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.

teeth in frustration.

beseeching Oscar in a cutesy

right, hang on. I’ll go and buy it for

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar in his

he asked, “What

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

his phone

him. She refused to believe that that was his chosen

games inside. You can take a look if you’re bored. I’ll be off, then.” He turned quickly

then why did you use my birthdate as your

want to get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid that they eventually would, and Oscar would take her baby away regardless

to depend on you for the rest of my life. I want a real relationship with you,

phone, then opened his photo album. As she scrolled through 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,

Oscar had taken some from behind her as she walked ahead. Amelia could barely even recall when these moments had taken place, let alone presented

moist. She’d always believed that Oscar liked her solely for her body. If he had absolutely no other feelings

was willing to bet anything she had that a man who had no affection whatsoever for her would

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

weighed Oscar’s phone in her hand, she mumbled, “Oscar, all the photos you have are of me.

then, an incoming call jolted

Upon

“Oz, I went for a check-up with your secretary today. The doctor said that the baby’s very healthy.” A note of betrayal crept into her voice. “You promised that you’d

such fury that it almost drew blood. With what strength she could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms.

she retorted, “Why are you answering my

to buy food for

at your company, which was even documented in a few photographs, how can you be so shameless as to stay with Oz?”

Shakily, she asked, “How

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,

of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating on Oscar, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to divorce me.

soon. No matter what, you’re the one who’ll eventually

ground valiantly. “So what? At least I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out, I don’t think the Yards will be too proud of

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

“Ms. Yard, if you have nothing else to say to me, I’ll

reply, Amelia immediately ended

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

bags and

intimacy. She then asked, “Mr. Clinton, have you