Too Much to Bear My Love

Chapter 334 She Merely Lost Her Eyes

“Are you all right, Babe?” asked Tiffany, as Amelia’s ever-evolving mood got her quite concerned.

Amelia appeared rather grim once she recollected herself. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Tiffany clasped her friend’s hand between her own palms. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Even though Oscar

went to the villa, I’m quite positive that Jeremy and the others wouldn’t divulge anything that they

shouldn’t.”

That yielded a shake of the head and a subdued smile from Amelia. “I’m okay. It’s just that after so

many months, I wasn’t expecting him to still be finding me. Could Tony really be so important to him

that he wouldn’t even grant me my only wish?”

All Tiffany understood was that Amelia might be under some degree of misapprehension. “Babe,

doesn’t it occur to you that perhaps he might actually not be completely over you?”

Amelia disagreed and replied with some poignancy, “I know my own place. He’s already got Isabella,

and they are perfectly suited for each other, so I assume that he wouldn’t be pandering over some

woman who left without a word.”

In actuality, Amelia was lacking in self-esteem way before she lost her sight. Even though she did her

best to adopt a cheerful disposition, it would be disingenuous to claim that she was wholly unaffected

by her own physical impairment. However, her mood had been mostly stable, and what had transpired

did not make her temperamental. As far as that went, she was already managing the situation better

than most.

She handled herself well compared to those who unexpectedly lost their sense of sight, or at least, the

optimism she exuded sometimes led others to forget the fact that she was blind.

Tiffany hesitated when she regarded Amelia’s unfocused gaze. “Have you considered the possibility

that Oscar might be going to this extraordinary length to locate you simply because he wants you

back?”

That caused Amelia’s body to stiffen momentarily, and then she eked out a bitter smile. “I can’t see

anymore. When he could practically have any woman he wants, someone like myself won’t be good

enough for him.”

When it came down to it, it was her own inferiority complex that ultimately convinced her that her

disability made her unfit for the seemingly perfect Oscar. The standout of a man was like the glorious

sun that stood in stark contrast to the dying star that was herself. To her, clamoring to remain by his

side would be unbecoming.

Tiffany’s brows creased into a furrow. “You’re a great person, Babe. I forbid you to think less of

yourself.”

“I’m already blind, Tiff. I can’t even get myself to the restroom without help, and I am also dependent on

Kurt and you to take care of Tony should he gets sick. Someone like me…” Amelia’s smile belied a hint

of emptiness in her tone.

“Amelia.” Tiffany was not amused, and she was having none of it.

“Everything that I’ve said is the truth laid bare, Tiff, and I’ve made my peace with it, really,” Amelia

countered gently.

“Stop putting yourself down like this. You’ve great qualities. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had so many

guys who were into you,” Tiffany replied in protest.

Amelia shrugged her off in good humor before she stood herself up from the bed, resolved to move on

from the topic. “Could I get a little help, Tiff? I’d like to get some air over by the window.”

Tiffany gladly complied. She pushed the windows out when they got there, and Amelia quietly let the

coolness of the breeze that entered caress her own face.

That seemed to have lifted the latter’s spirits as it showed on the corner of her lips. “Things aren’t

actually too bad for me right now, Tiff. I have a steadfast friend like you. Tony is growing well day by

day, and…” She allowed herself to take a moment before she continued, “There’s also Kurt. Do help

me to set him up with a gentle and thoughtful girl. He’s been nothing but good to us, so I don’t want to

impose upon him any more than I already have.”

Tiffany glanced over and sighed.

“How is Kurt not good enough, Babe? Why won’t you give him a chance?” Tiffany saw that as her

opening to bring up a past conversation.

Amelia placed a hand on her own chest. “You’ve already learned how to love someone, Tiff, and also

experienced what that felt like. Hence, you ought to understand that once you have someone in your

heart, there will no more room for another. Even if it’s no longer possible between Oscar and myself, I

can only regard Kurt as a dear friend and nothing more.”

“Forget it. Have it your way.” The resigned Tiffany relented in finality.

When she turned toward the doorway and expectantly spotted the stone-faced Kurt standing there,

Tiffany shrugged and conveyed her thoughts to him by mouthing them. “Not that I don’t want to help,

Kurt. I’ve already done what I could. You should know that you’ve got to be patient as you’ve got your

work cut out trying to woo this one.”

Conversely, the man turned his attention to Amelia. His previously staid eyes appeared more distant

than before.

He continued to regard her silently before he made his approach. Tiffany then whispered softly, “Kurt’s

here.”

That caught Amelia slightly off guard.

Kurt came briskly before Amelia and regarded her intently. “How are you settling in so far?”

She acknowledged him with a nod and a smile. “It’s been quite pleasant here. I can still sense things

even though my eyes cannot see, so thank you for your thoughtfulness, Kurt.”

Her response seemed to soften the steely expression on his face. “That’s good to know. I can go find

another place if you are not comfortable here.”

Amelia quickly shook her head. “There’s no need to go to all that trouble. I think it’s great here. After all,

property prices in Beshya aren’t exactly the most affordable, and a spacious unit like this couldn’t have

been cheap. Since you bought it only because of Tiff and me, it’s only right that I pay you back.”

“That won’t be necessary,” declined Kurt flatly.

Amelia’s consternation then showed on her exquisite features.

“This house is expensive, Kurt. I can’t…”

“We’re friends, Amelia, and considering that Tony’s my godson as well, you don’t have to stand on

ceremony with me. The way I see it, material purchases are trivialities. To be honest, prior to our

meeting, I have amassed quite a fortune over the years and really have no idea how to spend it. But

now, I’d gladly splurge on Tony and you.” Those words might seem frivolous, but they came across as

sincere with the way Kurt communicated them.

