Chapter 396 A Strained Relationship
While Oscar brought the luggage into the bedroom, Kurt seized the opportunity to approach Amelia. “Amelia, congratulations on getting your eyesight back,” he said sincerely.
Conflicting emotions warred within Amelia, but she responded with a gracious smile, “Thank you.” After a brief moment of silence, she continued, “Kurt, I appreciate all the care you’ve given Tony and me over the past two years. If it weren’t for you, things would have been a lot harder for Tiff and me. It’s thanks to your support that I’ve overcome the trauma of being blind. I’m sorry that I can’t reciprocate your feelings, but you’re like family to me. I know that this is selfish of me, but you are like a family member that I can never part with. I’ll always be grateful to you.”
Kurt stared at her, his eyes shining with infatuation. “Amelia, I never asked for your thanks, and I certainly don’t want you to feel guilty about anything. Everything I did for you was on my own accord.”
Amelia averted her eyes to escape Kurt’s intense gaze. She licked her lips nervously and said, “Let’s treat each other like family from now on, all right?”
Hurt flashed across Kurt’s eyes. Rejection was always a hard pill to swallow.
With a deep inhale, he replied, “If that’s what you wish for, I’ll respect your decision. However, if ever your relationship with Boss becomes rocky, I hope that you’ll give me a chance.”
Amelia parted her lips to speak, but at that moment, she glimpsed Oscar standing a short distance away. Her heart skipped a beat. She felt like a treacherous wife who had been caught red-handed by her husband. Although her relationship with Kurt was strictly platonic, he had been involved in her conspiracy to leave without notice back then. Amelia knew that it bothered Oscar to a certain extent although he never vocalized it.
Amelia widened the gap between her and Kurt. Now that she had finally mended her relationship with Oscar, she did not want anything to screw things up for them.
“Oscar,” she chirped.
Kurt was stung by Amelia’s subconscious actions. Nevertheless, he took a step backward and greeted Oscar deferentially, “Boss.”
Oscar wrapped a possessive arm around Amelia’s slender waist once he neared. “Honey, the doctor said you shouldn’t overwork your eyes, as they’re still healing. You should go get some rest.”
Amelia looked up at Oscar. She wanted to protest, but the words were stuck in her throat.
“Don’t worry, I won’t go against my word. I just want to have a talk with Kurt. Don’t look at me like I’m a monster,” Oscar teased her gently.
Although she was reluctant to leave the men alone, Amelia complied.
“Kurt, let’s talk outside,” Oscar said with his hands in his pockets. His imposing tone left no room for refusal.
“Yes, Boss,” Kurt answered submissively and trailed behind Oscar. Respect for Oscar was etched in his bones. Oscar had taken Kurt under his wing when Kurt was young and molded him into the man he was today. Hence, Kurt’s feelings toward Oscar were of reverence rather than fear.
Outside, the two men stood in the middle of a wide field. Oscar turned to Kurt and asked the obvious, “You’re in love with Amelia, right?” It was more of a statement than a question.
Kurt thinned his lips and lowered his head. After a moment of tense silence, Kurt gave a low murmur of assent.
“Kurt, you’ve grown a lot braver since the day you left my side. Back then, you wouldn’t even dare to talk against me, but now you’re trying to steal my woman. Aren’t you scared that I’ll come for you? Or do you think that I won’t dare to touch you with Amelia protecting you?” Despite his harsh words, Oscar’s tone was impassive rather than accusing.
“Boss, I was never one to hide behind a woman’s skirt, and I still won’t. I also never planned to ruin your relationship. I never wanted to fall in love with Amelia—it happened involuntarily. I admit that I like her, but I’ve never acted on my feelings. I did not cross any boundaries in the past two years,” Kurt swore solemnly, his head still bowed.
Before Kurt could react, Oscar lifted his leg and kicked Kurt forcefully.
Kurt crumpled to the ground. With a loud gurgle, a mouthful of blood spilled out of his mouth and splattered onto the grass. Kurt lifted a hand to swipe at his lips before climbing to his feet. A crimson smudge stained the bottom half of his face.
