Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 31

“Do you think you can escape Oscar's clutches?”

Amelia was bereft of speech.

“Even you don't think you can escape his clutches. What makes youthink he will let you leave?”

Closing her eyes, Amelia said, “Tiff, I've found a job.”

Tiffany was flustered. “Amelia, are you kidding me? We're talking aboutthe baby. Why are you talking to me about work? Don't you haveenough money to spend? I can give you if you don’t. Why must youlook for a job when you're pregnant? You're driving me crazy!”

Amelia patted her on the back of her hand and reassured her, “Tiff,don't worry. When I signed the agreement with Oscar, he agreed not tointerfere when I wanna work. In other words, if the company I work forsends me to another province or abroad for a few months, he can't sayno."

Tiffany looked at her in surprise and asked, “Really?” But after giving itsome thought, she still felt apprehensive. “Amelia, what if Oscar wantsto see you on a whim and goes to visit you? It'll blow your cover, won'tit?”

Apparently, Amelia had not thought about that.

Tiffany got even more frustrated. “Argh, Amelia, I thought you were asmart girl! How can you be so foolish and let Oscar call the shots inyour marriage? What are you thinking?!”

Amelia remained silent.

Gritting her teeth, Tiffany took a few deep breaths before inferring,“Babe, you were born to tick me off.”

However, Amelia patted the bed calmly as she finally said, “Don’t bemad. I heard that Cassie is coming back, so I think Oscar won't havetime to visit me. In fact, I think we're gonna divorce soon.”

Tiffany simply listened to her in silence initially, but something poppedinto her mind and she abruptly sat up. “Amelia, I don't think you shoulddivorce. You're the legit Mrs. Clinton, so you don’t have to make roomfor a vixen just because she comes back.”

“Tiff, what's wrong with you? You've only just recovered. Don't get sojumpy,” said Amelia while tugging at her pajamas.

Tiffany lay back down and turned to look at Amelia.

“Babe, tell me honestly, are you really willing to give up the fruits ofyour labor?”

“What? As I said, I don't have the right to decide anything in mymarriage with Oscar. Anyway, it's getting late. It's my first day at worktomorrow.”

“Babe, you're kidding, aren't you? You're gonna work tomorrow? Also,when did you replace the job? Why didn’t I know at all?”

“The CEO of the company and I went to university together. I said Ineeded a job, so he gave me an untaxing job.”

“Who's it?” In the next second, Tiffany widened her eyes and saidanxiously, “Amelia, don't tell me it's Carter Scott. If it's that b******, I'mgonna strangle you.”

“It's been so many years, and yet you still remember him?” Ameliaasked, amused.

“Let me tell you something—1I'll never forget him until the day I die. If ithadn't been for him, you wouldn't have chosen to go into a contractmarriage with Oscar. I wouldn't have become a freelance writer becauseof my fear of interpersonal relationships in the workplace. I wish I couldchop him up into pieces now.”

Amelia found her response amusing.

"Tiff, you're being unreasonable. Carter didn’t do anything wrong backthen. He just didn’t help us when we were wrongfully accused, which isjustifiable. We can’t vent our anger on him.”

Tiffany clenched her teeth. “It seems that you've really gone to that jerkfor help.”

Shrugging, Amelia replied with a smile, “It's all water under the bridgenow, Tiff. Besides, it was our fault at the time, so we can't blame others.Carter got caught up in his family affairs that day. You can't expect himto come and save us. Come on, don't sulk.”

Tiffany heaved a sigh and explained in a softer tone, “I do know thathe’s not to blame, but at that time we were desperate and had severalmillions worth of debt around our necks. If it weren't for that, youwouldn't have gone to Oscar and been labeled a gold digger, while Iwouldn't have developed a fear of interpersonal communication in theworkplace. Thinking about it now, I'm so angry and frustrated.”

“Tiff, I've long since moved on. I didn’t think that you would still be somad. Carter's really not to blame for that incident back then, so youshould stop blaming him.”

Tiffany's anger was deflated as she replied, “How can I still blame himwhen you, the biggest victim, don't even blame him? But I'm curious.You and that jerk haven't been in contact for many years; why did youget in touch with him now?”

“Well, he WhatsApped me a few days ago to ask me how I've been allthese years, and I told him about looking for a job.”

“So you sold yourself out so easily?”

“I asked him for a job as compensation for what happened back then.”“How can you be so barefaced and ask him for a job, Amelia? Are youtrying to piss me off?”

Amelia said softly, “Tiff, have you forgotten? When we were in debt, weswore to God that as long as we could be rich and no longer be lookeddown upon by anyone, we would stop at nothing as dignity was notworth a penny in the face of reality.”

Tiffany did not refute her.

“You can do that to Carter, but why can’t you do the same to Oscar?You're just sugarcoating it when in fact, you're tender-hearted. Anyway,I should stop here. I'll go to the company with you tomorrow so that Ican teach that b****** 3 lesson if he takes the opportunity to bully you.”"He's not a scourge.”

