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.”

talking for a while, with Amelia voicing her agreement several

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

the birthday girl and I’m

smile was radiant. “Okay, let’s

the car and together they went up to

at the sight of Oscar standing next to Amelia. Amelia merely smiled and said, “I’ll

them into her

Oscar, “Mr. Clinton, I hope you don’t mind

nonplussed at Tiffany’s sarcasm as he surveyed her

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

displeased, she quickly brightened up and said, “I wonder what momentous occasion has brought you all the

tugged on her sleeves again and changed the topic. “Tiff, didn’t you

eyed Amelia and said, “They’re in the

walked into the living room and saw a two-tier cake on the table. It wasn’t a big cake but the design was incredibly intricate. There was a photo of her on the cake along with a

decorated with a variety

will be over in

Amelia nodded.

Amelia had spent her birthday with both Tiffany and Oscar. This is the 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

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 her a branded handbag or some cosmetics. A house maybe, with the

given her is something my secretary prepared. I called her a gold-digger

him who seemed so happy at the sight of a small cake, Oscar doubted

Oscar felt uncertain.

like you has prepared for

continued, “Let me guess. For someone as rich as you, the gift must surely be a diamond ring or a branded handbag. Jeez, what an utterly unimaginative present for someone with such wealth. I bet you don’t

face clouded over. “What

though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Mr. Clinton, for someone with two doctorates

“Tiff, that’s too much. I’m going

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

says I don’t like branded handbags and clothes? They’re such lavish items; other women would kill for them. I’m

more exasperated, while Oscar seemed deep in

like the diamond ring and necklace

and started coughing. Both Oscar and

her a glass of water.

glass of water and took a big sip did she manage to suppress her

could you choke on a piece of cake? You’ve always been

lips and asked