Amelia shook her head. “They’re all easy-going, and I feel comfortable working with them.”
“That’s good to hear. I wanted you to be my assistant, but I thought that would seem like I’m degrading you, so I sent you to the design department instead and transferred one of the talented employees there to the headquarters,” Carter explained.
Sincerely, Amelia expressed her gratitude. “Carter, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I haven’t designed for four years. Now that I get to design again, I’m thrilled. At least I know I still love design as much I did in the past.”
Carter shook his head and muttered, “I was the one who wronged you and Tiffany. If not for me back then, you wouldn’t have left. I should be the one to apologize to you.”
Hearing that, Amelia waved dismissively. “Let’s not talk about the past anymore. I don’t blame you for that. Back then, Tiff and I were too young; that’s why we were tricked. You’re too courteous to want to apologize.”
“All right, let’s talk about something else now.”
Carter sent her to the entrance of her residential area. Just as she stepped out of the car, Oscar also stopped his car.
The two of them came out of their respective vehicles at the same time. Oscar first glanced at Carter, who had come out as well, before turning to Amelia with a gloomy look.
“Amelia, didn’t you say you were at Tiffany’s?” Oscar gritted out.
Instead of answering him, Amelia turned to Carter and said, “Carter, thank you for sending me back. You can go ahead first. I’ll ride in with my husband.”
Carter nodded and gently reminded her, “Call me if there’s anything.”
She nodded.
After Carter left, Oscar’s expression turned as dark as ink. His next words sounded as though they had been squeezed through his teeth.
“Get on.”
Obediently, she boarded. The mood in the car was tense. Oscar was gloomy and Amelia was silent as she ruminated about Cassie’s words. Even after the two entered the house, they remained quiet and tense.
As he gave a rough pull at his tie, he glared at her and asked, “Shouldn’t you give me an explanation about Carter?”
With an insincere smile, Amelia replied, “Mr. Clinton, you didn’t give me an explanation about your night with Ms. Yard, either. My boss sent me home out of his kind heart. There’s nothing for me to explain about that.”
At that, Oscar gnashed his teeth. “You sent someone to follow me?”
She shrugged. “Mr. Clinton, there’s no way I would be interested to do that. Your sweetheart was simply afraid that my existence will threaten her place in your heart, so after sleeping with you, she used your phone to call me. In fact, she even told me she’s carrying your baby. Mr. Clinton, congratulations! You’re going to be a father soon. However, I won’t be visiting her when she gives birth to the baby. After all, it’s not appropriate for your ex-wife to visit her, is it?”
Snapping his brows together, Oscar hissed in disbelief, “Cassie called you?”
“You don’t believe me? I have call records.” Amelia then handed her phone to Oscar. On it was his number, showing that the call took place at almost nine in the morning. That was around the time they woke up.
By now, his brows were drawn together so tightly that a fly could be crushed in between.
“Mr. Clinton, if you remember your own number, you’ll believe me, right?” Amelia mocked. “I’m afraid your innocent Ms. Yard isn’t as innocent as you think she is. You’re a great businessman, but it’s quite embarrassing if an innocent-looking girl gets to fool you.”
“Amelia, can you stop talking in this tone?” Oscar grounded out. “Cassie isn’t someone like this. She must have called you for something else. Amelia, you can’t slander her because of me. I won’t hold you accountable this time, but the next time you do this, don’t blame me for doing something about this.”
By now, Amelia was already used to him hurting her, so she reacted little to his words. Instead, she said, “Since you don’t like to hear me talk about Cassie, I’ll stop. That way, I can avoid making you think that I’m trying to sow discord between the two of you.”
After looking at her for a long time, he muttered, “Did Cassie really call you and say those things?”
Amelia shrugged. “If you want to believe me, I’d say yes. If you don’t, just think of me as spouting nonsense.”
Oscar responded, “You’re not that kind of person. That’s something I’m sure of.”
A corner of Amelia’s tugged upward as she nonchalantly replied, “Should I thank you for your trust, Mr. Clinton?”
“You won’t sow discord between others, but I don’t believe Cassie is that kind of person, either.” That was Oscar’s response.
Amelia rolled her eyes. He might as well save his breath by not saying the last few sentences.
“As a genius in the corporate world, you can well decipher whether a person is good or bad. If you paid more attention, you’d surely realize what kind of person Ms. Yard is. All that’s left is whether you believe it or not.”
Shooting her a displeased look, Oscar uttered, “Cassie’s my future partner. She’s my beloved and whom I have to cherish and protect. No matter who she is, I’ll love her.”
Oscar did not know whether those words were meant for Amelia or himself.
Feeling she had been struck by a bolt of lightning, Amelia found her entire body numb from the pain. She plastered on a smile and chuckled, “Congratulations, Mr. Clinton, on your happily ever after. It’s time for me, the pretend wife, to make my grand exit. Don’t send me your wedding invitation; I’d like to save on the wedding gift.”
Oscar’s frown deepened. “Who’s Carter to you?”
