Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 76

“Oscar Clinton, how shameless can you be?” Carter sarcastically asked.“What is causing you such great angst, Mr. Scott? Sex between amarried couple can't possibly be called shameful, can it? Don't tell me agrown man like you is still a virgin!” Oscar teased.

Carter took a sip of alcohol to mask his sorrow.

“Mr. Scott, this bar is famous for its beauties. All it takes is a snap ofyour fingers, and they will flock to you.” Oscar continued to push him.Carter just quietly drank his liquor, lost in thoughts.

Oscar lifted his glass and started drinking too. For a rare moment, asense of peace prevailed.

Finally, Carter broke the silence. “Mr. Clinton, please treat Amelia well.She had a hard life. Outwardly, she may seem to be fearless, but shehas a really kind and gentle soul. If you are the one she loves, I amwilling to retreat and watch over her from a distance.”

Oscar was tickled. “Mr. Scott, are you playing the role of amelodramatic second male lead?”

Carter was not disturbed by Oscar's comment. “The male lead usuallyhas affairs with different women while the second male lead is destinedto watch over the heroine. If Amelia is meant to be the female lead ofthis drama, then I will willingly take the supporting role. I will doanything so long as she can be happy.”

Oscar laughed out loud. “What a passionate man you are, Mr. Scott.Unfortunately, this act does not sit well with me. You should be gratefulI am not bashing you up for eyeing my woman.”

Carter can only put on a miserable smile. He composed himself andsaid, “Mr. Clinton, how about we reconcile and enjoy a drink together?”“Reconcile? Were we ever in conflict, Mr. Scott?” Oscar questioned.Carter was caught off guard. “No. No conflict at all. Everything happensfor a reason. Let's drink to our acquaintance!” He laughed it off.

Oscar summoned the servers and asked for the best booze they have.He mixed the different booze, creating a potent cocktail. “The wholeidea of drinking is to get high. You wouldn't mind this, would you?” Hechallenged Carter.

One can never show any sign of weakness in the face of theircompetitor. Carter took a glass of the cocktail and downed it.“Impressive! Come, have another,” Oscar urged.

“Shouldn't Mr. Clinton have one yourself?” Carter countered.

Oscar took a glass and did a bottoms-up too.

“Well done, Mr. Clinton,” Carter reciprocated.

And with that, they took turns to down glass after glass and finishedthe few bottles in no time. They held their drinks well and wereamazingly sober.

“Mr. Scott, you sure can hold your liquor,” Oscar praised.

“Not too bad yourself.” Carter returned the compliment.

“Good to meet an impressive drinking partner. Shall we do an all-nighter, Mr. Scott?” Oscar started pouring for Carter again.

Carter nodded, and just as the two raised their glasses to toast, Oscar'sphone rang. He picked the call, but before he can utter a word, Cassiecan be heard beseeching, “Oz, I miss you. Our baby misses you too.Please come visit us at the Yard Manor.”

“Cassie, I can't hear you well. Can you repeat that?” The room was toonoisy, and Oscar was straining to hear her.

"Oz, where are you? Why is there so much noise in the background?”Cassie questioned.

“lam in a bar,” Oscar replied truthfully.

"Oz, the baby and I miss you. Would you come by to spend time withus?" Cassie pleaded.

“Cassie dear, I am with some clients now. It is also getting late. Don'twait up. I will visit you and the baby tomorrow,” Oscar said after amoment of hesitation.

Cassie wasn't pleased with that. “Do you not love me anymore? Before Igot pregnant, you said you will treat me well. No matter where you are,you will come running to me when I need you. Now you use work as anexcuse to brush me off. Are you having second thoughts aboutmarrying me?” she woefully asked.

Oscar seemed flustered. Maybe the liquor was taking effect on him.“Cassie, stop this fuss and go to bed. I will visit you and the babytomorrow.” He was curt.

Cassie went silent for a moment, then she sobbed, “Oz, you don't loveme anymore.”

“Cassie dear, I am with my business associates. You wouldn't want todistract me from work, would you?” Oscar tried to keep his cool andcoaxed her.

“So I am still the love of your life?” Cassie sought his assurance.

Oscar fiddled with his tie fretfully but made the effort to sweet-talkCassie. “Of course I still love you, Cassie. Now, go to bed, and I'll seeyou and the baby tomorrow.”

Oscar finally managed to pacify Cassie. As he ended the call, his facewas splashed with liquor. Once he recovered from the shock, he glaredat Carter as he wiped his face dry. “You better have a good reason fordoing this, Mr. Scott. Otherwise, I will come after not only you but yourentire family.”

