Too Much To Bear My Love

Oscar suddenly stood up. Apprehensively, Amelia asked, “Mr. Clinton, are you leaving?”

Oscar walked over. He leaned over Amelia, almost pinning her onto the bed. The tips of their noses brushed against each other.

Enthralled, Amelia had no way of reining in her wildly beating heart. Her eyes darted from side to side, desperately avoiding Oscar’s intent gaze.

“What do you feel like eating? I’ll go and get it,” he said.

That was the last thing Amelia had expected to hear from Oscar at that moment.

“Now that you’re having a baby, you should eat a little more than usual. Tell me what you’re craving; I’ll buy it for you.” Oscar’s cool tone belied his apparent discomfort.

Amelia couldn’t believe her ears. This was Oscar’s first time showing concern for her baby.

“Mr. Clinton, are you actually concerned about me?” Amelia asked in disbelief.

“Enough of that. Tell me, quickly, what you want to eat,” Oscar insisted.

Amelia found the situation hilarious. Oscar seemed a lot more human now in comparison to the guarded, defensive man he usually was.

“Since you’ve offered, I can’t possibly say no. All right then. On account of Mr. Clinton’s generosity, I’d like to order a pasta arrabbiata, stewed beef, and mango sorbet to top it all off… I’m spoilt for choice! How can I decide?” Amelia asked in exaggerated despair.

Seeing that Oscar had let her off the hook for the matter with the photographs, the sudden feeling of liberation dared Amelia to joke with Oscar, something she seldom did.

Oscar only glared at her. “Amelia, don’t go overboard.”

“Don’t be so petty, Mr. Clinton. Can’t you even bear to buy these for me?” Amelia wheedled, pouting.

Oscar realized that he rather liked seeing this feminine side of Amelia.

“Wait and see; I’ll buy it all for you. Anything else?” he queried.

“I want you. Can I have that?” Amelia asked playfully.

Oscar’s face once again assumed a sober look. “You’re only allowed to say such things to me in the future. I forbid you from flirting with any other man like that.”

Flirting?

Amelia thought she had merely been casually teasing Oscar. She was rather distressed that it had been seen as flirtatious. It seemed that everyone perceived things rather differently indeed.

“Since you object, Mr. Clinton, I won’t say things like that anymore,” Amelia said, sulking.

his teeth in frustration.

held her belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy

buy it for you

Amelia’s cry stopped

asked, “What

me to the hospital. Can I borrow yours to play

then handed his phone

She refused to

“There are a couple of games inside. You can take a look if you’re bored. I’ll be off, then.” He turned quickly on his

still looking at his phone in shock. She muttered to herself, “Oscar, if you truly didn’t care for me, then why did you use my birthdate as your password? Don’t you know what kind of hope that raises in me? What if I can’t bear to let you go when it’s time for the

the one hand, she didn’t want to get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid

you. If I could, I would want to depend on you for the rest

surprise that it contained many photos of her, most of them taken when she was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her bare body; in others, she had fallen asleep fully clothed. The photos of Amelia numbered more than a thousand in

to examining them. Oscar had taken some from behind her as she walked ahead. Amelia could barely even recall when these moments

Oscar liked her solely for her body. If he had absolutely no

for her would not possess

through each photo, she realized with a start that there were barely ten photos of Cassie. Besides a few snapshots of scenery scattered here and

perturbed. As she weighed Oscar’s phone in her hand, she mumbled, “Oscar, all the photos you have are of me. Doesn’t that mean

an incoming call jolted Amelia out of her brief

flashed across the screen. Upon seeing

with your secretary today. The doctor said that the baby’s very healthy.” A note of betrayal crept into her voice. “You promised that you’d come with me, but you’re always so occupied with work! I said that I’d be a model wife so I won’t blame you this time. Oz, the baby and I both miss you so much! Will you be

hand clutched the blanket. She bit her lip with such fury that it almost drew blood. With what strength she could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s

Then she retorted, “Why are you

went to buy food for me,” Amelia

even documented in

asked, “How did you know about the

told me. Oz said you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s

grew even paler. Her grip on the blanket tightened. “Ms. Yard, I don’t think it’s your place to comment on the kind of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating on Oscar, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to divorce me. You’re nothing more

Keep lying to yourself, Amelia. I’ll be Oz’s wife soon. No matter what, you’re the one who’ll eventually be

Amelia stood her ground valiantly. “So what? At least I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out, I don’t

either, Amelia. Do you know what Oscar told me this morning? He said that you were filthy and made him sick, and he hasn’t divorced you only because you’re pregnant. He didn’t think you’d be bold enough to have an affair in your

nothing

waiting for a reply,

full of food, Amelia was facing away from the door with the blanket over her. He

bags and pulled a chair over. He sat

up, brushing aside Oscar’s gesture of intimacy. She then asked, “Mr.