Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 90

Oscar gave her a grim look, saying, “Ms. Larson, you're prettier than Iimagined, but I detest your character. I don't like women like you.You're miles behind Amelia.”

Jennifer's lovely face turned menacing.

“Jennifer, the reason I called you here today was to warn you not totouch Amelia. I won't permit anyone to interfere with my marriage.Whether she cheats on me or divorces me is my own affair. Mind yourown business. The Larsons may have a strong base overseas, but theyare nothing compared to the Clintons here. Get this into your head,”Oscar threatened.

Jennifer gaped at Oscar incredulously. “Mr. Clinton, what's so goodabout Amelia? You've seen the photos, yet you're still willing to let herstay by your side?”

“Ms. Larson, that's between Amelia and me. I don't have to explainanything to you,” Oscar replied icily.

Jennifer crossed her arms, scoffing, “Who would've thought that aprominent figure, like yourself, would still be tied to your wife's apronstrings?”

“You don't have to concern yourself with me,” Oscar retorted. “Watchout for yourself. If these photos are leaked, you know what theconsequences are.”

Jennifer snickered. “Don’t worry, Mr. Clinton. I'm not that clueless. Butin terms of mutual compatibility, I think Cassie Yard's a more suitablematch for you. You've known Cassie for so many years, almost gotmarried, and now she’s even carrying your child! Wouldn't you say yourdestiny is more aligned with Cassie's than Amelia's?”

Oscar's face darkened. “How do you know Cassie?”

Jennifer took a sip of her tea and made as if to speak. Just then, thedoor opened, and a few handsome waiters swarmed into the room.They quickly filled the table with multiple dishes.

“Mr. Clinton, Ms. Larson, the food you ordered has arrived. Please enjoyyour meal,” one of the young men said politely.

Oscar picked out a couple of bills from his wallet and handed them tothe waiter. “Your tip.”

The young man who had spoken received them and thanked Oscarprofusely. “Thank you. Mr. Clinton. If there are no other requests, we'llhead back downstairs.”

Oscar nodded.

After the waiters had made their exit, Jennifer remarked, “Mr. Clinton,you sure are magnanimous towards working-class folk.”

“How do you know Cassie?” Like a dog with a bone, Oscar refused to letJennifer change the subject.

“I don't know Cassie; I merely didn't see what was so fantastic aboutAmelia, so I went about my own investigation into the matter. I wasrather astonished to replace out along the way that you're quite thehopeless romantic at heart,” Jennifer replied snarkily.

“Don't you dare touch Cassie either, or I'll see that you regret it,” Oscarwarned.

Jennifer shrugged. “Don’t worry, Mr. Clinton. I've got nothing againstMs. Yard. Don't you think that it's a little greedy of you, trying to havethe best of both worlds, though? It's rather uncommon to see someonecheat as brazenly as you. However, I suppose it's another trick you menemploy to get away with things.”

Oscar stood up. “Don’t mess with Amelia again. I don't take kindly toothers interfering with what belongs to me. I'm the only one who cansay no to our marriage,” he declared. Having said his piece, Oscarstalked off, leaving Jennifer alone with a table full of untouched dishes.Jennifer laughed scornfully, then slammed her fist onto the table with aresounding thud. She muttered hatefully, “Amelia, you're an absolutevixen! You've got Carter protecting you, and even after seeing thoseshameful photos of yours, Oscar has even stepped up his defense ofyou. Why? Why?”

Jennifer had never imagined that the effort she'd spent humiliatingAmelia, and expelling her from the Clintons, would have been so easilynegated by Oscar.

Jennifer knew that she couldn't afford to offend Oscar and made sureto tread carefully around him. As Oscar had pointed out, the Larsonswere rich but were out of their depth here. Their tremendous powerand influence overseas was ultimately no match for the Clintons’ homeadvantage. Jennifer didn’t want to risk angering Oscar, who might forcethe untimely retreat of the Larsons back home with their tails betweentheir legs.

Jennifer liked Carter. She had planned to foster strong connectionshere, facilitating the import of their company’s products and easingtheir entry into the local market. Before she accomplished that, she hadto be wary of displeasing Oscar. Jennifer couldn't let all her efforts thusfar go to waste.

“You're lucky, Amelia. However, there is no way I will allow you to stealCarter away from me. He's mine,” Jennifer declared emphatically.

She picked up her bag and left. The sumptuous dishes remained on thetable, gradually turning cold.

Meanwhile, Oscar was headed to the hospital. When he arrived outsideAmelia's room, peals of laughter drifted out from it. Through the glass,he saw Tiffany dancing comically for Amelia, who was lying on the bed.Olivia sat in a corner preparing fruits, occasionally joining in the fun.Amelia looked as if she was in better shape than the day before.Watching her, Oscar felt a strange sense of relief. Having seen hercollapse unconscious in Tiffany's arms the previous night, Oscarcouldn't deny that anxiety had risen unbidden in his throat. At thatmoment, the only thought that had filled his mind was, I'll willingly putup with a million of those photos, as long as Amelia and the baby arefine!

Transfixed by the scene before him, Oscar did not realize that thecorners of his mouth had curled up into a faint smile. He looked happy.Oscar had only intended to drop by, but he remained at the windowstaring in for the longest time. All of a sudden, his phone rang shrillywith a call from Olivia. A moment later, the door of the room waswrenched open from the inside.

Olivia stood in the doorway, asking, “Oscar, why didn’t you come in?Amelia's waited for you the whole day. Quick, come in.”

