Oscar gave her a grim look, saying, “Ms. Larson, you’re prettier than I imagined, 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 to touch Amelia. I won’t permit anyone to interfere with my marriage. Whether she cheats on me or divorces me is my own affair. Mind your own business. The Larsons may have a strong base overseas, but they are nothing compared to the Clintons here. Get this into your head,” Oscar threatened.
Jennifer gaped at Oscar incredulously. “Mr. Clinton, what’s so good about Amelia? You’ve seen the photos, yet you’re still willing to let her stay by your side?”
“Ms. Larson, that’s between Amelia and me. I don’t have to explain anything to you,” Oscar replied icily.
Jennifer crossed her arms, scoffing, “Who would’ve thought that a prominent figure, like yourself, would still be tied to your wife’s apron strings?”
“You don’t have to concern yourself with me,” Oscar retorted. “Watch out for yourself. If these photos are leaked, you know what the consequences are.”
Jennifer snickered. “Don’t worry, Mr. Clinton. I’m not that clueless. But in terms of mutual compatibility, I think Cassie Yard’s a more suitable match for you. You’ve known Cassie for so many years, almost got married, and now she’s even carrying your child! Wouldn’t you say your destiny 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, the door 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 enjoy your meal,” one of the young men said politely.
Oscar picked out a couple of bills from his wallet and handed them to the waiter. “Your tip.”
The young man who had spoken received them and thanked Oscar profusely. “Thank you. Mr. Clinton. If there are no other requests, we’ll head 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 let Jennifer change the subject.
“I don’t know Cassie; I merely didn’t see what was so fantastic about Amelia, so I went about my own investigation into the matter. I was rather astonished to find out along the way that you’re quite the hopeless romantic at heart,” Jennifer replied snarkily.
“Don’t you dare touch Cassie either, or I’ll see that you regret it,” Oscar warned.
Jennifer shrugged. “Don’t worry, Mr. Clinton. I’ve got nothing against Ms. Yard. Don’t you think that it’s a little greedy of you, trying to have the best of both worlds, though? It’s rather uncommon to see someone cheat as brazenly as you. However, I suppose it’s another trick you men employ to get away with things.”
Oscar stood up. “Don’t mess with Amelia again. I don’t take kindly to others interfering with what belongs to me. I’m the only one who can say no to our marriage,” he declared. Having said his piece, Oscar stalked off, leaving Jennifer alone with a table full of untouched dishes.
Jennifer laughed scornfully, then slammed her fist onto the table with a resounding thud. She muttered hatefully, “Amelia, you’re an absolute vixen! You’ve got Carter protecting you, and even after seeing those shameful photos of yours, Oscar has even stepped up his defense of you. Why? Why?”
Jennifer had never imagined that the effort she’d spent humiliating Amelia, and expelling her from the Clintons, would have been so easily negated by Oscar.
Jennifer knew that she couldn’t afford to offend Oscar and made sure to tread carefully around him. As Oscar had pointed out, the Larsons were rich but were out of their depth here. Their tremendous power and influence overseas was ultimately no match for the Clintons’ home advantage. Jennifer didn’t want to risk angering Oscar, who might force the untimely retreat of the Larsons back home with their tails between their legs.
Jennifer liked Carter. She had planned to foster strong connections here, facilitating the import of their company’s products and easing their entry into the local market. Before she accomplished that, she had to be wary of displeasing Oscar. Jennifer couldn’t let all her efforts thus far go to waste.
“You’re lucky, Amelia. However, there is no way I will allow you to steal Carter away from me. He’s mine,” Jennifer declared emphatically.
She picked up her bag and left. The sumptuous dishes remained on the table, gradually turning cold.
Meanwhile, Oscar was headed to the hospital. When he arrived outside Amelia’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 her collapse unconscious in Tiffany’s arms the previous night, Oscar couldn’t deny that anxiety had risen unbidden in his throat. At that moment, the only thought that had filled his mind was, I’ll willingly put up with a million of those photos, as long as Amelia and the baby are fine!
