“It’s hard to say. Let’s wait for the doctor’s diagnosis first.”
Amelia glanced at Oscar dubiously. She was surprised that he could be so calm upon hearing about Cassie’s accident. Is he pretending to be calm on purpose, or is he just cold-hearted by nature? If it’s the latter, then he’s one hell of a heartless man.
Based on how much she knew about him, she would rather he was pretending to be strong on purpose.
Although Amelia did not like seeing him sad because of another woman, if a man could be indifferent toward something major happening to the woman he loved, then such a man would be absolutely terrifying.
“Aren’t you worried, Mr. Clinton?” Amelia probed him.
Oscar pulled her into his arms. “Don’t fret about it. If I act too worried, won’t you get jealous?”
Amelia’s suppressed emotions only got stronger.
“Mr. Clinton, the fact that you’re so calm about this is freaking me out.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure how to put it, but I think your reaction isn’t quite right.”
“Do you think I’m being too cold?”
Amelia nodded frankly.
Oscar could not decide whether he should laugh or cry. “Ah, Women… I swear, I can never understand your train of thought. If I worry too much, you’ll say I’m overly worried about other women. If I’m calm, you’ll say I’m being cold-hearted.”
The strange feeling in Amelia’s heart had yet to dissipate.
“Mr. Clinton, I’m just…”
Oscar placed his hand over her mouth. “Alright, that’s enough. Don’t say anything that would make me mad.”
Amelia leaned into his embrace. She no longer bothered to guess how Oscar really felt toward Cassie.
The two sat quietly on the bench. Time slowly ticked away, and in the blink of an eye, the operation had gone on for three hours.
Amelia stared at the red light outside the operating room and frowned. Then, she struck up a conversation with Oscar. “Mr. Clinton, I think you should tell the Yard family about this. Otherwise, if anything happens to Ms. Yard, I’m afraid you won’t be able to explain to them.”
Oscar considered it and nodded in agreement. “I’ll get my chauffeur to take you home first. You’re with child, and it’s way past lunchtime. You going hungry won’t be doing any good for the baby’s development.”
Amelia gave it some thought and nodded faintly.
She initially wanted to wait with Oscar but considering his relationship with Cassie, it would turn out awkward if she stayed. She was the legal wife, and Cassie the mistress. Currently, the mistress was in the operating room, possibly having a difficult delivery. If she stayed, the Yard family might get emotional when they arrive.
In a love triangle, someone was bound to get hurt.
Amelia shot Oscar a look fraught with emotions. This man is so exceptional that two equally exceptional women actually got jealous, became rivals, and even loathed each other, all because they’re pining for him.
They said women were nothing but trouble, but sometimes it was more likely that the men were the bringers of bad luck.
Before Amelia left, she said to Oscar, “Mr. Clinton, do be careful. If anything happens, give me a call.”
“What? Are you afraid that your husband will get beaten up or something?” Oscar quipped, amused.
Amelia gave him a side-eye. “What happened to Cassie was extremely serious. You should know that the Yard family won’t let this matter go so easily. After all, their daughter’s pregnant with your kid.”
Oscar replied as he stroked her face, “You’re such a worrywart. Be careful now, or you might become an old hag when you’re not even that old yet!”
Amelia glared at him.
“Fine, I know you’re worried about me. Please go home. I’ll give you updates on Cassie’s condition,” Oscar deliberately said so to soothe her.
Amelia left the hospital after that.
She got into her car. Still feeling worried, she gave Olivia a call.
After the call got through, Olivia’s motherly voice sounded from the other side, “Hi, Amelia.”
“Mom, have you taken your lunch?” Amelia asked.
“I had it at eleven. What about you?”
“Not yet. I’ll eat something later.”
“It’s late, Amelia. Why haven’t you eaten yet?” Olivia asked, already anxious. “Where are you now? I’ll get the maid to prepare some food and send them your way. What’s Molly been doing? Hasn’t she cooked anything for you?”
“Mom, calm down. I just got out of the hospital, so…”
“What? Hospital, you say? Is there a problem with the baby?” Olivia got even more anxious. “Which hospital are you at right now? I’m coming over.”
Olivia’s reaction filled Amelia’s heart with warmth. The younger woman quickly explained, “Mom, I’m fine. It’s Ms. Yard who got admitted to the hospital.”
Olivia clearly did not like the sound of that. “Why were you with Cassie in the first place? Aha! She’s pestering you again, isn’t she? Oh my gosh! Has that woman got no shame?”
Feeling helpless, Amelia said, “Mom, listen to me. Ms. Yard had an accident, and she might have some complications delivering the baby.”
On the other end of the line, Olivia was evidently stunned.
“What happened?”
Amelia gave her a brief explanation of everything that had happened.
