“You called me?”
Cassie nodded as she made herself look even more innocent and pitiful. “I called you, but Ms. Winters said that you were in the shower. She was the one to say that too. Oz, I don’t mean to ruin your marriage. I just love you too much. If you think that I’m a homewrecker, I’ll go back to Erihal.”
Oscar narrowed his eyes, but his gaze remained fixed on the road. “I’ll deal with Amelia, so don’t overthink it.”
Cassie mumbled, “Oz, are you mad at me?”
He shook his head and reassured, “Why would I? But you’ll have to minimize your visits to bars. It’s fine if you want to go there, but you’ll have to call me along. You’re too pretty, and I’m afraid others might do something to you.”
Cassie nodded. “Oz, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
“You must have gotten a fright from that. I’ll send you home first.”
“Oz, send me to the hotel from earlier.”
“You’re not going back to Yard Manor?”
“It’s too late. I’ll only wake my parents and worry them if I go back now,” Cassie replied.
Oscar nodded in understanding and drove to the hotel instead.
After taking the elevator to the twentieth floor and sending her to the room, Oscar said, “Cassie, rest well. I’ll take a trip back first.”
Promptly, Cassie hugged him from behind and sobbed, “Oz, don’t leave me. I was nearly molested by a bunch of gangsters earlier. I’m scared. Can you stay with me?”
As she expected, Oscar relented.
He led Cassie to the couch before boiling some water. Then, he poured her a glass of hot water and placed it on the table. “Drink when it’s cooler.”
Cassie wrapped her arms around his waist and mumbled, “Oz, I was so scared just now. I was so afraid that they’ll violate me, and I won’t be able to be with you anymore. I’m so glad you came in time.”
He patted her back and consoled, “Silly, even if anything does happen, I’ll still love you like before. To me, it’s nothing. Don’t get stressed over it.”
Cassie paled, but still, she shamelessly continued, “Oz, you always said that I’m innocent, so I wanted to save myself for you. I only have one man, and that’s you. Regardless of whether we marry or not, I just want to save myself for you.”
Oscar was a man, and a man loves it when a woman saves herself for him.
Since ancient times, men were always the ones who could flirt around, but women were not allowed to do the same.
“Cassie, you’re too good. I’ll never do you wrong.”
A cunning look flashed past her eyes, but she whined, “Oz, at the end of the day, you’re still married. No matter how good or bad your relationship with Ms. Winters is, I’ll still be the mistress who’ll ruin your marriage. Those who don’t know what’s going on will say that I’m a shameless woman. That’s something I mind. If I were more sensible when I was younger, I wouldn’t have abandoned you for my future and left for Erihal. Now that I’m back, I only have myself to blame that you now have a wife.”
“You’re my woman. Who dares to talk bad about you?” Oscar whispered as his heart ached, hugging her tightly.
Cassie’s eyes turned bloodshot as she croaked, “But I’m still the third wheel of your relationship. Oz, I’ll really have nothing left if you abandon me in the future.”
Holding her tighter, Oscar coaxed, “Silly, I’ll marry you. Don’t mind Amelia’s words. I’ll deal with her soon. I won’t let her intervene in our relationship.”
Cassie leaned into his arms. “Oz, if I’m putting you in a tight spot, I’ll go back to Erihal. I’m fine staying in Erihal.”
Oscar insisted, “You’re not allowed to say you’re going to leave me anymore. I let you leave once, but I won’t let you leave again. Even if you were to go back to Erihal, I’ll go there and bring you back.”
A victorious smile crept upon Cassie’s smile as she uttered words that seemed considerate. “Oz, don’t blame Amelia for picking up my call for you. I don’t want to be the reason for you to fight with her.”
Patting her head, Oscar sighed. “You’re too kind, but I won’t let her off the hook so easily this time. If I were to come any second later, I don’t know where those gangsters would bring you to. No one will know what will happen to you.”
Cassie stared into his eyes and consoled, “Oz, I’m fine.”
“Amelia should feel glad that you’re fine, or else I’m going to kill her,” Oscar said through gritted teeth.
“Oz, don’t get mad. Ms. Winters didn’t know that something would happen to me either. I was too reckless; if I had stayed at home, this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have troubled you to come all the way here to save me. Oz, am I too difficult? I’ve been troubling you a lot,” Cassie said quietly as she stared at him with wide, distressed eyes.
Hunching over to lift her into his arms, Oscar carried her to the bed and tucked her into the blanket. Softly, he said, “Sleep. I’ll stay with you.”
Cassie gave him a sweet smile, then patted at the empty spot beside her. “Oz, it’s getting late. You should sleep too.”
