Ch. 491..500

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 491

Career Over Love

Amelia’s interaction with Anthony was warm and lovely. As for Oscar, he was watching indulgently from the side. Seeing that, Isabella was overwhelmed with jealousy.

She clenched her fists tightly before calming herself down. “Oscar, there’s something my brother and I need to attend to. We shall make a move. We’ll visit Tony again some other day.”

Oscar threw her a casual glance before giving her a slight nod.

Isabella was furious when she left the hospital with Noah. As soon as she got into the car, she looked at Noah and said mockingly, “Noah, I feel ashamed for you. You’re really invested in maintaining a relationship with someone you don’t love just to get the Clintons’ financial support, aren’t you? You’re such a disgrace.”

Noah cast a glance at her upon hearing that. “Watch your tone, Isabella. You’re not a kid anymore. One day, you’ll get in trouble over the things you say. I don’t care what you do, as long as you don’t jeopardize my relationship with Stephanie. Otherwise, I’ll come for you. To be frank, I don’t see Oscar falling for you anytime soon. Instead of being so shamelessly persistent, why don’t you focus on helping me in my relationship with Stephanie? Besides, it’s not like you won’t reap the benefits afterward.”

A chilly glare flashed across Isabella’s eyes. “Are you not my brother, Noah? Anybody else’s brother would definitely help their sister to find a good husband. So why are you adding insult to my injury instead? I don’t even object to your relationship with Stephanie. What right do you have to intervene in my plan to marry Oscar? If I can marry him, don’t you think I’d have more say than Stephanie? Oscar doesn’t even like Stephanie for the mistakes she has made.”

“Hahaha! You? Marrying Oscar? In your dreams! He’s not even into you! Otherwise, why have you gotten nothing after throwing yourself at him all this while? I thought you said you could make any man attracted to you? Based on what I saw, it seems like you’re getting nowhere. I don’t give a hoot about your personal relationships. However, I’ll get Mom and Dad to send you back to Anglandur if you’re stupid enough to anger Oscar.”

Isabella clenched her fists tightly. “Noah, it’s only a matter of time before Oscar falls for my charm. Since I don’t meddle in your personal relationships, please stay out of mine. If you keep testing me, I won’t hesitate to ruin all of your plans. If I don’t get what I desire, I’ll make sure you’re doomed as well.”

In response, Noah merely cast his sister a glance and kept mum.

Upon arriving at the Walker residence, Carol got up from the sofa abruptly and approached them. “Hey, I was just on the phone with Olivia. She told me that Tony is hospitalized after drinking the yogurt that you guys bought. What’s going on? Why on earth would you buy yogurt to drink? Those drinks are for the peasants!”

Noah rubbed his forehead restlessly and said, “Mom, it’s all just a misunderstanding. I’ve already brought Isabella to the hospital to apologize to Oscar. I think that’s the end of the matter. So don’t worry, Mom.”

Upon hearing that, Carol was even more agitated.

“What do you mean that’s the end of it? Judging from Olivia’s tone, she was blaming both of you! Besides, she even said she’d like to reconsider your marriage with Stephanie. Don’t you see how serious this is?” Carol thundered.

When she brought her children back from overseas, Carol had been trying to get the Walker family back to the glory days at the expense of the Clintons. She had even sacrificed her only son to please Stephanie even though Carol knew she was a spoiled girl. Hence, she wasn’t ready to see all her efforts go down the drain.

Noah’s expression instantly darkened as he took off his glasses. “Did you hear wrongly, Mom? I was just on the phone with Mrs. Clinton when we were on the way to the hospital. She sounded fine to me then. How did everything change within a couple of hours?”

Carol heaved a sigh before saying tiredly, “I’ll bring the two of you to pay the Clintons a visit. I don’t care if you guys didn’t do it on purpose. Just apologize to them. Our family can’t afford to go up against the Clintons at this moment.”

Isabella instantly protested, “Mom, why should I go? This is all Noah’s doing. I don’t want to take the blame for him!”

Carol rolled her eyes at her daughter. “Isabella, your brother is our family’s only hope. It’s only natural if you take the fall as long as it helps him. Your words deeply saddened me, you know? I’ve put in all my efforts on you so that you could help your brother succeed instead of dragging him down.”

Isabella was livid by then. “What do you mean by that, Mom? How am I dragging him down? Don’t you think I want to get married to a good husband and have kids too? I don’t even know anything about any yogurt! Everything happened because Noah listened to Stephanie when she told him to give the yogurt away. However, I’ve been instructed to apologize to Oscar out of the blue. Why am I taking the fall instead of Stephanie? Am I not a daughter of a rich family as well? I don’t get it. Also, I won’t admit to anything in front of Mrs. Clinton because I don’t want her to dislike me.” With that, Isabella stormed up to her room.

“What a spoiled brat!” Carol fumed. “Is that how she talks to me, her mother? She’s not even married into the Clintons yet. I bet she’s going to forget all about us once she’s married.”

“Calm down, Mom. Anyway, I think it’s better for us to go visit the Clintons tomorrow. Since Mrs. Clinton is still mad, I doubt she’d listen to us.” Noah’s gaze darkened.

Carol sighed and got Noah to sit on the sofa with her. “Noah, tell me the truth. How’s your relationship with Stephanie?”

“Well, she’s a little stubborn. However, I’m sure she’ll fall for me eventually if I keep letting her have her way. Once she has fallen for me, I’ll marry her. By then, I doubt Mrs. Clinton will sit by and watch the Walker family fall. Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll bring back the glory days so that you won’t have to worry about anything in life.”

Hearing that, Carol was filled with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Noah. Although I knew how difficult of a girl Stephanie is, I still forced you to be with her. Do you blame me?”

Noah smiled warmly. “Mom, you’re overthinking it. After all, I’m part of the Walker family. I’ll reap the benefits too if the Walker family is strong. In my view, I’m a person who prioritizes career over love. Since that’s the case, I’d rather marry someone who could bring me the most benefits in my career.”

“Are you sure, Noah?” Carol was unconvinced.

“Don’t worry about me, Mom. I know what I’m doing. I really don’t think love is that important in life.” Suddenly, a flicker of malice glinted in his eyes when he said, “My ambition is to be above everyone else in life instead of being a fake goody two shoes like the Clintons. I’m determined to rise above all of them. When I crush them, I’ll force them to respect me.”

Carol was stunned by her son’s strong aura.

After a few seconds, Noah calmed himself down and reverted back to the gentleman he usually was again.

“Mom, did I scare you?”

“No, it’s just that I didn’t expect you to have such an aggressive side. Indeed, you’re much bolder than your dad. If only your dad was a better businessman, we wouldn’t be in this position now. Although we have businesses overseas, they’re crumbling down as we speak.” Carol let out a sigh and continued, “Noah, you’d better keep that a secret. Otherwise, all your efforts on Stephanie would be wasted.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I was quite worried we’d get exposed when Oscar was still in love with Isabella. However, I have total control of Stephanie now. She won’t be able to escape my grasp,” Noah narrowed his eyes and said with a vicious tone.

“Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry, Noah.”

“I got it, Mom.”

The atmosphere turned harmonious again after their conversation.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 492

Apology

The next morning, Carol instructed her maid to load the car with gifts before getting into the car with Noah and Isabella.

Noah was driving while Carol and Isabella were seated at the back of the car. Carol then started a conversation with Isabella. “Isabella, please be nice when we’re at the Clinton residence. Since Olivia’s impression of you isn’t too bad, perhaps you could cheer her up with some nice words so that she’d forgive you for what happened to Tony. Anyway, just please watch your temper, okay?”

“Don’t worry, Mom. You don’t have to nag at me. I know what to do,” Isabella answered.

Carol heaved a sigh and appeared weak to appeal to her daughter’s good side. “Isabella, I’m sorry for the harsh words I said to you last night. I was just on edge. However, you’re going to get married soon, anyway. So why don’t you consider helping the Walker family while you’re still here?”

Isabella was heartbroken upon hearing that. How could she say that? How could she be so biased? Am I not her daughter?

Despite how she felt, Isabella answered obediently, “You’re right, Mom. Once I’m married into the Clintons, I’ll definitely help the Walker family. As for Stephanie, she’s going to get married to another family, eventually. By then, I’m sure I’d have more say than her. In that case, I do wonder why are you not helping me instead, Mom? Everyone in the upper-class society knows I’m about to get engaged with Oscar. If that doesn’t happen in the end, wouldn’t the Walker family be embarrassed? Mom, you don’t want that to happen, do you? This would ultimately affect Noah’s reputation as well. If the Walker family turns out to be the joke of the town, do you think Stephanie would still be willing to marry him?”

Carol immediately gave her an intense stare upon hearing that.

Isabella stared back at her innocently and added, “Mom, it’s not that I’m hoping for that to happen. But, why don’t you put some effort into me as well? Even if Noah ends up marrying Stephanie, what’s the point? The Walker family’s fortune would end up being shared among all the members of the family.”

Carol sank into deep thoughts.

Silence then ensued in the car.

Before they knew it, they had driven into the Clinton residence.

Upon getting out of the car, Isabella held Carol’s hand and made their way toward the entrance. As for Noah, he had to carry all the gifts on his own.

Carol felt bad and asked, “Can you manage, Noah? Do you need my help?”

Before Noah could respond, Isabella hastily said, “Mom, let him be the gentleman he’s always portrayed himself to be. Mrs. Clinton might even like him more if she sees that. If you help him, Mrs. Clinton might think he’s so weak that he has to ask us women to carry for him. Am I right, Noah?”

In response, Noah merely glanced at her. “I can manage, Mom.”

Carol kept silent after that.

Upon walking into the house, Olivia and Owen were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a butler greeted them, “Welcome, Mrs. Walker and family.”

“Where’s Olivia?” Carol asked nicely.

“Mr. and Mrs. Clinton have gone to the hospital. Apparently, the red spots on Mr. Anthony weren’t getting better. They were worried about him and decided to pay him a visit. They did instruct me to let you guys wait for them. They should be back soon,” the butler said.

Carol immediately got anxious as well. “Is Tony okay? Perhaps I should go and pay the boy a visit as well. It saddens me to know that he’s suffering. After all, it’s Noah and Isabella’s fault that this is happening.”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Clinton said you guys should just wait here instead,” the butler replied with a domineering tone.

Without a choice, Carol and her kids could only sit on the sofa and wait.

Just like that, five hours had gone by.

By then, it was already lunchtime. Surprisingly, the butler didn’t prepare lunch for the guests.

Instead, he approached them politely. “Mrs. Walker, it’s almost twelve. Would you guys like to head back for lunch before coming over again?”

Carol’s expression changed instantly. Is this how the Clinton family treats their guests? Olivia didn’t even tell me she wouldn’t be around. Worse still, the butler didn’t even prepare a meal for us! Are they trying to humiliate us?

The more Carol dwelled in her thoughts, the angrier she got. Right at that moment, Noah held her hand and shook his head slightly. Only then did Carol manage to regain her composure. If she were to lose her temper, her efforts over the past two years would’ve been wasted.

“It’s okay. We’re not hungry.” Carol smiled.

