You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

Amelia once again shook her head. “Mr. Clinton, please leave if there’s something you need to do. After I get discharged tomorrow, I will head over to Carter’s to turn in my resignation. Our relationship is purely contractual, so it’s only right that I follow the rules. And since you don’t like me hanging around other men, I’ll make it a point to keep my distance from them.”

Oscar took a long, hard look at Amelia while he contemplated the situation. “Are you throwing a tantrum because of the phone call I just had?”

The more he probed, the more annoyed Amelia felt. Is there any point in dragging this further?

“Your lover would be the one throwing the tantrum if you don’t leave now,” she snapped.

Oscar was still gazing at her when he suddenly placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. The kiss was intense, and they were momentarily lost in each other.

Amelia was left in a daze when they finally pulled away, her cheeks flushed from their kiss.

“Still angry with me?” Oscar asked, his forehead resting gently against hers.

Amelia looked at him in bewilderment. “Mr. Clinton, why are you doing this? Am I just a pet to you? One that you play with when you’re happy but gets tossed aside when you aren’t?”

“Go to sleep. I’ll leave now and come back in two hours,” Oscar said while patting her head.

Amelia was silent as she lay back in bed and hid under the covers.

Oscar watched over her for the longest time. But once he realized she had no intention of coming out from under the covers, he left.

When the door closed behind him, Amelia finally pulled the covers back down. She stared at the ceiling, crestfallen. “Oscar Clinton,” she muttered. “Is there still a future for us?”

The silence in the ward was deafening.

Oscar got in his car after having taken the elevator down and smacked the steering wheel before driving off.

The drive to Cassie’s took almost thirty minutes. The door opened almost immediately after he rang the bell, and Cassie threw herself into his arms. Oscar caught her and had to half-drag her back into the house.

Cassie snuggled against Oscar’s chest and whimpered, “Oz, I thought you weren’t going to come.”

Oscar remained stoic as he let her hug him.

Cassie felt the reluctance in him and looked up. “Oz, are you not happy to see me?”

Oscar reassured her with a hug. “Stop imagining things. I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t happy about it.”

won’t be angry with me,” she said softly. “You know how it is with pregnant women. We just become so much more sensitive about everything. The doctor told me this was prenatal depression, but as long as you spend more time with me, my

only held her in his arms as he coaxed her. “Don’t think too much about it. I’ll spend more time with you in the

a koala bear with no intention of letting go. “Oz, I’m not sleepy yet. Why don’t you chat with me? We haven’t had a chat like this for a while

“Sure.”

his chest like a cat kneading away. “Do you still remember where we had our

her question. He genuinely couldn’t remember where they had first kissed. Even though he claimed that he loved Cassie, the memories he had with her were few and far

and stared at Oscar

her lips before turning on his charm. “The past is history. From now on, just remember that I’ll be showering you

flashed in Cassie’s eyes. “Oz, can you promise to kiss me and only me from now?”

moved her hand away. “Has the baby been behaving

him while her heart began to race. “Why did you change the subject, Oz?” she asked, panic-stricken. “Have you fallen for Amelia? Even after those compromising photos of

He was starting to lose his patience with Cassie. “Cassie, I took precious time out to be

But recently, you’ve been acting hot and cold, and I can’t help but wonder if you still love me. I’m a woman, and it’s only normal that

at her. “Cassie, you never used

to my rescue. But now? No matter how much I plead or beg, you still might not show up. How can I not be angry?” she retorted. “The man I love has had a change of heart.

his face darkened. “Cassie, you’re being emotional right now, so I won’t argue with

to him and hugged him from the back. There was a note of panic in her voice as she pleaded, “Oz, don’t go. I really love you! If

his ground, not

I’m even carrying your

hugged her tight. “There, there, stop crying. Let’s

all your fault. I wouldn’t be crying if it weren’t for you,” Cassie whined as she lightly hit his chest. “I want you to make it up to me by staying here tonight. If you don’t, I’ll abort the baby. Since you aren’t going to

Oscar’s face fell again.

abortion, I can overlook that.

in her eyes. “Oz, do you

wouldn’t

you prefer our child or Amelia’s

my children, and I love them equally. Stop asking

I was the one who knew you first, so that makes me the bona fide girlfriend. But you so quickly married another, and now I’ve become the mistress. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset, especially now that I’m pregnant. Every night I have the fear that you’d leave me for Amelia. Tell me, Oz, what should I do? I’m so afraid of losing

bedroom, and laid her down in

chest, her lips curled

story. I’m in the

her head and said,

to a story,” Cassie whined. “From the time we dated, separated, and finally reunited, it’s been so long since you’ve told