Out of anger, I married Amelia. Yet, I was fully prepared to separate with her and take Cassie as my beautiful bride once she comes back. Who would have thought that she’s left me for nearly five years? So many things have changed over the years. It transformed a gullible girl into a sly old fox. I don’t know her at all. That was how Oscar felt about Cassie at the moment. When I first discovered her true colors, I deceived myself and blamed it on the years we’ve been separated. I thought that we needed time to get to know each other again and accept the changes observed. Alas, it’s just my illusion. She has changed to the point that I can’t recognize her anymore. Withdrawing his arm from her grasp, Oscar uttered, “Cassie, get some rest since you haven’t fully recovered.
I still have some work to do and won’t have the time to accompany you here.” Panicked, she cast a look at Elizabeth, signaling her for help. Elizabeth had regained her composure. She coughed lightly. “Oscar, can I say something?” He respected her request. “Mrs. Yard, please go ahead.” Elizabeth said, “Oscar, please don’t be mad at Cassie. Whatever she said was out of frustration, she didn’t really mean it. Blame it on me, it’s all my fault. I started it and she’s just heeding my lead.” He scorned, “Mrs. Yard, I’m not a three-year-old kid.” Elizabeth was taken back by his response. That’s true, Oscar is one legend who’s been praised by a group of cunning seniors.
How silly could he be? He used to pamper Cassie because she was his favorite. He would even turn a blind eye and didn’t doubt her even when there were signs revealing her malicious intent. Now, she’s caught red handed. The rest of her misdeeds will eventually surface. There’s nothing that he won’t be able to trace and find out. The panic-stricken Cassie said incoherently, “Oz, I turn green with envy that Amelia gets to stand beside you and have your baby. I’m the real deal. So why is she enjoying all the benefits? I have been blinded by hatred and took extreme actions against her. Please believe me, I didn’t intend to hurt her.” Oscar sighed and then said in a stern voice, “Cassie, you have let me down.
It was you who left me then. Otherwise, we wouldn’t end up where we are today.” Tears continued to stream down her face. She knelt before him, pleading, “Oz, I’m sorry, I really am…” She fainted before she could finish her plea. “What happened? Cassie! Doctor, doctor!” Elizabeth’s heart-piercing voice rang throughout the ward. Shortly after, Cassie was pushed into the operating room. Clenching her fists, an anxious and exhausted Elizabeth paced to and fro in front of the operating room. Finally, her gaze landed on Oscar. She said wearily, “Oscar, this is the third time Cassie has entered the operating room. She has been the delicate little princess that everyone pampers since young.
Inevitably, she can be a little arrogant and is quite loose with her tongue. Nonetheless, you should be able to tell that she’s not malevolent. Just now, she was just joking. Can’t you forgive her this once, instead of pushing her to a point of no return?” With a grim expression, Oscar was seemingly deep in thought. Elizabeth looked imploringly into his eyes. “Oscar, please take our close relationship over the years into consideration, and don’t be so cruel to Cassie. She loves you. She’s got a gorgeous face, a beautiful figure, and a good educational background. She’s close to perfection. Yet, her life was far from perfect because of you. She couldn’t reconcile with the fact that Amelia is bearing your child while she lost hers.
All of these were harsh realities for her to take. Hence, she thought of crazy ideas in wanting to keep you.” Oscar’s sullen face made Elizabeth nervous. She could not read his mind. Most of the time, she was in fear and trepidation when faced with Oscar, who was very much her junior. “Oscar, do you want me to kowtow to you? If that’s what it takes for you to forgive Cassie.” Elizabeth started getting aggressive in her speech. He turned and looked straight into her eyes. “Mrs. Yard, it’s not a matter of forgiving Cassie. I need to carefully consider if she’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.
I’m sure you’re very familiar with this and know exactly what a man wants in a woman; simple minded but not stupid. No man can accept a malicious woman with open arms, no matter how intelligent she is.” His words silenced her. Oscar took a glance at the operating room and said, “Mrs. Yard, I’ll take my leave now. Please give me a call when Cassie is awake. I shall not join in the fun here.” Elizabeth gaped at him in surprise, only to have him nodding at her lightly. Seeing that he was leaving, Elizabeth forwent her elegant image, chased after him, and hurriedly grabbed him by the hand. “Oscar, don’t leave yet. What will happen to Cassie if she doesn’t see you after regaining consciousness?”