Initially, Carol thought the butler would prepare them some food out of courtesy. However, he said indifferently, “All right. Please wait here then, Mrs. Walker. I’m going out for a while.”

With that, the butler left.

The three of them were left alone in the spacious living room.

Isabella’s face was filled with annoyance when she grumbled, “He’s crossing the line, Mom. When Mrs. Clinton returns, we should report him. How could he treat the guests this way?”

Although Carol was fuming, she knew things were not as simple as they seemed to be. “That’s enough, Isabella. Can’t you see he did it under Olivia’s instructions? Do you think he’d dare to treat us so badly on his own accord? It seems like Olivia really is pissed off at us. Please cheer her up with some nice words later, Isabella.”

“Mom, do you think Mrs. Clinton is that petty?” Isabella wasn’t convinced.

Carol threw her a glance and chuckled coldly. “Olivia might seem harmless and innocent on the surface. But, don’t take her as a simpleton. Not only did she manage to butter up the late Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, but she also made Owen fall head over heels for her. Besides, can’t you see how much a man as capable as Oscar respects her? She’s good at getting what she wants. Naturally, whoever gets on her good side will definitely get to enjoy endless benefits. Besides, she could stop both of you from having a relationship with her kids with just one word if she’s provoked.”

Upon hearing that, Isabella couldn’t help but feel her mother was exaggerating. “You’re being dramatic, Mom. You’re giving Mrs. Clinton too much credit.”

Carol cast her daughter another glance. She’s still so immature and gullible. She doesn’t know how to look beyond the surface.

“You’re still too young and naive, Isabella. You’ll finally realize how influential she is once you’ve married into the Clintons. One thing is for sure, Olivia is the one who has the final say in all of the Clintons’ affairs. Although Owen and Oscar are very business-minded, they’d still follow her instructions out of love.” Carol pondered for a while before adding, “Isabella, the reason I’ve asked you to fawn over her is so that you could get married to Oscar sooner. However, it seems like you have yet to capture their hearts. To be honest, I’m quite disappointed in you.”

Isabella was speechless upon hearing those words.

After five hours of waiting, Owen and Olivia finally returned.

“Olivia, the butler told me Tony’s condition isn’t getting better. Is he all right?” Carol rushed over to greet them. “Olivia, I’m sorry for what happened. Noah and Isabella are very remorseful as well. I’ve brought them here to apologize to you.”

In response, Olivia cast an emotionless glance at them. Unlike before, she was cold toward them.

After Owen and Olivia had sat down on the sofa opposite, Olivia said gently, “The butler told me you guys have waited for us for five hours. I’m so sorry for that. It’s just that Tony’s condition didn’t improve at all. Although the doctor said it’s not a big deal, Tony has been complaining about the itch. As his grandma, I feel so heartbroken because there’s nothing I could do to help. If only he didn’t drink the yogurt, such a thing wouldn’t have happened.”

Based on what she said, it was obvious that Olivia was holding grudges against the Walkers.

Carol shuddered for a bit when she heard that. However, she continued to act apologetic. “This is all Noah and Isabella’s fault. They’re not even that young anymore. They should’ve been more careful. I feel so bad after I heard what happened. That’s why I brought them here to apologize formally.”

With that, Carol threw a glance at Noah and Isabella. “Go on then, apologize to Olivia and Owen now.”

Noah and Isabella abruptly stood up. They walked up to Olivia and bowed respectfully. “Mrs. Clinton. We’re so sorry. This is all our fault. We just wanted to have a taste of the yogurt in the first place. However, we’ve given it to a boy in the residence when we decided not to drink it. We had no idea Tony would end up drinking it. If we knew, we wouldn’t have bought it. We’re very sorry.”

Olivia’s expression eased up. “Noah, Isabella, I’m not an unreasonable person. I know you guys didn’t mean to hurt Tony. However, he’s my grandson. It hurts me to see him suffer. That’s why I couldn’t help but blame you guys. Please don’t blame me for acting this way.”

“Mrs. Clinton, it’s our fault, regardless. My brother and I won’t hold it against you. Honestly, you’re like a mother to me, Mrs. Clinton. I would hate myself if you end up not loving me the same way again because of this incident, Mrs. Clinton.” Isabella lowered her head apologetically.

Olivia couldn’t help but sigh as she looked at her intently.

“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Clinton. I didn’t mean for all of this to happen,” Isabella added with an obedient tone.

“Sit down, both of you.” Olivia pointed at the sofa and added, “Both of you are my nephew and niece, respectively. I won’t be too harsh on you guys. However, I think Noah and Stephanie should stay apart from each other for a while. I don’t think Stephanie is ready to be a daughter-in-law yet. She’s as stubborn as a mule. I need her to better herself in the meantime. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be a good daughter-in-law.”

Hearing that, Noah trembled a little. However, he calmed himself down immediately and asked politely, “Are you asking us to break up, Mrs. Clinton?”

“Don’t misunderstand me, Noah. I just want the two of you to spend some time apart. Since she’s so stuck in her ways, she’ll only trouble you.”

“I don’t mind that, Mrs. Clinton. In fact, I find Stephanie’s strong-headedness personality cute. No matter what she does, she’d still be adorable in my eyes.”

Olivia’s eyes flashed with a hint of anger at that.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 493

Unbelievably Shameless

“Noah, I had a good impression of you at the beginning given how exceptional you are. Nevertheless, I cannot help being angry at you over what happened to Tony. You can treat it as me venting my frustration, but I only have one grandson. Therefore, I can’t bear to watch him suffer while the perpetrator walks freely within the Clinton residence,” Olivia remarked candidly.

She was furious over Tony’s accident and also outraged by what Noah and Isabella did. Even though she knew that they were possibly not to blame, she just couldn’t hold back her emotions as a doting grandmother.

With glistening eyes, Noah took a deep breath and faced Olivia. He retorted, “Mrs. Clinton, you’re not being fair to me. I feel bad over what happened to Tony too. However, I love Stephanie and have spent the last two years pursuing her before she accepted me. Considering how much I treasure her and how close the Clinton and Walker family are, are you really going to disavow my feelings for her over what happened to Tony?”

Olivia was unfazed. “Noah, are you questioning my decision?”

Noah replied calmly, “Mrs. Clinton, that’s not my intention. I’m willing to take responsibility for what happened, but I won’t give up on Stephanie. I understand that your concern for Tony is making you say such things, so I won’t take them to heart.”

Olivia sneered in response.

Meanwhile, Carol, who was sitting on the sofa, cleared her throat. “Olivia, the children have developed feelings for each other and have reached the stage of discussing marriage. By saying all that, are you really willing to break them apart and destroy the relationship between the Walker and Clinton family?”

Fiddling with her perfectly manicured fingers, Olivia remained silent.

Carol felt encouraged when she saw Olivia’s response. Feigning a smile, she added, “Olivia, I understand that you’re angry. I would feel the same way too if I were you. It’s just that we have been friends for such a long time that your words have hurt us.”

Olivia let out a sigh.

“Until Tony’s condition improves, I will continue to feel edgy and speak harshly out of agitation. Hence, please don’t take it personally. Why don’t you go home first? We’ll talk about Noah and Stephanie’s wedding after Tony has recovered. If both of them are true to each other, I won’t interfere in their decision,” Olivia replied in a conciliatory tone.

Having heard Olivia, Carol and her children had no choice but to leave the Clinton residence.

Inside the car, Carol’s expression darkened considerably.

As for Isabella, she looked equally sullen. After letting out a sigh, she asked in an uncertain tone, “Mom, have we been kicked out by Mrs. Clinton?”

Snorting, Carol replied, “Isn’t it obvious? Olivia has gone overboard this time. How dare she disrespect us just because she’s angry?”

Isabella still didn’t get what was going on.

“Mom, since Mrs. Clinton has put Noah and Stephanie’s relationship on ice, what about me and Oscar? Will she disavow me as her daughter-in-law?” Isabella clenched her fist as she began to panic. “No, I have to return to the Clinton residence. I cannot allow Mrs. Clinton to have the impression that I’m looking to harm Tony.”

Unsettled by the thought, Isabella grabbed the seat in front of her and cried out, “Noah, turn back to the Clinton residence now. I want to clear the air with Mrs. Clinton.”

Noah shot an icy glare at her, “Stop making a fuss and sit down. Are you trying to get us killed in a car accident? I’m not prepared to die together with you.”

While Isabella continued to hit Noah relentlessly, he made a sharp turn with the steering wheel out of exasperation, causing the car to swerve.

Shocked by the movement, Carol pulled Isabella back to her seat and slapped her in the face. She thundered, “Isabella, do you have a death wish? If you do, you should just open the door and jump out of the car. Or else, Noah and I will be the ones who will end up dead.”

After being slapped, Isabella gradually regained her senses.

“Mom, I’m sorry for losing my composure just now,” she apologized with her head hung low.

Taking a deep breath, Carol suppressed the rage welling up inside her and advised, “Isabella, you’re a grown woman now and should learn how to be less impulsive. Compared to Rachel, you’ll always be my favorite. Only by being obedient and sensible will Olivia agree for you to be married into the Clinton family. Since she didn’t mention anything about you and Oscar earlier, I reckoned that means your position as daughter-in-law to her hasn’t changed. So, you shouldn’t scare yourself unnecessarily and lose your cool, do you understand?”

“I understand, Mom,” Isabella replied calmly.

“Find an opportunity to visit Tony in the hospital. After what happened, you should show Oscar your caring side. I heard that he has yet to reconcile his marriage with Amelia. Therefore, you still stand a pretty good chance. I believe men everywhere are the same. It’s just a matter of how well a woman can seduce them. I’m sure you know what you need to do now,” Carol remarked in an indifferent tone while her eyes were looking ahead.

After giving it some thought, Isabella finally nodded.

At six in the evening, Isabella went to the hospital with some food prepared by the maid.

When Amelia opened the door for her, she shot Amelia a glance before circling around her into the ward.

Sitting by the bed feeding Tony, Tiffany was shocked to see Isabella. She had never seen anyone enter in such a rude manner before.

“What brings you here, Ms. Walker?” Tiffany asked sarcastically.

Ignoring Tiffany’s mockery, Isabella laid out the things she brought on the table before taking out a limited edition Ultraman that she got her friend to procure. She said, “Tony, I figured that you will be bored staying in the hospital. So, I brought you some toys. Why don’t you play with Ultraman first? As for the rest, I’ll leave them in the bag for you to play whenever you fancy.”

Staring at the Ultraman in front of him, Tony looked at Tiffany with his lips pursed. “Tiffy, I don’t like Ultraman anymore. I’m sick of playing with him. When I’m discharged, please take me to the playground. I haven’t been there in a long time and I really miss playing there.”

Tiffany smiled broadly. Good boy, Tony. You really know how to hurt the enemy where it counts.

“Sure. Once you’re discharged from the hospital, your mom and I will take you to the playground. But for now, you will have to be good and eat your meals, all right?”

“Okay.”

Meanwhile, Isabella’s hand froze with the Ultraman still grasped in it. A gloomy expression descended on her face next.