Instead of rejecting her, Oscar climbed onto the bed and held her in his arms. “Sleep.”
She nodded.
Just then, his phone rang. When Oscar picked up his phone, he realized it was a call from Amelia.
Oscar instantly declined the call, and Cassie asked, “Oz, who’s that?”
With a grave look on his face, Oscar responded, “Amelia.”
Cassie gasped, “Oz, you should take the call. I’m sure Ms. Winters is worried since you came out in the middle of the night.”
Oscar simply switched off his phone and placed it on the bedside table. “Sleep.”
Burying herself in his arms, Cassie cooed, “Oz, will Ms. Winters fight with you tomorrow if you don’t pick up the call?”
He only patted the back of her hand and repeated, “Sleep. I’ll know what to do about Amelia.”
Cassie closed her eyes and mumbled under her breath, “Oz, you have to tell me if Ms. Winters gets into a fight with you. I don’t want to keep causing troubles for you.”
The next morning at eight, Cassie woke up. When she realized that Oscar had yet to wake up, she smiled and leaned down to kiss him.
Right as she was about to part his lips, he opened his eyes and stopped her. “Cassie, don’t.”
Cassie frowned as she looked at Oscar, disappointed. “Oz, you said you don’t want to touch me for now, but not even for a kiss?”
Oscar ran his fingers through her hair and answered, “Cassie, I’m scared that if I touch your lips, my body will respond to it. I don’t want to take you before marrying you.”
Cassie eagerly replied, “Oz, I’ve grown up. I want to give myself to you.”
Immediately, he turned gloomy. “Cassie, I’ll send you back to Yard Manor first. I’ll be going back home in a bit.”
It was only an excuse that Oscar did not want to have sex with her before marriage. Although he said he loved Cassie, he did not want her as much as he wanted Amelia. Every time he looked at Amelia, his mind was full of those thoughts. On the other hand, when he looked at Cassie, there was a strict line between them that forced him to stay on his side and to treat Cassie rationally.
Abruptly taking off her pajamas, Cassie lunged toward Oscar and seductively whispered, “Oz, does my body look good?”
Oscar stared at her fair skin and calmly put her pajamas back on. “The temperature is quite low in the room. Don’t catch a cold.”
Panic exploded in her mind as she grabbed Oscar’s hand. “Oz, do I not look pretty?”
Oscar gazed at her serenely. “Cassie, don’t overthink it. I just want us to have the perfect memory for our first time.”
Cassie returned his gaze woefully. “Oz, is that what you’ll do to Amelia? Will you put on her clothes calmly like this too?”
His mood darkened, and he uttered, “Cassie, you had a frightful experience last night, so I’ll pretend you never said that. Don’t say them anymore.”
“Oz, I’m sorry.” Cassie put on her gentle facade again. “I was too rash just now. I’m scared that Ms. Winters will take you away from me. She looks so beautiful and so much like me. I’m scared that you’ll project your feelings for me onto her instead. I’m really afraid.”
“All right, cease your thoughts. I’ll send you back first,” Oscar consoled, patting her back.
She nodded.
When they arrived at Yard Manor, Cassie unbuckled her safety belt and turned to Oscar. “Oz, come in for a while. My parents have been talking about you to me. They’ll be thrilled to see you.”
However, Oscar shook his head. “I’m good. There are some things I have to settle at home first.”
“All right, I’ll go in by myself then. Remember to give me a call when you reach home, okay?” Cassie replied easily as if she did not mind his words.
He nodded.
“Cassie, don’t think about it, okay? My heart is yours.”
A bright smile grew on her face, and she beamed, “Oz, stay safe on the road. Call me when you reach home.”
He nodded again.
After Cassie alighted from the car, Oscar drove straight to the Clinton residence.
Stepping into the living room, he instantly saw Amelia peeling an apple while sitting beside Olivia, his mother. Oscar had originally returned with anger burning bright in him, but when he was greeted by the sight of Amelia and his mother spending a joyful time together, his anger dissipated.
Olivia was the first to notice Oscar’s return. The moment she did, her expression turned grim. “You’re back?”
“Mom,” Oscar greeted as he walked over.
Olivia looked daggers at Oscar and uttered, “Oscar, you’re getting more and more unruly. You won’t even listen to me anymore. I know I can’t change your thoughts, but I’ll tell you now—the only daughter-in-law I’ll accept is Amelia. If you choose someone else, you can forget about calling me your mom anymore.”
Oscar gave Amelia a perplexed look. “Mom, what are you talking about? I respect you the most; why would I not heed your words?”
“You know I don’t like Cassie, but you ignored my words and went to her. Are you trying to piss me off?”
