Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 95

Amelia gazed at him apologetically. “I'm sorry, but I choose family overwork. I can't stay here anymore.”

“l won't allow that.”

“I'm really sorry, Carter, but I can't keep working here. I'm really happythat I got to work with you for a while, and I do hope that we can worktogether again someday. But for now, none of this is possible. Isuppose I won't need to write you a resignation letter. I'm sorry.” Afterapologizing sincerely, Amelia headed toward the door.

Yet, Carter grabbed her by the hand. “Please don't go, Amelia,” hepleaded.

Amelia's gaze remained apologetic. “I'm really sorry I let you down,Carter. We can work together again next time.”

“I don't know what will happen next time. All I know is that once youleave, I won't even have a chance to be close to you anymore. So pleasedon't go. I'll fire Jennifer if you stay.”

“Don't you understand, Carter? Even if Jennifer leaves, there'd be otherwomen who would do what she did. I dont want anyone elsesabotaging my marriage, so I can't keep working here anymore.”Carter stared at her in agony.

“Amelia, you left me without a word all those years ago, and now you'releaving me again because of another man. When will you ever love meinstead?”

“Don't say that, Carter. We're just friends,” Amelia replied in slightfrustration. “I'll be off now. I don't want to interfere with your work.”Carter's tight grip remained on her hand. “Do you have to be this cruel,Amelia?” he asked drearily.

“I'm sorry, Carter.” With that, Amelia shook his hand off, opened thedoor to his office, and left without turning back.

Carter stood inside his office in a daze, not even noticing that thesecretary had walked in. “Are you okay, Mr. Scott?” the woman askednervously.

Carter merely glanced at her and pointed to the door. “Leave.”

“M-Mr. Scott, the president of Lumine Group is here. Do you want to—"“Tell Mr. Freeman that I'm not feeling well and get the technicaldepartment manager to handle the project discussions,” Carterinstructed after taking a deep breath.

“Yes, Mr. Scott.” With that, the secretary quickly left the office, afraidthat the man would unleash his wrath on her.

Just as Carter remained in a horrible mood, a knock came on the door,followed by Jennifer's voice. “May I come in, Mr. Scott? I have somework matters to report to you about.”

Carter's eyes flashed with rage and hatred as he clenched his fiststightly. “Come in.”

Jennifer opened the door and walked in, brimming with confidence.She was dressed in a red suit that perfectly accentuated her figure.“Hello, Mr. Scott.”

Carter glanced at Jennifer coldly before standing up, making his wayaround his desk, and walking up to her. Then, he slapped the womanacross the face without a word.

Jennifer was stunned into silence before clutching her cheek andstaring at him in disbelief.

“Are you insane, Carter? Why did you hit me?”

"Amelia just quit her job. Are you happy now?” the man retorted withgritted teeth.

“She quit? Are you for real?” Jennifer clenched her teeth too. “And whatdoes that have to do with me? Why are you taking your anger out onme? Are you not capable of behaving a little more like a gentleman,Carter?”

Carter's expression remained grim. “My company’s too small forsomeone like you. You should leave.”

“Are you firing me?” Jennifer asked in astonishment.

“Get your pay calculated at the finance department and leave. You'rebeautiful and highly capable, so I'm sure there are lots of hugecompanies that would hire you.”

Jennifer glared at him in a fury. “I demand a reason. I won't accept it ifyou're firing me just because Amelia's leaving. I'm going to tell Mrs.Scott about this, and I know she'll back me up. You'd better not fire meunless you want the Scotts and Larsons to split up.”

“I'm the owner of this company. I don't see why I can't fire someonebecause I don't like them. If you have the slightest bit of shame in you,you'd leave right after getting your pay settled.”

Instead, Jennifer sat down and crossed her arms.

“Give me a reason, or I won't leave.”

“There isn't a reason. I just don't want to see you,” Carter respondedwithout mincing his words.

“Do you hate me that much, Carter?”

Hey

The hands Jennifer had placed on top of her thighs moved slightly asher eyes turned red. The woman had never come across a man whocould shut her like that without a care in the world. She loved Carter somuch that she had cast aside every other man who pursued her. Yet,not only did Carter not love her back, but he even treated her horribly.“That woman chose to leave because she’s too ashamed to stay, butyou're blaming it on me. Don't you think you've gone too far?” Jenniferdemanded as emotions began to sweep through her. Despite her beinga woman who had voluntarily chosen to pursue a man, Carter paid noheed to her, nor did he even consider her feelings at all.

At that very moment, Jennifer began to despise Carter, but not as muchas she did Amelia.

