Chapter 158 I Just Want To Be Alone
Jennifer felt conflicted. Carter’s words went into her heart like an iron shard. She had never seen anyone as heartless as him. When he got admitted to the hospital, she took care of him. Not even his mother was as thorough as her. However, the man had just rejected her cruelly in front of her love rival.
It was unfortunate that she had fallen in love with someone this ruthless.
Jennifer’s hoarse voice rang out, “Carter, can’t you feel my love for you? Why won’t you pick me?”
Carter glanced at Amelia and replied, “She’s irreplaceable.”
Despair flitted across Jennifer’s face.
Meanwhile, Amelia was uncomfortable with Carter’s confession. She only regarded him as a friend, but now, things were going to turn awkward for the both of them.
Tiffany cut in, “Jinx, can you not drag Amelia into this mess? You’re making things difficult for her. Don’t you get it?”
Carter glanced at Amelia apologetically. “Amelia, I didn’t mean it. I…”
Amelia shook her head and said casually, “I think you should talk to Ms. Larson. Tiff and I shall return for now. I’ll visit you another day.”
Immediately, Carter panicked and took Amelia’s hand. “Amelia, don’t leave. There’s nothing between Jennifer and me. Trust me.”
Amelia froze. “Stop it, Carter.”
Tiffany slapped his hand away and stood in front of Amelia. “Jinx, if you keep on doing this, you won’t get to see Amelia again.”
Carter glanced at Amelia earnestly.
After witnessing the entire debacle, hatred flashed across Jennifer’s eyes. “That’s enough,” she croaked out.
Tiffany shot her a look and told Amelia, “Let’s go.”
In his haste to stop Amelia from leaving, Carter struggled to get off the bed. Seeing how he was holding his stomach and wincing in pain, Amelia sighed and pried Tiffany’s hand away. She returned to Carter and helped him lie down. “Carter, you’re still ill. Be careful.”
Carter settled in his bed gratefully. He gazed at Amelia affectionately and uttered, “Amelia, you’re worried about me, right?”
Averting her gaze, Amelia answered, “Carter, you’re still recovering, so don’t act hastily. You should take good care of yourself.”
Carter grabbed her hand. “Amelia, I miss you so much. I regret leaving you five years ago. I’ve been looking for you all this time. Please give me another chance. I promise I won’t repeat the same mistake again,” he pleaded.
Amelia tried to struggle out of his hold, but Carter’s grip tightened.
Tiffany was about to launch into a tirade when Carter continued, “Amelia, I regretted making that decision back then. If I was strong enough, my family wouldn’t be able to harm you. After your departure, I kept blaming myself and swore to work hard. That way, I won’t become a loser who relies completely on my family. A few years ago, I established my own company. It started off as a startup with a few employees but has since grown to a company with a few hundred employees. I’ve never asked for a cent from the Scotts and strove hard all by myself. The reason I worked so hard was to show you that I can survive without leeching off the Scotts. Amelia, I can provide for you now. Can’t you give me another chance?”
Amelia was rather flustered.
If Carter had said the exact words five years ago, she would be elated. Alas, five years had since gone by, and her heart now belonged to another man. She was no longer in love with Carter. It would be pure torture for them both to be together now.
Carter was insistent. “I’m no longer wet behind the ears. Won’t you give me another chance?”
His grasp on her hand turned more forceful when she tried to pull her hand back.
“Amelia, I love you; I really do. After the surgery, I lapsed into unconsciousness, but I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Even though you’re married to Oscar, I still want you. I promise I’ll treat your child as my own. It is my utmost hope that you’ll become the lady of my house. I love every bit of you, including your past.”
Yet, Amelia was still struggling to free herself from his grasp.
She uttered awkwardly, “Stop it, Carter.”
Jennifer watched expressionlessly as Carter expressed his feelings for Amelia. Suddenly, she strode forward and knocked Tiffany out of her way before tugging at Amelia forcefully. Tiffany immediately steadied herself and rushed to catch Amelia before the latter fell down. “Amelia, are you alright? Is your baby okay?” she asked anxiously.
Amelia was holding her belly with a terrified expression.
As she said nothing, Tiffany thought something bad had happened. “Amelia, calm down. I’ll get you a doctor now. Don’t worry, I won’t let you and the baby get hurt,” she declared.
Tiffany was about to dash out when Amelia caught her wrist.
