Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 388: An Island For Her

Chapter 388: An Island For Her

The entire room was filled with the scent of cigar and Arthur gulped seeing Jerome swirling the glass of golden liquid.

When Arthur spoke about his condition, as expected Jerome had no change in his expressions.

"Does MaryAnn know?" he asked.

"No."

"Your family?"

"Not yet. You’re the first person I’m speaking to about this."

"Why me first?"

"I wanted to ask you to take temporary control of the company until I recover from the surgery."

"When are you going to tell MaryAnn?"

"This weekend... I’m planning to tell her about my condition before I propose marriage to her."

Arthur expected some curt admonishment but Jerome was silent for a while, holding back his urge to speak. He then asked for a cigar to smoke.

Since he has quitted smoking for his health, Arthur just gave him a small stogie and Jerome was taking slow puffs for more than half an hour without speaking a word.

Arthur felt like he was standing on trial and his heart raced endlessly awaiting his judgement. He didn’t even want to sit and was standing the whole time.

"What will you do if she refuses your proposal?" Jerome asked and Arthur cleared his throat.

"I’ll get the surgery and after I get better, I will woo her to accept me once more."

Of course he had thought about it. She is not obligated to take care of him when he is sick. So he’ll get better and chase her once more. He had confidence that if he could convince her once, he will convince her again.

"Do as you wish and arrange to transfer the signing authority to me temporarily until your recovery." Jerome stubbed the cigar and gulped the entire glass of whisky in one go.

"Sir?" Arthur was stunned by the reaction of Jerome when he expected some sharp words from him and his possible refusal to give away his granddaughter to him.

What is happening? I was planning to kneel and beg if needed!

Jerome let out a deep breath seeing the stunned Arthur. "Artie, I am angry but only just a little. Not because you got sick. A tumour in the brain is not something one can control unlike certain illnesses. I’m angry about how you handled it. Seeing your reports you’ve known about this for months and yet you concealed it and took no action either. I can understand it might have been a shock for you and maybe it was hard for you to come to terms with it. But as someone who considers you as family, I am a little offended you couldn’t be honest with me about this especially when I’m open with you about my health. I would have been a support for you."

"Sir... that... " Arthur bowed his head.

Jerome is right. There is no need for him to have suffered alone these past few weeks when he could have gotten help.

"MaryAnn... That child would be devastated learning about this. But I know it will only strengthen her resolve to marry you. I know you are her happiness and I won’t be foolish to forbid your marriage just because of an illness. It won’t be fair since if the situation is reversed, I know for sure you won’t abandon my MaryAnn and who’s to say what the future holds? I just wish for the surgery to go well and pray that you recover fully and become healthy for my MaryAnn’s sake. Go." Jerome waved his hand.

"Tha- Thank you, Sir," Arthur gave a deep bow and tears clouded his eyes.

To think I’m loved this much...

"I will make sure I recover well and I will make Talia happy."

Jerome leaned on the chair after Arthur left.

"When will that child ever be happy..." he rubbed his forehead. "Annabelle... what should I do?"

He wanted to slap Arthur hard for being so inconsiderate and uncaring of his own health, and wait this long to act on it. But how could he, seeing that boy looking terribly guilty?

Just like his mother... he got a tumour in his head. Will he too like his mother...?

NO! It can’t happen.

At least they are not married yet, right?

Ah! What am I thinking?

She loves him too much! What difference would a piece of paper do when their love is this strong? If anything happens to him, my child will get broken to pieces. She won’t be able to fix herself like in the past.

Jerome knew something was off about Arthur for sometime as he was told he visited the hospital. He didn’t think it would be something this serious.

Get better Artie... Don’t make my MaryAnn grieve for life like I do.

-----

That weekend, Talia was surprised that Arthur told her to be prepared to be surprised. He told her that he wanted to give her a surprise and will pick her himself.

’Just pack some summer clothes and a lot of bikinis’

He said and Talia rolled her eyes.

He’s bringing me to that island property, isn’t he?

Sitting in the jet for hours, Talia was really surprised as the travel took this long.

"Where are we going?" she scratched Arthur’s arms as he pretended to sleep.

"Do you know Mr.Ed?" Talia asked Mr. Ed who joined as her protection officer for this trip.

"No," he shrugged with a smile and Talia curled her lips.

"Like you don’t!"

"Wait for the surprise," Arthur chuckled and Talia turned her face with a pout.

What’s wrong with telling me?

"Did you bring bikinis? Arthur asked leaning to her side and Talia shook her head.

"You know I don’t get in water. Why would I bring bikinis?"

"For me to look," Arthur whispered in her ear making Talia all red.

"Get lost, you pervert! That’s all you think about!" she pouted.

"I lied, I lied," Arthur held her hand. "I thought of teaching you to swim."

"Humans are not supposed to get inside waters. We are not fish. We cannot breathe in water and we definitely cannot float in water either..." Talia started to ramble as she started trembling as she imagined herself in water.

Scary!

"We’re near. Take a look." Arthur pulled her closer to the window.

The sun was setting and below them was an island that was green with lots of foliage. In the middle of the island was a building with a glass dome that reflected the blinding orange light of the setting sun. Complete with a private airstrip, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, deck with a yacht on standby and entirely surrounded by beaches with golden sand and lined with palm trees, that island looked like paradise.

"Welcome to Iris Isles, Iris." Arthur gave a bow placing his hand on his chest, "Wow! That’s a tongue twister – Iris Isles, Iris..." he chuckled.

"You... this island is named after me?" Talia was surprised and she couldn’t hold back her glee. "You bought this island for me?"

Her mouth became wide open out of surprise.

"Yes."

"Mr.Ed, did you hear it? My boyfriend bought an island for me!"

"And I bought my wife a pet rock. "

He shrugged with a chuckle. He was happy seeing his Princess so joyful.

"Wow! Fred! " Talia got up from the seat to kiss him properly.

"Sit, wear your seatbelt. We’re about to land," Arthur pulled her to sit in the seat with a smile and helped her wear her seatbelt.

"Love you, Fred." Talia whispered and kissed his cheek and he looked at her with a smile.

As always, she brings me joy!

Both of them watched the sunset walking along the beach, holding hands. As it got dark, Arthur brought him to the house in the middle of the island and the entire place was built in contemporary architecture which she loved.

"What’s in the glass dome?" she asked as Arthur purposefully missed that place as he showed her around.

"Master bedroom. We’re going to stay the night there," he whispered and Talia grimaced.

"What if someone watches us?"

"From where? The stars?" Arthur laughed and explained the tight security in this place.

"Get ready for dinner." Arthur gave her a kiss on the forehead and opened a room for her. Her luggage was already there and before Talia could ask where his luggage was, he had disappeared.

Weird! He’d usually follow me around to watch me change and today he left me alone?

Is he okay?

Well, whatever! I can get ready more freely.

Talia shrugged and got the navy blue mermaid fit dress she bought during the State Dinner out. She didn’t find an appropriate time to wear that dress till then. Since Arthur is giving her more and more surprises, she wanted to dress up really good for the night.

She did her hair in a half up half down up-do with curls and applied makeup concentrating her eyes with a winged eyeliner.

The dress...Will it fit?

Talia wore the dress with doubts and even she was surprised seeing how perfectly the dress hugged her in the right places.

She wrapped a silk stole around her shoulders and seriously deliberated if she should wear it or not.

Dinner should be in the dining room, right? It won’t be that cold. Should I ditch it? It covers my back. I want to show him my back...

At that time, she heard the door opening and she knew it should be him.