Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 80

“Mr. Scott, will you please let me go first?” Amelia said in an indifferenttone, her expression cold.

Carter stared at her passionately with the urge to caress her cheeks, buthis actions didn’t go unnoticed. Amelia added frigidly, “If you do this,we can't even be friends from now on. I'll tender my resignation, andthere'll be no need for us to meet in the future.”

He stared fixedly at her. “Amelia, can you change back into the old you?Although you didn't use to be this poised, you were kind and innocent.You were never cold to me either.”

The old Amelia Winters gave him the feeling that he could still retaincontrol. But the new Amelia Winters wore sarcastic smiles on her faceand greeted everyone with proper yet distant etiquette. At times, he feltlike tearing away the facade she wore to replace out if she was still thesame Amelia Winters she was all those years ago.

He missed the old Amelia dearly. Her smile back then had beencontagious like an angel of sunshine.

Amelia was taken aback by his words. “Time changes people, Mr. Scott.The old Amelia disappeared the day she was framed. The presentAmelia you see before you is a gold digger who's only fond ofmaterialistic things, or else she wouldn't have gotten married to thesuccessor of Clinton Corporations.”

Pain flashed in Carter's eyes. As if driven mad, he tried to kiss Amelia'sneck, only to be shoved away and received one tight slap in return.“Are you done, Carter Scott?” Amelia stared coldly at him. “I'm not surewhat triggered you today. I can pretend nothing happened earlier. Butif this were to repeat itself, then we'll no longer be friends.”

The longer he looked at her, the more his heart ached.

“You said you're materialistic. The Scotts’ assets aren't inferior to theClintons. As long as you name the price, I'll give you anything you want.If you could sell yourself to Oscar Clinton, why can't you sell yourself tome?” he questioned in a heavy voice.

“It's working hours right now, Mr. Scott. Can we stop fooling aroundnow?"

“You should know that I don't make jokes. You said Oscar Clintonbought you with his money, then so can I. Name it. No matter howmuch you want, I'm willing to give, even if it means my entire family'sfortune.”

She looked at him in slight despair and sighed. “Carter, you're a realfriend to me. I never expected to hear this from you someday.”

“I have no intention to hurt you, Amelia. But if this is the only way forme to have you, then I'm willing to give up all my assets in exchange,”he emphasized, his eyes red.

Amelia felt like her heart was stabbed. She had truly regarded CarterScott as a friend. Yet, he was viewing her with prejudice.

Though she had mixed feelings inside, she grinned. “How generous ofyou, Mr. Scott. But to give up your assets for a woman like me, is thatworth it?”

There was no hesitation when he answered, “Yes! As long as it's you, it'sworth it."

“I never knew I was this valuable.”

Whipping out the checkbook he always carried, he tore out a piece andsaid, “It's an empty check. Fill up the amount as you wish.”

“If I were to divorce Oscar Clinton, he would give me ten percent ofClinton Corporations’ shares. Do you reckon you could give me morethan he could?”

Carter's eyes flashed. Noticing that, Amelia continued, “Didn't you sayyou were willing to give me all your assets? Why? Are youreconsidering now?”

“I am willing. But I'm not worth as much as Clinton Corporations’ tenpercent shares right now. If you'll give me two years, I'll definitely growthe company,” Carter promised solemnly.

“Then let's shelf this until you've grown the company, Mr. Scott. I'm nota fan of empty promises. After all, you've left the Scotts. Your owncapabilities cannot be compared to Oscar Clinton's. Did you think I'dgive up such a big financial backer like him for you?”

"You've truly changed, Amelia.” Carter stared fixedly at her, no longerrecognizing the person before him.

Amelia broke into guffaws for a good minute, unable to stop herself. “Inever thought you'd say something so stupid either, Mr. Scott. Manyyears have passed. I'm not the only one who changed. You have, too.No, I should say, everyone is constantly changing. I feel like the presentme is the most authentic.”

Carter leaned in to pinch her chin. “Amelia, you'll be with me as long asI could give you ten percent shares of Clinton Corporations?”

She subtly shook off his grasp and said, “If you still regard me as afriend, then please respect me a little so we could both live in peace.Otherwise, if I could manage to vanish for the last few years, I can mostcertainly do it again.”

Reluctantly, he released her, his eyes filled with anguish. “Do you hateme so much, Amelia?”

She shook her head. “No, Mr. Scott. It's because I treat you as a realfriend that I do not wish for you to view me that way.”

Carter chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head. “If I don't do this, thenI'll never have a chance this lifetime.”

“Mr. Scott, I promise you. If I were to divorce Oscar Clinton, I'll reserve aposition for you, but it's definitely not now. Don't lower yourself to sucha state for someone like me. If we're fated, we'll naturally get togetherin the future. If we're not, I hope you don't force me.”

“Are you for real?” He wasn't as hopeless anymore.

She nodded.

Finally, Carter smiled, slightly flustered. “Did I hurt you earlier, Amelia?”She shook her head in response. “It's working hours. May we return towork now?”