“Two-timer scumbag, I think you deserved that,” Carter respondedindifferently, leisurely sipping his drink as he spoke.

Oscar nodded. “Well, yes. But who are you to interfere in my personalaffairs?”

“Just the one who loves Amelia and would not want to see her gethurt,” Carter avowed.

Now, that hit a raw nerve. Oscar pounced on Carter, waving his fist rightinto Carter's face. Carter was taken aback momentarily but recoveredswiftly and fought back with a vengeance. The bar's security staffstruggled to separate the two furious men. The fight ended with a tripto the police station.

As both Oscar and Carter were influential bigwigs, the police did notmake things difficult for them. They were allowed to summon theirlawyers to assist in settling the case.In the meantime, Amelia got a callfrom an old acquaintance,

a policewoman, who informed her of Oscar's incident.

A heavily pregnant Amelia came to the police station. She was surprisedto see Oscar and Carter together. She could not figure out how thepaths of these two men crossed and why they ended up injured in afight.

Amelia crossed her arms and showed no sympathy for these two men.“The two of you fought?” she asked, looking down at the pathetic men.Oscar looked up to her and complained, “Your husband was bashed.Can't you comfort me?”

“Serves you right! Two grown men fighting. Aren’t you embarrassed?”Amelia sounded harsh but was still gently examining the wound on hismouth. “How did you get hurt so badly?” she lamented when Oscar letout a painful whimper.

Carter's heart sank when he noticed Amelia only had eyes for Oscar. “Iam sorry, Amelia. I was too hot-headed and picked a fight with Mr.Clinton. I am to be blamed,” he apologized.

It was only then that Amelia became aware of Carter's injuries. Theywere as bad, if not worse, than Oscar's. She frowned slightly as shelooked over his bruises. “Carter, your injuries look bad too. Does it hurta lot?"

Carter was consoled by her concern. “It's no big deal,” he assured herwith a smile.

Suddenly, Oscar cupped his mouth and yelped in pain. “Os-Oscar,what's wrong?” Amelia immediately turned her attention back to him.Oscar took the opportunity to grab her and bury himself in her,whining, “My mouth hurts. My head hurts. I am hurting all over mybody. Let me lean on you for a while, Amelia.”

Amelia was pleasantly surprised by Oscar's act, and her lips curled intoa gentle smile. That look of bliss stabbed Carter deeply in the heart. Heinstinctively knew that Amelia had fallen for Oscar. She could try to hideher feelings, but she was not able to conceal the look of affection in hereyes.

Amelia gently caressed Oscar's hair. It felt stubby. “Such childishbehavior from a grown man. Carter is here. You will be a subject ofridicule,” Amelia teased.

Oscar rested his head on her tummy and said, “You are my wife. What isso ridiculous about us? Is our son a good boy? Is he giving Mommy anytrouble?”

“Maybe he could sense his daddy is in trouble, so he is putting on hisbest behavior,” Amelia happily quipped.

Oscar buried his face in her tummy but suddenly looked up inastonishment. “Honey, our little fella just kicked me!” he exclaimed.Amelia was beaming with joy. “That is fetal movement. Our little fellaknows daddy is interacting with him, so he is saying hi to you too.”That scene of marital bliss tore Carter's heart out.

“Amelia,” he called out, his voice thick with sadness.

That reminded Amelia of his presence. She pushed Oscar's head asideand looked apologetically at Carter. “I'm sorry. I almost forgot you arehere, Carter.”

That apology was even more gut-wrenching for Carter.

“Amelia, that would have been better left unspoken.” Carter smiledfeebly.

“Carter, I am sorry. I..." Amelia was at a loss for words.

Carter stood up, smiled at her adoringly, and brushed it aside. “Silly girl!You did nothing wrong. Why the apology?”

Amelia subconsciously rubbed her nose again, obviously embarrassed.Oscar was agitated and solemnly said, “Mr. Scott, I am capable ofadoring my woman. Mind your behavior, lest it causesmisunderstanding.”

“Mr. Clinton, I am more than happy to indulge her. Whatever she wants,I will oblige. Unlike the man who acts lovey-dovey with her, and thenturn to whisper sweet nothings to another woman the next moment.”Carter was in a provocative mood.

However, he quickly realized he should not have said that. He turnedaround to replace Amelia’s smile frozen in place.

“No, no, no. I was only kidding, Amelia.” Carter tried to salvage thesituation.

Amelia shook her head and asked, “Is the case settled? Can we leavethe police station now?”