Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 36

Olivia's face was calm as she said, “Let's eat. There're guests aroundtoday. Let's not make a fool of ourselves in front of them.”

Due to Stephanie's fit of temper, the Yard family trio left swiftly after themeal. As Owen's earlier proposal wasn't taken seriously in the end, hedidn’t ask them to stay either.

After the guests left, Owen turned to look at his daughter. “Steph,you're getting out of hand. Your mom is an elder. How could you talkback to her?”

Stephanie shot a vicious glare at Amelia and said, “Dad, I wasn't talkingback to Mom. I simply cannot stand a particular person, that's all.”“Steph, no matter what, Amelia's your sister-in-law. To shoot yourmouth off in the presence of outsiders not only embarrasses her, but itembarrasses your brother as well. If the Yards were to gossip about thiswith others, how do you suppose others would look at our family? TheClintons have been made enough of a joke in society because of theYards. How are you still so ignorant?”

Stephanie was visibly upset. “Dad, are you lecturing me?”

Amelia, being the peacekeeper of the house, chimed in, “Dad, thismatter aroused because of me. My family’s background is unworthy ofOscar. It's only natural for Stephanie to dislike me.”

Oscar frowned, disliking how self-deprecating Amelia was behaving. Heuttered coldly, “Stephanie, apologize to Amelia.”

Stephanie stared at Oscar in disbelief, her face flushing red in rage. “Allof you are too much! You're all bullying your own family for anoutsider"—she stood up—"you expect me to apologize to her? Dreamon! I detest her!”

She then stormed upstairs before anyone could stop her.

Olivia held onto Amelia's hands and tried to smooth things over.“Amelia, Steph is temperamental and mischievous. Please don't take herwords to heart.”

Amelia chuckled. “Mom, don't worry. Steph’s my sister-in-law. I won'tmind whatever she says. I'm only looking forward to being with Oscarfor a long time. I won't fret about irrelevant matters.”

Olivia patted her hand in content and praised, “You're a sensible child.”Standing at the side, Oscar uttered, “Mom, there are still matters tohandle at the company. I'll return before dinner.”

“It's the weekend. What matters could there be?"

“Technical issues. I'll be back soon.”

Olivia glanced at him in disapproval and chided, “You should bespending the weekends with your wife. Don't be like your father andbecome a workaholic.”

Amelia wrapped her arm around Olivia's, playing her part as anunderstanding spouse. “Mom, the Clinton Corporations has thousandsof employees. There's a lot of pressure on Oscar. Working on weekendsis normal with the amount of workload he has. Don't blame him.”“Oscar, you should be satisfied having married such an understandingwife. No matter how busy work is, you ought to replace time to spend withher. Don't think about unnecessary thoughts as soon as someone hasreturned. Though Amelia doesn’t blame you, I as your mother won't letyou off easy. I may not have a job, but I'm not a fool. If you're going outwith Cassie Yard, you can forget about ever calling me your mom. TheClintons will not accept anyone with the last name Yard,” Oliviadeclared sternly.

Oscar's expression clouded over as he shot an unknown look at Amelia.Noticing that, Olivia immediately rebutted, “What are you looking atAmelia for? Didn't you say you have business at the company? Whatare you waiting for?”

Oscar simply nodded and turned around to leave.

“The kids have grown up now. You should leave them to it. Oscar'scapable and he handles the matters at work very well. He'll be able tohandle his own relationship matters. Quit getting involved,” Owen saidto his wife.

Olivia turned toward Amelia. “It's late. Why don't you go take a nap?”Amelia nodded in agreement.

As soon as Amelia had gone upstairs, Olivia went to take a seat next toher husband and muttered, “Are you still thinking about separatingAmelia and Oscar?”

Owen flipped open his newspaper, his eyes brightening as if he wasdrawn into it. In one swift move, Olivia removed them from his handsand grumbled, “Owen Clinton, stop pretending that you can't hear meand say something. I'm telling you—the only daughter-in-law I'll acceptis Amelia. The others, especially Cassie Yard, will not be considered. Iwill rightly refuse her if she aims to be married into the Clintons.”Owen glanced at her curiously. “What's so great about Amelia? She'smerely a pitiful child. You should be clearer than anyone else why Oscarmarried her in the first place. Cassie had done Oscar wrong previously,but now that she’s back and even personally came to visit, what are youstill bearing a grudge for? I recall you used to treat her nicely. What'schanged?”

“Owen Clinton, as it turns out, you have such a big heart. You could turna blind eye to everything Cassie Yard did. Fleeing the wedding aside,she had even escaped with her new boyfriend. What did she treat Oscarand the Clintons as? She's completely naive if she thinks she would beforgiven with a mere apology.”

Olivia was typically calm and composed on usual days, but shouldanything be met with her ire, it would not be a matter easily forgotten.How strongly she had once liked Cassie was how strongly her dislikehad grown for her.

Owen reached for the newspapers once again, saying in a soothingtone, “Stop worrying about it. It's Oscar's marriage and he’s a man now.He'll handle his own relationship problems. However, I think he’s stillhung up on Cassie. You should just stay out of it, lest you create anyunnecessary trouble.”

“Owen Clinton, are you saying I'm a busybody?”

