Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 229: Buried Thoughts

Chapter 229: Buried Thoughts

" And one more thing..." Arthur’s powerful voice echoed in that place, "You all should have focused more on your own families rather than the Duke of Oakley’s little family. Well... Now you will have no other chance," Arthur smirked and wearing his sunglasses turned to leave.

He could hear a faint thud behind him and he didn’t care what it was but he could hear everyone else calling out Sophia’s name.

He didn’t care and walked away. He checked his phone and there were a lot of missed calls from Jordan and many messages from him. But that is not what he needed to look at.

As he expected that documentary he was expecting, was released in a popular video-sharing platform by an independent journalist.

’Esterian Elites - A Sneak Peak On The Next Generation Who Will Be In The High Council ’

Arthur’s lips curled up. Right on time!

" Arthur! "

Lord Wallace’s call made him stop as he was getting down from the stairs.

"Did Alfred agree to check in that rehabilitation center?" Arthur asked as he watched Lord Wallace in deep thoughts deliberating something.

"He doesn’t have a choice. I hope he’d be safe there..." Lord Wallace looked at Arthur. His youngest son, after everything he did, finally decided to change his ways for some reason and spilled everything about his ’friends’ who led him through this wrong path.

He was proud of his son for trying to change his ways, but he had angered a lot of powerful people in Esteria by turning on them. He must be protected.

"The doctor I arranged for him owes my father and he will keep Alfred safe. And Alfred has the resolve to conquer his addiction and he will do it. I will personally keep an eye on him, I give my word," Arthur spoke from his heart.

He felt pity for that guy who is a couple of years older than him. He watched the "friends" he grew up with, "sharing" the woman of his heart right in front of his eyes when he was intoxicated. That girl killed herself unable to get justice and Alfred was about to kill himself when Arthur happened to be there at that time.

Arthur did sow the seeds in his heart to get back at his said ’friends’ and gave him the contact of that independent journalist. Alfred acted like he didn’t care about the death of his girl, secretly recorded everything his ’friends’ do and gave it all to the journalist. He wanted to change his ways and get out of addiction and live an honest life.

Archibald found out about what Alfred did only after he made the deal with Arthur but he wasn’t all that mad. He worried for his safety, but he was proud of his brother.

They all had it coming.

Although people like Cyrus and Archibald were the ones who had bad reputations with women, they never forced any woman. They marked and preyed upon women, but they always did the deed with the woman’s permission.

And these other ’Lords’ who are the sons of the Dukes, Earls and Viscount, and some rich sons, didn’t have the confidence and charm like those two and they didn’t want their name to get spoilt and so they did everything in secret and in many despicable ways. A lot of them - men and women alike had weird fetishes that no sane people would agree to engage with. And so they found poor girls and boys and threw money at them and used them or they simply forced them using coercion.

They did have the power to do so and even if they get caught, their parents will protect them.

This is not something happening lately. Even Talia spoke about these "parties" before. Nothing they did in those parties can be considered legal, but no one held them responsible. Many poor young people had lost their lives getting trapped by these rich scions.

And now it all came out.

"That’s good...." Lord Wallace nodded. He knew his eldest son and Arthur are hiding a lot from him, but still... He is happy his other son is trying to take a control over his life.

"Did you really kill Ray?" Lord Wallace asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs. It is what the others say. But Gregory Sinclair never gave a stern answer regarding this.

If he had to guess... That day it is said to have happened, Ray, Arthur and Gregory were all in the house. There was another one.... Talia.

Everyone knows how Ray was... And of he had to place a bet... Ray tried something on Talia and Arthur might have interrupted, causing some unfortunate accident.

This would explain Gregory’s tight lips regarding this issue.

But how much does Brunton knows?

Arthur smiled looking at Lord Wallace. "I did not kill Ray." he said with conviction.

He had borrowed the very thick law books from his sister-in - law and looked through it. He learnt a lot. Even if he was charged, his charges won’t be higher than involuntary manslaughter and even then he could prove it was entirely self-defence. He actually did it to protect a girl, after all. No judge or jury would have found him guilty.

And so, that is what he will believe too. That he did not kill his brother. He just protected his Iris.

Ray died of his own sins and not because of me.

He saw a large crowd outside the gates and he knitted his brows. He didn’t want to face the reporters now. After parting ways with Lord Wallace, he walked to his father’s office.

As he was walking, he decided to call Talia. He wanted to hear her voice. He dialled and the call went through but she didn’t answer.

Is she mad? Is she getting back at me?

