powerful enough to bring misfortune on others!"

Talia stared at Rebecca. Her puffed up eyes were filled with concern and she could feel Rebecca believed what she says.

She seemed to make sense too. Sure she didn’t obey the rules, but it was the adults who made the biggest blunders.

Talia’s eyes clouded once again and hugged her. This probably is the first time she took the initiative to hug Rebecca.

"Thank you," she said and Rebecca sighed in relief.

Why is she around people who always blame themselves for everything happening around them? Joe’s like that too! Isn’t that a bit narcissistic to think they have control every unfortunate thing in the world?

She is the extreme opposite. She’d blame anything happening to her on others. That’s not a good character either.

Thinking about that made Rebecca wonder if she’s been too hard on Joe..

Maybe I should talk to him with patience and not scream at him like I’ve been doing lately?

Talia was surprised by Rebecca’s behaviour. Well, not that surprised that Rebecca would hit someone, but she never hit her. In fact she was never hit by anyone... Except that maid in the Sinclair mansion.

Talia felt her entire body hurting. But her mind was free of all burdens.

At twenty six years old, did my mind get cleared by tough love? Huh! Pathetic!

She smiled silently.

"Hey, Tallie..."

Lying closer together, Rebecca wanted to ask Talia about Arthur. Rebecca knew Talia was deeply in love with Arthur but it seemed like his sudden departure didn’t affect her much. Not only did he leave suddenly but also he is now engaged with another woman.

Even she was so enraged at Arthur, so why isn’t Talia?

And with further details known about the Sinclair family and their connection in her mother’s death, Rebecca felt it odd how Talia could still be in love with Arthur.