“Ms. Walker, it’s a surprise to see you visit Tony, but we appreciate the gesture. Please have a seat and here’s some water. I’m sorry I don’t have anything else to offer you, as I was busy taking care of Tony. I hope you don’t mind.” Amelia stepped in to defuse Isabella’s awkwardness.

Putting the Ultraman back into the bag, Isabella sat down on the sofa. “Where’s Oscar?”

“There’s a document in the office that needs his signature. Since Tony’s condition is stable, I told him to go. I reckoned he will probably be back soon,” Amelia replied with a faint smile.

Nevertheless, Isabella found it especially jarring.

“Amelia, Oscar isn’t here, so you can drop the act,” Isabella snapped.

After placing a cup of water in front of Isabella, Amelia answered cordially, “Ms. Walker, my son is still here. I hope you won’t say anything that will scare him.”

Isabella grimaced momentarily before regaining her composure quickly.

Standing up, she laid out all the nutritious food she had brought with her on the table.

Tony was consequently shocked by the sight of them.

“Tony, I have gotten the maid to specially prepare all this lightly seasoned food for you. In fact, I’ve even checked with the doctor, and he approves of them. Come, let me feed you some, all right?” Isabella coaxed him with a spoonful of roast meat.

Tony stared intently at it, as he hadn’t had any roast meat in the last three days. It looked so tempting that it was challenging to resist.

Isabella continued, “Tony, do you want it? It tastes really good and is a signature dish of my chef. Once you have a bite, you’ll definitely want seconds.”

Tony gulped in response.

“Mommy…” Tony gave Amelia a helpless look. “I feel like eating meat, but not from this weird lady. She makes me feel like I’m a pitiful beggar, and I don’t like that feeling. Mommy, can you chase her away, please?”

Isabella’s expression darkened, whereas Tiffany burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Well said, Tony,” Tiffany praised the boy while trying to catch her breath from laughing too hard.

“Thank you, Tiffy.” As he opened his mouth, Tiffany fed him some soup while holding back her laughter. “Good boy, Tony. After you’re discharged from the hospital in the next few days, I’ll treat you to a feast that’s more delicious than what this weird lady has brought you. More importantly, I will prepare food that isn’t poisoned, unlike those who try to harm you while pretending to be innocent.”

Isabella’s expression drastically changed after being humiliated.

“Ms. Walker, a child speaks innocently, so I hope you won’t take it personally. I appreciate you bringing all this food, but Tony is still recovering. So, I think it’s better if you save them for yourself,” Amelia suggested with a cordial smile.

“Amelia, what are you trying to say? Are you accusing me of spiking the food? I’m not that stupid to do something like that.” Isabella scowled.

Just when Amelia was about to respond, Tiffany pre-empted her.

“Oh, is that so, Ms. Walker? I’m surprised that you still have some sense to you. If it wasn’t for you, Tony wouldn’t even be here. How can you be so cruel as to harm a child that’s just two years old? Tsk tsk, it seems to me that you’re the epitome of an evil witch,” Tiffany scoffed.

•

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 494

Isabella Storms Off

“Tiffany, you’d better stop hurling baseless accusations,” Isabella snapped.

“Ms. Walker, Oscar isn’t here, so there’s no need for you to pretend to be motherly. What’s the point of doing so?” After feeding Tony the last spoonful of soup, Tiffany wiped his mouth with a napkin before glancing at Isabella with contempt. “Nevertheless, Ms. Walker, you’re terrible at pretending. If you are trying to elicit a man’s sympathy, you have to stop being so cruel at least. Unfortunately, given how aggressive you are, you are indeed a far cry compared to Amelia. Other than your looks, there doesn’t seem to be anything decent about you.”

Just when Isabella was about to explode in rage, she suddenly calmed down and broke out an insidious smile.

Returning to her seat on the sofa, she crossed her legs and remarked calmly, “Tiffany, I know you’re jealous of me and feel indignant on Amelia’s behalf. However, I’m on the cusp of getting engaged to Oscar. Our wedding is just a matter of time. By then, Tony will become my son, and it’s natural for me to treat him well. No matter how you try and sow discord, you will never be able to break the bond between us.”

Tiffany was rendered speechless.

When one had no shame at all, no one could stand in one’s way.

“Tony, she wants to be your mom. What are your thoughts about it?” Pointing at Isabella, Tiffany threw the question at Anthony.

After giving Isabella a look, Tony shook his head. “She’s not as pretty as Mommy. I don’t want her to be my mom.”

“Good boy!” Tousling Tony’s hair, Tiffany countered with a smile, “Ms. Walker, you might want to be Tony’s mother, but he doesn’t want to be your son. I’m sorry, it’s simply down to you being ugly. After all, Tony is someone that has tastes too.”

Isabella was so enraged by her comment that she smirked in response.

I’m a stunning beauty from an illustrious family! All this while, no one has dared to accuse me of being ugly. How dare she brazenly insult me this way?

“Tiffany, mind your words. Ms. Walker is a guest today,” Amelia interjected and shrewdly changed the topic. “Ms. Walker, we are about to have our meal. If you haven’t had yours, you’re welcome to join us.”

Just when Isabella was about to reply, she saw the door to the ward open from the corner of her eye. However, Amelia and Tiffany didn’t notice it as their backs were facing the door.

As Isabella’s eyes sparkled, she answered with a vibrant smile, “Sure. Amelia, when I first saw you, I felt as if I had been reunited with an old friend. I’ve always wanted to get to know you better. Unexpectedly, you and Oscar divorced all of a sudden. Just when I thought I would never see you again, you somehow showed up, and I’m really glad that you did.”

At that moment, Tiffany gave Isabella a doubtful look, unsure of what had gotten into her.

“Ms. Walker, is there something wrong with you?” Tiffany snarled.

Amelia shared Tiffany’s sentiments too.

“Amelia, I brought some delicious food for you. Why don’t you give them a try?” Isabella handed Amelia a fork courteously.

Just when Amelia received the fork, someone snatched it away from her hand. Turning around to look, she realized that it was Oscar.

“Oscar, you’re back!” Amelia exclaimed with a vibrant smile.

After planting a kiss on her forehead, Oscar looked at Isabella. “Why are you here?”

Pointing to the food on the table, Isabella replied with a smile, “Oscar, Tony is here because of me. To redeem myself, I have gotten the maid to prepare something delicious for him. Since there’s a lot, I invited Amelia to have some. Now that you’re here, you should try them too.”

After glancing at the food, Oscar ordered, “Take them back.”

Unfazed by Oscar’s hostility, Isabella shifted her attention to Amelia. “Amelia, I prepared these with good intentions. Can you at least give it a try on my account?”

Settling Oscar down on the sofa, Amelia stabbed a piece of meat with the fork and brought it to Oscar. “Here, give them a try and see what they taste like.”

After Oscar took a bite, Amelia inquired with a smile, “How’s the taste?”

“It’s decent since it’s coming from you,” Oscar answered cordially.

Subsequently, Amelia fed him a few more mouthfuls.

Meanwhile, Tony began to protest, “Mommy, I want some too.”

“Be a good boy now, Tony. You can’t take any oily food just yet. Once you have recovered, I’ll cook for you myself, okay?”

Even though Tony pouted pitifully, he didn’t make a fuss about it.

“Tiffany, you should come over and have some. Since it’s getting late, I’m sure you’re hungry too.” Amelia invited Tiffany.

As Tiffany walked over, she blocked Isabella’s view of Oscar on purpose.

As Amelia, Oscar, and Tiffany enjoyed the meal, Isabella felt as if she was being ostracized. Even though she was the one who brought the food, she felt like an outsider watching them eat, causing a sense of bitterness to overwhelm her.

Refusing to be left out, she proclaimed, “Oscar, the lobsters that you’re eating were personally cooked by me. I heard the maid say that these are your favorite. So, I sent one of them to wait by the harbor for the freshest catch of the day.”

After giving the lobster on her fork a look, Amelia pondered for a moment before turning it around and popping it into her own mouth instead.

Having swallowed it, she commented candidly, “The lobster is delicious, Ms. Walker. If you were the one that made it, it means that you’re a good cook. I like it very much.” In an attempt to humiliate Isabella, Amelia added in a nonchalant tone. “By the way, Ms. Walker, I forgot to tell you that I’m the one that likes having lobsters, not Oscar. It wasn’t until I forced him to have them that he gradually acquired a taste for them. As such, I would like to thank you for bringing over all my favorite food.”

Isabella clenched her fists underneath the table before releasing them.

She then replied with an awkward smile, “Amelia, you really do have a sense of humor.”

Blinking her eyes, Amelia turned to Oscar and asked mischievously, “Do you like lobster? I wasn’t aware of it.”

“I don’t,” Oscar denied it outright.

Amelia shrugged. “Ms. Walker, you can see for yourself how picky Oscar is. I hope you don’t take it personally.”

Amidst a faltering smile, Isabella tried her best to suppress her anger.

“I have something on, so I’ll be taking my leave.” Getting to her feet, she stormed out in her heels before anyone could react, leaving a miserable-looking silhouette from behind.

Subsequently, Tiffany began wolfing down the food unabashedly.

With her mouth still full, she gave Amelia a thumbs up. “Well done, Babe!”

Just as she spoke, she accidentally spewed some food from her mouth.

After Oscar gave her the side-eye, she quickly wiped her mouth and apologized, “I’m sorry. I was just too happy. Mr. Clinton, please carry on.”

Lowering his head, Oscar continued eating the food Amelia was feeding him. When he was done, he commented, “The taste is just mediocre.”

Tiffany couldn’t help but purse her lips. If the taste is ordinary, why are you eating so quickly?

At that moment, she sympathized with Isabella. After putting so much effort into preparing a delicious meal, the man she loved didn’t appreciate it at all. However, the moment Tiffany remembered that Isabella was trying to come in between Oscar and Amelia, the pity she felt dissipated at once.

A third party like her doesn’t deserve any sympathy.

With that thought in mind, she continued eating without feeling a single ounce of guilt.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 495

Poor Table Manners

After staying in the hospital for five days, Tony was finally discharged. When he arrived at their apartment in the city, many visitors came to see him.

“Tony, I was only sent to Saspiuburg for five days and this happen to you. Oh, my poor boy! You’ve lost weight!” Before she had time to drop her luggage, Eva hurried over to give Tony a hug.

Laughing uncontrollably from her tickles, Tony pushed her away. “Aunt Eva, it’s ticklish!”

Eva stopped and gave him an earnest look. “Tony, tell me who did this to you. I will strangle them!”

Before Tony could respond, Amelia replied with a nonplussed tone, “Eva, Tony’s still a child. So, please mind your words.”

Pursing her lips, Eva wasn’t offended. Instead, she whispered into Tony’s ear, “Tony, your mommy is pretending to be civil.”

Tony replied in an equally soft voice, “Aunt Eva, don’t speak ill of Mommy.”

Eva gave his forehead a light flick and smiled. “I’m surprised that you know how to protect your mommy at such a young age. You really take after me. For that, I can’t praise you enough.”

Just when the two of them were fooling around, the doorbell rang. When Oscar opened the door, he saw Olivia, Owen, and Stephanie outside.