He pouted. That was not a good feeling when she didn’t answer his call.

She should have felt the same way when I didn’t answer too, right?

Arthur took in a deep breath. His phone’s message notification tone rang and it was a text message from her.

With a smile, he opened it.

[In a meeting with G.Gma. Sorry]

Ah... She’s busy too. G.Gma..? Great Grandma? Haha!

He smiled, but his heart felt heavy. It is going to be like this a lot of time in the future. Either he’d be busy or she’d be busy. It’s going to be tough going forward.

But... They can work it out. They can still build their relationship.

[Don’t apologise. Let’s talk after dinner. I’ll be waiting for your call]

He sent the text.

Dinner would be at seven in the evening. He’d be free after dinner and since her schedule is unknown, obviously, she should be calling him when she is free. Since it is her first day back, she probably won’t have much engagements. And he will wait for her call.

[OK]

Her reply came immediately and his lips curled up and he walked with a skip in his step.

We can work this out.

"Pa," he walked in the office. He didn’t think his father would let him in immediately. He was more surprised to see his brother there too. "Did you hear?"

"You becoming the Heir to the Dukedom of Oakley?" his father looked at him and Arthur bowed his head. For some reason he felt guilty. He did not forget the slap he received from his father either.

"I had nothing to do with it... It was Jerome who did so-"

"I know," his father closed the document he had in his hand and gestured him to sit. "Jerome Brunton talked to me a week back. He asked me if I would mind if he announces you as his heir. Of course he said that it would mean that he needs to adopt you legally and your kids will carry the Brunton name. He was willing to reconsider his decision if I oppose."

"Adopt?" Arthur’s eyes widened. "Adopt as what? I cannot have the Brunton surname! Those with the same surnames cannot marry... "

"That’s what you’re worried about?" Roderick hit the back of Arthur’s head.

What a silly brother!

"What else should I worry about? He only does this because he knows that I will marry his granddaughter." Arthur rested his head on the table.

"He showed me the legal papers. There is no such clause. You are in no obligation to marry Talia to be his heir." His father said and Arthur was stupefied.

In fact Gregory Sinclair wasn’t sure why Jerome wanted to leave everything to Arthur even if he doesn’t marry his granddaughter.

Jerome Brunton - The Benevolent!

" You created such a fuzz among the nobles. Be careful. They might get back at you," Roderick said as he showed him the documentary.

"People will rise against them. They sat in their ivory towers for too long, looking down at others and now the gate is broken. Now the common folks with their torches and pitchforks will enter the ivory tower and they will keep them busy. You have the evidences against a lot of these young Lords and Ladies. Why don’t you use the justice department against them? I want to see the fall of the ivory tower." Arthur looked at his father.

" The Department of Justice doesn’t need my intervention to take care of this." his father said and Arthur nodded.

" But Arthur... " Roderick rubbed his chin, "Is it wise to bring down the council? At least now there are two opposing forces to keep each other in check. The Parliament and the Council.... Believe it or not, They do keep each other in check. What if we change the dynamic and the shift of power to the parliament makes the elected officials corrupt? Who will hold them accountable? The Parliament can pass any law and what if it affects the people? People should depend on the Judiciary department for everything? Didn’t the Council do that for free till now?"

Arthur looked at his brother. He seemed to be making a good point.

Man! My brother truly cares for the people, right? Me... I just wanted to get back at the nobles for hurting Iris. Is this the difference between a businessman and a true politician?

My brother is amazing!

Arthur talked with his brother and father for sometime and then left.

"Pa... You really don’t mind that Artie’s children won’t be the heirs of Sinclair family?" Roderick asked. His brother seemed to not care about that detail at all. Maybe he already decided that his children will bear the Brunton surname?

"Yeah... I couldn’t deny Jerome Brunton’s request. And...Look how happy your brother is... In a way, the centuries old feud between our two families is ended for sure by this. Jerome Brunton ended the feud.Our Artie ended the feud! Isn’t that a thing to be celebrated? After everything... Peace has returned." Gregory Sinclair truly was happy.

" Really, Pa? " Roderick was furrowing his brows tightly.

" What’s with you? I’m really happy about it! It’s not like I don’t have heirs to my name. There is you and there are your two kids... If you’re that worried, make more little Sinclairs. Talk to Emily... Have enough kids to start a school for all I care... The more the better. " he laughed heartily.

Roderick saw the delight in his father’s face and he couldn’t help but laugh along. The sour feeling he had in his heart was once again buried back deep.

It is fine this way!