Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 130

Too Much to Bear, My Love Chapter 130 Carter Is Awake

Oscar turned the steering wheel in the hospital's direction. “I'm lettingyou visit him, but no flirting. If he makes a move on you, I have my waysof making him stop once and for all.”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “There won't be a need to. Like I said, we're justfriends. If anything was possible between us, it would've happenedages ago.”

“So what if you have known him for a long time? You're my wife now.”“Mr. Clinton, do I smell jealousy?”

Oscar did not respond. He had turned his attention back on the road.Although she found joy in teasing him, Amelia knew not to take it anyfurther. She stopped talking and slept through the rest of the ride.Very soon, they arrived back at the hospital. Amelia unbuckled her seatbelt before suggesting, “Mr. Clinton, it's pretty late now. Why not yougo grab lunch first? I'll meet you back later.”

There was no response. The next moment, he got out of the carpurposefully.

She was slightly taken aback by his behavior, but exited the car as well.Outside, Oscar had both his hands in his pocket. “Let's go.”

“Mr. Clinton, perhaps if you're hungry you could...”

“Hurry up. Mr. Scott is someone I respect. Now that his grandson isawake, it's only basic courtesy to pay him a visit.”

That makes sense. Amelia trailed behind him at a distance.

Oscar turned and grabbed her by the waist. “Walk with me.”

Outside the ward, he knocked on the door. Jennifer was surprised byhis appearance, but she kept her expression neutral. “Come on in.”Before they entered, Amelia whispered, “Mr. Clinton, you can let go ofme now. Many people, including Mr. Scott, are inside. It's embarrassingto appear in this manner.”

Unsurprisingly, her words fell on deaf ears. His grip only tightenedfurther. “Let's go in.”

She was helpless against his stubborn personality, so she allowed himto lead her into the ward.

Carter, who had been laying lethargically on the hospital bed,brightened up upon seeing Amelia. Just as quickly, his expressiondarkened when he saw Oscar's hand on her.

Despite so, he could not contain his excitement. “Amelia, you're here!”Both Oscar and Amelia approached him. “Hey Carter, Ms. Larson toldme you were awake, so Oscar and I thought to drop by and visit you.”Carter gazed at her tenderly. “Amelia, you visited me while I was stillunconscious, didn’t you? I remember you said that if I wake up, I'll get achance to pursue you again. Can I hold your word for it?"

Clearly, he had crossed the line. The atmosphere in the ward turnedawkward. Abel coughed a few times to remind him. “Carter, you've justregained consciousness. The doctor instructed you to get plenty of rest.Why not take a nap after you finish your meal?”

“Granddad, I feel ok.” He faced Amelia while repeating once more,"Amelia, that chance you mention, it's real. Isn't it?”

Amelia was put on a spot. Those words were just her half-heartedattempt to encourage Carter to wake up. Never in her wildest dreamdid she expect him to hear it. She could only curse herself for herplight.

Meanwhile, Carter's words triggered the possessiveness within Oscar.He tightened his grip on her. “Mr. Carter, I understand your infatuationwith my wife. After all, she is a very charming lady with a long line ofsuitors. Regretfully for everyone else, our relationships going strong,and will be expecting a child soon. It's high time you give up.”

Carter retorted, “Amelia has given me permission to be her child'sgodfather. I'll treat him or her like my flesh and blood. Don’t worry, mybond with Amelia will only grow stronger.” His words were undoubtedlya direct confrontation with him.

Abel frowned. Meanwhile, Mrs. Scott went by her son's side to diffusethe tension. “Carter, you've just regained your consciousness, so yourmind is probably confused. Let's save the jokes for a later day. You needto rest.”

Carter understood not to go any further. “Mom, I'm fine. It's just been along time since I last saw Amelia, so I can't resist the urge to speakmore with her.”

The next moment, Oscar started, “Seeing how Mr. Carter is being alllively, he's probably recovering really well. Looks like Amelia can set herheart at ease now.” He gazed towards her, voice gentle, “Honey, am Iright?”

Amelia nodded her head helplessly.

Oscar and Carter had always been at loggerheads with each other, soshe tried to divert their attention. “Carter, take care of yourself. Youwon't blame us for not bringing any fruit baskets, right? We kinda camehere in a hurry.”

Carter chuckled lightly. “Of course not! There's plenty of fruits here:bananas, grapes, apples... Which do you want? I'll peel it for you.”Amelia smiled awkwardly, trying her best to avoid his passionate gaze.“I haven't had lunch so I'll pass on the fruits.”