“Dad, Mom, come in.” Oscar stepped aside to welcome them.

When the Clintons saw that the living hall was filled with people, they furrowed their brows in response. Nonetheless, they quickly regain their usual dignified poise.

“Who are you?” Stephanie asked as she pointed at Eva condescendingly. “You dressed so weirdly that you look just like a shampoo girl.”

Eva had always been a feisty character. When she was suddenly ridiculed while playing with Tony, she got to her feet and shot back, “Why don’t you tell me who are you instead? By insulting someone the moment you step in, you have just shown how rude you are. Didn’t your mom teach you not to hurl random derisive comments at others?”

Amelia had wanted to stop her but was too late given how fast Eva retorted.

After pulling Eva behind her, Amelia smiled awkwardly. “Mom, this is my cousin. She has recently come to Tayhaven for work. Given her straightforward character, she speaks her mind freely. So, I hope you’ll forgive her.”

After staring thoughtfully at Amelia, Olivia replied plainly, “Amelia, my children have never been accused of being rude before, and now, your cousin is the first. Despite being married into the Clinton family for so many years, I have never seen your side of the family, to the extent I thought that you were an orphan. Now that it turns out that you’re not, why haven’t I seen any of them before this? It’s obvious to me that you’re hiding a lot from us.”

As Amelia’s expression changed slightly, the smile on her face turned awkward.

Just then, Oscar walked over and gave Tony a look. Given how sharp Tony was, he quickly caught on. With his arms outstretched, he hugged Olivia’s legs and called out in his squeaky voice, “Grandma, you’re finally here to see me! I was just asking Mommy about you. She told me that you have prepared a mysterious present for me. So, where is it?”

At that moment, the icy expression on Olivia’s face melted. Picking Tony up, she sat down on the sofa. After that, she took out an exquisite-looking pendant and put it on Tony. “Tony, this is a lucky charm that I got you. It will protect you from sickness and evil.”

Even though he didn’t fully comprehend the meaning of Olivia’s words, he looked at the pendant with interest and asked curiously, “Grandma, it feels cold to the touch and very comfortable in my hands.”

Tousling his hair, Olivia couldn’t contain the affection she felt for the boy. “I got this specifically for you, do you like it?”

Tony nodded convincingly before leaning in and planting a kiss on Olivia’s cheek. He declared sweetly, “Grandma, you are really nice to me. I have decided that other than Daddy and Mommy, you are my next favorite person.”

Intoxicated by Tony’s flattery, Olivia’s anger disappeared entirely.

Watching the events unfold, Stephanie was filled with jealousy. Ever since Amelia and Anthony emerged, she felt neglected within the Clinton family. After all, she was the apple of her mother’s eye before Tony came along. But now, her mother seemed to have forgotten about her own daughter.

Used to being at the center of attention, Stephanie felt exceptionally bitter when the limelight was stolen from her by Amelia and her son.

Isabella is right. Amelia and Anthony are a threat to me. With them around, I would never be the focus of everyone’s attention. Instead, I would be sidelined and gradually fade away from everyone’s minds. No, I cannot let this happen to me! I must always remain the center of attention and be adored by everyone!

Having noticed the hostile look on Stephanie’s face, Oscar shot her a discreet glance before walking to her side. There, he stood in between her and Tony.

When Stephanie raised her head in reflex, her eyes met Oscar’s gaze which seemed to be warning her off. Feeling a chill down her spine, her senses quickly returned to her.

“Oscar,” Stephanie greeted her brother fearfully.

“Come to the kitchen with me,” Oscar ordered before walking away.

Despite feeling reluctant, Stephanie had no choice but to comply. At the same time, Olivia, who was playing with Tony, glanced at them but didn’t interfere.

“Oscar, what is it?” After entering the kitchen, Stephanie subconsciously kept her distance from Oscar.

“Are you trying to harm Tony?” Oscar asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Of course not! He’s my nephew, for goodness’ sake. How can you think that of me?” Stephanie laughed wryly.

“With regards to the yogurt, I have no evidence that you did it as the Walker siblings took the blame on your behalf. Even so, don’t you dare feel smug about it, for you have narcissistically destroyed what’s left of our sibling bond. Therefore, don’t blame me for being cruel when the time comes,” Oscar warned with a threatening gaze.

Frozen stiff by his words, Stephanie tried to eke out a smile but failed.

“Stephanie, I’m warning you, if you harm either of them, I will have your life. Don’t let your overestimation of your own intelligence be the death of you.” Just as Oscar finished, he strode out of the kitchen.

Overwhelmed by fear, Stephanie remained inside. She was cognizant of how serious Oscar was. In fact, she was relieved that Tony got away unscathed. Or else, she would have already lost her life.

After Oscar came out of the kitchen, Olivia looked at him and asked, “Where’s Stephanie?”

“Inside.”

“Did you make things difficult for her?”

“Mom, she’s about to get married. I’m just teaching her how to cook. Or else, it will reflect badly on her if she doesn’t know a thing. After all, cooking is one of the skills expected of a woman,” Oscar cooked up an excuse.

Obviously, Olivia didn’t buy it.

When Stephanie came out of the kitchen, she was visibly quieter than before. After all, she still feared Oscar and didn’t dare to challenge his authority.

“Mrs. Clinton, why don’t you stay back with Mr. Clinton for lunch? Molly will be returning soon from grocery shopping, while Derrick and James will be coming over in a while,” Amelia invited.

Looking at Tony in her arms, Olivia nodded.

Soon, Molly returned with a whole bunch of ingredients. After greeting Olivia and Owen, she brought the groceries back into the kitchen.

“Stephanie, I heard that you and Noah are about to get engaged, so go into the kitchen and learn how to cook from Molly. The last thing you want is to not be able to tell the salt from the sugar at the Walker residence,” Oscar ordered.

When Stephanie looked in Olivia’s direction, Olivia responded, “Your brother is right. A girl needs to know how to cook. Go on and help Molly with the cooking. Hopefully, you’ll pick up a thing or two doing so.”

Left without a choice, Stephanie went into the kitchen. Nonetheless, the rage she felt intensified her resentment toward Amelia and Tony. It had planted a seed of hatred that would continue to grow with time.

“Eva and I will help too. Oscar, you and Tony stay here with your parents.” Pulling Eva along, Amelia headed into the kitchen.

After Stephanie was kicked out of the kitchen for breaking a couple of dishes, the meal was finally ready.

While the dishes were being served, Derrick, Tiffany, and James arrived.

When Olivia saw Derrick and James, she welcomed them warmly.

After everyone took their seats, Eva was the first to dig in when lunch started. Initially, she held herself back in the presence of Olivia and Owen. However, halfway through the meal, she began to wolf down her food and looked inelegant doing so. Upon seeing her behavior, Olivia and Owen furrowed their brows.

Given their illustrious background, they place significant emphasis on decorum since they were young. Consequently, they were upset to see someone behaving rudely. Nevertheless, they didn’t say a word so as not to be rude.

Amelia tugged at Eva gently. “Eva, slow down, or you’ll choke.”

When Eva gave Amelia a blank look, Amelia explained calmly, “There’s still a lot of food, and we have elders at the table. I think it’s better if you don’t eat too fast.”

After swallowing the food in her mouth, Eva gave the elder Clintons an apologetic look and smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, I’m really sorry. I used to be in the army and built a habit of eating quickly. I hope I didn’t scare you by doing so.”

When Olivia saw the vegetable stuck in between Eva’s teeth, she lost her appetite right away.

Nevertheless, she replied warmly, “It’s a blessing to have a good appetite.”

Oblivious to Olivia’s feigned politeness, Eva remarked with a smile, “Thank God I didn’t scare you.” With that, she continued chomping down her food.

As a result, Olivia lost her appetite after barely eating a few mouthfuls.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 496

Just Get Married

After lunch, the atmosphere remained tense. Hence, Derrick and the others made an excuse and took their leave, leaving only the Clintons behind.

Stephanie declared in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, “Given how brash the Winters are, we are lucky to only have one here today. If all of them showed up, the Clintons would be disgraced by this bunch of poor and uneducated relatives. It’s indeed a blessing for us that they never showed up before.”

Amelia was rattled by Stephanie’s words.

When Oscar shot Stephanie a glare to warn her, she pursed her lips and replied, “Oscar, what I say is true. Look at how Eva was eating just now. She looked as if she hasn’t eaten for ages when she wolfed down her food. It was so unbecoming that Mom and Dad lost their appetite. I think Amelia must have invited her over to pretend to be her cousin so that she can disgust Mom and Dad.”

Taking a deep breath, Amelia desperately reminded herself not to hold it against Stephanie.

“Stephanie,” Oscar called out to warn her.

Cognizant of where his threshold was, Stephanie stopped her insults.

Olivia glanced at Amelia and commented, “Amelia, it’s not my place to judge your family and friends, for we are no longer related. Nevertheless, Tony is my grandson, and I don’t want him to be in the company of such uncultured characters. Considering how she dyed her hair and her inappropriate outfit, I’m sure Eva isn’t someone proper. Thus, I don’t like her and neither do I want my grandson to be close to her. I hope you know what to do.”

After the three Clintons left, Amelia fell silent.

Tony was then brought out of the kitchen by Molly.

Letting go of Molly’s hand, Tony ran up to Amelia and raised his head. “Mommy, what’s wrong? Are you upset?”

Amelia scooped her son into her arms and answered, “I’m fine. Did you let Molly wash your hands and face?”

Spreading his hands, Tony replied in glee, “Look, Mommy, aren’t they clean?”

Amelia gave him a peck on his cheeks. “They’re really clean. You’re indeed the cutest kid there is.”

Tony burst into laughter.

“I’ll get Molly to take you upstairs for your nap, all right?” Amelia asked in a consultative tone.

After pondering a moment, Tony opened his arms for Molly to carry him.

Picking Tony up, Molly remarked, “Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, I’ll be taking Tony upstairs for his nap then.”

When Molly and Tony were gone, Oscar hugged Amelia by her shoulders and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Well aware of his intention, she lifted her head with a smile. “I’m fine.”

“Eva is an easy-going person. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad can only accept someone that’s proper in their eyes, who must sit with poise and not speak while eating. That’s why they’re unsettled by her. I hope you don’t take it personally,” Oscar comforted Amelia.

She replied with a smile. “I don’t blame Mom, really. That being said, even though I know this is a trivial matter, I still can’t help but feel agitated by it.”

“Don’t overthink it. Mom is the kind that when she likes someone, her feelings won’t change even if you insult her. On the contrary, if she resents you, she will still nitpick on your weaknesses, even if you have done everything perfectly.”

Amelia couldn’t help but smile. “Since when does a son talk about their mother that way?”

“Are you happy now?”

“I’ve always been happy.”

“That’s good then.”

While Amelia had demonstrated her magnanimity, Stephanie, who had just left with her parents, couldn’t help but rant, “Mom, just look at Eva. She’s neither pretty nor comes from an illustrious background. Moreover, she’s dressed in such an outlandish manner. Her hair and makeup can even frighten someone into having a heart attack. If Tony continues to spend time with her, I’m afraid that he will end up becoming as boorish as her. When he grows up, how is he going to take over Clinton Corporations?”

