Too Much to Bear My Love

Oscar suddenly stood up. Apprehensively, Amelia asked, “Mr. Clinton, are you leaving?”

Oscar walked over. He leaned over Amelia, almost pinning her onto the bed. The tips of their noses brushed against each other.

Enthralled, Amelia had no way of reining in her wildly beating heart. Her eyes darted from side to side, desperately avoiding Oscar’s intent gaze.

“What do you feel like eating? I’ll go and get it,” he said.

That was the last thing Amelia had expected to hear from Oscar at that moment.

“Now that you’re having a baby, you should eat a little more than usual. Tell me what you’re craving; I’ll buy it for you.” Oscar’s cool tone belied his apparent discomfort.

Amelia couldn’t believe her ears. This was Oscar’s first time showing concern for her baby.

“Mr. Clinton, are you actually concerned about me?” Amelia asked in disbelief.

“Enough of that. Tell me, quickly, what you want to eat,” Oscar insisted.

Amelia found the situation hilarious. Oscar seemed a lot more human now in comparison to the guarded, defensive man he usually was.

“Since you’ve offered, I can’t possibly say no. All right then. On account of Mr. Clinton’s generosity, I’d like to order a pasta arrabbiata, stewed beef, and mango sorbet to top it all off… I’m spoilt for choice! How can I decide?” Amelia asked in exaggerated despair.

Seeing that Oscar had let her off the hook for the matter with the photographs, the sudden feeling of liberation dared Amelia to joke with Oscar, something she seldom did.

Oscar only glared at her. “Amelia, don’t go overboard.”

“Don’t be so petty, Mr. Clinton. Can’t you even bear to buy these for me?” Amelia wheedled, pouting.

Oscar realized that he rather liked seeing this feminine side of Amelia.

“Wait and see; I’ll buy it all for you. Anything else?” he queried.

“I want you. Can I have that?” Amelia asked playfully.

Oscar’s face once again assumed a sober look. “You’re only allowed to say such things to me in the future. I forbid you from flirting with any other man like that.”

Flirting?

Amelia thought she had merely been casually teasing Oscar. She was rather distressed that it had been seen as flirtatious. It seemed that everyone perceived things rather differently indeed.

“Since you object, Mr. Clinton, I won’t say things like that anymore,” Amelia said, sulking.

grit his teeth

belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy

it for you now,” Oscar replied as he

Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar in his

he asked, “What

my phone with me to the hospital. Can I borrow yours to play

then handed his phone

She refused to

his throat awkwardly, then said, “There are a couple of games inside. You can take a

as your password? Don’t you know what kind of hope that

get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid that they eventually would, and Oscar would

on you for the rest of my life. I

it, she realized to her surprise that it contained many photos of her, most of them taken when she was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her bare body; in others, she had fallen asleep fully clothed. The photos of Amelia numbered more than a thousand in sheer variety. It was completely unlike the Oscar she knew to have so many photos

barely even recall when these moments had taken place, let alone presented

that Oscar liked her solely for her body. If he had absolutely no other feelings for her, however, then what could explain this stash of

anything she had that a man who had no affection whatsoever for her would not possess

barely ten photos of Cassie. Besides a few snapshots of scenery scattered here and there, the rest of Oscar’s photo album was practically

Oscar’s phone in her hand, she mumbled, “Oscar, all the photos you have are of me. Doesn’t that mean that you don’t hate me too much?

jolted Amelia out

screen. Upon seeing it, Amelia’s heart

of betrayal crept into her voice. “You promised that you’d come with me, but you’re always so occupied with work! I said

her lip with such fury that it almost drew blood. With what strength she could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s Amelia.

a moment. Then she retorted, “Why are you

to buy food for

at all! After your blatant cheating affair at your company, which was even documented in a few photographs, how can you be so shameless as to stay with Oz?” Cassie said

asked, “How

got to know about it? Of course, Oz was the one who told me. Oz said you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s met. It’s not for me to judge a gold-digger, but going for two men at the same time? That’s remarkably greedy, even by

even paler. Her grip on the blanket tightened. “Ms. Yard, I don’t think it’s your place to comment on the kind of woman I

yourself, Amelia. I’ll be Oz’s wife soon.

Amelia stood her ground valiantly. “So what? At least I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of.

“Don’t be too pleased with yourself either, Amelia. Do you know what Oscar told me this morning? He said that you were filthy and made him sick, and he hasn’t divorced you only because you’re pregnant. He didn’t think you’d be bold enough to have an affair in your condition. Cheating was a real low move from

you have nothing else to say to

a reply, Amelia immediately ended

from the door with the blanket over her. He didn’t know if she

face. Taken aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and

brushing aside Oscar’s gesture of intimacy. She then asked, “Mr. Clinton,