Too Much to Bear My Love

Amelia looked at Oscar and asked, “Mr. Clinton, what’s wrong?”

Oscar replied, “There’s too many people here.”

Amelia took his hand and started swinging it like a love-struck idiot. She laughingly commented, “Mr. Clinton, you negotiate with people every day and handles accounts in the millions. I didn’t know you’d be scared of crowds.”

“I’m not scared of crowds; I just don’t like them. It’s noisy.”

Amelia held his hand more firmly and laughed. “Mr. Clinton, I’m sorry you have to suffer through the crowds today, but I’m the birthday girl and you promised to spend the whole day with me.”

Oscar pinched her nose lightly. “I’ve been neglecting you all this while; I’m making it up to you now for my past actions.”

Amelia chuckled. Though she knew Oscar’s affectionate behavior was but a temporary change, she was willing to indulge herself in his attentiveness.

“Mr. Clinton, thank you for today. This is the first time in our four years of marriage that you’ve acted like a real husband.”

Oscar glanced at her and asked in a puzzled tone, “Did I not treat you well in the past? I’ve been giving you a sizable allowance and I’ve always asked my secretary to buy you anything that you fancy. I’m not too sure if other rich men would be so kind to their toys.”

Amelia pursed her lips. “Mr. Clinton, like you said, you’ve treated me like a toy in the past. Today though, you’re treating me like a wife. And as a wife, of course, I’m happy when you’re being a romantic.”

Oscar pondered her words.

Amelia lifted her head and glanced at him. “It’s okay, Mr. Clinton. Just take my words with a pinch of salt. After tonight, we’ll be back to being contractors in a transactional relationship. There will be nothing more to it.”

Displeasure flashed across Oscar’s eyes.

“Amelia, do you not trust me?”

“Mr. Clinton, this is not a matter of trust. Your heart belongs to someone else”—as if to make her point, she pointed to his heart—”and no amount of effort is going to let me change that. It’s much easier if we just treat this as a contract.”

Oscar fell silent.

He appraised Amelia’s unusually calm demeanor, an indescribable emotion taking hold of him—an impulsive urge to pull her into his arms and say that he would not divorce her. But just as he lifted his arms, an image of Cassie flashed across his mind, washing away that feeling.

At that moment, Amelia’s phone started ringing. It was Tiffany.

“Tiff,” Amelia answered.

“Happy birthday, Babe! I was rushing a deadline yesterday and I almost forgot to send you a wish on your birthday. Come over, I’ve prepared a birthday cake for you.” Tiffany’s cheerful voice came through the receiver.

Amelia smiled. “Okay, I’ll be over in a jiff.”

a while, with Amelia voicing

thank you for the surprise you’ve prepared for me today. I really liked it. Tiff’s prepared a cake for me as well and I’d like to go visit her. Do you wanna head home first? Or you

Amelia’s shock. “Didn’t you say you’re the birthday girl and I’m not to leave your side the entire

radiant. “Okay,

parked the car and together they went up to her

standing

let them

Clinton, I hope you don’t mind my humble digs or I’ll

at Tiffany’s sarcasm as he surveyed her modest

Tiffany’s sleeve. “Tiff, it’s my birthday today. Please don’t make any funny comments for my

you all

you say you got me a birthday cake and presents? Where

eyed Amelia and said, “They’re in the living

big cake but the design was incredibly intricate. There was a photo

with a variety of fruits

over in two more hours. Make a

Amelia nodded.

simplest birthday party I’ve ever joined. Oscar stared at Amelia as she made her birthday wish, her features illuminated by the candles. He felt his

of the Clintons, I’ve always spent my birthday under the limelight. I’ve lost count of the number of businessmen who’ve tried to establish work connections during my birthday galas. Every guest is either a businessman or a celebrity, and the prices of the gifts are astronomical. I’ve been married to this woman for four years yet I’ve never once put in the effort to celebrate her birthday with her. If I happened to be in a good mood, I would only get my secretary to get

aside when I’m not. Every gift I’ve given her is something my secretary

woman in front of him who seemed so happy at the sight of a small cake, Oscar doubted if he’d ever truly understood Amelia.

Oscar felt uncertain.

I wonder what gift a wealthy man like you has prepared for her.”

be a diamond ring or a branded handbag. Jeez, what an utterly unimaginative present

face clouded over.

didn’t reach her eyes. “Mr. Clinton, for someone with two doctorates and exemplary academic

glanced at Tiffany and said softly, “Tiff, that’s too much. I’m going to be angry if you keep doing

briefly before continuing in an exasperated tone, “Babe, can’t you see I’m

a smile was plastered on her face. “Mr. Clinton and I are merely in a contractual marriage; how can you expect him to treat me like a real husband? Also, who says I don’t like branded handbags and clothes? They’re such lavish items; other women would kill for them. I’m happy with what I have,

more exasperated, while Oscar seemed

not like the diamond ring and necklace I got for you?”

the piece of cake she was swallowing and started coughing.

glass of water. “Here,

until Amelia took the glass of water and took a big sip did she manage

back gently and chided her, “How could you choke on a piece of cake? You’ve always been so

and asked uncomfortably,