Amelia was a little perplexed and also somewhat pressurized by Kurt’s openness about his romantic

overtures.

His attempts, forceful yet gentle at times, felt like a meticulously weaved net steadily cast over her. It

stealthily entrapped her and left her feeling overwhelmed.

She instinctively took a step back. “You don’t have to do this, Kurt, because frankly, this is becoming

kind of stressful for me.”

The look in Kurt’s eyes alluded to his mild disappointment, but nevertheless, he responded in earnest,

“I’m sorry for putting you in such a position, but I’m not giving up. As long as you remain single, I will

continue to be hopeful.”

With that, he made straight for the exit.

Amelia’s trepidation was obvious. “Kurt…”

“He’s gone, Babe,” Tiffany helpfully pointed out.

She could not help but quietly bemoan as she looked upon Amelia. Sometimes, being the subject of

unwanted attention could make being unlucky in love seem preferable in contrast.

A flummoxed Amelia turned to Tiffany and blinked her unfocused eyes several times haplessly. “Why

do you think Kurt fancies me?” How could he have fallen for her, seeing that they had never been

intimate in any manner before?

This was something that Amelia had never been able to wrap her head around, and she doubted that

she would be able to handle any more emotional debt in view of everything that was already on her

plate.

Tiffany reached over and tidied up her friend’s fringes. “Don’t fret your little head over it, Babe. There

wouldn’t be as many men and women who are tormented by love if it’s so easy to rationalize.”

“I don’t want to become indebted to Kurt,” Amelia exhaled in despondence.

“Don’t be like that. I think he’s committing himself quite willingly.”

“It’s precisely for that reason that I can’t put him through this. He’s a good man, but it’s impossible

between us. As such, I shouldn’t be leading him on.”

With a frown, Tiffany persisted. “On top of being pretty cute, Kurt’s highly skilled and also very capable

financially. Even though he might have brushes with danger at times while out on missions, he still

comes across as being very dependable. Why won’t you consider it? It’s not as if he can’t hold a candle

to Oscar. A major plus is that he doesn’t come with the family baggage Oscar has. You can’t get any

better than that, Babe.”

“You’re quite the gifted Pandarus, Tiff. If only you aren’t so fixated on pimping out your own friend for

your first dealing,” the hapless Amelia responded genially.

Tiffany then feigned offense and proceeded to attack Amelia in her sensitive spots. The other woman,

who was very susceptible to ticklishness, howled, “I’m sorry, Tiff. I won’t do it again.” Amelia sought a

desperate retreat while she begged for mercy.

Tiffany started to burst out laughing as well. “Call me Pandarus, will you? What a callous girl you are!

Truly, it saddens me that you’d even question my intentions while my hair is fast turning white just

worrying for your future happiness here.”

After messing around for some time, the two finally collapsed together on the bed in exhaustion.

“It’s been a long time since we last loosened up like that, right, Babe?” said Tiffany as she tried to catch

her breath.

“Too long.” That felt nostalgic to Amelia as well. After graduation, they dove right into their journeys as

rookies in the workforce. They bungled their way through that dog-eat-dog world they were in, leaving

themselves without space to slow down and take stock. Had it not been for the setup that happened,

perhaps they might both still be struggling inside the corporate arena, trying painfully to keep their

heads above water. Perhaps then, she might not have gone through that five bittersweet years of

marriage with Oscar as well. It was also quite probable that Tiffany would not have left the corporate

world to become the celebrated author she was now; adored by countless readers and whose

published s were hailed as instant classics.

The way that incident reshaped the fates of both Tiffany and herself left her wondering whether she

should hate Faye or thank her for everything she did. If it were not for the latter’s machinations back in

the day, perhaps they would both still be caught up with scrapping tooth and nail for meager earnings.

The wheels of fortune are in constant motion. In retrospect, what appeared to be a crisis could very

well turn out to be a welcome opportunity.

That being said, she felt somewhat grateful to Faye, for it was the latter who brought about her meeting

with Oscar, which subsequently led to their union as man and wife. Even though it was only on paper

and they inevitably ended up divorcing, it gave her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the

greatest love of all. With that, she could see herself dying without regrets.

Tiffany suddenly recalled something amusing. “Babe, I just remembered how you looked when you

began working. So fresh-faced with your two braided pigtails and no makeup, you were so fair-skinned

too. If anyone told me that you’d become an alluring beauty that no one could take their eyes off in a

few years, I’d definitely smack the heck out of them for daring to mar your innocence with the notion of

sexiness. Then out of nowhere, you started dressing more fashionably and becoming prettier and more

sensual in the process. However, we both seemed to have lost the purity and carefreeness of youth.”

Meanwhile, Amelia held her silence.

She, too, reminisced about the times when she was younger and oozing with naivety. Regardless of

how much she resembled Cassie on the outside, her gradual gravitation toward Oscar perhaps spurred

her own subconscious desire to transform herself and to shake off the burden of being Cassie’s

doppelganger. Deep down, she simply did not want to exist as the latter’s substitute.

The smiling Tiffany sat upright. “Enough of that. Being alive and well and living in relative comfort

already makes us better off than most people, so what more can we ask for?”

Amelia’s lips curled into a smidgen of a smile.

Indeed, apart from losing her sight, she found little else to complain about. Fate merely took away one

amongst many things that she most cared about. With everything else that mattered still firmly within

her grasp, she really did not seem to have too much cause for dissatisfaction.