Olivia expression darkened in response.

All this while, she placed great importance on everything that was related to Tony. She could tolerate anything except putting Tony’s education at risk. Since he was only two, he lacked the ability to tell right from wrong. Whatever the adults did, he would likely follow. Consequently, she was worried that Tony would be influenced by someone like Eva.

At that moment, an insidious glint flashed in Olivia’s eyes.

“Owen, I think we should bring Tony over to our side. After going to Beshya, Amelia seems to have interacted with all sorts of characters. I’m concerned that Tony would pick up bad habits while staying with her,” Olivia remarked with a frown.

Owen held her hand and reassured her, “Amelia seemed to be doing a good job raising him. Previously, he wasn’t keen on approaching us. But after a few days, he gradually warmed up to us. It’s obvious that even though he still feels reluctant, he tries his best to bring us joy. I think Amelia must have been working behind the scenes to improve our relationship with Tony. Besides, other than leaving with Tony back then in a huff, she has been trying hard to fit into our family. As a result, you should stop worrying unnecessarily. Didn’t you promise me that you won’t interfere with their lives? Are you planning to go back on your word?”

Stunned, Olivia had nothing to rebut Owen with.

“But Dad, what about Eva? Can you bring yourself to allow Tony to interact with someone like Eva?” Stephanie exclaimed.

“Stephanie, you should know your place and watch that mouth of yours. Your mom and I will monitor Tony’s upbringing. As for you, you had better focus your attention on Noah instead of sticking your nose in this matter. If you’re unsatisfied with him, you should tell him earlier. With regards to what happened to Tony, your mom and I have our suspicions about Noah. If you no longer want to be with him, you should just break up,” Owen admonished his daughter with a grim expression.

“Tony this, Tony that, it’s always about Tony,” Stephanie thundered. “It’s true that he’s your grandson, but I’m your daughter too. What gives him the right to interfere in my relationship? Dad, don’t you think that you and Mom are being unfair to me? Ever since Amelia and Tony appeared, I have been treated as an outsider. When will you ever stop playing favorites?”

Owen and Olivia stared at her at the same time.

“Stephanie, you’re being too emotional,” Olivia asserted.

Panting heavily, Stephanie sneered, “You’re the ones who did this to me. All you care about is Tony. Have you ever spared a thought for me instead? How long have you not asked about Noah and me? Why is Noah blamed for Tony’s poisoning and forced to break up with me? Don’t you think that’s too selfish of you? From the beginning, you have never taken my feelings into account.”

Silence descended upon Olivia and Owen.

After a long while, Olivia asked, “Stephanie, is this really how you see me?”

Stephanie continued to scowl at her mother.

With a sullen expression, Olivia retorted, “Stephanie, after doing so much for you, all I get in return is your distrust. It feels as if I have brought up an ungrateful child. If you weren’t my daughter, I would have strangled you instead of allowing you to rattle at us like that.”

Stephanie was stumped.

Rubbing her temple, Olivia added, “I know I have been too focused on Tony and neglected your feelings lately. However, you’re a grown woman now with your own future ahead of you. Soon, you will be married and have your own family. Thus, you have to take on the responsibility of a wife and mother instead of competing with a child for attention. Or else, you’ll only end up as a laughing stock.”

Briefly stunned, Stephanie could feel the humiliation well up within her. To her, Olivia seemed to be warning her that once she was married to Noah, she wouldn’t be considered a Clinton anymore. Going forward, her responsibilities would lie with her husband, and she was as good as being kicked out of the family.

Rattled by Olivia’s words, Stephanie began to sulk.

With that, Olivia didn’t say anything further.

At that moment, Stephanie got the driver to drop her off at a junction. “Dad, Mom, I’m going off to see a movie with Noah. Bye.”

Olivia nodded in acknowledgment.

After alighting from the car, Stephanie gave Noah a call. Once she got through, she asked, “Where are you? I’ll meet you at the cafe on the third floor of Century Tower. Can you be there in an hour?”

After hearing Noah’s reply, Stephanie’s tone turned cold. “Fine, I’ll wait there for you, but don’t let me wait for more than an hour.” She ended the call once she was finished.

Meanwhile, Noah had an equally gloomy look on his face.

The next instant, a woman with a stunning figure hugged him from behind. She remarked with a coquettish voice, “Noah, didn’t you promise to spend the day with me?”

The woman was Noah’s true love. However, between love and ambition, Noah chose the latter. No matter how much he loved her, she was still second in his life. As a result, she ended up as his mistress who was hidden away from the public eye.

“Be good, and I’ll come back to stay the night with you.” After he turned around to hug her, he pushed her away heartlessly before getting his jacket and leaving.

With regards to the woman left in the room, her eyes sparkled with rage. As a devious look descended upon her face, she watched as Noah closed the door behind him.

After arriving at the agreed cafe fifty-nine minutes later, Noah straightened his jacket and entered calmly. Unlike other men, he would never brag to Stephanie about how he desperately made it in time to see her. In front of her, he would always be someone gentle and composed.

After baiting and reeling her in, he had caused her to let down her guard. Right when she was at her most vulnerable, he managed to get her to fall head over heels for him.

It was a tactic that he had honed over the years. Or else, he wouldn’t have been able to get Stephanie, who hated him at the beginning, to be his girlfriend after two years of courtship.

When it came to executing his plans, he had always been patient, just like a fisherman waiting for the fish to willingly take the bait.

“Stephanie,” Noah called out as he adjusted his glasses.

When the exasperated Stephanie saw him, she scowled. “What took you so long?”

As if he was a magician, Noah pulled three roses from the air. He replied attentively, “To my beautiful goddess, these three roses represent my love for you.”

After she received the roses, the frustration on her face began to ease.

Taking a seat, Noah asked with a smile, “My princess, who made you angry this time?”

“Other than Amelia and Tony, who else can it be?” Stephanie fumed as she pursed her lips.

Breaking out into a gentle smile, Noah remarked apologetically, “Did Mrs. Clinton admonish you over the yogurt incident?”

Stephanie fell silent, indicating a tacit confirmation.

“Don’t be angry, as it’s also my fault. I shouldn’t have bought the yogurt in the first place. If it makes you feel any better, you can vent your frustrations on me. I’m tough enough to weather any beating you give me,” Noah suggested jokingly.

Rolling her eyes at him, Stephanie snapped, “Noah, can you stop being so gentle and be more masculine instead?”

Unfazed, he broke out into a devilish smile. “Haven’t I already shown you how manly I can be?”

The moment she heard his response, Stephanie blushed and didn’t rebut him further.

Her feelings toward Noah have always been complicated. Even though he had always behaved like a chivalric gentleman, he was exceptionally domineering in bed. If he hadn’t pressed her against the wall to kiss her and forced her to sleep with him, she would never have agreed to be his girlfriend.

Evidently, she had masochistic tendencies. She didn’t like it when men were too nice to her. However, when a totally submissive man turned into a beast in bed, she would be mesmerized by his masculinity.

“Noah, do you truly love me?” Stephanie suddenly asked.

Noah looked at her affectionately. “Stephanie, don’t you already know that I forcibly kissed you two years ago because I couldn’t contain my feelings for you?”

“Fine. Let’s get married then.” When Stephanie uttered those words, she was filled with defiance. The more Olivia wanted to interfere with her marriage, the more Stephanie wanted to foil her mother’s plans.

Noah was stunned for a fleeting moment before being filled with ecstasy. Nevertheless, he kept his composure. “Stephanie, did Mrs. Clinton say something to trigger you?”

“Do you want to get married or not? If not, let’s just break up,” Stephanie threatened.

Noah continued to look at her with a doting gaze.

“Be a good girl and stop throwing a tantrum. Didn’t Mrs. Clinton tell us to take a break for a while? She says that it’s for our own good,” Noah added.

“Do you want to break up with me then?” Stephanie glared at him.

“Stephanie, why would I do that?” Noah continued in a gentle tone. “I just think that getting married now would only anger your mother further.”

“Are you afraid of my mom?”

“No, I just respect her. Every woman, regardless of their age, deserves to be respected. That’s how a gentleman should behave.”

Despite frowning in exasperation, Stephanie didn’t press the matter further.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 497

Photos

Stephanie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Do you want to marry me or not? Tell me.”

Noah sat next to her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into his embrace rather forcefully. As a result, the round chair she was sitting on fell to the ground.

When she fell into his embrace, her nose accidentally hit the man’s chest. The only thing she felt at that moment was pain.

While covering her nose, she smacked his chest. “What are you doing? It hurts, you know that?”

He held her face and carefully examined her reddened nose. Then, he planted a kiss on it and said, “I’m sorry. It’s my bad. I just want to hug you because you’re very cute today. In fact, I would like to do it with you right away, but the current time and place are not suitable for it.”

It was only then did she simmer down. Right after that, she sat on his thighs brazenly.

She took off his glasses and studied his face in detail before praising, “Now I realize you’re pretty good-looking, Noah. You’re a little lacking compared to my brother, but you’re not as bad as I thought.”

Noah grabbed her hand and smiled. “Thank you for the compliment, my princess.”

After Stephanie used her other hand to grab his tie, she turned toward the servers, who were staring at them, and smiled. “Those servers are staring at us, Noah. Do you think they’ll call the police if we really do something daring?”

“Even if they call the police, I won’t let them do anything to you.”

“Oh wow, Noah. I didn’t know you aren’t as much a gentleman as you looked.”

“I only show my beastly side to my princess.”

She was thoroughly delighted by his words.

“Let’s get married, Noah. It’s not every day I get the urge to do so. Another opportunity like this won’t come again easily.” She spoke openly and bluntly.

“You really thought this through?” he questioned her back as he stared straight into her eyes.

It wasn’t the best time for him to get married at the moment, and he knew it. Olivia still held some misunderstandings about him, so it wasn’t the ideal time to talk about marriage. That was why he was treating Stephanie’s proposal as nothing more than a tease.

Stephanie pulled his tie and continued to speak with a domineering look. “You don’t want to marry me, Noah? Is it because you don’t really mean it when you said you love me? Is there already another woman in your heart?”

Noah couldn’t refrain from laughing. “I wish I could stay with you all day and prioritize you. Our family backgrounds are similar, so if I’m not truly in love with you, why do you think I’m doing my best to please and accompany you?”

She gave it some thought. He isn’t wrong.

“Since you love me that much, I give you permission to marry me. However, after I marry you, you aren’t allowed to restrict my freedom or my ability to make friends. Also, you can’t order me to cook, and you can’t…” She proceeded to list out a bunch of conditions.

A cold glint flashed across his eyes. This woman sure does have a lot of annoying conditions. If I do everything she asks, I’ll be basically marrying a spoilt queen I can’t offend instead of a caring wife.

He scoffed inwardly, tightened his fists, and gradually relaxed them.

“What’s the matter? Do you think my conditions are too much? When you started courting me, you said you’ll respect me and my desires. You promised you’ll treat me like a princess. And yet, you’re already thinking about how my conditions sound unreasonable before we’re even married?” A dissatisfied expression loomed over Stephanie’s face.

