Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 148

Chapter 148 A Solemn Promise

“I'll leave it to the two of you then. I'm old now, and I can't meddle in the affairs of young peopleanymore,” Elizabeth said, somewhat grudgingly. “Oz, if you no longer feel the same for Cassie asyou did at the beginning, then you shouldn't have led her on. Cassie could have gone on to muchbetter things at Erihal. Perhaps she could even have become a world-class pianist after two or threeyears. The Yard family doesn't lack money, but it's always good for women to have a profession oftheir own.”

Oscar stared steadfastly ahead without speaking.

Elizabeth sighed.

“Oz, I'm truthfully quite disappointed with you. I'd always believed that you were a man of yourword. However, you've gone back and forth between two women, taking pleasure in both of themeven as they suffer from your indecisiveness. As a woman, I despise men like you. Of course, Istrongly objected to Cassie becoming a third party in your marriage. It's too bad that she’s my onlydaughter. As much as I disapprove of her, she’s all I have, and I've got to support her. I can't standby idly and let you hurt her.”

Elizabeth finished off her surprisingly moving speech by gazing up at Oscar defiantly.

Oscar looked away. After pausing for a moment, he met Elizabeth's eyes. “Mrs. Yard, I didn't thinkthings through since the beginning, so I'm truly sorry for that. I'll definitely deal with Cassie tactfullyand deal with her as gently as I can. Even though we may no longer be a couple, I'd still like toaffirm that as long as she needs help, she only has to tell me. I'll immediately drop everything tohelp her to the best that I can. This is my promise to her. You can be sure that I'll keep my word.”Elizabeth's resentment towards Oscar had greatly lessened by this point, and her face was no longeras tense as it was.

"Og, this is the promise you have made, so you can't go back on your word for the rest of your life.All I have is Cassie. Even if you don't end up together with her, I hope that you'll help Cassie retainYard Group and fend off prying hands. Cassie's excellent at playing the piano, but she doesn’t havemuch experience in business dealings. I don't know if Cassie will be able to manage things,”Elizabeth replied.

Oscar nodded. “Mrs. Yard, I promise that whatever happens between us, I'll never let Yard Group fallinto the hands of an outsider. This is my solemn promise to you. As long as Cassie asks for help, I'llcome to her aid.”

Elizabeth was pleased.

"Og, it's late. Go in and sleep then,” Elizabeth said in a milder tone. “Initially, I thought you shouldhead back, but you've seen for yourself how unwilling Cassie is to let you go. She's still weak andprone to emotional agitation. Please take good care of her.”

Oscar hesitated, then nodded slowly.

“You head back first then, Mrs. Yard. Leave Cassie to me,” Oscar said. “Mr. Yard's busy with thebusiness these days, and it'll be taxing on him to care for Cassie as well. Go back and assure himthat I'll be here.”

“We'll have to trouble you, then. If anything happens to Cassie, be sure to call me. We could havehired a dedicated nurse for her, but she insisted on having you here. I'm helpless in many mattersregarding Cassie. Please bear with her, and I'll leave her to you,” Elizabeth instructed before pickingup her bag and making her exit.

Oscar stood outside Cassie's hospital room. The entire corridor seemed deserted. That blockconsisted of premium wards, and the decor and facilities available were the best.

Oscar fished out his phone from his pocket and dialed Amelia. She answered almost instantly."Have you gone home?” Oscar asked.

Amelia's voice over the phone was hushed. “I'm at still the hospital. Carter's still in the operatingroom. How's Ms. Yard?"

“She has just fallen asleep,” Carter replied.

"Are you in her room?” Amelia asked tentatively.

“No, I'm sitting on a chair along the corridor,” Carter answered evenly.

“It's late. You should go back early and rest. I'll be heading back with Tiff in a while,” Amelia said."OK."

Over the phone, the husband and his wife spoke tenderly. The conversation bloomed with anintimacy that had never happened before in their interactions over the years. An air of bashfulromance floated over each of them. Neither Oscar nor Amelia was willing to be the first to hang up.They had just parted, but this exchange was one of their rosiest moments as a couple.

It might have gone on forever if Tiffany hadn't snatched the phone over from Amelia. “Mr. Clinton,quickly go back and watch over Cassie. I'm borrowing Amelia for now. I'll return Amelia to you whenyou've finally found the time for her.”

Having said that, Tiffany vehemently ended the call.

On their end, Tiffany glanced at Amelia kindly after she hung up, saying, “Babe, you look ridiculous.If you smile any wider, your teeth are all going to fall out.”

Amelia clapped both her hands to her cheeks, feeling her ears burn with embarrassment.

Tiffany sighed at her friend's hapless state. This silly girl is digging deeper and deeper into her owngrave every day! Tiffany was pleased to see Amelia's joy but remained wary of the worst possibleoutcome that might befall Amelia—a divorce. Tiffany dared not imagine the depths of depressionthat Amelia might sink into if Oscar really divorced her.

She looks radiant and strong, but she's just a scared little girl on the inside.

“Babe, do you know what you look like now?" Tiffany asked, nudging Amelia.

Amelia, however, looked at Tiffany with incomprehension. “What do I look like?"

“You look like a little fool who's fallen head over heels in love. You've been married to that husbandof yours for five years. The first rush of romance should have been long over! Isn't it a little too lateto feel bashful now? You're not young lovers meeting in secret, you're husband and wife. You'regoing to have a child soon!” Tiffany joked.

Amelia lowered her hands, she was still immersed in the sweet feeling after the conversation shehad with Oscar earlier.

“Tiff, don’t laugh at me,” Amelia said in earnest.