Having returned to his senses, he said apologetically, “I'm sorry. I wastoo impulsive and wasn't thinking straight.”

“I've put it at the back of my head, Mr. Scott. I hope you don't think theworse of me, but I do love money. Back then, your parents tricked meto shoulder the debt and even implicated Tiff. She's the person youshould be feeling apologetic toward. If you can, I hope you'll apologizeto her on behalf of your parents.”

He nodded.

“Then, shall we go back to work?”

Smoothing down his crumpled attire, he apologized again, “Amelia, I'mtruly sorry for earlier. It was all due to my impulse.”

“I've forgotten it, so stop mentioning it.”

“Alright.”

The two of them acted as if nothing happened as they left the parkinglot. When they got back to the company, Amelia returned to the designdepartment. The colleagues in there merely glanced at hernonchalantly. Subconsciously, Amelia turned to steal a glimpse ofJessica Davis. As an expert gossipmonger, she was now working prettydiligently.

"Amelia, someone witnessed you being dragged out of the buildingearlier. Did he do anything to you?” Jessica whispered.

Amelia let out a sigh on the inside. Sure enough, there were no secretsin the workplace, especially when it came to the relationship betweenthe boss and the employee. It was already scandalous on its own, but ifthe employee happened to be married, it was worse.

And Amelia, as the wedded woman, feared that in the eyes of theothers, she had become the woman who was in the company purelydue to her relationship with the boss.

The workplace was like the battlefield. One mistake, and you could beannihilated.

Amelia replied, “Mr. Scott merely had something to discuss with me. I'mpregnant and have a husband. What relationship do you suppose Mr.Scott and I have?”

Looking at how nonchalant Amelia was, even Jessica was gettinganxious. “Amelia, you always said you didn't have any specialrelationship with the boss. But others don't think that way. Since you'remarried and pregnant, I think you better be wary, or else yourreputation could very easily be ruined by nasty rumors.”

Amelia's heart warmed. Although this millennial was gossipy, she was aconsiderate person

“I got it, Little Gossipmonger. I'll be careful to keep a distance from theboss. Go back to your seat.”

Jessica glanced at her. “Amelia, Ms. Larson already has suspicions ofyou. You'd better take it seriously instead of always being soindifferent.”

Amelia chuckled. “Little Gossipmonger, when have you become a nosy-parker?”

Feigning offense, Jessica pouted. “I was being kind, and you call me agossipmonger. Trust me to waste my efforts on a wolf like you. I'mwashing my hands off!”

Having said her piece, Jessica returned to her desk.

Amelia shook her head and laughed. “Don’t be mad, Jessica. I'll treatyou to lunch.”

Jessica scrunched up her nose haughtily. “On the account of lunch, I'llforgive you this time.”

“Then I'll have to be grateful for your big heart.”

With a grin, Jessica went back to work.

Amelia, too, abandoned the vexatious matters in her head and devotedherself to her work. While her side of things had calmed down, JenniferLarson, who had been sitting in her office, received a call. She picked itup only to hear a few sentences uttered from the other side. She thenanswered, “I'll see you in the cafe later,” before hanging up right away.With her Louis Vuitton bag in hand, Jennifer swiftly strutted out of theoffice in her fifteen-centimeter heels. She took the elevator down to theparking lot before driving off in record time.

It was no wonder Jessica Davis was named an expert gossipmonger inthe office. Jennifer had only left for approximately fifteen minutes, andshe had found out, proceeding toward Amelia's table to spread themessage. “Amelia, someone saw Ms. Larson leaving hurriedly tenminutes ago. I reckon she definitely has some tricks up her sleeves. Youbetter be careful.”

Amelia chuckled, using a pen to knock lightly on Jessica's head.“Sweetie, have you watched too many conspiracy flicks? What greatimagination you have. Hurry and go back to work. Otherwise, yourperfect attendance award will be revoked if the boss were to catchyou.”

Jessica pouted. “You have to believe in a woman's sixth sense. Ms.Larson may seem pure, but she has a vicious heart. You'll have to watchyour back.”

“Hurry and go back to work! Although she’s strict concerning work, shewouldn't punish her subordinates for no good reason. I think you'resimply jealous of her beauty, aren't you?”

“You're completely putting your own words in my mouth.” Jessicapouted even more.

Amelia merely smiled.

Jessica's gossip hadn't caused any waves. Amelia resumed her worknormally, while Jennifer, on the other hand, had arrived at the cafe. Shetook out her sunglasses, strutting into the shop like a high fashionmodel.

The cafe employee came to greet her. “Welcome, Miss, table for one?”“Two.”

“This way, please.”

Jennifer sat at the most obscure seat, never saying a word until the manshe was waiting for arrived. “You're late.”

“My bad, there was a traffic jam on the way.”

Jennifer reached out her hand and said, “Where is it? I have to go backto work soon.”

“Jennifer, it's been years since we last met. You're not even going toengage in small talk before asking me for it. Aren't you worried abouthurting my feelings?”