Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 82

Amelia cut him off. “Mr. Scott, if you have nothing else for me, I'mheading back to work.”

Carter could only nod.

Amelia headed back to the design department with the envelope in herhands. As if sensing her unhappy mood, Jessica didn’t pounce onAmelia for gossip but instead showed her a gesture of encouragement.At noon, Jessica said spontaneously, “Amelia, lunch today is on meinstead of your treat; I'll call for delivery, and we can have lunch in theoffice. What do you think?”

This millennial is pretty caring, after all. I mean, she gossips a bit toomuch and knows way too many things for her own good. Plus, shetends to blurt out anything on her mind. But it's moments of kindnesslike these that really touch my heart.

“Thank you, Jessica.”

“Let's skip these formalities, shall we? Sometimes I feel like I'm the oldersister taking care of you even though you're a few years older than me.”Jessica ordered delivery and plonked herself down in front of Amelia tochat.

“Amelia, are you ok? You look kind of absent-minded the wholemorning,” asked Jessica softly.

Amelia shook her head and laughed humorlessly. “I'm ok. What a rareoccasion it is to see our Jessica all grown-up and showing concerntowards others.”

Jessica flung her hand away lightly and pouted. “Amelia, I'm reallyworried about you. If you're going to patronize me like this, I'm goingto be angry.”

Amelia made a gesture of surrender. “I know you mean well, but I'mreally ok. I'm just having some problems at home; I'm sure they'll besettled soon.”

Jessica grabbed her hand and said suddenly, “Amelia, I think you'reactually having a hard time. You're so beautiful, yet the sadness thatclouds over your gaze can't fool anyone.”

Amelia was stunned for a moment before she recovered with a laugh.“You sweet little thing! Just out of school, and you're suddenly arelationship expert like everyone else? I'm grateful for your concern, butas I said, I'm really ok. I'm busy thanks to my baby; when my son's born,I'll make you his god aunt.”

"Amelia, why are you so biased? I should at least get to be thegodmother.”

“I'm sorry, but someone else has reserved that honor, so you can onlyhave the next best option.”

“Who is she? Bring her here and I'll fight her for the spot.”

Amelia's mood improved immensely after that chat. With someone ascheerful as Jessica, it's pretty hard to stay upset.

After suffering through the day of work, Amelia began packing herthings to leave. As she exited the design department, she bumped intoJennifer. Possibly due to the photos, Amelia felt a grudge towardsJennifer. You scheming witch! The things you'd do to fulfill your wishesdisgust me.

Jennifer stopped in front of her and said softly, “Amelia, your charismamust be out-of-this-world. Does it make you feel exceptionallyaccomplished to be leading two men on a merry chase?”

Amelia stared at her calmly. “Ms. Larson, sometimes it's best not toforce others into a dead end, or you might replace yourself receiving thebad karma you deserve.”

Jennifer's lips curved up in a chilling smile. “Look how sharp your wordsare; I don't understand how so many men are bewitched by you.”Amelia let out an angry laugh. “That is my charm, I suppose. Since youdon't have it, I guess you can only bow down and admit defeat.”Jennifer's expression twisted in fury.

“Ms. Larson, if there's nothing more to say, then I'm getting off work. Ihave dinner plans and won't stay around to entertain you.”

Jennifer sneered disdainfully. “You really can't tear yourself away frommen, can you?”

Amelia merely glanced at her and walked past her as she left the office.Jennifer swept her gaze across Amelia. She hmphed loudly beforestomping away on her heels.

Amelia drove her car out of the basement parking lot.

She answered a call from Tiffany as she drove towards the latter'sneighborhood. “Tiff, I'll be there in half an hour.”

“Babe, can you get me some cream on your way up? I'm planning tomake some white sauce,” asked Tiffany.

“Got it.”

She hung up the phone and reached Tiffany's neighborhood soon after.She remembered to get a carton of cream before heading up toTiffany's place.

She took the lift up to Tiffany's floor and knocked on her front door.The door was opened quickly, and she was met with an enthusiastichug from Tiffany. “Babe, you're here! I prepared a feast for you; youronly responsibility is to stuff yourself with food.”

Amelia removed her shoes before entering. Laughing, she said, “That'sgreat because I'm starving.”

Tiffany closed the door and immediately noticed the envelope inAmelia's hand. “Amelia, what's that in your hand?”

“It's just some photos; I'll show you after dinner.”

“Babe, we're best friends. Why wait until after dinner to see the photos?I want to see them now.”

Amelia flung the envelope on the sofa and laughed. “Tiff, I'm hungry.Surely you don't want to starve your own godson.”

Tiffany's loaded gaze told her that she was only letting Amelia off thehook temporarily. She went into the kitchen and brought out all thefood she'd prepared. Served on the table was a spread of delectabledishes and a pot of beef bourguignon stew. It was a mouthwateringfeast.

Amelia smacked her lips and made a huge show of looking like she wasstarving. “Tiff, your cooking is always so amazing. What if I can't eatanything else but your food next time?”