Embracing his wife, Owen gently coaxed, “I'll hand the work on-hand toOscar in a few days and take you to Caspardion for a holiday. An oldfriend has recommended a small town with an exceptional view. You'lllove it when you see it.”

Olivia's face gradually lightened up.

“Not mad anymore?”

“Given that you're standing on my side, I'll quit being angry. But youcan't turn a blind eye to Oscar's matters. I know you're not whollyaccepting of Amelia“s family background, but she's already married intothe family. The Clintons are not one to be hypocritical. Your dad onlyhad one wife, and you only have me, hence Oscar must only have onetoo with no exceptions.”

Owen looked nonplussed. “Dearest, aren't you being too authoritative?If the marriage is failing, divorce is unavoidable. What's the point offorcing them to be together?”

Olivia glared at him. “So what you mean to say is that you're supportiveof him and Cassie getting back together?”

“Dearest, you're thinking too much. Since when did I make such aclaim?” Owen sighed and coaxed, “The younger generations will be allright on their own. You're right. I'm not very satisfied with Amelia“sfamily background, but I won't help outsiders go against our daughter-in-law. Let's not dwell on these frustrating things. In a few days, we'll goto Caspardion for a big vacation and only return when you're feelingbetter, all right?”

Olivia wasn't an unreasonable person, hence she no longer said much.But suddenly remembering something, she said, “Owen, I noticedAmelia's belly is bulging out. I'm a mother and I'm experienced. It'sobvious it isn't weight gain—I think she’s pregnant.”

Owen's tranquil gaze flickered for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“I've given birth to two kids. Of course, I could differentiate between achubby woman and a pregnant one. I'm certain—she’s got to bepregnant.”

“If she’s truly pregnant, then it'll be the Clintons’ first grandchild. Theremust not be any mishap,” Owen commented.

“Earlier, you were still being indifferent. Now that you hear yourdaughter-in-law may be pregnant, you're thrilled? Aren't you afraidAmelia will be upset if she replaces out?”

Owen had no reaction to being teased and clarified, “Is she reallypregnant?”

“Most likely, but we'll still have to get Robert here to take a look. He'streated us for decades. I'm confident in his medical skills.”

“I'll give him a call then.”

“Let's not be hasty,” Olivia stopped him. “Let me have a word withAmelia first. It'll be utterly embarrassing for us both if this is amisunderstanding.”

Feeling anxious, Owen urged, “Then go quickly. They've been marriedfor four years and they're still childless.”

“Why are you so impatient? I'm going now.” Olivia shook her head andwent upstairs, knocking on the door until Amelia told her to enter. Withone hand, she closed the door behind her as soon as she entered theroom.

“What's the matter, Mom?”

“I was worried you'll be bored, so I came to have a chat with you.”Amelia laughed. “Take a seat, Mom.”

Olivia's eyes zeroed in on Amelia's belly as soon she sat down.Confused, Amelia questioned, “Mom, what are you looking at?"

Olivia didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. “I seeyour belly’s gotten a little rounder. It doesn't seem like you're gainingweight. Are you pregnant?”

Amelia's heart knotted for a second, her brain hurriedly working tothink of a believable excuse. She was aware that if she wanted to keepbeing the Clintons’ daughter-in-law, the only way would be to confessto Olivia that she was pregnant as the elder would never allow her sonto divorce her for the sake of her grandchild. But she couldn't delay adivorce for eternity. By the time she'd given birth, Oscar would nolonger care about Olivia's objection. By then, all she would be reducedto was a measly sum of alimony. Even her child would be snatched bythe Clintons.

That wasn't her intention. She loved the child and was willing to give upeverything in exchange for it, hence she made a decision to keep itfrom Olivia.

Mom, I'm sorry! Amelia apologized silently on the inside.

“Mom, I know you've been wanting a grandchild. I thought I waspregnant too, but after a check-up at the hospital, the doctor said I'vebeen eating too much recently, hence I've gotten slightly bloated.Sorry, I may have to disappoint you.”

It would be a lie to say Olivia wasn't disappointed, but she was fullyconvinced she was right. Hence, she continued, “You've only seen onedoctor. Maybe it was misdiagnosed. Why don't I get Mr. Lancester totake a look? His medical skills are top-notch. He would be able to tell ifyou're pregnant with a single glance.”

Amelia guiltily replied, “Mom, I know you're eager, but my belly is reallyjust fats. I'm very sorry that Oscar and I couldn't give you a grandchilddespite our four years of marriage. If you can no longer wait, I'll divorceOscar. After all, I've always felt ashamed to face you for not gettingpregnant too.”

Olivia had been dismayed at first but was shocked when she heardAmelia's words. She frantically grabbed Amelia's hand and exclaimed,“What nonsense are you saying, you foolish child? I may bedisappointed that you're not pregnant, but there's no need for you tosay such brainless things. Hurting Oscar aside, you are also hurting myheart!”

Amelia lowered her head. “Mom, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.Oscar and I have been married for four years and we've also seen thedoctors. The doctor said that my ovaries are blocked and it would behard for me to get pregnant. That's why I feel like it's for the best forOscar and me to get divorced since we've already discussed it.”

Olivia anxiously asked, “You two have even talked about divorce? Doyou even regard me as your elder? How could you not inform me ofsuch a grave matter? Are you trying to piss me off?”

“Mom, we just didn’t want to worry you.”