Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 373: Surfacing Proof Of Life

Chapter 373: Surfacing Proof Of Life

"You’re such a fool, Fred!" Talia kicked Arthur in the leg while no one was watching and walked away as Roderick and Emily were laughing behind her.

The entire hall was filled with a pleasant music and the chatters of the guests. As it was a party arranged in the Oakley Castle after a long time, many were very pleased they were invited and they all were socialising among themselves to make connections.

Stupid Fred! Why did he go and ask Roderick about the ’one year lie’ I told him? Can’t he use his common sense? Ugh! Now my future brother-in-law and his wife are mocking me! Dummy Fred! Idiot Fred!

How could he walk up to his brother and ask ’Can you revert back to being a v*rgin if you don’t make love for a year’? Is he that dumb? And now they are thinking that I’m a naive idiot. Idiot!

"Don’t glare at me!" Talia mouthed seeing Arthur staring at her while talking to someone greeting him. She turned her back to him and walked across the hall, greeting the guests and toasting with wine.

The McAllister family had attended the party and Talia could see they were getting ostracised. Since Marcella was with Archibald and Vivian with Cyril, people were being sycophantic with them, but they ignored Elizabeth, her husband, Jordan and their parents. Talia noted it and happily chatted with them for a while. As expected a crowd formed around her and she left after a while.

"You don’t have to do this, Talia. My parents won’t like getting acquainted with these sycophants." Elizabeth grumbled and her husband rubbed her back and calmed her down.

"It is not bad to get acquainted with more people. You should be thanking Her Highness for helping them and not grumble," he said calmly.

Elizabeth still was complaining while Mr. Greene calmed her down. This was the first time Talia is meeting Elizabeth’s husband and Talia realised something.

He gives the same aura as Cyrus! Even the intonation of his voice is pretty similar to Cyrus’.

Talia liked him instantly. He was very gentle with her even though she was acting loud while downing alcohol like water. Talia won’t consider her an expert on reading expressions, but their interactions gave her the impression that her husband loves her more than she loves him.

It can’t be true, right?

"Can you get me a drink, please?" Elizabeth passed an empty glass to her husband and he left with a smile.

"Your husband is a good man," Talia had a content smile. She knew Fred will never have this kind of patience.

"Yes, he is... he is perfect." Elizabeth’s eyes had an expression indiscernible to Talia. "Can I ask you something?" Elizabeth grabbed Talia’s hand and Talia was surprised by the sudden pull. Her face had flushed red and she was obviously very drunk. "Has Cyrus ever talked about me to you?"

"Cyrus?" Talia was stunned hearing that name from the delinquent McAllister. She got reminded of the rumours that used to circulate in the past and Cyrus’ weird silence in that issue.

Did she like Cyrus? But then why is she asking about him now? Don’t tell me...

"Not much." Talia answered truthfully although she was weirded out a little.

"Do you think he slept with me or not?" Elizabeth eyes glistened in that warm light and Talia didn’t know if it was because she was crying or because she is drunk. But Elizabeth looked pitiful nonetheless, which is pretty uncommon for her.

Did she love him that much to hold on to him still?

"Cyrus made sure he lets everyone knows he never slept with you, but I think he did." Talia said with certainty.

"Why do you think so?"

Elizabeth gripped Talia’s arms hard making her flinch. Talia could see a swirl of emotions running amok Elizabeth’s eyes and she knew for sure this time that she is crying.

Talia felt her heart skip a beat. This woman whom she thought was a very strong woman is in front of her, crying, thinking of a man who probably didn’t think of her much and died ten years ago, although she has such a perfect husband.

Talia was too stunned to answer and she noticed Mr. Greene walking towards them with a glass of champagne. But then she saw a familiar figure in skimpy dress, trying to get close to Archibald Wallace.

Isn’t that model I met before who hates Vivian? What’s her name? ... Natasha? How did she get in? She hooked up with someone with an invitation and got here? How shameless!

"He told you, didn’t he? What else did he tell you about me?" Elizabeth questioned and Talia didn’t want to answer her anymore. Mr. Greene was near them and Talia didn’t want him to hear the topic of their discussion. Elizabeth is drunk and what if it causes trouble in her marriage?

Lady, your husband is behind you and you’re asking me about some other man. Don’t you think he’ll get hurt? What should I do?

"Iris, here you are!" a familiar hand wrapped around her waist. "Lord Wallace was looking for you."

Thank you, Fred!

Seeing Arthur, Elizabeth loosened her hold on Talia’s arms and Talia excused herself and walked with Arthur.

