Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 51

Amelia looked at Oscar and asked, “Mr. Clinton, what's wrong?”

Oscar replied, “There's too many people here.”

Amelia took his hand and started swinging it like a love-struck idiot.She laughingly commented, “Mr. Clinton, you negotiate with peopleevery day and handles accounts in the millions. I didn't know you'd bescared of crowds.”

“I'm not scared of crowds; I just don't like them. It's noisy.”

Amelia held his hand more firmly and laughed. “Mr. Clinton, I'm sorryyou have to suffer through the crowds today, but I'm the birthday girland you promised to spend the whole day with me.”

Oscar pinched her nose lightly. “I've been neglecting you all this while;I'm making it up to you now for my past actions.”

Amelia chuckled. Though she knew Oscar's affectionate behavior wasbut a temporary change, she was willing to indulge herself in hisattentiveness.

“Mr. Clinton, thank you for today. This is the first time in our four yearsof marriage that you've acted like a real husband.”

Oscar glanced at her and asked in a puzzled tone, “Did I not treat youwell in the past? I've been giving you a sizable allowance and I'vealways asked my secretary to buy you anything that you fancy. I'm nottoo sure if other rich men would be so kind to their toys.”

Amelia pursed her lips. “Mr. Clinton, like you said, you've treated melike a toy in the past. Today though, you're treating me like a wife. Andas a wife, of course, I'm happy when you're being a romantic.”

Oscar pondered her words.

Amelia lifted her head and glanced at him. “It's okay, Mr. Clinton. Justtake my words with a pinch of salt. After tonight, we'll be back to beingcontractors in a transactional relationship. There will be nothing moreto it.”

Displeasure flashed across Oscar's eyes.

“Amelia, do you not trust me?”

“Mr. Clinton, this is not a matter of trust. Your heart belongs tosomeone else"—as if to make her point, she pointed to his heart—"andno amount of effort is going to let me change that. It's much easier ifwe just treat this as a contract.”

Oscar fell silent.

He appraised Amelia's unusually calm demeanor, an indescribableemotion taking hold of him—an impulsive urge to pull her into his armsand say that he would not divorce her. But just as he lifted his arms, animage of Cassie flashed across his mind, washing away that feeling.

At that moment, Amelia’s phone started ringing. It was Tiffany.

“Tiff,” Amelia answered.

"Happy birthday, Babe! I was rushing a deadline yesterday and I almostforgot to send you a wish on your birthday. Come over, I've prepared abirthday cake for you.” Tiffany's cheerful voice came through thereceiver.

Amelia smiled. “Okay, I'll be over in a jiff.”

Tiffany continued talking for a while, with Amelia voicing her agreementseveral times.

Hanging up the phone, Amelia looked at Oscar and said smilingly, “Mr.Clinton, thank you for the surprise you've prepared for me today. Ireally liked it. Tiff's prepared a cake for me as well and I'd like to go visither. Do you wanna head home first? Or you can go visit Cassie if youlike.”

Oscar grabbed her hand, much to Amelia's shock. “Didnt you sayyou're the birthday girl and I'm not to leave your side the entire day?Let's go then.”

Amelia's smile was radiant. “Okay, let's go.”

Oscar drove them to Tiffany's neighborhood. He parked the car andtogether they went up to her place.

When Tiffany opened the door, she froze at the sight of Oscar standingnext to Amelia. Amelia merely smiled and said, “I'll tell you inside.”Tiffany let them into her place.

After closing the door, Tiffany folded her arms and addressed Oscar,“Mr. Clinton, I hope you don’t mind my humble digs or I'll have to inviteyou out.”

Oscar was nonplussed at Tiffany's sarcasm as he surveyed her modesthome.

Amelia tugged on Tiffany's sleeve. “Tiff, it's my birthday today. Pleasedon't make any funny comments for my sake.”

Though she looked displeased, she quickly brightened up and said, “Iwonder what momentous occasion has brought you all the way to myhouse, Mr. Clinton. Please don't tell me that you actually rememberedAmelia's birthday.”

Amelia tugged on her sleeves again and changed the topic. “Tiff, didn'tyou say you got me a birthday cake and presents? Where are they?”Tiffany eyed Amelia and said, “They're in the living room.”

Amelia walked into the living room and saw a two-tier cake on thetable. It wasn't a big cake but the design was incredibly intricate. Therewas a photo of her on the cake along with a message that read: Happybirthday, Amelia! Stay elegant and pretty always!

The cake was decorated with a variety of fruits as well.

“Babe, your birthday will be over in two more hours. Make a wish,quick.”

Amelia nodded.

That year, Amelia had spent her birthday with both Tiffany and

Oscar. This is the simplest birthday party I've ever joined. Oscar staredat Amelia as she made her birthday wish, her features illuminated bythe candles. He felt his chest tighten.