“What! Look at how late it is now. You haven't had lunch?” Carter'ssudden outburst caused him to pull on his injury. He cried out in pain.This got Jennifer and Mrs. Scott worried. “Carter, remember what thedoctor said? You can't get too agitated.”

He took a few deep breaths while waiting for the pain to subside.“Mom, I know.”

Subconsciously, he retracted his hands away from Jennifer. Althoughhis behavior hurt the latter, her proud disposition kept her fromrevealing her emotions. She remained indifferent on the outside.Carter added, “Amelia, go and have your lunch. You're eating for twonow. You won't want the baby to go hungry.”

“We shall take up your offer then. I'll take Amelia to eat now. She won'thave to miss lunch had she not been so worried about you, as a friend.”Oscar's tone was oozing with sarcasm.

“Go ahead Amelia. I'll pay you a visit once I'm discharged from thehospital. If it weren't for your encouraging words, I would never havewoken up. Simply put, you're my savior.”

Amelia shook her head. “Carter, please don't credit me for this. Youwere already doing fine. Besides, this is a reputable hospital. Undertheir care, you would've woken up eventually.”

Oscar had enough of Carter's advances. He situated himself in front ofAmelia to block the latter's view of her. Then, he turned to Abel. “Mr.Scott, I'm pretty sure all of you have a lot of catching up to do. We shalltake our leave now.”

Abel chuckled. “All right. Also, don't take Carter's words to heart. He'sjust woken up, so he made a lot of careless remarks.”

“Don't worry about it. I understand why he would act this way. Asexpected of my beautiful and kind wife. I'm glad he knows toappreciate her as well.” With that, Oscar bade the rest of them farewell.Right before they exited, he turned and gave a final piece of advice.“Mr. Carter, instead of having a one-track mind, it's best to broadenyour view. You'll replace that there are plenty of options available. Forinstance, Ms. Larson here seems to be a good match for you. Giveothers a chance. Who knows, you might end up in a blissful relationshiptoo.”

With that, both Oscar and Amelia left the ward.

Evidently, the atmosphere in the ward had turned sour. Abel turned tothe rest of the members. “Now that Carter's awake, you all can go backand rest now. I have some private matters to discuss with him.”

Mrs. Scott responded on their behalf. “Dad, we'll leave first then. I'll getthe housemaid to prepare some food for Carter and come by againlater.”

Abel nodded.

Mrs. Scott tugged on Jennifer, but the latter had no intention ofmoving. “Mrs. Scott, Carter just woke up. I wish to spend more timewith him. I'll leave on my own later.”

“Jennifer, I appreciate your care these past few days. I'm pretty sureyou're tired as well. Go back home and have a good rest.”

After facing multiply rejections, Jennifer could no longer mask the hurtin her voice. “Carter, do you hate me this much?”

Before he could respond, Mrs. Scott intercepted. She wrapped herhands around Jennifer's to placate her. “Jennifer, I'm sure Carter's justworried you'll overwork yourself. C'mon, let's go home together. I'llmake tons of delicious food for you. There's plenty of time in future tospend with him.”

Her words worked. Jennifer felt slightly better.

They exited the ward, leaving Abel and Carter alone.

Without sugar-coating his words, Abel chided, “Carter, what you saidjust now was unacceptable. Even I would think twice before provokingOscar. Yet, you flirted with Amelia right in front of him. Is she thatimportant to you?”

“Granddad, my feelings for Amelia have long passed the point ofreturn. While I was unconscious, I could still vaguely hear the voicesaround me. Besides you and the rest of the family, Amelia's wordspulled me through this. She said she'll give me a chance to make up fornot helping her back then. This time, I'm determined to protect her.”Abel sighed in resignation. “Is this retribution? If I'd known you wouldbe this infatuated with her, I shouldn't have chased her away.Otherwise, you would've been happily married to her. Perhaps, I couldeven be holding my own grandchild now.”

Carter shut his eyes as he attempted to placate the surge of emotionswelling up within him.

“Granddad, it's true that for a long time, I have hated you, Mom, andDad. But, I've learned to forgive. It's just, at times, I can't help butwonder whether what happened between me and Amelia was becauseof your doings or my cowardice and weakness. Perhaps, it's acombination of both. If I had been stronger and more mature, thingswould have turned out differently.”

“Carter, you've grown into a fine man now. Romance is just a small partof your life. Why let it affect you so much?”