Carter lowered his head. “You should leave, Jennifer. I don't want ourrelationship to worsen to the point where we hate each other.”

“No. You're the first man I've fallen for, and you can only be mine. Aslong as I'm around, you and Amelia will never be.”

Carter cast Jennifer a profound glance. “Don’t you realize howridiculous you look, Jennifer? It's not worth doing all this for a man likeme. You may as well give up on me. I'm sure you'll replace your other halfwho can truly belong to you.”

“My other half has always been you. Even Mrs. Scott has acknowledgedme as the Scotts’ daughter-in-law. Marrying me means marrying theentire Larson family, and when that happens, you'll be able to expandyour business anywhere in the world. I'm much better than Amelia inevery way.”

Carter's gaze remained especially calm.

“You're a brilliant woman, Jennifer, but that doesn’t change how I feelabout you. A guy who wants to spend twenty years less sloughing awaymight choose you, but I want to pave my career with my own hands. Ifthat doesn’t work out, I can always return to Scott Group. I don't thinkwe Scotts are that far off from the Larsons, anyway.”

Jennifer glared at him in fury. “So you're ending our relationship nomatter what, Carter?”

“We've never even had a relationship, to begin with,” Carter remarked,adding salt to Jennifer's wound.

“You're the worst man I've ever met, Carter Scott. Fine, I'll leave. But I'llbe back for sure,” Jennifer declared haughtily.

“Thanks for the compliment,” Carter replied while holding a pen.

With her eyes flashing with rage, the woman turned and left withoutlooking back.

Carter gazed at the documents on his desk. About five minutes later, hetook out his phone and dialed a number, only to receive no answerfrom the person over the line. Then, he began to compose a textmessage.

I'll leave your position vacant for you, Amelia. Come back whenever youwant. My love for you will never change, and I'll always be there for youwhenever you need me.

The man sent the message without any hesitation. Unfortunately, henever received a reply despite waiting a long while.

He sighed with a gloomy look in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Amelia sighed as she read Carter's message. Had they stillbeen in university, she would have accepted his love without a doubt.After all, Carter was such an outstanding man who radiated charmwherever he went. He was like a Prince Charming to many women.Unfortunately, all sorts of things had come between them, and Ameliacould no longer return to her days of pure love. That was why she couldonly apologize to Carter now.

The two were destined to be friends, but never lovers.

Amelia deleted the text message before leaning into her seat at theback.

“Are you okay, Miss?" asked the driver. “You don't look too well.”Amelia opened her eyes. “I'm fine, Sir. I'm just a little tired,” she repliedcheerlessly.

“It's normal for pregnant women to feel tired easily. Judging from thesize of your tummy, I'm guessing you're on your fifth or sixth month. Becareful not to bump into anything. What is your husband doinganyway, letting you take a cab on your own like this?" the cab driverremarked in disapproval.

“He's busy with work. Well, it's not like he can keep me company allday. If he did, I'd start worrying about how the child and I will get by.”"You have a point there,” the driver responded with a hearty laugh. “Butjudging from your clothes and behavior, you must have married awealthy man.”

Amelia merely smiled. “Well, he earns enough to fill our tummies.”“That can't be. I've had many passengers, but not many of them are asstunning and classy as you are. Only someone who comes from aprominent background would look the way you do.”

Amelia could only beam in response.

Still, the driver didn’t mind her silence. He continued to chatter away ashe pleased, and Amelia began to lighten up.

"We're here, Miss,” said the driver as they arrived at the Clintonresidence

Amelia took out a hundred and gave it to the driver. “Keep the change,Sir.”

The man took the money and responded, “No matter what happens,Miss, I hope you live every single day in happiness.”

Amelia flashed him an earnest smile. “Thank you, Sir. I hope you staysafe and happy too.”

After alighting the vehicle, Amelia walked straight into the Clintonresidence, and Olivia immediately stood up in astonishment uponseeing her. “Why aren't you at the hospital anymore, Amelia? I wasthinking of cooking you a meal and dropping by! Seriously... You justcan't stop making me worry about you. You should've talked to mebefore getting yourself discharged.”

Amelia held onto Olivia's hands. “Don’t worry, Mom. The doctorallowed me to leave only after making sure I was fine.”

Olivia gave her daughter-in-law's hand a light pat before telling thekitchen to prepare some food. Then, she led Amelia to the couch.

“You don't look too good, Amelia. Do you still feel sick?” she asked withconcern.

“I'm fine, Mom,” Amelia replied with a smile. “Maybe it's because I felt alittle carsick on the way here.”