“Then don't leave. You can come over anytime, and I'll gladly cook foryou,” replied Tiffany as she ladled a bow! of stew for Amelia. “Havesome of this. I cooked it in the pressure cooker for hours. I canguarantee the beef is going to be scrumptious. I bought a ton of meatthis morning too, so there's definitely enough for you to eat to yourheart's content.”

Amelia eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you so hardworking today? Sayit, are you planning something?”

Tiffany rolled her eyes. “What could I be scheming? To sell you? To eatyou?"

Amelia came up with a cringe-inducing reply. “Maybe you drugged thefeast, and you're planning to have your way with me later?”

Tiffany made a show of puking. “Amelia, that's gross.”

Amelia just smiled and ate the stew happily.

Though Tiffany was refilling her plate continuously, Amelia managed tofinish almost everything Tiffany had taken for her.

The two of them almost finished the entire feast Tiffany had prepared.Tiffany gave a thumbs-up to Amelia. “Babe, your appetite’s reallygrown. The baby might be shocked at the amount of food you'veeaten.”

Amelia patted her tummy and laughed. “All the nutrients are going toyour precious godson.”

Tiffany quickly cleaned up the dining table while saying, “I planned thewhole menu to make sure you're replenishing your nutrients properly.It's great that you were able to finish all the food.”

After washing the dishes, Tiffany dried her hands and asked, “Can Ifinally see what's in the envelope?”

Amelia nodded.

Tiffany opened the envelope. Once she recognized the couple in thephotos, her expression morphed from one of disbelief into anger. Shelooked at Amelia and asked, “Amelia, what's going on? That incidentfive years ago almost landed you in prison; haven't you learned yourlesson by now? Why are you still mingling with Carter?”

Amelia gave a brief explanation of the situation.

Tiffany fumed. “What's up with that Jennifer? I could care less abouthow stuck-up she is, but what gives her the right to send aphotographer to follow you? You always get bullied like this becauseyou're too kind. Just wait, I'll get someone to teach her a lessontomorrow! She needs to know that you have people behind you too.”“Tiff, you need to calm down. I have some thoughts on how to dealwith it. She has her own plans, but I'm not a softie who'll just let anyonetrample over me."

"If you weren't a softie, you wouldn't be bullied so badly. Watching youlike this is bad for my blood pressure.”

Amelia just smiled.

Exasperated, Tiffany started massaging her forehead. “You can still smileat a time like this; you must really want my blood to boil over.”

“Calm down, prenatal education is really important. If you're spoutingcrude language, your godson might become a ruffian when he’s born.”“Pfft,” Tiffany scoffed while rolling her eyes. “Here you are, changing thesubject when we're on proper topics. How do you plan to deal withthese photos?”

Amelia's smile faded slightly. “I'll burn them.”

“She has the originals; what use is it to burn the photos? Maybe youshould start worrying about Oscar's reaction when he replaces out aboutthem?”

Amelia shrugged and smiled bitterly. “If he knows, he knows. Do youthink Oscar cares about these photos?”

Tiffany rolled her eyes again. “Baby, do not underestimate howpossessive men can get. You may be in a contractual marriage, but youare still his wife in the eyes of the law. Do you think a man can put upwith the discovery of being cheated on?”

Amelia hugged her knees. “Tiff, what should I do?”

“Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist,” Tiffanysaid with a serious face.

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Tiff, you write novels for a living. Can't yourbrain come up with something more normal?”

“Writing novels already requires boundless imagination; did you thinkmy brain could ever come up with something normal?” Tiffany shotback.

Amelia fell silent.

Indeed, I can't use a layman's mindset to limit someone like Tiffany.“Back to the topic,” Tiffany replied seriously. “I think you should meetwith Tiffany regarding the photos. She wants Carter, and you're Oscar'swife; these things are supposed to be unrelated in the first place. Aslong as the situation is cleared up, it should be fine.”

Amelia didn’t share Tiffany's optimism.

Tiffany sat down beside her and tossed the photos on a nearby table.“Amelia, what sort of person is Jennifer? I need to know how she’s likeso I can teach her a proper lesson.”

Amelia pondered her question. “Stylish, beautiful, and competent atwork. She's probably a woman who represents the pinnacle of glamourin the 21st century. Then again, it might be because she’s been used togetting what she wants since she was young. She habitually takesanything she wants by force.

Tiffany sneered. “Someone like this can be taught multiple lessons, andshe would still deserve what she got.”

Amelia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Tiff, that's the harshreality. Heiresses like her will never be punished for anything. She hasmoney, power, and high social status. As long as she’s not toooverboard, she will always get what she wants.”

“Well, she’s gone way overboard now. I'm pretty sure bad karma'scoming her way soon.”

Well, I don't know if bad karma will strike Jennifer, but if these photosend up in front of Oscar, I won't even know what sort of trouble I'm infor.

I'm well aware of how possessive Oscar is, and these photos couldreally put me in big trouble

Tiffany leaned back against the sofa and said, “I'll arrange for someoneto get back at Jennifer. You better stay away from Carter in the future,as he's obviously carrying bad luck with him wherever he goes. Yearsago, he let you bear his debt for him, and you almost got jailed. Now,this Jennifer has shown up, and the longer this goes on, I'm worried youmay replace yourself booted out by the Clintons.”