Tiffany rearranged her face to look serious. “Babe, calm down. I don't want to be a wet blanketeither, but I simply can’t bear to see you get hurt. Unless Oscar has given you a surety of sorts, youshould maintain a clear mind and forbid yourself from getting too close, and don't commit yourselfso fully to him! If the worst happens, at least you won't have such a hard time picking up thepieces.”

Amelia’s smile dimmed somewhat.

At that, Tiffany felt a twinge of guilt.

“I'm sorry, Babe. I..."

“Tiff, you're right,” Amelia broke in, shaking her head vigorously. “If you hadn't reminded me, I'd stillbe naively smitten, and leap into his arms without thinking of the possible consequences. I'm verygrateful to you for your reminder.”

Tiffany grew uneasy.

“Babe, are you OK?" she asked nervously.

Amelia shook her head again. “Why wouldn't I be OK? Everyone can tell that Oscar and I are merelyactors that got overly immersed in playing our roles. Perhaps I got a little too greedy along the wayand started wanting more than I should have expected. But what isn't destined to be mine will betaken away from me eventually. I'll just go with the flow. What's mine will be mine, and I'll let go if itisn't meant to be. There's no point in forcing things.”

Tiffany began to panic.

“Babe, are you really OK?"

Amelia looked sober. “Tiff, I'm not that fragile. I've always understood the nature of our relationshipand my place in Oscar's heart. I won't force things to go my way or expect them to. Let's go, or theScotts may be worried.”

Tiffany pursed her lips and replied, “What could they possibly be worried about? I don’t think theyeven want to see us. If it wasn't for Carter, they'd probably have gotten rid of us by now.”

Gravely, Amelia remarked, “Don't think too badly of the Scotts. Their attitude has improvedconsiderably over these four or five years. Besides, I'm not asking for much. All I want is the safedelivery of my baby and an uneventful marriage with Oscar. I haven't been too concerned aboutwhat others may think of me.”

Tiffany raised her eyebrows. “Babe, you're pretty generous. I wouldn't be able to think of them sokindly if I were in your position.”

“Is that considered kindness? I just don't really want to be hurt by people I have no attachment to. IfI started to care about them, I'd surely be on the losing end,” Amelia said with an air ofenlightenment.

Tiffany surrendered. “Fine, Babe. I respect your decision. If you have chosen not to get involved,then I shan't either. Don't expect me to be polite to the Scotts, though. That's the best I can do tokeep myself from rushing over and beating them up. I get all fired up whenever I think about howthey humiliated us in the past.”

“They're nothing to us now,” Amelia soothed. “All right. Calm down. Don't be angry. You're going toget wrinkles soon from all that frowning.”

Tiffany couldn't help but break into a smile.

Finally, Amelia felt her tensed muscles relax.

Carter's operation lasted until 1 a.m. in the morning. At last, the light over the door of the operatingroom shut off and doctors streamed out, their faces etched with fatigue.

Faye darted forward and clung onto one of the doctor's arms. “Dr. Freeman, how's my son?”

Dr. Freeman glanced at her, then replied curtly, “The patient is currently out of danger. But as hisfamily members, do monitor his situation and keep an eye on him. If he isn't careful, even our bestsurgical skills won't be able to save him.”

Tearfully, Faye exclaimed, “We can't thank you enough, doctor. When Carter recovers, I'll surelyprepare a good present for all of you to express my gratitude for saving my son's life!”

Dr. Freeman's expression softened upon hearing that. “Mrs. Scott, you're too kind. We onlyperformed our professional duty, so please don't feel obligated to repay us.”

“I must do that! You saved Carter,” Faye insisted.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Dr. Freeman finally excused himself and left with theother doctors in tow.

When Carter was brought back to the room by a few nurses, Faye turned to Amelia. “Amelia, we'vereally troubled you today. It's really late. why don’t you head home first to rest? You must bemindful of the baby in your belly. Dont stay up too late.”

Upon hearing this, Tiffany sulked. She was evidently displeased.

What was the point of saying all this now when all things had already been done? Tiffany fumed.Her words simply reeked of hypocrisy to her.

However, Tiffany's original loathing for the Scotts might also have played a part in tainting anythingthat Faye said or did.

Amelia remained gracious. “All right, I'll be off with Tiff first, then. Can I trouble you to give me a callwhen Carter wakes up? Tiff and I will come over to visit him whenever we're free.”

Faye nodded. “It's so sweet of you to care for him. I'll definitely call you the moment Carter wakesup.”

Without waiting for Amelia to respond, Tiffany hauled her away.

After they left, Jennifer approached Faye, asking, “Mrs. Scott, did you agree to Carter and Amelia'srelationship?”

Faye clutched Jennifer's hand. “Jennifer, don't misunderstand. Carter's very obstinate. Since he's sethis heart on Amelia, any objection from me may send him spiraling. Let's see how things take theircourse. Based on what I've been observing, I don't think things will work out between Carter andAmelia. You're the wife I want for my son, Jennifer.”

The look in Jennifer's eyes was unfathomable. She'd waited on Carter with the utmost patience andperseverance. Amelia's insincere concern was nothing compared to what Jennifer had sacrificed.However, even Faye was now clearly on Amelia's side.

Who do they take me for? I'm just a fool doing all this for nothing! Jennifer seethed.

Jennifer hailed from a wealthy, distinguished family. Pampered since young, she received only thebest and was treated as such. No one had ever humiliated her in this way before.

“Mrs. Scott, are you planning to treat me as a spare tyre?” Jennifer asked candidly.

Faye was indignant. “Jennifer, I know that you've suffered all this while. But you've witnessed Carter'ssituation yourself. I have no choice but to treat Amelia well, or Carter will use his illness to kick up afuss. I can't let his condition deteriorate. He's all I have. I can't afford to let anything happen to him.”Jennifer's expression softened.