As the only son of the Clintons, I've always spent my birthday under thelimelight. I've lost count of the number of businessmen who've tried toestablish work connections during my birthday galas. Every guest iseither a businessman or a celebrity, and the prices of the gifts areastronomical. I've been married to this woman for four years yet I'venever once put in the effort to celebrate her birthday with her. If Ihappened to be in a good mood, I would only get my secretary to gether a branded handbag or some cosmetics. A house maybe, with thetitle deed under her name. I really don’t remember what else I've donefor her.

I've always treated her like a toy. I play with her when I'm happy andthrow her aside when I'm not. Every gift I've given her is something mysecretary prepared. I called her a gold-digger who's obsessed withbranded goods, but I don't even really know what she loves.

Looking at the woman in front of him who seemed so happy at thesight of a small cake, Oscar doubted if he'd ever truly understoodAmelia. She claims to love money and branded goods, but is that whoshe really is?

Oscar felt uncertain.

“Mr. Clinton, it's Amelia's birthday today. I wonder what gift a wealthyman like you has prepared for her.” Tiffany's sarcastic voice broughthim out of his reverie.

Before he could reply, she continued, “Let me guess. For someone asrich as you, the gift must surely be a diamond ring or a brandedhandbag. Jeez, what an utterly unimaginative present for someone withsuch wealth. I bet you don't even know what Amelia really likes.”Oscar's face clouded over. “What do you mean?”

Tiffany cut a slice of cake and smiled, though the smile didn't reach hereyes. “Mr. Clinton, for someone with two doctorates and exemplaryacademic results, do you really not understand what I'm saying?”Amelia glanced at Tiffany and said softly, “Tiff, that's too much. I'mgoing to be angry if you keep doing this.”

Tiffany looked at her briefly before continuing in an exasperated tone,“Babe, can’t you see I'm standing up for you?”

Amelia's eyes were gloomy, though a smile was plastered on her face.“Mr. Clinton and I are merely in a contractual marriage; how can youexpect him to treat me like a real husband? Also, who says I don't likebranded handbags and clothes? They're such lavish items; otherwomen would kill for them. I'm happy with what I have, so don't goscaring my rich man away or we'll need to have words.”

Tiffany appeared even more exasperated, while Oscar seemed deep inthought.

"Did you not like the diamond ring and necklace I got for you?” Oscarasked.

Amelia choked on the piece of cake she was swallowing and startedcoughing. Both Oscar and Tiffany were overcome with worry.

Tiffany quickly poured her a glass of water. “Here, take a sip.”

It wasn't until Amelia took the glass of water and took a big sip did shemanage to suppress her cough.

Tiffany patted her back gently and chided her, “How could you chokeon a piece of cake? You've always been so careless it's worrisome.”Oscar pursed his lips and asked uncomfortably, “Feeling better now?”Amelia waved off his concern. “I'm okay. It just got stuck for a bit.”Oscar replied coldly, “Make sure you eat carefully.”

Amelia nodded her head.

As the birthday party was slightly awkward due to Oscar's presence, itended prematurely before midnight.

Tiffany sent them to the door. “Babe, I've sent your present to yourhouse. Security signed for it. You just need to get it from them whenyou're home.”

Amelia hugged Tiffany and laughed. “Tiff, I'm really happy today. I hopeyou'll be with me for every single one of my birthdays. We shall be bestfriends forever.”

Tiffany patted her face fondly and replied teasingly, “Don’t be so cringy.I can't stand it. It's late. You should go home now.”

Amelia nodded.

They took the elevator down and walked to the parking lot. Once theywere in the car, Oscar asked, “Does Tiffany have some misconceptionabout me?”

“Mr. Clinton, you don’t bother to know my friends but you're worriedabout her misconceptions toward you?” Amelia glanced at him with afaint smile on her face.

Oscar slowly reversed the car out of the spot. “She's quite pretty butshe behaves like a firecracker. I'm not sure how many men can standher behavior; you're much cuter.”

“Mr. Clinton, is that a compliment I hear?”

“You're my wife. Can't I give you a compliment?”

“Well, do you treat me like your wife?”

This silenced Oscar.

Amelia shrugged.

The atmosphere in the car became cold and silent.

After some time, Amelia spoiled the mood even further. “Mr. Clinton,I'm going to Saspiuburg for training in a couple of days. Since Ms. Yardisn't going back to Erihal anymore, how do you plan to settle ourcontract? Are we getting a divorce? Or are we not? I think you need togive Ms. Yard an answer; I don't want her to approach me behind yourback again.”

Oscar scrunched his brows. “She looked for you?”

“She visited me this afternoon and told me she may be carrying yourchild,” Amelia replied calmly. What I really wanted to say is that thismistress of yours is overstepping the line! She's clearly thehomewrecker in this scenario but she acts like she's the victim, and nowI look like I'm the horrid being standing in the way of true love.

Oscar frowned.

These two women have given me more trouble than those exorbitantbusiness contracts!

Oscar avoided the elephant in the room. “Are you really planning to goto Saspiuburg?”

Amelia nodded. “It's a work thing; I'm just following the management'sorders. Plus, I really like the work I'm doing now and the benefits aregreat.”