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.

his teeth

belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy tone, “Mr. Clinton, I’m

go and buy it for you now,” Oscar replied as

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar in his

asked, “What

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

hesitated for a moment, then handed his

looked at him. She refused to believe

You can take a look if you’re bored. I’ll be off, then.” He turned quickly on his heels and

his phone in shock. She muttered to herself, “Oscar, if you truly didn’t care for me, then why did you use my birthdate as your password? Don’t you know what kind of hope that raises in me? What if I can’t bear to let you go when it’s time for the

On the one hand, she didn’t want to get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid that they eventually would, and Oscar would take her baby away regardless of what he

you for the rest of my life. I want a

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

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

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

willing to bet anything she had that a man who had no affection whatsoever for her would not possess so many photos of her. It was like

barely ten photos of Cassie. Besides a few snapshots of scenery scattered here

are of me. Doesn’t that mean that you don’t hate me too much? Why can’t we spend the

an incoming call jolted Amelia out of her

screen. Upon seeing it, Amelia’s

“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 come with me, but you’re always

said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s Amelia. Oz, as you call him, has gone out to buy food for

for a moment. Then she retorted, “Why are you answering my

food

you have no shame at all! After your blatant cheating affair at your company, which was even documented in a few photographs,

Shakily, she asked, “How did you know

Oz said you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s

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

be Oz’s wife soon. No matter

the mistress he’s ashamed of.

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

nothing else to say to me, I’ll be

reply, Amelia immediately

bags full of food, Amelia was facing away from the door with the blanket over

Amelia only to be greeted by her tear-stained face. Taken aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and pulled a

aside Oscar’s gesture of intimacy. She then asked,