Chapter 141 A Complicated Love
Tiffany echoed, “Babe, you just need to be mindful of this. Avoid attending any one-on-one meeting with him. You don’t have any feelings for him, but you can’t guarantee he feels the same way about you.”
Amelia nodded with determination whereas Tiffany kept quiet for the rest of the journey.
The ringing phone broke the silence in the car. Amelia took it out from her bag and saw that it was an incoming call from Jennifer.
When she picked it up, Jennifer’s panic-stricken voice sounded at her ear. “Amelia, is Carter with you? He escaped from the hospital. Please tell me his whereabouts if he’s with you. He hasn’t fully recovered and the doctor has advised against any vigorous movements, otherwise his condition will get worse.”
Amelia answered calmly, “He’s in my neighborhood. You can come over.” She hung up after that.
“Who’s that?”
“Jennifer.”
Tiffany cursed and then muttered, “What a nuisance!”
“Don’t get all work up by someone insignificant. It’s not worth it.” Amelia smiled faintly at her reaction.
Gritting her teeth, Tiffany complained, “I’m not angry, but I find her really annoying. Carter is indeed a jinx. Nothing good ever happens when he’s involved.”
Holding her tongue, Amelia leaned back on the passenger seat.
Tiffany was driving the car slowly, seemingly out of frustration for Carter. A journey which required only thirty to forty minutes was thwarted as she took an hour to arrive at the destination. Although Amelia could see through what Tiffany was trying to get at, she refrained herself from exposing her cheeky agenda.
When they got off the car, they saw Jennifer, Faye, and Carter engaging in an argument. Upon spotting Amelia, Faye immediately let go of Carter and dashed toward her.
Subconsciously, Tiffany stood in front of Amelia with her arms stretched out widely as a defence. “Old hag, what do you want?”
A mix of emotions flickered across Faye’s face.
It was a critical moment so Faye could only pull herself together and begged, “Amelia, please do us a favor. Please help persuade Carter to go back to the hospital. He’s still recovering. If he continues to exhaust himself, the condition of his stomach will only get worse.”
Meanwhile, Carter broke free from Jennifer’s vice-like grip and walked over toward Amelia with one hand on his stomach.
His ghastly pale face gazed at Amelia and smiled. “Hi, Amelia. You’re here.”
She felt sympathetic toward him. Tiffany’s rage disappeared into thin air when she saw his pitiful look. Then again, she still disapproved of his reckless action.
“Carter, why did you come out from the hospital when you’re still unwell?” Amelia frowned.
He beamed. “I miss you so I came over to see you.”
His words made Amelia feel rather uncomfortable. As a married woman who would be delivering her own baby in two months’ time, she did not view his confession as a sweet gesture. Rather, she was troubled by what he said and felt awkward.
Tiffany stepped forward and stood between them.
She glared at him. “Jinx, can you think before you speak? What do you mean by you miss her? Amelia has a husband and soon, they will have their first baby. If the Clintons heard what you just said, what would they think of Amelia?”
Looking confused, Carter was overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. He felt as if his heart was slashed by a knife with blood gushing out profusely, leaving him in agony.
Faye hauled Carter back and stared daggers at Tiffany. “Watch your words, Tiffany. You’re in no position to pass any remark on my son.”
Tiffany scoffed, “Old hag, I couldn’t care less about your son, but he shouldn’t bring Amelia into this mess. He has disregarded the fact that she’s a married woman and keeps on showing her affection. It’s going to ruin Amelia’s life.” Tiffany tried shooing them away as if they were unwanted pests. “If there’s nothing else, please hurry and take him back to the hospital. Don’t try to throw a pity party and then blame Amelia when something bad happens.”
Faye went ballistic as her breaths quickened when she huffed.
“You…”
Jennifer approached Faye and held her hand. In a gentle voice, she consoled her, “Don’t be angry, Mrs. Scott. Let’s take Carter back to the hospital first.”
Her reminder brought Faye back into reality. She turned and persuaded Carter, “Follow me back to the hospital, Carter. As long as you’re healthy and well, I promise not to interfere in your relationship with anyone you like henceforth. Just don’t give me a scare anymore please…”
Carter looked at Faye and then shifted his gaze to Amelia. “Can I speak with you in private? I apologize for acting rashly. I should have been more thoughtful before running to you from the hospital. Please don’t get mad at me.”
Amelia sighed. “Carter, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to see each other once you’re fully recovered. For now, follow Mrs. Scott back to the hospital, will you?”
“Am I a burden to you, Amelia?” Carter questioned.
Tiffany replied on her behalf, “Congratulations jinx, you’ve finally come to realization. If you’re concerned for Amelia, please make your way back to the hospital swiftly. Don’t make Amelia bear the untoward consequences of your childish acts.”
He looked downcast.
Amelia tugged at Tiffany’s shirt. “Carter, you should go back now. Don’t strain your body during the recovery stage.”
Carter nodded obediently. “Amelia, please accompany me to go back to the hospital.”
Before Amelia could make any decision, Faye grasped her hand and started pleading, “I beg you, Amelia. Please come with us to the hospital. You’ve known him for years, so could you just extend favor just this once?”
Amelia hesitated before saying yes.