Silence ensued for a few moments before Olivia spoke again. “Amelia, why don’t you head home first? I’ll make a trip to the hospital. I may not know for sure whose baby she’s having, but since she insists it’s Oscar’s, I can’t ignore that. I’ll go and sort things out for myself. You’re pregnant now, so I don’t want you to take part in any of this. If you ask me, losing this baby is probably for the best, otherwise, the baby will be born as an illegitimate child.”
As Amelia listened to Olivia, she could not help but feel equal parts surprised and upset.
“Amelia, I hope you don’t think of me as cruel. I just don’t want other women to threaten your position. I like you. You’ll always be the Clintons’ daughter-in-law for as long as we live.”
Amelia felt guilty for the brief thought she had hatched just a moment ago.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
On the other line, Olivia snorted. “Silly child. Oscar’s the one who should be sorry. Why are you apologizing to me? I know that you’ve suffered a lot of grief in this family. Oscar may be an excellent businessman, but he has no idea how to manage his marriage. Please bear with him, give him more guidance, and I bet one day he’ll realize how good you’ve been to him.”
To that, Amelia said, “Mom, Oscar’s a good man. He treats me very well.”
“I’m pleased to hear you say that. Hurry home, then. I’ll get the maid to prepare a nutritious meal for you.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Amelia glanced back at the hospital with a grim expression before driving away.
Shortly after Amelia left, the Yard family arrived at the hospital.
Elizabeth launched herself onto Oscar, wailing. “Oscar, what’s going on here? Cassie’s been doing well all this time, hasn’t she? How did she end up like this?”
Oscar merely let the older woman had her way with him. He waited until she got tired from crying and using him as an emotional punching bag before speaking to them as calmly as he could, “Mrs. Yard, I’m deeply sorry about Cassie, but I really don’t know the details about her accident.”
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. Perhaps she did not expect such a cruel statement to have come from him, she simply stared at him dazedly while her tears flowed freely.
Oscar extended a hand to support her. “Mrs. Yard, you and your husband should sit down and take a rest first. Cassie’s still in the operating room, and I’m not sure of her condition. If you go on like this, I fear for your health. “
Charlie put his arms around Elizabeth’s shoulders and said, “Dear, please calm down. Cassie knows we’re worried about her. She’ll be fine.”
Elizabeth leaned on Charlie and eventually got a hold of herself.
When she finally composed herself, she turned to Oscar and said calmly, “Oscar, let me ask you. What are your plans for Cassie if she has a miscarriage?”
Oscar skilfully evaded the question. “Mrs. Yard, Cassie’s a lucky person. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
But Elizabeth was adamant in getting an answer from him. “Oscar, Cassie’s the only daughter we have. She insisted on keeping the child despite our objections. You’ve also promised to divorce your wife and marry her. And since you’ve made your promise, I’ll see to it that it’s fulfilled. “
Oscar merely pursed his lips.
He felt repelled by the idea of getting married to Cassie now that he was being cornered by Cassie’s parents. It doesn’t matter that he actually had the intention of divorcing Amelia and take Cassie as his wife in the beginning.
As a child, he was used to being surrounded by others who worshipped him, and he was accustomed to being the one in charge. He did not like the feeling of being coerced like he was then.
Elizabeth glared at him sharply. “Oscar, be honest with me. You have no intention to marry my daughter at all, am I right?”
Oscar replied solemnly, “Mrs. Yard, Amelia’s also pregnant right now. I can’t possibly abandon her while she’s still pregnant with my child. If I do so, I’m worse than a feral beast. I doubt you’d want a man with no morals as your son-in-law.”
Elizabeth was livid. She raised her hand and gave Oscar a huge slap on the face. “Oscar! If you can’t bear to leave your wife, why must you mess around with Cassie? Amelia may be pregnant, but don’t you forget that the woman in the operating room right now is also having your child! Her life is hanging in the balance, and we don’t even know if the baby will survive. How heartless can you be to say something like that!” she berated.
The impact got Oscar’s head to whiped to the right. His expression turned dark and gloomy.
Charlie patted his wife on the shoulder as a means to console her. He said, “Dear, please calm down. I believe Oscar will provide an explanation.”
With teary eyes, Elizabeth went on yelling, “What’s there left to explain? Didn’t you hear what he said? If anything happens to Cassie, I don’t care if we have to disperse all our wealth, I’ll make sure the Clintons are held accountable!”
Charlie continued to pat his wife on the shoulder. Softly, he said to her, “Dear, please, listen to me and calm down. No one expects something like this to happen to Cassie. None of us have any idea what really happened. What we can do now is to wait until Cassie wakes up, then we’ll be able to get the whole story. You can’t just go blindly accusing Oscar like this. It will only make matters worse and we may end up in a deadlock. So please, get a hold of yourself.”