He replied impatiently, “Mrs. Yard, do you think that I’ll still act as if nothing happened and stay here when you both are scheming how to make my wife lose her baby?” She was stunned. Subsequently, he swung her hand away and left. Elizabeth rushed up to him like a madwoman and begged him sincerely, “Oscar, considering our relationship, please don’t treat Cassie like this. She has not fully recovered. Your departure will be an absolute fatal blow to her. Don’t do this, please…” Oscar stopped in his tracks. He responded with hostility, “Mrs. Yard, I need to clear my head. This will only end badly if you continue to pester me.” Elizabeth became very emotional. “I don’t care. I only want my daughter to be well.
Undoubtedly, she loves you very much. Though she’s very strong willed, can’t you consider her sincere love for you and forgive her once more? Moreover, she was just saying it. Her words didn’t translate to any harmful actions.” At her twisted words, Oscar’s fury morphed into incredulous laughter. He asked sarcastically, “Did you mean that I should wait for Amelia to lose the baby before I look into this matter?” She was choked by his words. Oscar tried to get rid of her but she tightened her grip. With one party kneeling down and clinging on to the other while being mercilessly rejected for countless times, they created a commotion.
It alerted the doctors and nurses. Soon, somebody reported the ruckus to the director. As a result, over ten staff rushed over to the scene. Robert hurried over with a group of medical staff. He was stunned to see a disheveled Elizabeth kneeling on the floor, hanging on to Oscar’s thighs. However, he recovered his composure quickly. “What’s the matter?” Robert tried to diffuse the situation, “Oscar, Mrs. Yard is your elder. How could you allow her to kneel on the floor?” Oscar’s expression was extremely unpleasant. Robert could sense the tension between the two. He approached Oscar and patted his shoulders. “Help her up, Oscar. This is a hospital. There’s a crowd here. Let’s not make a scene.”
Heeding his advice, Oscar leaned over to help Elizabeth up, but she refused. “Oscar, if you don’t agree to forgive Cassie, I’ll continue to kneel here. After all, I’m already a senior citizen. Losing face has no major impact on me anymore.” Upon hearing that, Oscar let go of her thoroughly and stood upright, ignoring Elizabeth’s presence completely. “Mrs. Yard, please get up first. You can continue the conversation after that. If you remain in this position, the passersby may misunderstand Oscar for bullying you. Both the Yards and the Clintons go way back. It’ll be bad for both families if this issue blows up. Don’t you agree?” Robert crafted his persuasion. However, Elizabeth still clasped Oscar’s thighs. Robert squatted down to help her up, only to be rudely pushed away by Elizabeth.
Robert took it all in albeit feeling agitated. “Mrs. Yard, you’re an elegant woman. It’s not good to be seen clutching onto a young man’s leg in a hospital. Get up first and we can talk it out later. Rest assured that I’ll help you rebuke Oscar if the fault is his.” Eventually, Elizabeth obliged. She propped herself up somewhat gracefully and brushed her messy hair. “Mr. Lancaster, sorry about this.” Her response was proper and polite, unlike the person who had lost it just moments ago. Robert smiled. “Mrs. Yard, shall we switch to a more private place so that both of you can speak comfortably?” Robert noticed that Elizabeth glanced at the operating room anxiously. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Yard. Your daughter will be just fine.
She’s currently being treated by a top-notch doctor in the hospital.” Elizabeth thought for a while and nodded finally. They came to the director’s office. Pointing at the sofa, Robert extended his invitation, “Please have a seat, Mrs. Yard.” Both Elizabeth and Oscar sat on a sofa each. Robert said, “I’ll stay outside. Please have a heart-to-heart talk to clear the air.” He then looked at Oscar. “Oscar, be mindful of your attitude when speaking to Mrs. Yard. She’s your senior after all. Don’t upset her, okay? I’ll go out first. Call me if you need anything.” In reply, Oscar rose to his feet. “Mr. Lancaster, I’ll leave Mrs. Yard with you. I need to go now. There’s something I need to attend to at the office.” Elizabeth stood up angrily.
“Oscar, you can’t leave Cassie in the operating room alone. Who knows what untoward incident will happen if you’re not here when she wakes up. So, you can’t go.” Oscar grew impatient at her persistency. Robert tried to mediate the situation with a smile. “Relax, Mrs. Yard. Let’s sit down and have a good chat. Don’t get all work up.” Elizabeth could not control her emotions. “Hear me out, Mr. Lancaster. I have only one daughter.
She’s been sent into the operating room several times because she had a miscarriage. I don’t even know if she could even conceive in the future. Oscar is responsible for this and yet, he wants to disregard her now. This is not right at all!” The tumult of emotions faded from Robert’s eyes. “Mrs. Yard, why don’t you take your leave while I have a word with Oscar?” Elizabeth considered the option. Finally, she relented and nodded in agreement.