In the end, both Tiffany and Amelia went along to the hospital. Carter wanted to go in Tiffany’s car. When Mrs. Scott was about to follow suit, Tiffany refused completely. “Mrs. Scott, my small car can’t handle your majestic presence.”
Carter proposed, “Mom, why don’t you go with Jennifer?”
Aggrieved, Faye alighted the car.
Tiffany started her engine reluctantly and did not stop mumbling throughout the journey. “Jinx, do you think you’re still a toddler? How could you do something so silly? Yes, Amelia is your friend and not your mom. Can you stop manipulating her soft spot and land her in such a predicament?”
Carter apologized.
Slapping the steering wheel, Tiffany derided, “That’s so you, jinx, to simply say sorry after creating a mess. Please don’t just assume that your apology can solve everything. This isn’t always the case!”
He looked awful while the hand on his thigh clenched into a fist.
Amelia nudged Tiffany and then turned to Carter at the backseat. “Carter, Tiff is just worried about me. Please don’t take it to heart. She has no ill intentions.”
“Amelia, do you hate me for acting like this?” He looked at her with a pair of sorrowful eyes.
Amelia’s smile faded. “I don’t hate you, but I seriously think that it’s better for us to keep our distance. Ms. Larson is a good choice. You should consider focusing on building your relationship with her.” She was brutally honest.
Carter’s face turned grim.
“Amelia, you know me better than anyone else.”
Sighing, she replied, “Carter, we’ll never be together. Why do you keep pushing it?”
“That’s not what you said when I was still in a coma.”
“I believe I didn’t say anything that could mislead you. Moreover, you were unconscious at that time. Did you really hear what I said?”
“In a way. When I was drifting in and out of consciousness.”
Tiffany raised her brow and cast a surprised look at Amelia. “Babe, what did you say exactly? Did you promise him anything?”
Amelia shook her head firmly.
While driving, Tiffany made it clear, “Jinx, your feelings are your own problem. Don’t stick around Amelia, okay? She has a husband for Pete’s sake! It is impossible for anything to happen between the two of you!”
Carter shut his eyes hopelessly.
Tiffany went quiet after taking a peek at him from the rearview mirror.
Half an hour later, the trio arrived at the hospital, followed by Jennifer’s car.
Tiffany stated, “Get off the car, Carter. Amelia and I won’t go down with you.”
He pleaded with a puppy face. “Amelia, can you come down with me please?”
Amelia heaved a sigh and agreed before Tiffany blurted something even harsher. “Come on. Let’s go!”
The latter glared at her, but Amelia just pretended not to see it.
The five of them stepped into the hospital. When the elevator door opened, Amelia stood rooted on the spot when she saw a couple hugging each other lovingly. Likewise, the man did a double take when he saw her.
“Oz, isn’t this Ms. Winters? Oh, look who’s beside her… Mr. Scott?” Cassie who was buried in Oscar’s arms said hypocritically.
Oscar’s gaze became extremely conflicted when met with Amelia’s.
Infuriated, Tiffany stared hard at the shameless couple. She mocked, “Oh, isn’t this Ms. Yard who just had a miscarriage? I heard that women who went through that would be very weak. Why aren’t you resting on your bed; instead, you are hanging onto someone else’s husband? Aren’t you afraid of being drowned by backlashes? Oh, I remember now. You’re a shameless woman after all. Otherwise, why would you be engaging in an audacious act of hugging a married man in public? No matter how I view this, it just looks disgusting to me!”
Cassie started feeling uneasy.
Tiffany’s sharp tongue continued, “Cassie, be a woman of grace and culture. I’m ashamed of you for not having any good virtues.”
An ugly scowl appeared on Cassie’s otherwise beautiful face.
“Oz…” she called out coquettishly, making all women present jumped with goosebumps.
Amelia pulled Tiffany aside. “Stop messing around, Tiff. We’re at a hospital. We’ll talk about the rest when we get home.”
Upon noticing a glint of pain flashed across Amelia’s eyes, Tiffany’s fury went away like a deflated balloon.
She held Amelia’s hand with the hope that it will grant her some emotional support. She consoled her, “Babe, don’t be scared for I’ve got your back.”
Amelia gave her a light nod.
Naturally, Carter stood behind Amelia and then prompted, “Let’s go, Amelia.”
“The air here is so polluted that it could suffocate us to death. Let’s take the other elevator.” Tiffany purposely said in a contemptuous manner.
Dwelling on the painful sight of Oscar hugging Cassie, she did not notice how Carter intentionally approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Seeing that she did not reject the affectionate move, Oscar’s gaze instantly turned icy cold. He tightened his grip on Cassie, causing the latter to cry out in pain.
“Oz, you’re hurting me.” Her brows scrunched together as she pouted.
Her flirtatious expression successfully caught everyone’s attention. Tiffany’s eyes flamed with anger as if she wanted to burn Cassie alive. Amelia, on the other hand, could not hide her distress when she looked at Oscar in the eye.
“Carter, let’s go up. You don’t look too good,” Amelia requested.
Carter’s face lit up with hope even though he suspected her for making use of his presence to irritate Oscar. Nonetheless, it was still a pleasant surprise for him.
