Too Much to Bear My Love

“Don’t trouble yourself, Mom. I can take care of myself. I’ll be back in half an hour,” Amelia protested

genially.

Seeing that Amelia was resolute, Olivia reluctantly agreed.

After Amelia had left, Olivia’s face resumed its vexed expression. “Did you see Steph’s behavior just

now? She has no manners and doesn’t behave like a lady at all.”

Ever the mediator, Owen said, “All right, let’s not get all worked up. Steph has disliked Amelia all along.

We’ll invite Amelia over less often to prevent such squabbles from happening again. It puts you in a

difficult position as well.”

Olivia bristled and snapped back at Owen, “What are you talking about? Amelia’s part of our family.

Along with Oscar, she’ll be the owner of this house in the future. What do you mean by inviting her over

less often? Besides, the two of you are always so busy with your own lives. Who do I have to talk to

other than Amelia? Or would you prefer I leave with her?”

Bemused, Owen replied, “Don’t get hysterical, Olivia. I just don’t want an outsider to drive a wedge

between your daughter and yourself. You wouldn’t want Steph to hate you, would you?”

Olivia was silent.

“Let’s eat. The children can handle their own affairs,” Owen said kindly.

Olivia once again resumed eating. By way of soothing his wife, Owen said, “When Steph is back, you

can talk things out with her. Steph has been spoilt since she was young and must be feeling jealous now

that your attention’s shifted to someone else. I can understand why she’s objected so strongly to

Amelia’s presence here.”

Olivia nodded.

Amelia had wandered to the little artificial lake within the Clintons’ grounds. Drawing nearer, however,

she noticed a tall, slender figure already standing there. It was none other than Stephanie.

Amelia hesitated. She considered retreating soundlessly back the way she came, but Stephanie had

already turned in Amelia’s direction as she approached. Their gazes met.

It’s the clash of the titans!

The thought sprung unbidden to Amelia’s mind.

Stephanie’s eyes gleamed with hatred. She marched over, exclaiming, “Amelia, you’re really something!

Not only have you seduced my brother, but you’ve also managed to get my mom under your thumb. You

must be pleased with yourself.”

Amelia gazed at Stephanie for a moment, then said serenely, “Steph, I’ve always treated you like family. I

don’t know what I did to make you hate me so much, but I’ve constantly been trying to win you over. I

hope you can give me a chance.”

Stephanie folded her arms across her chest. “Amelia, do you know what it is that I hate most about you?

You’re clearly a gold digger, yet you’re constantly playing the victim to gain sympathy. It annoys me to no

end.”

Amelia walked over to the side of the lake. She took a deep breath, then turned and said, “Steph, if I

really wanted to get rid of you, I have a thousand and one other ways to turn your own mother against

you. It’s up to you whether you choose to believe me or not.”

Stephanie sneered, “Are you threatening me?”

Amelia shook her head. “I’m not. I rather hope that we can coexist in peace. Your mother is very kind to

me, and I don’t want to make things difficult for her. I hope that you’ll stop throwing a tantrum whenever

we meet.”

Derisively, Stephanie said, “And what if I refuse?”

“I’ve checked. There are cameras installed in every corner of the Clinton residence. This lake is the only

place on the grounds without any. If I threw myself in right now and accused you of pushing me in, which

one of us do you think your family will believe?” Amelia said.

Enraged, Stephanie shouted, “Amelia, are you really low enough to stoop to such underhand tricks? Are

you really asking to be thrown into the lake? I’ll grant your wish and push you in for real. It won’t matter

what my parents think as long as you drown to your death. They’ll find a way to cover it up for me.”

Stephanie looked at Amelia, daring her to reply.

Amelia was slightly taken aback. She’d never imagined that Stephanie would be reckless enough to

even speak of killing her out loud.

“Stephanie, it seems that you’re not just a spoiled rich girl after all; you’re also a foolish woman who is far

more confident in yourself than you have any right to be.”

Stephanie said disdainfully, “Coward! I just said that to frighten you. Do you think that your devious plans

will work? Even if you do get thrown into the lake, my parents will only be mad at me for a few days. Do

you think you’re really that important to them?”

Amelia retorted, “Why don’t you ask your mother just how important I am to her? Or don’t you already

know the answer?”

Provoked, Stephanie cried, “You…”

Amelia had walked away, but she turned back and gave the former a sidelong glance. “Stephanie, if I

were you, I wouldn’t do anything to humiliate me in front of your mother. It only makes her feel for me

more. If you truly want to sabotage someone, do it more subtly. Your incessant whining only makes you

look like a silly b*tch yapping away.”

With her arms akimbo, Stephanie replied vehemently, “Amelia, if you continue to incite me like this, don’t

blame me if I knock you over and cause a miscarriage!”

“Push me then, please, if you don’t mind your parents packing you off overseas and your brother cutting

off all ties with you forever,” Amelia replied. “Mr. Clinton’s going to divorce me soon, anyway, and I can’t

take my child with me.”

Stephanie’s chest heaved as she gnashed her teeth with rage. “Amelia, has anyone ever told you that

you’re absolutely despicable?”

Amelia merely shrugged. “Thanks for the compliment, but no one’s actually ever told me that.”

Stephanie drew her hand back in a swift motion, fully intending to land a slap on Amelia’s face. However,

her hand was caught in mid-air by Amelia. The latter brandished her swollen belly in front of Stephanie,

saying, “Watch yourself, Steph. Your mother’s looked forward to this grandchild for the longest time. If

anything happens to him, you’ll be stuck overseas while I get to stay right here. Within a few years, you’ll

find yourself working for your own money.”

