Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 393: Strong Undercurrents of Hidden Emotions

Chapter 393: Strong Undercurrents of Hidden Emotions

Talia felt her heart clench seeing all the wires attached to his chest, the IV lines to his arms and all the beeping machines around him. No matter how many times she looked at them, it still gave her the creeps.

It’s for his good....

But please wake up soon, Fred.

It was then she saw him blinking his eyes and her heart started to beat fast out of excitement.

He woke up!

She wanted to barge in, hold him, and speak to him, but since he is kept in the sterile ICU after a major surgery, she was told that she cannot enter the room at will.

At that time, the nurse who was looking after him the past night entered the room and did some basic tests like asking him questions and asking him to follow the light from a penlight.

She watched him anxiously. He seemed to be responding well although he looked like he was in discomfort.

But then even through the glass she could hear all the machines beeping loud and her hands began to tremble.

Is something wrong?

"Can I get in? He’ll want to see me," She blocked the doctor who was entering.

"Please wait," the doctor ran inside in a hurry almost pushing her aside.

Talia took in a deep breath. She remembered Roderick saying that Arthur is scared of hospitals and big machines.

He’s probably scared. I can be of help.

"Your Highness, the doctors know what they are doing. If you go in you might be a hindrance." Mr. Ed stopped Talia from entering the room, but sanitising her hands, Talia stepped in the room.

"Push **mms of X..."

The doctors were instructing for the dosages of medicines.

Not minding the doctors and nurses, she walked straight in. If it was anyone else, they’d be invited to leave, but no one dared to touch Talia.

"Fred," Talia placed her hand on his cheek and leaned over to make sure he could see her. "I’m here... I’m here..."

His eyes looked blackened like he was hit and his face looked swollen. Talia felt her every ounce of strength getting drained seeing him is such a state. But she held on.

She could actually see the panic in his eyes subsiding after he saw her and she could see the machines stopped their loud beeping.

He wanted to say something, but she stopped him. "I’m fine. Just rest for some time, Fred. I’ll be here," she held his hand.

He then closed his hand. The doctors gave permission for her to stay by his side and Talia was greatly relieved. He was conscious after a while and was kept in observation for another two days in the ICU. Talia never left the hospital and took her showers and meals there. She didn’t even lie in bed those days since she could see Fred was relaxed when she is holding his hand. So she sat by his side, holding his hand.

Others had to leave for work and were only allowed inside the room only during visiting hours. Talia was asked by Roderick to leave home for a night to have proper rest, but she insisted that she stays there.

Arthur was transferred to neurosurgical acute care unit after a couple of days. A lot of the tubes attached to him were removed and he started to recover really well. Talia stayed by his side helping him adjust to normal activities.

She didn’t let him look in a mirror because she knew he won’t be able to accept he is not looking his best these days. He might not agree to it himself, but Talia knew he is as vain as her.

He slowly started walking and even little puzzles and quizzes tired him out. But Talia gave him the same consideration he gave her when he trained her during workouts.

"Let me sleep, woman! I hear constant dripping in my brain. Do you know how that feels?" he got angry at her.

"Well, I’m not the one who got a brain surgery. I won’t know, of course. But still you need to finish reading this page for today." Talia shrugged and she still didn’t give up until he finished the page.

There were times when he lost hope, when he felt the pain in his head was too severe and often he flared up at her.

Talia didn’t give up hope. She always knew Arthur would make the worst patient. Someone like him who likes to do everything himself, won’t like feeling weak and he won’t be able to accept help.

"You’re scary! You act exactly like a mum to him," Lambert cringed when he visited.

Talia didn’t feel that way.

"You’re slaving for him. Just leave for a day. He will survive a day without you." Roderick said. He’d been staying at nights with her on alternate nights.

Talia didn’t feel like that either.

During Arthurs two weeks stay in the hospital, Talia heard that her grandpa had some fluctuations in blood pressure.

Talia realised after taking a break from his work, it must be hard for him to get back into it. So she talked to Peggy and asked her to bring the work to hospital and she took care of ninety percentage of the work and only sent the files to her grandpa for signing.