Noah returned to his senses and gently planted a kiss on her face. Then, he responded smilingly, “Of course not, my princess.”

He proceeded to say a lot of other things to cheer her up, including telling her that marriage was the most important thing in a woman’s life. Therefore, he would like to take it seriously and plan it all out in detail. Since a marriage proposal should be done by a man, he asked her to wait for him so he could arrange the most romantic and exquisite marriage proposal.

He was so good at coaxing her that not a trace of anger was left on her face.

After sending her home, his face immediately darkened. He sat inside the car and watched the endless traffic under the night sky. He finally couldn’t hold back his annoyance anymore and allowed the evil he had been carefully hiding throughout the day to spill out of his heart.

He lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth. After puffing out smoke a couple of times, the car was filled with the stench of cigarettes.

After he was done with it, he drove to a small neighborhood and called someone on the phone. He exchanged a few sentences with the person on the other end of the line before hanging up. A while later, a woman with straight hair and delicate makeup approached his car.

That woman was the one who accompanied him that morning.

After she entered the car, he pulled her close and kissed her right on her lips.

Both of them kissed for a while before they stopped. In the distance, a source of light flashed past them. However, neither of them noticed it.

After they separated from each other, the woman asked in a soft tone, “You aren’t in a good mood, Noah?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just feeling a bit annoyed.” He waved his hand and helped fasten the woman’s seatbelt before caressing her cheeks. “As long as you listen to me and stay obedient, I’ll continue to love you the most, even when I marry someone else.”

The woman stared at him affectionately. “Isn’t this good enough for you, Noah? I don’t need expensive houses or cars. I only want you by my side. Don’t marry Ms. Clinton. Pretty please? I’ve never asked for anything else in all the years I stayed by your side.”

“Don’t be silly! After I expand my company, I’ll be able to do what I want whenever I want. When the time comes, I’ll divorce her and marry you. Don’t worry. I’ve always loved you and only you,” Noah comforted. “I still haven’t eaten anything yet. Let’s go and eat something together. I’m hungry.”

The woman agreed to whatever he said obediently and went out to eat with him.

She had been staying by his side for years, so she already knew what kind of status she had. While she was his lover, their relationship was never acknowledged publicly or in any official capacity. He gave her a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear. In exchange, she didn’t get a say in what he did. It was more appropriate to call her a pet than a lover. She was like a golden sparrow living in an expensive cage that he bought.

And because she had been staying by his side for so many years, she had learned not to argue with him. Instead, she would act pitifully in order to evoke his sympathy and obtain even more gifts from him.

If she couldn’t get the title she rightly deserved, then she might as well receive enough gifts from him to ensure she would be able to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

After Noah started driving, a car not too far away from him started driving behind him. The person inside that car called someone on the phone and informed, “I’ve obtained information and pictures of Mr. Walker, Mr. Clinton. Should I send them to you now?”

“Yes,” Oscar ordered.

“I’m going to deliver them to you now.” After the person hung up the phone, he turned the car in another direction.

Inside the study, Oscar stared at the delivered photos and information on the table. He casually flipped through them and asked, “Who is this woman?”

“She’s Mr. Clinton’s girlfriend, or should I say, sugar baby. They have been together for many years. Based on how intimate they were with each other, I’d say he has genuine feelings for her,” the guy answered.

Oscar’s lips curved upward as he stared at the photos of the intimate couple with interest.

“It seems like Noah is a lot more interesting than I thought. Even though he already has his own woman, he still wants to play with my sister. Does he think the Clintons are a bunch of idiots?”

That guy didn’t have the gall to answer.

“You can leave now.” Oscar waved his hand.

That person let out a sigh of relief and quickly left.

Amelia brought a cup of warm milk into the study and noticed Oscar staring at a couple of photos. “What are you looking at, Oscar?”

He put the photo in his hand down and waved at her with a smile. “Come over here, Amelia. I have something interesting I want to show you.”

She approached him with curiosity until she saw the photos on the table.

The look in her eyes turned to slight disbelief as she pointed at Noah in the photos. “This isn’t the man I know, right?”

He pulled her into his embrace and gently rubbed his prickly beard on her delicate face. The itchiness caused by the beard made her squirm a little.

“Stop messing around, Oscar,” she said as she struggled to escape.

After messing with her for a few more moments, he stopped. Both his arms held her waist before he smiled. “Do you think the two people in the photo deserve each other?”

Her eyes were fixed on him as she wondered what he was thinking.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 498

Thank You Gift

“Where did you get these photos, Oscar?” Amelia asked instead of answering his question.

“I hired someone to take the photos in secret. I have to admit, the photographer’s quite skilled. Look at how pristine the quality of these photos is. Even though he took it in the dark, I can still see the faces clearly,” Oscar commented fairly.

She grabbed the photo, examined it in detail, and also remarked, “The angles that these photos were taken from are pretty good. I’d say the two people in the photos look pretty intimate with each other. Are you trying to tell me something by showing these photos to me, Oscar? That even someone as refined and gentlemanly as Mr. Walker can also cheat?”

His lips curved slightly upward as he praised, “My wife is so smart.”

She rolled her eyes a little and asked, “So, what are you going to do, Oscar?”

“What do you mean?” The man pretended not to understand the question.

Amelia shot him a side-eye.

He let out a faint chuckle and appeared to be in a good mood.

“Aren’t you going to let Stephanie know that Mr. Walker is currently dating another woman, Oscar?” She waved the photo in her hand.

“Do you want me to tell her?” Her question was answered with a question of his own.

She pretended to give it some serious thought before shaking her head. “No. I’m a pretty petty person. Stephanie has been giving me a hard time whenever she can, so I’m not feeling kind enough to tell her the truth about her boyfriend. In fact, I’m quite the bad person because I want to see her get hurt emotionally by her cheating boyfriend. That way, I’ll finally get the catharsis I’ve been looking for. Of course, I don’t actually want her to get hurt badly because she’s your sister. Even if you don’t say it, I can tell you worry about her, and I don’t want you to hurt your own sister because of me.”

Blood is thicker than water, after all. No matter how cold Oscar acts on the surface, he is still quite tolerating when it comes to his only sister.

Oscar hugged her even tighter and kissed her forehead. “You silly goose! The only people who truly matter to me are you and Tony. Do you think I investigated Noah because I was bored? I knew he wasn’t as good as he appeared, and what do you know, I was right. It wasn’t even hard to figure that out, either. A gentleman like him turned out to be scum. Don’t you think he and Stephanie make for a great couple?”

Amelia raised her head and stared at him.

He touched his cheeks and joked, “Did you suddenly realize I’m rather handsome, Honey?”

She giggled for a while before going back to the topic at hand. “Are you really not going to tell your sister about Noah?”

If Stephanie married Noah, she wouldn’t be happy living in a marriage built on lies. And when the truth was finally revealed, the emotional impact it would’ve had on a woman who thought she was in a loving marriage would be deadly.

However, when Amelia thought about all the things Stephanie had done to her, the sympathy she felt for the latter instantly vanished. She wasn’t a saintess, after all, so there was no reason for her to tell Stephanie about Noah. Not kicking Stephanie when she was down was the best Amelia was willing to do.

If Stephanie wasn’t happy with her marriage in the future, she had no one else to blame but herself because she chose to marry the man. In Amelia’s eyes, Stephanie wouldn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy if and when she had to suffer the consequences of her choice.

Amelia thought for a while before saying, “If this is putting you in a dilemma, you can ignore what I think, Oscar. I don’t want you to regret an impulsive act of vengeance for the rest of your life.”

Oscar placed his big, warm hand on her head and chuckled. However, the look in his eyes was cold.

“I’d say they make for a great couple because a liar and a stubborn fool will only hurt others if they aren’t together. Besides, if Noah marries Stephanie, do you think she’ll stay silent when she finds out he has another woman?”

He paused as though he thought of something funny and sneered, “Stephanie will undoubtedly cause a ruckus in the Walker family. There’s no guarantee Noah will get the benefits he thought he’d get from his marriage with Stephanie, either. That is the deserving end of a man who wants to mooch off the benefits other people provide. Once she marries into his family, I’ll pour oil into the fire in secret and make the drama that’ll occur even more chaotic. Consider that my big gift for my beloved sister. It’ll teach them an unforgettable lesson about not getting too ambitious and full of themselves. Otherwise, it’ll only be a matter of time before divine retribution strikes them.”

She widened her eyes and stared at him with a pseudo smile. “Are you taking revenge on them for Tony?”

“Did you only figure that out now, Honey?”

She snickered while her eyes slowly turned red. Oscar’s willing to go so far as to protect the two of us. I’m so touched.

“It’s your fault that sand is getting into my eyes.” She raised her hand and rubbed her eyes with a pout.

Her behavior made him chuckle.

“What are you laughing at? Help me look if sand really did go into my eyes,” Amelia requested.

Oscar pretended to examine her eye and exchanged a longing gaze with her. Unable to control himself any further, he lowered his head and kissed her.

The next morning, Amelia found herself waking up on time as usual. It was then she realized she had returned to her bed. Her mind suddenly flashed her images of the wild moments that had occurred in the study the previous night, making her blush hard.

Even though she had been married to Oscar for years at that point, the love they held for each other had only increased further. It was as though their honeymoon period never ended, even though they started off their marriage with little feelings for each other. However, in the eyes of an outsider, they looked like they had been together for far longer. They’d assume the couple was at the point in their relationship that looking at each other’s bodies was no longer different from looking at their own hands.

When Oscar stepped out of the bathroom, he only had a towel covering his body. Any woman would’ve blushed upon seeing his muscular body under the sunlight.

He approached the bed and kissed Amelia on the lips. “I see that you’ve already woken up, my queen. And here I thought I could play out a scene from a fairytale, where I wake you up with my kiss.”

It could be said that she was backing away while he was advancing romantically. Even though he looked frosty, he would make her heart thump and her face blush when he was being romantic.

Amelia pulled the blanket away and got off the bed. When her naked body entered his eyes, his gaze suddenly darkened, as though a rock was cast into a calm well and caused ripples to occur within.

“If you really want to get off the bed in the morning, please wear something instead of seducing me.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest and spoke hoarsely.

She turned around and gave him a flirty wink before chuckling. “Darling.” It was then she saw the look in his eyes turned darker, and the fire within him was about to escape.

She grinned smugly and walked into the bathroom. After closing the door, she locked it.

Oscar could feel his manhood rising as he stared at the locked bathroom door.

A bitter smile appeared on his face. I guess it’s a blessing and a curse to have such a seductive wife.

After washing herself up, Amelia went downstairs to have breakfast with her husband. She asked Molly to take care of Tony and told her to follow him if Olivia were to send people to pick him up.

After finishing their breakfast, Oscar sent Amelia to her company.

“Do you want me to send you up?” he asked when the car was parked in front of the company entrance.

She unfastened her seatbelt and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “No need. If you go up, my colleagues won’t be able to focus when they see you.”

Instead of insisting on accompanying her, he got off the car and pulled out the present that he had asked someone to prepare from the trunk. She received the gift and smiled. “You can go to work now. I’ll be fine.”