Stephanie wrenched her hand away from Amelia’s grip. She leaned in and said, “Amelia, don’t be so

shameless. Try to enjoy it while it lasts. Cassie’s coming back. It’s time for you to scamper back to

wherever you belong.”

Amelia shrugged again. “Don’t worry about me. Even if I get divorced, your brother will be giving me a

hefty sum nonetheless.”

“You shameless gold digger,” Stephanie snarled. “You make me sick. You’d better get out of my sight

before I make you.”

She then swaggered off.

Amelia watched her retreating figure for a while, then raised her eyes toward the starry night sky. She

sighed heavily.

That was how the maid found her after a long time.

Amelia followed her back to the house where Olivia was waiting. She dashed forward and clasped

Amelia, saying, “What in the world were you doing? It’s gotten so late!”

“The moon was lovely tonight. I was so caught up watching its reflection shimmering in the lake that I

must have lost track of time somehow. I’m sorry to have worried you,” Amelia said apologetically.

Olivia said indulgently, “Now that you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t be wandering off by yourself. If you want

to take a walk tomorrow, let me accompany you at least.”

Amelia returned her smile. “Mom, I’m going back to work tomorrow. I feel bad for taking half a month’s

leave when I’m merely a new employee. If it weren’t because of Carter, I’d have been fired long ago.”

Olivia furrowed her brows and made as if to speak. Amelia quickly continued, “Mom, I rather like this job.

Besides, if I don’t go to work, I’d only be letting my thoughts run wild all day.”

Olivia had no choice but to agree. However, she chided, “Amelia, you can go ahead to work, but don’t

hesitate to resign if it’s taking a toll on you. If you’re bored, I can always get Oscar to give you a sinecure

at Clinton Corporations. Don’t tire yourself out.”

Amelia said gaily, “Don’t worry, Mom. I know my limits; I’ll take care of myself.”

Olivia nodded in approval.

“I’m a little tired now. I’ll head upstairs first to rest,” Amelia said.

“Go ahead then. I noticed that you didn’t eat much for dinner. If you get hungry in the middle of the night,

I’ll get the maid to prepare a light supper for you,” Olivia said reassuringly.

Amelia nodded.

She slowly walked up the stairs. The moment she entered the bedroom, she received a call from Oscar.

Amelia picked up the phone only to be greeted by Cassie’s voice on the other end of the line.

“Amelia, Oz has gone to take a shower. He’ll be staying over at my place tonight. He asked me to call

and tell you to be careful over at the Clintons’. Be sure not to slip and fall, or you’ll squash that lump

inside of you for sure,” Cassie said rudely.

Amelia’s fists clenched. Her reply, however, was breezy. “Ms. Yard, did you call me just to show off?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have that much time on my hands. I just wanted to tell you that in my eyes, you’re

nothing but another failure. So what if Oz saw those photos of mine? He’s so in love with me that he

thinks I’m still that innocent girl of yore. That’s something that you definitely won’t be able to convince

him of about you.”

Amelia almost flung her phone aside in anger. She forced herself to take a deep breath, however, and

swallowed her rage. “Congratulations, Ms. Yard. Be warned, though, that your sins will eventually find

you out. Someday someone will catch you at one of those seedy places you frequent. You might be able

to explain it away the first or second time, but it’ll get old real quick.”

“That’s not your area of concern. Even if I go to those seedy places as you say, I’ll bring Oz with me.”

“That’ll be nice. Ms. Yard, if you have nothing else to say to me, I’ll hang up now,” Amelia said. The

exhaustion accumulated from the night’s happenings was catching up with her.

“Wait,” Cassie said urgently.

“Anything else I can help you with, Ms. Yard?” Amelia inquired sarcastically.

“If you know what’s best for yourself, divorce Oz now. Don’t hang around and wait to be chased out,

though that is what going to happen eventually.”

“Don’t you worry about me, Ms. Yard,” Amelia replied easily. “Your position as the Clintons’ daughter-in-

law is more precarious than mine. His mom loves me, and it so happens that you’re not in her good

books at the moment.”

“You…”

“Ms. Yard, allow me to wish you and Mr. Clinton a good night. Treasure it; I’m afraid you won’t be having

too many more of such happy days together.” Having said that, Amelia firmly hung up the phone.

She threw the phone aside, feeling her strength utterly drain from her. Tears gathered in the corners of

her eyes, threatening to spill over.

She wasn’t as upset about her misfortune as she was over the fact that so few people cared. Her own

husband was in love with another woman; the entire Clinton family, besides Olivia, was entirely on his

side. She was constantly treated as an outsider. And even though the Clintons knew that she was

pregnant, none of them had truly rejoiced for her.

When Cassie had gotten pregnant, not only did the Clintons not shame her for it, but they had actually

rallied in her defense. Amelia had always scorned soap operas for being unrealistic, never imagining that

her own life would be far more dramatic than some exposés.

No one envied the rich man’s wife for her role. Over the years, the pride and self-confidence that she had

at the start had been so battered and bruised that nearly nothing of it was left.

Another sigh escaped her. She was at a complete loss. At that moment, it seemed as if the path ahead

lay entirely obscured in shadow.

Amelia collapsed onto the bed, fully dressed, and closed her eyes. Amidst her scattered thoughts, a

single tear emerged and tumbled down her cheek.

Oscar returned home at around two in the morning. He gently pushed the door open, entered, then shut

it softly behind him. Tiptoeing over to the bed, he saw Amelia curled up like a hedgehog in full defensive

mode. Her cheeks were still stained with the tears that she must have unknowingly shed through the

night, dreaming of the saddest things.

Oscar’s heart twinged. He bent down, wiped away her tears tenderly, and kissed her on her lips.