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 in frustration.

and opened her eyes wide, beseeching

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

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar in his

around, he asked, “What

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

handed his phone to Amelia.

She refused to believe that that was his

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

my birthdate as your password? Don’t you know what kind

complete turmoil. 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

want to depend on you for the rest of my life. I want

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

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

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

a man who had no affection whatsoever for her would not possess so many photos of her. It was like a carefully curated gallery of

Amelia went 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,

phone in her hand, she mumbled, “Oscar, all the photos you have are of me. Doesn’t that mean that you

call jolted Amelia out of her

name flashed across the screen. Upon seeing

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

could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s Amelia. Oz, as

she retorted, “Why

went to buy food for me,” Amelia

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

“How

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

place to comment on the kind of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating on Oscar, it’s up to him to decide

wife soon. No matter what, you’re

You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out, I don’t

told me this morning? He said that you were filthy and made him sick, and he hasn’t divorced you only because you’re

her jaw. “Ms. Yard, if you have nothing else

for a reply, Amelia

was facing away from the door

her tear-stained face. Taken aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and

Oscar’s gesture of intimacy. She then asked, “Mr. Clinton, have you bought the food