Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 45

Cassie's head drooped and there was a flash in her eyes. When shelooked back up, she was back to her innocent, bubbly self.

“Oz, come sit with me. Don't worry. I'm not going to harm you. Even ifsomething should happen, isn't it always the woman who's at adisadvantage? I'm not even afraid, so why should you be?” Cassie satOscar down and brought him his glass of wine. “Go ahead and try it. Letme know if you like the taste.”

With a practiced hand, Oscar swirled his wine to release its aromas. Hethen brought the glass to his lips and took a sip, savoring it slowly.“This wine is good. It's full-bodied and rich.”

Cassie laughed. “Good, good. You should drink more then.”

The two of them continued to chat and drink through the night. Eventhough he could usually hold his liquor, Oscar was starting to feel thebuzz from the wine. He tried to stand up, only to fall back into his chair.Concerned, Cassie made her way toward him. “Are you drunk? Let metake you to the bed.”

Oscar wanted to swat her away but found himself too weak to doanything. He gave in and let Cassie lead him to bed. As she reached outto remove his clothes, he suddenly grabbed her hands. “Oz, you'redrunk. I'm taking your clothes off so you can sleep more comfortably,”she said softly.

Oscar stared at her with glassy eyes.

A sly smile lit up Cassie's face. “I'll make you feel even morecomfortable in a while. After tonight, I will officially be your woman.”She reached up to caress Oscar's face. “Don't blame me for setting youup, Oz. I was just so afraid of losing you to Amelia. You keep telling meyou love me, but you refuse to be intimate with me. You left me nochoice but to do things my way. Once this night is over, you're mineforever.”

Oscar was still staring at her in his drunken state when he suddenlymuttered, “Amelia.”

This came like a bolt from the blue and Cassie froze.

“You keep saying you no longer love her, but even in this drunken anddrugged state, you're still calling out her name.” Cassie felt her rageboiling over and started tearing at Oscar's clothes. “I was going to drugyou further, but I held back for fear of side effects. How could you stillcall out her name? Do you know how much this hurts me?”

Oscar continued muttering, “Amelia, you're home? Let's go to bedthen.” He was about to sit up and pull Cassie into bed, but he couldntmuster an ounce of energy to do so.

“Amelia, what's wrong with me?” he asked quizzically.

Cassie gathered all her strength to remove Oscar's clothes beforestripping herself down. As she straddled him, Oscar pushed her away infrustration. “Go away. You stink.”

Cassie was ashamed, embarrassed, and angry. She had people fawningover her since she was a child and never had she ever been shamed likethis. And to be humiliated by the man who claimed to love her? Thismade Cassie even more furious.

She grabbed his face and gave a sultry whisper, “What's the matter, Oz?Don't be such a grump. Let's go to bed.”

Oscar snored away, dead to the world.

Cassie's face turned dark. She was not at all amused.

“Oscar Clinton, you keep saying you love me, and yet you've beenhumiliating me. The more you push me away, the more I want tobecome yours. Mark my words. I'll make sure I'm the only woman inyour life from now on.”

Cassie was about to lean down and plant a kiss on Oscar's lips when hesuddenly muttered, “Amelia, I dont want a divorce. I think I'm in lovewith you.” He even had on such a dopey smile as he said that, a starkcontrast from the cool, authoritative demeanor he always had.

Cassie was seething. She leaned into his ear and whispered, “Oz, I'llmake you fall in love with me again.”

She got off the bed and took out a packet of human blood from thewardrobe. It was one that she had purchased from the hospital. Shetore a small opening and dripped a few drops onto the bed.

She dumped the remaining blood into the toilet and flushed it away.Cassie then got back into bed and calmly lay on Oscar. “I hope youdream of me tonight.”

The next day, Oscar woke up to see Cassie still asleep and snuggledagainst his chest. He saw that they were both naked and guessed asmuch as to what they might have done. What he didn’t understand waswhy he couldn't remember anything about getting intimate with her.He hated this feeling. He was even a little disgusted by it. Oscarwondered if Cassie had set him up but promptly ruled that out. She wasfar too innocent to be this scheming. This was all probably just amisunderstanding.

Oscar was still contemplating it when Cassie stirred. She met his gazewith red, puffy eyes. “Oz, you got so drunk last night you forced meinto bed. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't snap you out of it.You've promised me you wouldn't hurt me, and yet you were so roughlast night. I cried and tried to stop you but you just wouldn't listen.”Having said that, she broke into tears.

Oscar frowned but still hugged her gently. “Now, now, don't cry. It wasmy fault that I got stupid drunk and did what I did. I promise I'll takefull responsibility.”

