“I believe the allowance I give you is more than what you earn from your job,” remarked Oscar.
Amelia nodded.
Oscar took a deep breath in an attempt to suppress his annoyance. “Quit your job, and I’ll give you thirty grand per month. I’ll buy you whatever you want too. How about that?”
Amelia cast him an odd look. “I thought we’ve reached a consensus regarding work, Mr. Clinton.”
Oscar turned the wheel and stopped the car upon reaching a traffic light.
“You’re allowed to work, but I didn’t say we could live separately just because of your job. I’m your patron, so I have the right to order you to remain by my side.”
“And what if I insist on going to Saspiuburg, Mr. Clinton?”
“I’ll divorce you right away.”
Amelia pursed her lips while glaring at him. After a long while, she spoke up with much difficulty. “Do you really mean it, Mr. Clinton?”
Oscar nodded.
Amelia smiled bitterly as she thought back to the romantic moments they had earlier, which now seemed like nothing but an illusion.
“Well, if you want to divorce me, so be it,” Amelia responded coldly.
Oscar stared at her in disbelief, but the woman kept her eyes on the traffic light that had turned green. “The light’s green now, Mr. Clinton.”
Oscar breathed deeply, suppressing all the rage within him.
Then, he floored the gas, and the car sped ahead. With that, their hour-long journey became reduced to one that took only twenty minutes. Oscar entered the neighborhood, parked the vehicle, and turned to Amelia, only to realize how pale the woman looked. All the anger within him dissipated in an instant. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously. “I’ll take you to the hospital right away.”
Amelia heaved a sigh and responded weakly, “I’m fine, Mr. Clinton. It’s just that you drove too fast, so I’m feeling a little dizzy. I’ll be fine soon.”
Feeling rather sorry, Oscar helped the woman unbuckle her seatbelt and wiped away the sweat on her forehead. Despite saying that she was like a toy to him, the man had a soft spot for her whenever she felt unwell.
Even so, his excuse was that she was his toy; no one aside from him was allowed to pick on her.
“Are you feeling better?” Oscar asked as he saw the color on her face return gradually.
Amelia glanced at him before attempting to exit the car on her own, only to be stopped.
“Is something the matter, Mr. Clinton?” she asked frostily.
“Are you mad?”
Amelia shook her head. “No. I’m just feeling a little sick.”
“Is it serious? I can take you to the hospital.”
“It’s fine. I’ll be okay soon enough.”
Oscar let go of Amelia before quickly alighting the vehicle and walking over to her side. Then, he proceeded to carry her like a princess, which made her astonished and embarrassed. “Put me down, Mr. Clinton. I can walk on my own.”
Oscar saw through her. “It’s the middle of the night. There aren’t many people in the neighborhood now,” he replied with a rare hint of gentleness.
Amelia buried herself in his embrace like an obedient little kitten.
Oscar’s lips curled into a smile. As expected, he preferred it when Amelia behaved herself and listened to him. But if she were to head to Saspiuburg, that would be no different from her leaving the palm of his hand. The thought of this made him feel powerless and frustrated.
Upon entering the house, Oscar placed Amelia on the couch before getting down on one knee in front of her to meet her gaze. “Do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”
Amelia looked into his eyes, her heart racing and her cheeks burning.
“Why is your face red? Did I scare you by driving too fast?”
Amelia gave Oscar’s chest a light shove, confusing the latter.
“I’m okay, Mr. Clinton. I’m just not used to seeing you this kind.”
Oscar put on a serious face, pretending to be furious. “You don’t like me being nice?”
Amelia shook her head. “That’s not it. We’re husband and wife, so of course, I’d want you to be nice to me. I just find your kindness a little too out of the blue, and I’m worried that all of this would turn out to be nothing but a dream. What if I wake up and you’re back to being the same old Mr. Clinton?”
“Stop trying to sound smart. I was just being nice to you because it’s your birthday today. I didn’t think I’d end up frightening you instead,” Oscar replied calmly.
Then, he got up, sat next to her, and pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t go to Saspiuburg, okay, Amelia?”
An array of emotions swept through Amelia and she couldn’t understand why Oscar was behaving this way. Is it because he can’t bear to part with me, or does he just want to keep me caged up next to him like an animal?
“Why won’t you let me go to Saspiuburg? Is it because you can’t stand not being able to see me?” Amelia asked tentatively.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just promise me you won’t go to Saspiuburg,” Oscar replied, avoiding her question.
Amelia sighed internally.
“I’m pretty tired now, Mr. Clinton. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”
Yet, Oscar held onto her and murmured into her ear in a deep, alluring tone, “Promise me you won’t go to Saspiuburg, okay?”
Hearing his enchanting voice, Amelia nearly agreed to his request.
Fortunately, her last bit of reasoning pulled her back to reality. She grabbed Oscar’s face and leaned over to kiss him.
Oscar expressed his demands seriously.
“But Mr. Clinton, the contract says we’re not supposed to interfere with each other’s work and private lives. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”
“I haven’t. I have no intention of interfering with your work, but the contract does state that I have the right to bring up requests that are deemed reasonable. I believe asking you to stay is fairly reasonable.”
Amelia gazed at him in puzzlement and frowned. “Give me a reason, Mr. Clinton, or I will go to Saspiuburg.”
“Are you going there just because of Carter Scott? How much money did he give you to make you fall head over heels for him?”
“Carter and I are just friends, Mr. Clinton. Talk nicely, and I’ll listen. I’ll be going to bed if you don’t,” Amelia answered as she stood up.
“Sit down.”
The woman complied. “So you’re going to start talking nicely now?”
Oscar glanced at her.
“Tell me. Why do you want to go to Saspiuburg?”
“It’s been arranged by the company, Mr. Clinton. You can get someone to look into this if you don’t believe me. This job means a lot to me. I studied design while I was in university, and every piece of drawing I create gives me a sense of achievement. That’s why I don’t want to lose this job.”
“If you enjoy designing, I can have you work at Clinton Corporations. I’m sure such a place would provide plenty of opportunities for you to use your talent.”
Amelia fell silent.
“What’s wrong? Is such a huge company like Clinton Corporations still not good enough for you?”
Amelia shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Clinton. Being able to work at Clinton Corporations is something many people dream of, but there are too many amazing talents in there. I’m just a designer who graduated from an ordinary university, so there’s no way someone with my credentials could ever make it into the company.”
Oscar’s lips curled into a smirk. “If that’s what you’re worried about, beg me, and I’ll make sure you get hired.”
Amelia couldn’t hide her smile.
Yet, just as Oscar thought she would accept his offer, the woman quickly turned him down. “I think I still prefer my current workplace, Mr. Clinton.”
Oscar’s face immediately fell. “You’re turning me down?”
“There’s no denying that you’re my patron, Mr. Clinton. But apart from pretending to be your wife and fulfilling your needs, the contract clearly doesn’t say anything about me having to get a different job.”
“So you’re saying that you’re going to Saspiuburg no matter what?”
Amelia nodded.
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