"What did she tell you to make you this pale?" Arthur brought her to the rest area and patted her cheeks to warm her up.

"Nothing... I don’t understand why one would marry when they can’t love their spouse with all their heart. I don’t know their life and I might be judgemental, but why would you hurt your spouse and yourself by being wishy-washy in the marriage? Don’t enter a marriage without being sure. Is it that hard a thing to do? Isn’t marriage a scared thing? Ugh! I hate myself for being this judgemental."

Talia rested her head in Arthur’s chest and he patted her back although he didn’t understand why she brings up this topic now. She is not wrong in her opinion about getting into marriage without utmost sincerity and surety, but why now?

"How drunk are you?" he asked hugging her. It doesn’t matter what made her sad since she doesn’t want to speak about it to him. But she can’t be sad for long.

"Fred if I die, don’t marry another woman unless you’ve completely moved on from me, okay?" she said holding his lapel and Arthur felt like he was hit with lighting.

"I see you’re very drunk," he said gritting his teeth. This woman has gone mad talking about her death.

And move on from her?

Is she a milepost in my life for me to move on from her? She is my life!

"I’m only a little drunk... But don’t switch my wine to non-alcoholic. Let me get drunk today." Talia stood straight and looked at Arthur. She wanted to hug him tightly, but then his perfect black suit will be soiled with her makeup and so she held back.

"You sure?" Arthur didn’t want her to get drunk, but it is not everyday she’d drink, so he let it pass. And about that other idiotic issue she raised, he decided to talk about it later.

"Yes, I’m in the Oakley Castle with you beside me. Carry me to our room if I got too drunk." Talia smiled and both of them walked back to the party hall.

Arthur was surrounded by Archibald and others and Talia with a wine glass in her hand, stood silently by the side to find out if Natasha was really here.

Was that her? Is she here to bring trouble to Vivian? Where is Vivian?

"I see you’re trying to be a wallflower, but dear you’re too pretty to be one."

"Hello, Edward!" Talia gave an exaggerated smile turning to the source of the voice, "I see you’ve lost a lot of weight and yet your head is still as big as ever."

"Still being snarky..." Edward mumbled and stood silently beside her, scrolling through his phone.

Talia saw Archibald walking to his father and he asked playfully, "Dad, when are we holding my Investiture?"

"When you become a multi-billionaire," Lord Wallace said without batting an eye. "You haven’t even saved for your wedding and you have the nerve to ask me for an Investiture? Grow up!" he walked away and Archibald scratched the back of his head with a goofy smile.

He is going to get married? Has he proposed yet?

Talia looked at Marcella’s finger and found it was empty still.

So he’s planning to propose? Good for them!

"I wanted to meet you to thank you, Talia. Thank you for saving me from my captivity," Edward said as he got her empty glass.

"Never mind." Talia didn’t want to talk about it longer and so she accepted his gratitude. He seemed honest anyway. "I just wanted to help a father get his only son back."

"You’re ... great, Talia. I knew you were the only granddaughter of Old Brunton and still wanted to hurt you, but you-"

"Yes, I’m a saint compared to you. Anyone’s a saint compared to you, so never mind." Talia didn’t hold her punches.

"Right," Edward didn’t say much after that surprising Talia.

Did he really change like Fred said? But where is Natasha?

Talia tried to find her.

"Ah, so she is caught," Edward said and Talia saw that odd smile in his face.

Dude is handsome even though he is or was a scum. I should give him that!

"Who?" she asked as he met her eyes.

"The one you’re searching for... Come with me," he tried to hold her hand and Talia stepped to the side.

"Never mind," Talia tried to leave.

She remembered Lambert saying that this guy liked her and she didn’t want to be alone with him.

"Wait Talia, please," Edward’s hand tried to hold her hand once more, but he paused seeing her glare. "I’m sorry, I won’t touch you. But there is something important I want to tell you."

"If it is important, you can talk to me about it here." Talia looked at him sharply. She could infer he was desperate to bring her with him.

But where and why?

"Ralph... I’ve met him before. Olivia was acquainted with him and Arnold Belfauger’s daughter Sandy was engaged to him." Edward spoke in a hushed tone.

Although that name ’Ralph’ intrigued Talia, she didn’t want to follow Edward to know about a dead person.

"If he was engaged to Sandy, why was there no public announcement? And why should we talk about a dead person secretly?" she asked.

"Alexandra Belfauger developed the same condition as Sophia Clairemont."