Transfixed by the scene before him, Oscar did not realize that the corners 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 window staring in for the longest time. All of a sudden, his phone rang shrilly with a call from Olivia. A moment later, the door of the room was wrenched 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, his embarrassment 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 photographs from last night had utterly cemented the conflict between them. The initial intimacy of their marriage had entirely evaporated, leaving behind two strangers in its wake.
Tiffany’s smile had faded when Oscar entered the room. She picked up her things and said, “Mrs. Clinton, I have some unfinished drafts that my editor is harassing me over. I’ll leave to do them. Please take good care of Amelia. If you’re busy, give me a call.”
Olivia smiled genially. “You’ve cared for Amelia the whole day and gone to much trouble yourself. When Amelia is discharged, I’ll whip up a few dishes 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’ll make a move first then.”
Olivia nodded.
Tiffany turned to Amelia. “Babe, call me if there’s anything, okay? It’s not healthy for you to keep everything to yourself, got it?”
“Got it,” Amelia replied. “Take care and give me a call when you reach home.”
Tiffany gestured “OK” and left without so much as a glance in Oscar’s direction.
Olivia spoke. “Oscar, you look like a statue standing there. Amelia’s been 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 of unhappiness between you both.”
Oscar looked over at Amelia. However, she avoided his gaze, saying, “Mom, you’ve accompanied me the entire afternoon. Please go home and rest. The nurses will look after me here.”
Olivia understood immediately. She said meaningfully, “I’ll go home first 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. I won’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’t think too much about the photographs. I’ll deal with that. Your priority now is to take care of yourself and the baby. The Clintons still have the ability 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 good rest. Don’t overthink. I’ll be back at ten.”
“Take care, Mom. Drive safe,” Amelia replied.
After Olivia left, silence descended upon the room at once. Unable to think of anything to say to the other, the air between Oscar and Amelia hung 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 really don’t know what happened regarding that matter with the photographs, but I can explain. There’s absolutely nothing between Carter and me. I see him solely in the capacity of a good friend.”
Oscar looked solemn. “Don’t worry. I’ve already dealt with the photographs. Just be more careful not to get caught in the future; I don’t like cleaning up after other people.”
Amelia looked at Oscar, her expression incomprehensible. After a moment’s hesitation, she stammered, “Mr. Clinton, when will we get divorced?”
Oscar’s gaze pierced through Amelia. “What, you can’t wait to fly back into the arms of your new love?”
Amelia sighed. “Mr. Clinton, seeing as I’m in the hospital, can we discuss this reasonably? I admit that I’m wrong for allowing myself to be photographed in that way, but it was never my intention. I hope that even if we get divorced, you won’t doubt that the baby is yours. He’s your 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 that render the past five years of our marriage a complete joke?”
Oscar’s expression softened. He replied, “Who said that we were going to get divorced?”
Speechless, Amelia looked at him.
A smile hovered on Oscar’s lips. “I’ve said this before: I’m the only one who can pronounce ‘game over’ on our marriage. All you have to do is accept my decision. When you’re discharged, resign from your job. I don’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 offend Jennifer? She forked out quite a hefty sum to get compromising photos of you,” Oscar asked fascinatedly as he leaned against the back of the chair.
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 an extent. How could I not find out who she was? Tell me, how did you manage to trigger such wrath in Jennifer within the two short months that you’ve been to work? It seems that you’re rather adept not only at attracting men but also women’s attention as well.”
Amelia nearly choked. She coughed violently. What exactly did Oscar mean by that?
“Jennifer misunderstood. She thought that I was seeing Carter. That’s why she hired someone to stalk me,” Amelia answered honestly.
Oscar felt another surge of anger. Hotly, he said, “Amelia, aren’t you shameless?”
Amelia took another look at Oscar, then fell silent again.
