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.”

for a while, with Amelia voicing her agreement

prepared a cake for me as well and I’d like to go visit her. Do you wanna head home first? Or you can go visit

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

smile was radiant. “Okay,

drove them to Tiffany’s neighborhood. He parked the car and together they went up to her

of Oscar standing next to Amelia. Amelia merely smiled and

them into her

her arms and addressed Oscar, “Mr. Clinton, I hope you don’t mind my humble digs or I’ll

at Tiffany’s sarcasm as he surveyed her

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

looked displeased, she quickly brightened up and said, “I wonder what momentous occasion has brought you all the way to my house, Mr. Clinton.

the topic. “Tiff, didn’t you say you got me a birthday cake and presents? Where are

said, “They’re in

It wasn’t a big cake but the design was incredibly intricate. There was a photo of her on the

decorated with a variety

will be over in two more hours. Make a

Amelia nodded.

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

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

not. Every gift I’ve given her is something my secretary prepared. I called her a gold-digger who’s obsessed with branded goods, but I don’t even really know what she

at the sight of a small cake, Oscar doubted if he’d ever truly understood Amelia. She claims to love money and branded goods, but

Oscar felt uncertain.

a wealthy man like you

you, the gift must surely be a diamond ring or a

clouded over. “What do

reach her eyes. “Mr. Clinton, for someone with two doctorates and

“Tiff, that’s too much. I’m going to

before continuing in an exasperated

like a real husband? Also, who says I don’t like branded handbags and

more exasperated, while

you not like the diamond ring and necklace I got

and

her a glass of

took a big sip did

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

pursed his lips and asked uncomfortably,