You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

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.

held her belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy tone, “Mr.

and buy it for you

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped Oscar

he asked,

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

hesitated for a moment, then handed his phone to Amelia. “The password’s your

him. She refused to believe that that was

cleared his throat awkwardly, then said, “There are a couple of games inside. You can take a look if you’re

my birthdate as

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

fallen for you. If I could, I would want to depend on you for the rest of

she was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her bare body;

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

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

no affection whatsoever for her would

through each photo, she realized with a start that there were barely ten photos of Cassie. Besides a

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

incoming call jolted Amelia out of

Upon seeing it, Amelia’s heart

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

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

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

went to buy food for me,” Amelia

your company, which was even documented in a few photographs, how can you be so shameless as

paled. Shakily, she asked, “How did you know about the

you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s met. It’s not for me to judge

don’t think it’s your place to comment on the kind of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating

Amelia. I’ll be Oz’s wife soon. No matter what, you’re the one who’ll eventually

now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out,

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

nothing else to say

waiting for a reply, Amelia immediately

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

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