Talia really didn’t think that when she helped Arthur in the company previously for fun, she’d end up having to do the work seriously.

Did he train me those days for this day purposefully? Or is it just a coincidence?

Being a CEO is not an easy job and she had a lot of work to do. Some days she couldn’t even sleep continuously for three hours in the night. She didn’t feel hungry most of the times and ate just because she should.

There were some investors feeling queasy without seeing Arthur for long. There were talks in the business world that Brunton is seriously ill and now his heir had gone through a major surgery. They worried about the stock of the Northern Star.

And so Talia arranged a small get together lunch for the investors and pacified them. Although she said nothing that in Arthur’s absence it will be she who will take care of his duties. That somehow placated them. She is the granddaughter of Jerome Brunton whom Jerome trained to be his heir from young after all and they had to trust her.

Having to smile for entirely two hours, tired Talia out. The moment she stepped in the car, she was informed that Arthur had some minor infection in the suture site and she rushed back to the hospital. Thankfully it became better after a dose of antibiotics.

"Ah, how do you even look at me? I look like I’ve been run over by a truck! Why does a surgery in my brain give me dark circles? Yuck!" Arthur had a disgusted look seeing his face.

"You’re not ugly," Talia got the mirror from his hand and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Iris... you have no idea how much I love you," he placed his hand on her cheek and she kissed his palm.

"I know, Fred."

I know very well.

That day she had a lot of documents to review and it had become bright outside when she finished checking them all. She saw Arthur moving around in his sleep and knew he’d wake up soon.

Another sleepless night!

Thank goodness I didn’t take over my grandpa’s company and decided to become a Princess! Other than the nasty tabloids and media, there is nothing worse in that job. Even the work I have to do is a walk in the park compared to the job Fred has to do.

I’m cut out to be a Princess and not some career woman! I wish I could get back to become a Princess once more where I will be waited on by my staff. I seriously need a spa day! These two weeks feel like two years!

Ah, how selfish!

Somehow she felt guilty for thinking that way. It is not Arthur’s fault for getting sick and needing a surgery and no one is forcing her to do what she is doing.

And how could she relax when Fred is the one who is suffering more than her?

Arthur recovered pretty well in the two weeks and they discharged him and asked him to take as much as rest for at least four weeks and he had to go to the hospital for follow-up appointments.

After getting home, Arthur got in a pretty good mood and he even started taking care of simpler tasks in the company. He napped a lot that he usually does, but he improved greatly within two weeks after getting home. His sutures were removed, his hair started to grow. It grew very slowly, but it grew.

Talia didn’t have as much as workload as before, but she found herself unable to sleep well. Sleeping with him, not wanting to disturb his sleep, she found herself lying still and at times she’d be closing her eyes pretending to sleep so not to worry others.

She knew Mr. Ed is very sharp and she didn’t want him to tattle to her great grandmother.

Arthur on the other hand started regaining his usual strength physically and mentally. The scars started to get less prominent, he started taking long walks in the evenings and he started eating well too.

"Iris, help me shave." Arthur dragged her to the bathroom that day.

"Don’t blame me for skinning you," Talia didn’t refuse and tired her best with the razor. She wouldn’t have agreed if it was a straight razor.

She thought it would be easier with a normal razor, but it wasn’t. Sticking the fourth band-aid on his jaw, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Stop laughing, Iris!" Arthur wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulders.

"Ah, as always, you smell erotic." He took in her scent.

Talia felt his hot breath on her neck and his closeness made her fearful.

That day when he fell limply flashed to her mind. The doctors said he might have seizures after the surgery and till now he didn’t have any, but she feared he’d have seizures if he stressed himself.

"I’ll have to go to attend Walter’s Investiture ceremony." She decided to change the topic.

"When?" Arthur asked holding her shoulders.

"Day after tomorrow. I’ll return after four days."

She saw Arthur’s face softening to a smile. "Stay there for a week. Your people will miss you, right?"

He placed a kiss on her forehead.

He knew she needs a break.