“That b******'s more terrifying than a scourge.”

Amelia was at a loss for words.

The next day, Tiffany insisted on going to the company with Ameliaregardless of how hard the latter tried to dissuade her. In the end,Amelia had no choice but to take her with her.

They went to the busiest street in the city’s business district andentered a building with a signboard that read “Majesty Group.” Lookingaround, Tiffany asked, “Amelia, I don't think this belongs to the Scotts,right?”

“Yeah. Carter rents the 12th floor here as an office space,” Ameliaexplained.

Tiffany curled her lips in disdain. “That b****** still has the capabilityeven without his family's help?”

“As long as you aren't biased against Carter, you'll replace that he's quiteattractive. Back then, I was thinking of setting the two of you uptogether.”

Tiffany gave her a dirty look but said nothing as the elevator dooropened.

When they came to the 12th floor, a slim secretary greeted thempolitely, “You must be Ms. Winters. Mr. Scott's waiting for you in hisoffice. This way, please.”

Following the secretary, Amelia and Tiffany walked into the office. Then,the secretary said, “Mr. Scott, Ms. Winters is here.”

While the secretary spoke, Tiffany was staring at the man behind thedesk, who was none other than Carter.

“You may leave now, Linda,” instructed Carter.

Linda did as told.

“It's been a long time, Amelia, Tiffany.” Standing up, Carter went aroundthe desk and reached out to shake hands with the two of them, butunexpectedly, Tiffany mocked, “Carter Scott, just drop the pretense.”Instead of getting mad, Carter replied with a smile, “After so manyyears, you haven't changed a bit.”

Tiffany huffed in exasperation.

Amelia extended her arm to shake hands with Carter and said, “Don'tmind her, Carter. As you know, she's always been plain-spoken.”

Carter flashed her a smile.

Standing at 185 cm tall, he was good-looking and exuded an air ofnobility. Despite being nicely dressed in a suit and tie, Tiffany still sawhim as a brute.

"Amelia, I'm sorry for what happened back then. Because of my familyaffairs, I couldn't help you in time, causing you to be neck-deep in debt.By the time I settled my problems and went to replace you, you hadalready left.”

Tiffany curled her lips in disdain. “Carter, you were still kinda sincereback then even though you're the son of a rich man. Now that you'vestarted your own company, you've become so pretentious.”

The smile on Carter's face remained unchanged after hearing Tiffany'sremark.

Meanwhile, Amelia tugged at Tiffany's sleeve while giving Carter anapologetic look, saying, “Tiffany still holds a grudge for what happenedback then. I hope you won't take it personally.”

Shaking his head, Carter gave her a gentlemanly smile and changed thesubject. “Why didn't you tell me Tiffany is looking for a job too? If youhad told me earlier, I would've gotten two jobs ready.”

“She came to keep me company. By the way, what do I need to dohere?” Amelia immediately replied before Tiffany could.

“You'll be my assistant as it's a rather undemanding job.” After aseemingly inadvertent glance at Amelia's belly, Carter hesitated for amoment before asking, “Are you married?”

Amelia was taken aback, but soon she regained her composure andreplied, “Yeah, I got married four years ago.”

A look of disappointment flashed across Carter's eyes.

Then, Tiffany was heard deriding, “Ha, Carter Scott, do you think youcan win her over by getting her to work for you? Tell you what, she’snot only married but also pregnant. So you'd better give up the idea.”The was a slight change in Carter's expression, but it soon returned tonormal as he said with a smile, “Although it's a little late to say this,congratulations on getting married, Amelia!”

“Thank you!”

“Also, don’t get me wrong. Our company is hiring an assistant designerand an assistant to General Manager. I thought that since we knoweach other, you can work with me,” explained Carter.

“Don’t mind Tiff's nonsense. I'm already happy that you think of me asa friend enough to give me a job.”

Carter shook his head. “Nah, Amelia, I gave you the job because youhave a flair for design. You're a very talented woman. Although we'velost contact for a few years, I know that the life you breathe into yourdesign won't just disappear. In fact, I'm glad that you asked for a jobfrom me. With you joining us, my company will definitely flourish.”Amelia did not know how to respond to his words, whereas Tiffanycrossed her arms and commented, “Carter Scott, after you became aboss, you've perfected your corporatespeak. Even I can't help but getgoosebumps.”

With a smile still tugging at his lips, Carter suggested, “It'll be lunchtimein a few hours. Why don’t you hang out at my office first and I'll treatyou to lunch later?”

“Am I not going to start work today?” asked Amelia.

“I can't make you work on your first day. Besides, it's the weekendtomorrow, so whether you work today makes no difference. You canstart work next week.”

“All right.”

“Since you don't need to work today, let's go, Amelia,” Tiffany urged“What's going on with you today, Tiff?” Amelia knitted her brows.