Oscar then left with his car.

She entered the elevator with the present in her hand. When she arrived in the design department, her colleagues enthusiastically greeted her.

“You’re here, Amelia! How’s your child?” they asked.

Amelia smiled in response. “Tony is already out of the hospital. Thank you all for asking, and I’m very grateful for the kindness you have shown during my days off. To show my gratitude, I’ve prepared a present for everyone. Please take a look and see if you like it.”

Everyone grabbed their presents excitedly and opened them. The female colleagues received the latest Louis Vuitton bags while the men got the newest brand of wristwatches. Their jaws dropped when they saw how expensive the presents they received were.

They couldn’t help but howl with joy in their minds. Presents from a wealthy family are indeed tasteful.

At that moment, Rory stepped into the office in high heels. When she spotted Amelia, she smiled. “You’re back, Amelia. How’s Tony?”

Amelia approached her and responded smilingly, “Thank you for asking. He’s doing fine right now. This is a present I’ve prepared for you as a token of gratitude for helping me with my workload for the past few days. Take a look and let me know if you like it.”

Greed and envy flashed across Rory’s eyes as she stared at the present in Amelia’s hand.

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 499

Behind Their Backs

Rory opened the bag and saw a really stylish and popular floral dress inside. Many women in the upper-class society yearned to have it. A single piece of the dress cost at least thirty thousand. It was very expensive.

A glint flashed across her eyes as she smiled. “This is too expensive, Amelia. I can’t accept this.”

“Take it. I had this specially prepared for you. Consider it part of the thank you gift from me to all of you. If you refuse to accept it, it’ll make me sad.” Amelia blinked and smiled.

“Then… I’ll accept it. Thank you, Amelia.”

After the present-giving session was over, the people in the design department resumed their work. Perhaps it was because they received an expensive gift from her that they were shocked by her astounding wealth. It would take years for them to make enough money to buy the gift she gave them.

Everyone began to have ideas about befriending Amelia. It wasn’t morally pure for them to do that, but reality favored those who had money. Without money, one would have no power and could only bow before those who did. They were jealous of her, but they knew if they could get close to her, they would have a chance to rise to a better position with a higher wage.

That was the reality everyone had to face.

When noon rolled around, Rory finished her work and approached Amelia with a smile. “I’d like to treat you to a meal, Amelia. Consider it my attempt to make up for the regret of not being able to have a meal with you previously.”

Amelia tidied up the documents on her table and replied, “Let’s go, then.”

Just as the both of them walked out of the company, they saw two men heading in their direction. Amelia held her forehead and suggested, “How about we just eat at the cafeteria? The food there is pretty good.”

Before she could head back in while pulling Rory’s hand, one of the men uttered her name.

Instead of stopping, she continued to drag Rory into the company until they vanished from the men’s line of sight.

The two men could only watch her return to the company. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had escaped.

“What an interesting woman.” The other man spoke.

“Who are you?” Carter asked.

“I forgot to introduce myself. I’m June, and I was once Cassie’s boyfriend. Since she has dumped me, I’ve developed an interest in Amelia. What’s your name?” June stretched his hand and introduced himself politely.

“Carter Scott,” the man replied as he stretched his hand too. Just as he was about to touch June’s hand, he suddenly changed direction and punched June’s face. The latter failed to dodge in time and fell to the ground after getting hit.

Carter then looked down at him. “Don’t even think about getting close to her. She’s not someone a foreigner like you can touch. Even if you’re the only man alive in the world, she’ll still never be with you, so don’t think too highly of yourself.”

When he finished speaking, he straightened his back and left.

June crawled up from the ground and held his swollen right cheek. He narrowed his eyes as a dangerous look shone from within.

“Carter Scott. You must be the heir to Scott Group, then. The more you don’t want me to approach her, the more I want to conquer her. Her man stole my woman’s body and heart, so I’m going to play with his woman in return. It’s only fair. Only when I win will I be able to let this go. Perhaps Cassie may even be so touched that she’ll offer her body and heart to me.” A resolute and evil glint flashed across his eyes.

He then adjusted his suit before heading back to his car.

After Amelia and Rory entered the cafeteria, they ordered their food and found a good spot to eat. Rory ate her food with infrequent pauses. She would also occasionally raise her head to look at Amelia.

The latter gulped her food down and smiled. “If you have something to say, you can just say it, Rory. You don’t want to choke on your food on accident because you’re distracted.”

Rory felt a little awkward when she was found out. She ate two more mouthfuls of food before raising her head again. “What’s your relationship with those two men, Amelia?”

Amelia smiled. “The one from Chanaea is Carter. You met him before. He’s my best friend from my university days. I used to have a crush on him, but that was a very long time ago. As for the foreigner, I’ve only seen him twice before. I’m not very familiar with him, and I don’t know why he showed up in front of me again. I pulled you back in earlier because I don’t want to cause a scene with either of them at the entrance.”

Rory squeezed out a smile while quelling the envy in her heart. Why is she surrounded by a bunch of rich, handsome men while I have to slave away in this godforsaken city just to make enough money to pay my rent and meals? I have basically no money left after paying all my bills every single month. I may wear branded items, but I bet I live a more frugal life than anyone else. Thanks to my sh*tty job, I have no choice. Even though I keep saying I want to lose weight, all I can eat after going back home is just a pack of instant pasta. Ugh, I almost can’t stand looking at her. The presents she gave everyone probably added up to one hundred or even two hundred thousand. That’s the amount of money I’ll only get after working here for years on end without spending it on anything else.

She was so envious of Amelia that her dreams involved her fantasizing about when she would be able to become a wealthy woman like Amelia.

It took a lot of effort for her to calm her heart and suppress her volatile emotions. Then she smiled and spoke. “You’re too charming, Amelia. Handsome men basically surround you all day. I’ll be happy if I can get even one prince charming like that to approach me.”

Amelia continued to eat and stare at her with a smile. “I’m already married with a child. I don’t have that kind of charm you’re referring to anymore. A woman gradually loses her value after she enters her thirties. You, on the other hand, just graduated from university and have great potential. Your future prospects are immeasurable. I really think you’ll succeed one day. As long as you continue to do your job well, the right man will eventually show himself in front of you. There’s no need to rush. You should solidify your career for two more years first before finding a partner. The workplace will sharpen and refine your aura. Once the time comes, you don’t even need to find a man. They’ll swarm right to you when they hear about you. You just need to keep your eyes peeled and pick a good man.”

“You’re very interesting, Amelia. I learn a lot from you by sticking with you,” Rory replied with an insincere tone.

After lunch was over, they returned to the office together. Rory covered her tummy and said, “I need to go to the bathroom, Amelia. I think I ate too much.”

The latter nodded.

The moment Rory sat on the toilet bowl after entering the restroom, she heard the sound of high heels. Someone had just finished their business and walked out of the cubicle next to hers. Then she heard two people talking. The first one said, “Rory is so lucky. Aside from the fact she managed to get her hands all over Mr. Moore, she has also gotten Amelia’s favor. Amelia is so wealthy. Even the presents she gave are genuine branded bags. I’m so jealous of Rory.”

“Then you need to learn her *ss-kissing skills. You aren’t going to make them like you if you don’t flatter them.”

“Forget it. I’m not as good as her. Hell, I can barely butter up a woman, let alone a man. Only someone from the countryside can get so crazy thinking about money. She just graduated from university, and she’s already thinking about taking shortcuts instead of doing her job well. It’s going to be a matter of time before she falls.”

“She’s young. It’s only natural for young people to aim high. She’s trying to take shortcuts because she thinks a couple of thousand per month is too low. Still, I have to say; she’s quite persistent. At least she’s willing to put in an effort to please so many people. However, I don’t think Amelia’s a softie based on what I observed. There’s a chance she already saw through Rory’s tricks and that she’s just playing with her. Rory really thinks herself to be someone special when she’s just yet another tuft of grass on the roadside.”

The two women then giggled while making their way out of the restroom.

Meanwhile, Rory’s face fell as she listened to their conversation. She took a deep breath, loosened her fists, and calmed herself.

After stepping out of the cubicle, she stared at herself in the mirror and sneered, “They’re just a bunch of useless women who are envious of me. There’s no need for me to get angry. The only thing incapable people can do is badmouth others behind their backs. If they’re talking about me like that, it means I’m getting closer to success.”

Being in the center of everyone’s attention was something she enjoyed very much. Despite the fact that some of the attention included people looking down on her or treating her with disdain, she was still very happy about it. She understood one crucial thing after only spending a short time in real society. The lesson she learned was that one must be willing to dirty their hands if they wanted to reach the top of the social hierarchy. It didn’t matter to her what she needed to do in order to get a better view of the world. She had no sympathy for the people she kicked away as she climbed up because if she didn’t, she would be the one getting kicked down. The last thing she wanted was neverending sympathy and charity from the people sitting on top of the hierarchy.

After she was out of the restroom, she returned to the design department and saw the two women who had talked about her earlier. She didn’t see their faces, but she recognized their voices. I’m going to remember their faces. When the time comes when I finally reach the top, I’ll stomp on everyone who ever looked down on me. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Rory turned to Amelia and put on an elegant facade. She approached the latter and asked, “I’m struggling to come up with good ideas regarding a blueprint I have. Do you mind giving me some pointers?”

Amelia replied with a smile, “Sure.”

She then proceeded to explain to Rory patiently how to come up with new ideas that could be added to the blueprints.

Just as she finished, Rory received a call from Eduardo.

As soon as the call was connected, the manager’s voice rang out. “Come to my office, Rory.”

“Mr. Moore’s looking for me, Amelia. I’ll be right back,” Rory informed.

Amelia nodded.

Rory entered the manager’s office in her high heels.

Upon pushing the door open, she put on an act and asked, “Are you looking for me, Mr. Moore?”

“Close the door. I have something I want to discuss with you.” Eduardo spoke.

She did as he asked.

He pointed at the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”

His solemn expression made her a little nervous as she sat down. She then steadied herself and asked, “What’s wrong, Mr. Moore?”

Too Much to Bear My Love Chapter 500

Having A Meal Together

“Rory, there’s a vacancy for the supervisor position of the design department. At first, the boss and I saw that you were transferred from the headquarters in Beshya and planned to promote you to this position. However, things have changed. We agree that Amelia is the most suitable candidate.

It’s not because she’s Mrs. Clinton, but because she’s really talented in design. The boss has seen her work and has only good things to say about her. In fact, she might even be a little overqualified to be the department’s supervisor.” Eduardo thought for a while and decided to be frank as he spoke.

Rory clenched her fists tightly on her lap. Her thin but sharp nails dug deep into her skin.

“Mr. Moore, that wasn’t what you told me previously. You said that the supervisor position would go to me no matter what. No one could take it away from me. It wasn’t that long ago, and yet you’ve changed your mind. What is the meaning of this?” Rory asked as calmly as possible.

Eduardo thought for a while and said, “Rory, you’re still young. Everyone in the design department has worked there longer than you. For now, there’s nothing you can do to get the design department’s supervisor position. Keep working hard for a few more years, and I guarantee that you’ll have a bright future ahead of you.”