Sitting down on the other end of the couch, Amelia wondered, “Mr. Clinton, you’re already divorcing me. Why do you want to know who Carter is to me?”
He shot her a sharp look and uttered, “Amelia, you’d better remember that you’re still my wife.”
“You’ve already forgotten that you’re a married man, so why should I remember that?” Amelia retorted.
She wanted Oscar to know that she was no doormat. She could pretend to be blind to his relationship with Cassie, but there was no way she would take it lying down when the mistress was trying to show off their affair with the wife.
“Amelia, you’re crossing the line.”
“Mr. Clinton, we’re husband and wife. Even if we have a marital agreement, we’re legally married. You love Ms. Yard, don’t you? Then take out the divorce papers and I’ll sign them right away. However, I will not accept any less than I deserve. I’m sure you don’t want Ms. Yard to become a homewrecker, do you? She’s the daughter of the Yard family. For her to be the third wheel, I’m afraid…”
Amelia did not continue but she knew Oscar understood her meaning.
Upset, Oscar hissed, “Amelia, you have no right to intervene in my matters. Don’t you forget that I’m your patron. If you divorce me, the contract states that you’ll have to pay a hundred million as compensation. If you sleep with other men during this marriage, you won’t get a cent. Your eagerness to get together with Carter will leave you with nothing.”
Amelia laughed boisterously.
“Mr. Clinton, are you done?”
Oscar pursed his lips and glared at Amelia. He realized that this woman could always infuriate him.
“Mr. Clinton, if there isn’t anything else, I’m going upstairs first. I’ve been working the whole day and I’m so tired.” Amelia then stood up and stretched inelegantly.
Striding toward her, Oscar pulled her into his arms and growled, “Amelia, for how long are you going to throw this tantrum?”
His words only made Amelia feel the urge to laugh. She realized she was losing her ability to comprehend Oscar’s thoughts. He was the one to mention the divorce, but he was also the one to refuse to divorce. If she were to challenge him with words, he would say that she was unreasonable. Now that she wanted to keep a distance away, he accused her of not caring for him.
Even men in andropause don’t have such severe mood swings!
“Mr. Clinton, I just want to take a shower before eating,” Amelia mumbled as she stayed still in his arms.
“Speak clearer.”
Once again, Amelia could not help but roll her eyes.
“What do you wish to know?”
“How did you hook up with Carter? How much money did he give you?”
There were no changes to Amelia’s expression as she listened to his words.
“When you divorce me, maybe he’ll pay me a hefty sum to take me in as a kept woman.”
The moment Oscar heard her response, he looked as if he wanted to strangle her there and then.
“Amelia, do you have to be such a depraved woman?”
“Mr. Clinton, don’t you remember I married you back then for money? At most, we only have a professional relationship. Once this business deal is over, naturally, I’ll have to find my next backer. You can’t possibly tell me I have to pretend to be all innocent after doing this, right?”
His brows snapped together as he questioned, “Amelia, must you make it sound that horrible?”
Amelia laughed until she had to hunch over.
“I’m only speaking the truth. But if you think my words are too tough to listen to, I’ll keep quiet.” Amelia offered with a shrug.
“How much do you want? State a price. My term is for you to cut all ties with Carter.”
At that, Amelia spent a long while staring at him.
Just as Oscar thought she would never answer him, she voiced out, “I’m sorry, Mr. Clinton. I can’t do that.”
The wrath in Oscar dissipated bit by bit until he finally said calmly, “Give me a reason.”
“I’m working at his company right now and he’s my boss. It’s impossible for me to cut ties with him even if I wanted to.”
“Quit your job. I’ll find another job for you.”
“I’m sorry. I like my current working environment; my colleagues are all enthusiastic and nice.”
Oscar gritted out, “Do you like him that much?”
“Whatever you say, Mr. Clinton.”
“Amelia, can you not be such a lowly woman?”
Amelia’s heart skipped a beat but she forced a nonchalant smile. “You know I love money. Why else would I marry you like a lowly woman if not for money? Now that we’re about to divorce, why won’t you let me find my next client?”
“Who said I’ll be divorcing you?” Oscar glowered.
“Ms. Yard’s already pregnant. If you’re not in a rush to marry her, I wonder if you’re planning to be a heartless man. Will you let others laugh at your kid for being a bastard?”
“When did Cassie…” Get pregnant?
Instead, he swallowed his words and continued, “Regardless of everything, you have to stay away from that man. Also, you have no right to stick your nose into my business. In this marriage of ours, I’m the only one who can announce the end of it.”
In a tranquil tone, Amelia muttered, “Mr. Clinton, I won’t be able to agree to it.”
“Amelia Winters. You just want to go against me, don’t you?”
“I’m afraid you don’t misunderstand my words. I just want to say that I’ll be going to Saspiuburg for an eight-month-long training. It’s arranged by the company. If you want a divorce, it’s best to get it within these few days; otherwise, you’ll have to wait until eight months later.”
“You’re not allowed to go.”