Confused, she turned to see Amelia flashing her a comforting smile. “Tiff, I’m fine. My baby’s fine, too.”
“Are you sure?” Tiffany was still worried.
Amelia nodded firmly.
Only then did Tiffany heave a sigh of relief.
Carter tried to sit up, but accidentally jostled his wound and plopped onto the ground pathetically.
At the sight of his plight, the hatred and jealousy which were pulsing through Jennifer’s veins disappeared without a trace.
She bent down and tried to help him up. “Are you all right, Carter?” she inquired in concern.
Carter shoved her out of his way and struggled to stand up. He held his stomach and limped toward Amelia. “Are you okay, Amelia?”
Amelia nodded and stretched out her hand to help him, but Tiffany stopped her midair.
“Carter, you’re nothing but a jinx,” said Tiffany icily. “Trouble always comes Amelia’s way when she’s with you. Can’t you control your girlfriend and your family? Stop harassing Amelia! She isn’t a cat with nine lives! If your girlfriend’s action had brought harm to her today, I won’t let you off the hook easily.”
With that, she grabbed Amelia’s hand. “Come, let’s go. This is getting out of hand. We shouldn’t stay here.”
Anguish flashed across Carter’s gaze as he held his belly and implored, “Amelia, please don’t leave.”
Amelia took one last glance at him and allowed Tiffany to lead her out of the room.
Carter tried to follow them as he howled, “Amelia, don’t leave! Don’t leave me!”
Seeing his desperate actions, agony filled Jennifer’s gaze. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she saw Carter leaning against the wall and gasped in pain.
She scurried to his side and took his arm. “Carter, stop it. Amelia isn’t the one for you. She’s married. Can’t you forget her? I’ll always be by your side.”
Carter flung her hand away angrily. “Get out!”
Hurt crept into Jennifer’s voice. “What did you say?”
Carter repeated firmly, “Get out!”
At once, Jennifer’s eyes reddened. Trembling profusely, she uttered, “Did you just ask me to get out?”
“Get out!” snarled Carter again.
His harsh words caused tears to trickle down Jennifer’s cheeks.
“Carter Scott, do you really hate me that much? I’ve sacrificed a lot for you! How could you?” Jennifer voiced her frustrations.
Carter had one hand on the wall as his face turned ashen from the searing pain in his belly. Cold sweat was trickling down his forehead.
He pointed at the door. “Jennifer, please leave. I’m exhausted.”
Instead of leaving as told, Jennifer raised her chin stubbornly. “Carter, are you seriously asking me to leave because of that woman?”
Carter gazed at her with his red-rimmed eyes. “I’ll do anything for her. After losing her five years ago, there’s no way I’ll let her go again. You’re an outsider, so you don’t know how important she is to me. I’ll mourn for the rest of my life if I lose her. No one else but her can be my wife. I only think of you as a sister.”
Jennifer sobbed pitifully. “How could you?”
Utterly drained out, Carter replied weakly, “Jennifer, stop making a scene. If you really like me, please leave. Your love is a burden that’s too heavy for me to bear.”
Jennifer staggered backward in dismay.
Carter was struggling to get back to his bed. As he seemed to be in extreme pain, Jennifer tamped down her frustration and stepped forward to help him, but the man rejected her without hesitation.
“Just leave.”
Jennifer’s pride was in pieces after being rejected by Carter continuously. “Do you hate me so much, Carter?”
Carter breathed heavily as pain twisted his belly. He finally reached his bed and sat down. “Jennifer, I’m really tired. Can you please leave? I want to be alone.”
Jennifer plopped down on a chair as sorrow engulfed her heart. Deep down, she was in despair, but it didn’t show on her face.
Instead, she folded her arms and announced arrogantly, “Carter, I don’t care who you love. I’m going to latch onto you. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, so you must take responsibility for me.”
Carter felt exasperated, but the blazing pain was too much for him to bear. Lying on the bed, he shut his eyes and sweated profusely.
Worried, Jennifer inched nearer and noticed he was drenched with sweat. “Carter, did you jostle your wound?”
Carter didn’t reply.
Reaching out, Jennifer touched his forehead, which was burning by then. Shocked, she retracted her hand and blurted anxiously, “You’re running a temperature! I’ll ask the doctor to examine you now.”
Spinning on her heels, she dashed for the door. Right then, Carter’s eyelids fluttered open. “Wait, I don’t want the doctors to be all over me.”