Rory started heaving. She felt aggrieved deep inside her heart. From the moment she joined the workforce, she thought of finding someone to back her up. Rory even bribed Eduardo with her most precious stuff. In the end, all she got in return was him saying that she was still young and not qualified enough to supervise her subordinates. She couldn’t help but wonder what exactly did she sacrifice for.

Rory wanted to rush forward and viciously attack the man in front of her. However, she still had her sanity left. Since she was still a fledgling, it would not be worth it if she tore his face off right then and there.

“Mr. Moore, that’s not right. You didn’t say that I was too young to have that position back then,” Rory responded while feeling slightly agitated.

Eduardo, who had been smiling the entire time, instantly grew solemn. He asked, “Rory, are you blaming me now?”

Rory was startled, and she instantly held back her anger. In the next second, her expression changed. “Mr. Moore, you know that’s not what I meant. You gave me your word. Besides, Amelia only started working at the company not too long ago. Do you trust her to become the supervisor? I’m afraid that she might not be able to handle the task well.”

“Don’t worry about it. Mr. Franklin even wanted to give her the position of vice president, but he was afraid that she wouldn’t accept it. She’s the wife of Mr. Clinton. Her resilience is unlike that of a young woman fresh out of school. Mr. Franklin hopes that she could gain experience from the bottom of the corporate ladder first. He’d only give her promotions after she excels at her job. Mr. Franklin has known her since university times, so he knows her abilities best.” Eduardo gave Rory a meaningful look. He added, “Rory, I heard that Amelia takes good care of you. You don’t seem grateful, though. You even speak ill of her in front of me. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll tell her about what you said?”

Upon hearing the man’s words, Rory suddenly froze on the spot.

“Mr. Moore, that’s not what I meant. I-”

“That’s enough, Rory. You should head back to work.”

Rory could only suppress her anger for now.

“I’ll go back to work then, Mr. Moore.” Rory stood up. She could feel her legs wobbling.

As she reached the door, Eduardo’s voice suddenly rang out. “Rory, seeing that we’ve been close to one another once or twice now, let me remind you that you’re still young. Don’t be too ambitious or greedy. Go and spend more time with Amelia. She’s Oscar’s woman, so you’ll benefit by being close to her. Don’t push people away just because you like to compete with them. Otherwise, it won’t do you any good. If you can work under Amelia, your future will be boundless. Think about it.”

Rory’s legs stopped shaking. She then replied softly, “Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Moore.” Having said that, she immediately opened the door and walked out.

Rory returned to her usual self as soon as she left the office. She was quite the character. Even though she was in her twenties, she was rather composed. Not many millennials would be able to achieve that. Most people her age would be thinking about having fun and wasting their youth, while Rory was focusing on how to climb up the corporate ladder. She wanted to become the top dog and obtain a better life for herself. Although her methods were not quite right, no one could deny that she was a diligent and motivated girl. The only problem she had was getting misguided by her dream of having a good life.

Rory returned to the design department and kept herself busy with work. Perhaps, she wanted to turn her grief and anger into motivation. It was probably why she was working so hard. When it was time for her to get off work, she had completed all her tasks.

Rory packed up her stuff. She then approached Amelia and spoke in a righteous tone. “Amelia, are you done? Let’s go. If those unruly men are still downstairs, I’ll be your knight in shining armor.”

Amelia lifted her head and gave Rory a look. She shook her head and laughed. After turning off the computer and packing all the documents into her bag, she stood up and responded, “Let’s go.”

They left the design department and ran into Shane, who was walking toward them. Both Amelia and Rory greeted in unison, “Mr. Franklin.”

On the other hand, Shane only looked at Amelia. He replied, “Just got off work, Amelia? The timing is just right then. Let’s go downstairs together. I have something to tell you, and it’ll only take a few minutes of your time.”

Amelia nodded and replied smilingly, “Sure.”

The three of them got on the same elevator and descended downstairs. When they got out of the elevator, Rory said, “Mr. Franklin, Amelia, since you have something to talk about, I won’t disturb you then. I’ll get going now.”

“Stay safe!” Amelia responded.

As soon as Rory left, Shane asked, “Do you really like that girl?”

Amelia shrugged and responded, “I don’t have anything to like or dislike about her. She simply reminds me of how I was during my younger days. She’s just as hardworking as me.”

“Well, it’s true that she’s similar to you in that sense. However, she’s different in that she cares about material things. Maybe that’s why she works so hard,” Shane stated jokingly, which was a rare sight to behold.

Amelia looked at him and let out a chuckle.

She continued, “But isn’t it normal for girls to think like that? I was afraid of being poor when I was young. Who doesn’t want to make a better life for themselves through their efforts? I admire her quite a bit. If she can get what she wants through her hard work, why not?”

“I’m just afraid she might be a tad rash,” Shane stated, implying something more.

Amelia shot him a glance. She then smiled and asked, “Shane, you don’t seem to like Rory very much, do you?”

Shane shrugged and responded, “There’s nothing to like or dislike about her. She’s just my subordinate. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have paid her any attention. If you want to help her, then you have to consider if she’s worth your help or not. Some people are simply ungrateful. The more you help them, the more they’ll take it all for granted. I reckon you should be cautious of that.”

“I’ll take note of that,” Amelia replied smilingly.

After a while, she changed the topic. “Wasn’t there something you wanted to tell me? Tell me already. Oscar will be here any minute now.”

Shane replied with a smile, “Amelia. If we didn’t reunite after so many years, I wouldn’t have known you’ve changed so much. You were quite beautiful in university and had a sense of youthfulness and innocence. However, when I compare you to the way you are now, I realize that you’ve adopted a sense of ladylike charm too. Meeting you for the first time after so many years, I was like, d*mn! You’ve transformed into a goddess! I’ve always thought as women age, the less beautiful they become. But how’s it possible that you’re the opposite? You’re aging like fine wine!”

His words amused Amelia thoroughly, causing her to break into laughter.

“Shane, we’ve known each other for so long. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t say something like that,” Amelia responded.

Shane simply shrugged his shoulders. Then, he went straight to the point and stated, “Amelia, I’m going to promote you to be the supervisor of the design department. What do you think? Initially, I wanted you to be the director of design, but you just joined the company. Many people were quick to say that you got in because of connections. They were not convinced of your capabilities. Anyway, you can gain more experience as a supervisor. When the time is right, I’ll promote you to become the director. Based on your abilities, I believe you’ll manage this well.”

Amelia shot him a weird glance and said, “Why did you suddenly promote me to be the supervisor? I’ve only been here for less than a month. Also, I’m still on probation. How could I advance so quickly and be the supervisor?”

After pausing for a moment, she continued, “Shane, please don’t favor me just because of my identity. If I did care about my position, I’d go to Clinton Corporations or ask Oscar to set up a design-related company for me. I’ll just be the boss of the company. However, I chose to be here to gain experience. Treat me how you would toward other employees, and don’t give me any special treatments. If I were to become a supervisor, I’d prefer it was because of my capabilities. I won’t consider anything else.”

Shane shook his head and laughed. “And I’ve just said that you’re not the same as before. You’re still the same after so many years.”

“You should consider picking someone else to become the supervisor. I’d like to strive for accomplishments before being able to climb up the corporate ladder. If you let me be the supervisor now, I’ll think that you’re doing that because of the Clintons, not my achievements,” Amelia replied.

Shane glanced at Amelia. He knew that she meant every word she said and that she wasn’t a pretentious person.

“And to think that I almost made you the vice president. You’ll definitely reject me outright by then. Most people yearn to advance their careers in a short time. And yet, you rejected me without wasting a second,” Shane stated.

“I’ve just joined the design department, and many people are more talented than me. If I were to become their supervisor, even if they won’t say anything bad about me, they’d think that I got this position through connections. If that’s the case, why would I need to conceal my identity and work here? I could have just agreed to Oscar’s suggestion and let him start a company for me. I haven’t worked for many years, so I don’t know much about management. Let’s talk about this another time.” Amelia paused for a while before continuing, “When the time comes, and I’m confident with my skills, I’ll try my best to earn the position even if you don’t want to give it to me by then. I’m only asking you to give me a fair assessment when the time comes.”

After hearing her words, Shane broke into laughter.

“I can’t argue with you at all.” Shane’s words indirectly meant that he was willing to compromise.

“Shane, why don’t you bring your wife the next time we meet? You were quite famous back in school, and we’ve lost contact for so long after that. I wonder how amazing of a woman she is to be able to capture your heart.” Amelia changed the subject.

“She’s just an ordinary woman. Of course, she’s gentle and quite independent. These qualities of hers are what I’m most attracted to.” When Shane talked about his wife, his gaze immediately softened.

“It seems like you love your wife a lot,” Amelia stated.

“Well, we’re definitely not teenagers anymore,” Shane responded smilingly.

Amelia laughed and shook her head.

The two of them stood side by side in front of the company building. Shane suddenly said, “Amelia, I thought you would end up with Carter. The way you looked at him back then was so obvious. Everyone could tell that you liked him very much.”

Amelia shrugged. She smiled and replied, “It’s been many years. Any young girl would have experienced falling in love with an unattainable prince. Carter was like a prince who I never won over. So many years have passed now, and I’ve long forgotten how infatuated I was with him. And now that I have a husband and a child, I only hope that they can live happily and healthily. I don’t even think about anything else now.”

Having experienced a car accident and losing her sight in the past, Amelia had gained much perspective and viewed the world differently. She felt that fame, fortune, and money were nothing more but material gains.

“Yo, your prince is here,” Shane said, signaling the direction with his lips.

Amelia looked in the direction and noticed Carter, who had just gotten out of the car.

Carter went over and saw Amelia standing beside Shane. He could not help but be stunned for a moment.

“Long time no see, Mr. Scott. I hope you still remember me.” Shane was the first to speak.

“Shane, when did you return to the country?” Carter asked with a frown.

“Return to the country? I never left. I was preparing to leave back then, but something came up, so I had to stay behind. Now, I’m the CEO of the company and also Amelia’s boss.” Shane extended his hand and smiled. “I can’t believe you still remember me after graduating from university.”

Carter extended his hand and shook hands with the man.

“Since you’ve been staying in this city all this time, why didn’t you contact me?” Carter asked.

“It’s a long story. You know, it’s rare for the three of us to be here in the same place. We should go out and have a meal together. What do you think?” Shane asked as he glanced at Amelia.

Carter, on the other hand, also shifted his gaze toward her.

Amelia smiled and responded, “Let me ask Oscar first. He told me to go to the Clinton residence and have dinner there. I’m worried that my mother-in-law might have already prepared food for us.”

Carter’s expression instantly darkened.

“It’s fine. There’s no rush, after all. We have all the time in the world to go out and have a meal together.” Shane smiled.

“Let me call him first.” Amelia took out her phone as she spoke.

She dialed Oscar’s phone number and chatted with him for a while. When she put him on hold, she asked, “Oscar told me to go ahead, but he also said he wanted to join. Do you mind?”

“Of course not! If Mr. Clinton can come, the more, the merrier,” Shane replied.

“Okay. I’ll tell him to come over then.”