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 in frustration.

wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy tone, “Mr. Clinton, I’m

I’ll go and buy it for you now,” Oscar replied as he

stopped Oscar in his

asked, “What

I didn’t bring my phone with me to the hospital. Can I borrow yours

a moment, then handed his

him. She refused to believe that that was his

are a couple of games inside. You can take a look if you’re bored.

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

want to get a divorce. On the other, Amelia

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

them taken when she was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her

she walked ahead. Amelia could barely even recall when

for her body. If he had absolutely no other feelings for her, however, then what could explain

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

through each photo, she realized with a start 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 practically a shrine

you have are of me. Doesn’t that mean that you don’t

call jolted Amelia out of her brief

screen. Upon seeing it, Amelia’s heart

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 so occupied with work! I said that I’d be a model wife so I won’t blame you this time. Oz, the baby and I both miss you so much! Will

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

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

to buy food for me,”

your company, which was even documented in a few photographs, how can you

paled. Shakily, she asked, “How did

I 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

I am. Even if I’m cheating on Oscar, it’s up to him

lying to yourself, Amelia. I’ll be Oz’s wife soon. No matter what,

I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed

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.

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

waiting for a reply, Amelia immediately ended

with a few bags full of food, Amelia was facing away from

on to his bags, Oscar approached Amelia only to be greeted by her tear-stained face. Taken aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and pulled a chair over. He sat down and reached over to dab the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?” he asked

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