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

held her belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in

buy it for you now,” Oscar replied as he headed towards

Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar in his

he asked, “What is

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

for a moment, then handed his phone to

looked at him. She refused to believe that that

can take a look if

was still looking at 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

get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid that

think I’ve really fallen for you. If I could, I would want to depend on you for the rest of my life. I want a real relationship with you, not just a transactional

it contained many photos of her, most of them taken when she was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her bare

some from behind her as she walked ahead. Amelia could barely even recall

If he had absolutely no other feelings

that a man who had no affection whatsoever for her

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

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?

incoming call jolted Amelia out of her

name flashed across the screen. Upon seeing it, Amelia’s heart

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 so occupied with

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

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

went to buy food for me,”

even documented in a few photographs, how can you be so shameless as to stay with Oz?” Cassie said

asked, “How did you know

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

to comment on the kind of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating on Oscar, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to divorce me. You’re nothing

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

“So what? At least I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out,

“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

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

for a reply, Amelia immediately ended

food, Amelia was facing away from the door with the blanket over her.

aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and pulled

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