Oscar felt as though he had been thoroughly exposed. However, hisembarrassment was barely indiscernible on his solemn face.

"Mom."

“Come in then! What are you still standing there for?” Olivia demanded,chuckling. Tugging at his arm, she exclaimed, “Amelia, look who's here!”Oscar and Amelia glanced at each other awkwardly. The photographsfrom last night had utterly cemented the conflict between them. Theinitial intimacy of their marriage had entirely evaporated, leavingbehind two strangers in its wake.

Tiffany's smile had faded when Oscar entered the room. She picked upher things and said, “Mrs. Clinton, I have some unfinished drafts thatmy editor is harassing me over. I'll leave to do them. Please take goodcare of Amelia. If you're busy, give me a call.”

Olivia smiled genially. “You've cared for Amelia the whole day and goneto much trouble yourself. When Amelia is discharged, I'll whip up a fewdishes to thank you properly.”

Tiffany returned her smile. “No need for such courtesies, Mrs. Clinton!Amelia's my good friend, so it's only right that I take care of her. I'llmake a move first then.”

Olivia nodded.

Tiffany turned to Amelia. “Babe, call me if there's anything, okay? It'snot healthy for you to keep everything to yourself, got it?”

"Got it,” Amelia replied. “Take care and give me a call when you reachhome.”

Tiffany gestured “OK” and left without so much as a glance in Oscar'sdirection.

Olivia spoke. “Oscar, you look like a statue standing there. Amelia'sbeen in the hospital for a whole day, but you've only just arrived.Anyone in her position would have given you a tongue-lashing.Apologize to her right away! Don't let this become a source ofunhappiness between you both.”

Oscar looked over at Amelia. However, she avoided his gaze, saying,“Mom, you've accompanied me the entire afternoon. Please go homeand rest. The nurses will look after me here.”

Olivia understood immediately. She said meaningfully, “I'll go homefirst to prepare some food. I'll be back at ten o'clock later. Oscar,Amelia's pregnant, so you must be sure to take good care of her. Iwon't forgive you if anything happens to her or the baby.”

Oscar nodded obediently.

Olivia turned back to Amelia and said, “Amelia, I'll be off then. Don'tthink too much about the photographs. I'll deal with that. Your prioritynow is to take care of yourself and the baby. The Clintons still have theability to handle a few photographs, I'm sure.”

Amelia gratefully replied, “Thank you, Mom.”

Olivia patted Amelia on the head fondly, then remarked, “Have a goodrest. Don't overthink. I'l be back at ten.”

“Take care, Mom. Drive safe,” Amelia replied.

After Olivia left, silence descended upon the room at once. Unable tothink of anything to say to the other, the air between Oscar and Ameliahung heavy with tension.

Oscar cleared his throat uneasily, then said, “Are you feeling better?”Amelia looked at him, then said earnestly, “I'm sorry, Mr. Clinton. I reallydon't know what happened regarding that matter with thephotographs, but I can explain. There's absolutely nothing betweenCarter and me. I see him solely in the capacity of a good friend.”

Oscar looked solemn. “Don’t worry. I've already dealt with thephotographs. Just be more careful not to get caught in the future; Idon't like cleaning up after other people.”

Amelia looked at Oscar, her expression incomprehensible. After amoment's hesitation, she stammered, “Mr. Clinton, when will we getdivorced?”

Oscar's gaze pierced through Amelia. “What, you can't wait to fly backinto the arms of your new love?”

Amelia sighed. “Mr. Clinton, seeing as I'm in the hospital, can wediscuss this reasonably? I admit that I'm wrong for allowing myself tobe photographed in that way, but it was never my intention. I hope thateven if we get divorced, you won't doubt that the baby is yours. He'syour child. I don't want him to be treated as the product of carelessly-sown wild oats. We can do a DNA test after he’s born, but wouldn't thatrender the past five years of our marriage a complete joke?”

Oscar's expression softened. He replied, “Who said that we were goingto get divorced?”

Speechless, Amelia looked at him.

A smile hovered on Oscar's lips. “I've said this before: I'm the only onewho can pronounce “game over’ on our marriage. All you have to do isaccept my decision. When you're discharged, resign from your job. Idon't want you to use work as an excuse to flirt with your supervisor.No man in his right mind can accept that from his wife.”

Amelia went silent.

“Are you unwilling to do that?” Oscar demanded.

Amelia briefly hesitated, then nodded her head. “Okay.”

Oscar's stern features visibly relaxed

“I've found out who the photographer was. How exactly did you offendJennifer? She forked out quite a hefty sum to get compromising photosof you,” Oscar asked fascinatedly as he leaned against the back of thechair.

Amelia looked at Oscar with astonishment. “Jennifer? Do you know her,Mr. Clinton?”

Bemused, Oscar returned her look. “She’s bullied my wife to such anextent. How could I not replace out who she was? Tell me, how did youmanage to trigger such wrath in Jennifer within the two short monthsthat you've been to work? It seems that you're rather adept not only atattracting men but also women's attention as well.”

Amelia nearly choked. She coughed violently. What exactly did Oscarmean by that?

“Jennifer misunderstood. She thought that I was seeing Carter. That'swhy she hired someone to stalk me,” Amelia answered honestly.

Oscar felt another surge of anger. Hotly, he said, “Amelia, aren't youshameless?”

Amelia took another look at Oscar, then fell silent again.