Chapter 473 Loving Women Without Self-Love
Since Oscar acted humbly, everyone had a good time during the meal and talked freely. Some even downed a few glasses of alcohol and became so drunk that they began calling Oscar by his first name as though they were close friends.
Seeing that, Amelia instinctively stole a glance at Oscar, worried he might get angry because of their actions. To her surprise, he held her hand underneath the table to reassure her he was fine.
After getting familiar with everyone, finding out Shane and Amelia were university friends, and knowing Shane was a man with a family, Oscar finally got cozy with them.
“Mr. Franklin, please take good care of my wife in the future. If there’s any project that requires Clinton Corporations’ collaboration, I’ll consider yours first,” Oscar promised.
Shane could already imagine a shower of money notes raining down on him.
He grinned. “Mr. Clinton, those words of yours sound better than those celebrity singers’ songs. Please do consider our company often. Looks like making friends in university is useful after all.”
His words caused Oscar to stare at him.
Seeing his reaction, Shane touched his face and said mischievously, “Am I being too aggressive? Perhaps I should rephrase my sentence. Amelia, I’m really thankful for getting to know you back in university. I say, I really do have good judgmental skills. I knew you weren’t an ordinary person, and it looks like I was right.”
His words were getting too outrageous.
Nonetheless, Amelia merely stared at him in amusement, totally not bothered by his words. “Mr. Franklin, stop messing around. Otherwise, Oscar is going to think you’re using me. Then, he’ll cancel all the collaborations with our company. You won’t have the time to mourn when that happens.”
Shane immediately made a zipping motion near his mouth, which made Amelia chuckle. He’s still as cheeky after so many years.
After the meal, the crowd went for karaoke. When Amelia got into the car, she gave Kurt a call to check in on Tony. Realizing Tony had not thrown a temper because of her eating out, Amelia let out a sigh of relief.
“Kurt, please take good care of him. He always listens to you,” Amelia said.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to Tony when I’m around,” Kurt assured.
After exchanging a few sentences, she ended the call.
“Are you relieved now?” Oscar asked.
Amelia nodded in response.
As Oscar drove, he could not help but comment, “Looks like Kurt is more capable than the actual father.”
Amelia looked at him, chuckling. “Are you jealous?”
“A little.”
Amelia immediately burst out laughing before she teased, “Oscar, did anyone tell you that you’re actually quite cute?”
“Those who said I’m cute have either lost their jobs or are in the process of losing them. But if you’re the one who said it, then it’s a form of compliment,” Oscar said with a serious expression.
Amelia grinned, feeling in a good mood after their banter.
Shortly after, both of them arrived at the city’s largest karaoke bar. As they entered the private room, the crowd urged them to sing a love song. Hence, they had no choice but to satisfy their request.
As soon as Oscar started singing, everyone’s gaze was drawn toward him.
He had a deep and mellow voice, which made his singing amazing, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.
As he sang, Rory, who sat in the corner of the room, watched him without saying anything while her heartbeat raced. She never imagined a man could make her feel that way. Even Derrick, who was so outstanding, could only make her heart flutter because of his looks. However, this time, she felt she was truly in love with Oscar. He makes others feel at ease. The fact that he treats Amelia so well shows that he’s a person who cares for his wife. I’ll definitely be extremely happy if I can get married to him.
However, she forgot the fact that men like him only treated their chosen women well. As for the other women, they were like dust in the air that could not trigger his feelings for them.
Meanwhile, Oscar and Amelia interlocked their fingers while gazing into each other’s affection-filled eyes.
After finishing the song, the crowd urged them to sing another. Surprisingly, Oscar was in the mood, and he pulled Amelia forward to continue singing another song.
Both of them sang without a care in the world. Rory, on the other hand, stared at them with distaste. She was so frustrated that she had dug her nails deep into her flesh.
Suddenly, a voice whispered into her ear, which instantly snapped her back into reality.
“See that? That’s called mutual affection. All Mr. Clinton sees is Amelia. As for you, I’m afraid you don’t even have the chance.”
Rory quickly turned around in the direction of the voice. Of course, it was Lydia who spoke.
Immediately, annoyance filled Rory’s heart. Ever since she was transferred to this branch, Lydia, who was about ten years older than her, had been making her life difficult in every possible way. Sometimes, Lydia would even provoke her through words, as though her presence annoyed her.
“Lydia, I’ve always thought Mr. Clinton and Amelia are a match made in heaven. Everyone can see that they’re suitable for each other. Besides, Amelia has always treated me as a younger sister. I’m truly happy for her being able to marry well,” Rory said sincerely.
Lydia glanced at the singing couple who were not far away and tutted as if she was doing it on purpose to annoy Rory. “Amelia is so lucky to have a man like Mr. Clinton to love her. Back then, people always said he was an icy person and handled matters decisively. Never have I imagined him to be so gentle toward his wife. I’m afraid Amelia is the only person who can make him act that way. As for anyone else, it’s impossible.”
Rory’s face was almost twisted in anger, but she quickly recollected herself when Lydia looked at her.
Once the song was over, Amelia put down her microphone and said to Oscar, I’m going to the washroom.”
“Do you need me to accompany you?” Oscar asked.
Amelia suppressed her laughter and rolled her eyes at him before leaving.
After entering the washroom, she relieved herself and walked to the basin to wash her hand. Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a bang, and in came a woman who staggered as she walked. It was obvious that she had had too much to drink.
Amelia gave the woman a casual glance. However, when the woman lifted her head, a hint of surprise flashed in Amelia’s eyes when she saw the woman’s face.
At the same time, the woman seemed to have snapped out of her drunkenness as soon as she saw Amelia.
She stumbled toward Amelia and smiled wryly. “What a coincidence, Amelia! I can’t believe I would actually meet you in such a place. Didn’t the rumors say you left two years ago? What now? Did you get your ass back here because you can’t let Oscar go? You’re really shameless, aren’t you?”
Amelia took a few steps backward, avoiding the woman’s breath that stank of alcohol.
“Ms. Yard, please have some self-respect,” she said calmly.
True enough, the drunk woman was Cassie. Nonetheless, Amelia was quite shocked to see her in such a state. It had only been two years since they last met, yet the former seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her originally slim face had now become quite bony, and her eyes seemed sunken in and bigger. Even the light makeup could not conceal the paleness of her face.
In just two years, the talented woman had now become a memory. The current version of Cassie was in a miserable, depressed, and self-degrading state.
Amelia did not know that unrequited love could make someone end up like that. Truth was, she did not approve of Cassie being in this state. Even though she had left Oscar back then while deeply in love with him, she had only thought that she would never be able to love another man again. She had never once thought about wallowing in her despair.
To her, no man could ever love a woman who did not love herself.
“Self-respect?” Cassie laughed as though she had heard the funniest joke on earth. At the same time, her body swayed due to the overindulgence in alcohol.
“Ms. Yard, you have had quite a few drinks. Here, let me call your family to come and pick you up.” Amelia frowned, not wanting to speak sense into a drunkard anymore.
“Stop putting on an act, Amelia,” Cassie slurred out while waving her hands.