“You big meanie! You can’t hit my daddy!” A small figure lunged at Oscar and tackled him. Tony swung his stubby limbs at Oscar in an attempt to avenge Kurt.
Shocked, Kurt rushed forward to stop Tony. He was worried that the young boy’s ignorance would evoke the wrath of Oscar.
Refusing to be held down, Tony thrashed in Kurt’s arms as he yelled, “Daddy, let go of me! I’m going to teach Big Meanie a lesson!”
Oscar’s expression darkened. He sullenly watched his biological son attack him on behalf of another man, and not just any man, but a man who was in love with his wife! Oscar had never felt such unadulterated fury in his life. A man I had personally brought up is now trying to steal my wife! The audacity!
All reason flew out of the window. In hindsight, Oscar realized that he should have kept his composure and been the bigger man instead of beating up another person in front of his own son.
However, the thought of his wife and son defending another man made him livid, and it was impossible to suppress such vehemence. After all, he was a man with human emotions and not an imperturbable saint.
Oscar had never imagined that one of his subordinates would betray him and help his wife leave him without a goodbye. They had vanished for two whole years. When they first left, Oscar wished that he could die. After all, succumbing to eternal oblivion seemed a lot more inviting than the agony of living without Amelia.
“Let bygones be bygones” had become Oscar’s new mantra as he constantly reminded himself to forget the past two years. He was worried that his anger would scare Amelia away. However, his sanity was hanging by a thread, and the sound of his son calling another man “Daddy” was the last straw. No amount of self-hypnosis could prepare him for such heartbreak.
It was not that he did not feel upset; he was just better at hiding it than the average human.
With his arms circling Tony, Kurt pleaded, “Boss, I’m so sorry. Tony didn’t mean it. Take it out on me if you’re mad. I have a thick skin; I can take it.”
Oscar let out a bark of incredulous laughter.
“Kurt, don’t forget that Tony is my son. Who are you to protect him?” Oscar’s lips curved upward, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
Kurt stiffened imperceptibly. He glanced down at Tony, who had calmed down in his embrace. He was a jumble of emotions as he was once again reminded of his identity. That’s right, I’m just Tony’s godfather. Oscar is his real father. I have no right to interfere in their relationship. At the end of the day, Kurt and Tony did not share the same blood.
“Forgive me, Boss. I was just worried that Tony would anger you,” Kurt apologized quickly.
He was in no position to talk against Oscar.
Tony shot Oscar a death glare and patted Kurt on the shoulder. “Daddy, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you. We’ll go tell Mommy that Big Meanie hit you. Mommy will hit him for you!” Tony’s crisp voice rang with certainty.
Kurt quickly concealed his churning emotions and corrected Tony, “Tony, Boss is not a big meanie. He’s your daddy.”
“He’s not my daddy! You are my daddy. I want you to be with Mommy, just like last time. Can’t the three of us just be a family?” Tony threw his arms around Kurt’s neck and mumbled in his childlike voice.
Something in Kurt’s gaze shifted.
Meanwhile, Oscar’s face had clouded over. He had been ostracized by his own son and was now regarded as an outsider.
How ironic.
Oscar smirked derisively. His cold exterior was a defense mechanism to mask the unease within.
His gaze lingered on the two figures who demonstrated the textbook example of a paternal bond. He turned to leave, but his footsteps faltered when he caught sight of Amelia standing behind him.
His expression softened as he approached her. “When did you get here?” he asked, feigning indifference.
Amelia cast him a remorseful look. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Tony wriggle out of Kurt’s arms and run toward her. She felt another pang of guilt as she realized that she was the cause of the strained relationship between the father and son. Had she not upped and left two years ago, Tony would not have such an aversion to Oscar.
“I’m sorry, Oscar.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“You silly woman. You did nothing wrong. Why are you apologizing to me?” Oscar pretended to be unaffected as he continued, “You don’t need to feel sorry for me. Don’t overthink it. Tony and I will be fine.”
Amelia tried her best to ignore the regret that washed through her. She tossed Oscar a half-hearted smile that resembled a grimace and turned to catch Tony in her arms.