Cassie leaned into his chest. “You were really rough with me last nightand it hurt. I won't blame you though. I already knew I was going tosave myself for you ever since we started dating. You wanted to wait tillwe got married and I was fine with that too. Now that you've taken myvirginity, I'm officially yours. You can't let me down now.”

Oscar's gaze shifted to the drops of blood left on the bed and felt asurge of pity toward Cassie. “Don’t worry,” he said softly. “I'll takeresponsibility for this. You're now my woman, and I won't let anyonebully you.”

Cassie gave a quick, self-satisfied smile. “I won't force you to divorceeither, Oz. But the way you were last night... There wasn't anyprotection used. What if you got me pregnant? I don't want my baby tobe an illegitimate child.”

Oscar had a mix of emotions swirling inside him now. To be honest, hehad always dreaded the prospect of marrying Cassie. He was aware ofhow often he professed his love for her but getting married was awhole other deal. He would usually suppress these thoughts andemotions, but now they were boiling over.

He had been in the business world for so long. The fact that he couldbring their family business to even greater heights just showed howclever and capable he was. Yet now he had to convince himself that heloved Cassie? Had Cassie tricked him? Had he lost to her?

"Oz? What's wrong? Why aren“t you saying anything? Are youdisgusted by me now and regret your promise to marry me? You knowI'm not that kind of woman, right? If you really don’t wish to marry me, Iwon't force you either. We'll cut all ties, and I'll go back to Erihal. Even ifI do have your child, I'll raise him myself.”

Before the teary-eyed Cassie could leave the bed, Oscar stopped herand hugged her tight. “You've misunderstood me, Cassie. I was justthinking about stuff earlier. Ill make good on my promise to get thedivorce and marry you. You're the woman I've always longed for, and Iwon't ever let you down again.”

“I'm so relieved to hear that,” Cassie replied gently. “Why don't you takea shower before going to work? I have to meet my team too. Theremight be a recital to attend tonight.”

Oscar nodded. “This is your first time with a man. If you feeluncomfortable in any way, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?”

“Oz, I know.”

When Oscar had gotten into the bathroom, Cassie picked up his phoneand dialed Amelia's number. Once the call got through, she saidgleefully, “Ms. Winters, it's me. I'm pregnant with Oscar's child, so ifyou're smart about it, I suggest you quickly get the divorce done. Youdon't want to humiliate yourself now, do you?”

On the other end of the call, Amelia was cool as a cucumber. “Are youwith him now?"

“How else would I be using his phone? He called me over to your houselast night after you left. It may not be as grand as the Clinton residence,but it's still got a nice, homely touch to it. I quite like it, to be honest.Oh, I just can't wait to live there with Oscar and our child! We'll be sohappy together!”

Cassie was so good at putting on that saccharine voice of hers, butAmelia remained cool as ever.

“Ms. Yard, are you done? If there's nothing else, I'll be hanging up now.I've still got work to do. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”

With that, Amelia ended the call.

Cassie grinned at the phone smugly. “Amelia Winters, let's see howlong you can put on this brave front. Oz is mine! You're merely asubstitute, so scram as far as you can.”

The new lover laughs, while the old lover weeps.

Amelia, who was already at work, was still clutching her phone tightly.She was so crestfallen and distracted that she didn't even realize Carterwas now standing in front of her.

Carter sat her down on the couch and asked gently, “Amelia, are youokay?”

She snapped back to reality and forced a smile. “I'm fine.”

Carter always had such a pleasant smile. He was a true gentleman andAmelia felt comfortable around him.

“Amelia, we've been friends for so long. You can confide in me if youdon’t mind."

She shook her head. “It's fine, Mr. Scott. It's office hours now, and I'dprefer to keep my personal and professional life separate.”

“Don’t worry. Have you forgotten that I'm the boss? I can do whatever Ilike. No one can stop me.” Carter chuckled

Amelia retorted, “All the more you should be leading by example. Howelse can you expect the company to have faith in you? If there'snothing else, I'd like to get back to work now.”

As she prepared to leave, Carter grabbed her hand. “You don't look sowell though. Why don't you stay for a bit and let me make you sometea? You can get back to work once you're feeling better. I can'tpossibly let people think I'm overworking the newcomer.”

Amelia couldn't help but break into a smile. “Mr. Scott, you're alwayssuch a joker.”

Carter made a cup of warm tea and brought it to her. “This is my office,Amelia. You don't have to be so formal. Please, call me Carter.”

Amelia accepted the tea from him with a polite smile. “There are stillcompany rules and etiquette to follow. I can't let there be rumors aboutthe newcomer getting special treatment from the boss. It's bad enoughthat they know I got this job through personal connections. Imaginehow much more pissed off they'd be if I acted all arrogant aroundhere.”

After all, being in the workforce means having to take extra cautionwith every word you say and every step you take.