Chapter 855 Suspicion
Because Isabella constantly brought up how aggrieved she was in front of Oscar, the latter insisted on divorcing Amelia. There was no persuading him. Amelia could only agree to the divorce.
Olivia hugged Tony tightly as she said, “Amelia, I know Oscar has done wrong by you, but I can't let you take Tony. He is my most precious treasure. Without him, I cannot eat well, nor can I sleep peacefully. Please don't blame me for this.”
Sucking in a long breath, Amelia promised, “Mom, I promise you I will bring Tony back safely. My divorce from Oscar is only a temporary measure. I love him too much to let him be manipulated by such a sinister and cunning woman. I will make him recall who I am. Give me a year. I will return to Oscar with a brand-new appearance.”
Olivia stared at her doubtfully. “But Amelia, where will you go?”
“Mr. Rice invited me overseas to further my studies, and I plan to agree to his request. I will improve myself so I have more opportunities to get closer to Oscar,” Amelia replied.
Olivia pondered for a moment before suggesting, “Why don't you leave Tony here with me? I promise no one will harm him with me by his side.”
“Mom, Tony is a bright and sensitive child. Oscar's change in attitude is drastic. If I go overseas without taking him with me, perhaps Tony won't recognize me when I return. Being abandoned again will likely leave scars on his heart. You love him the most. Are you really willing for him to become so unhappy at such a young age?” Amelia was aware that Olivia cared about Tony the most. She knew that if she approached the subject this way, Olivia was bound to give in.
As expected, Olivia fell silent.
Stroking Tony's head, Olivia asked gently, “Tony, do you really plan to follow your mother overseas and not see me for a long time?”
Tony lifted his head and declared, “Don't worry, Grandma. I'll think of you and call you daily. Wait for our return. We'll chase away the vixen clinging to Big Meanie then.”
Olivia caressed his cheek sadly, her heart aching.
Tony was so very young, yet he had undergone so much already. He was involved in a life-or-death car accident before he was even born. Following that, his parents divorced, and he was brought to Beshya. And now, Isabella had done something to his father, forcing Tony to have to leave the country once more.
My dear grandchild, how can someone be so ill-fated?
“Okay, I'll agree to it. But you must come back in a year, or I'll miss you too much,” Olivia compromised.
Amelia watched the exchange between the grandparent and grandchild, a smile on her lips. However, her mind was clouded with worry. I so confidently declared that I would take back Oscar when I returned in a year, but so much could change within that period. The most crucial thing is, what if Oscar really fails to remember me? Also, what if he got Isabella pregnant?
If Isabella bore a child, her relationship with Oscar would become even messier. If that happened, Amelia was not sure she would be able to snatch Oscar back.
Amelia was terrified that she would eventually be left with nothing.
Leaving Tony with Olivia, Amelia proceeded to negotiate the divorce terms with Alex. She was not planning to say that she did not want anything like when they first divorced. Instead, she accepted everything Oscar allocated to her and even added a condition of her own—she wanted to have custody of Tony.
Alex nodded. “Mrs. Clinton, as long as it's not too absurd a request and you're willing to sign the divorce agreement, Mr. Clinton told us to agree to your conditions.”
Amelia looked at the divorce agreement placed before her in a daze.
Seeing that, Alex prompted her, “Mrs. Clinton, please sign here.”
That snapped Amelia back to her senses, and she hesitated for a brief moment before signing her name.
She then handed the agreement over to Alex. “Mr. Feltham, I'll leave it to you. Please help me pass a message to Oscar. Tell him to take good care of himself. He mustn't neglect his meals even if he's busy with work.”
Alex could not help but sigh silently upon hearing Amelia's words. He had once been optimistic that they were a dynamic power couple, but they ended up fighting and divorced within such a short period.
Perhaps true love did not exist between people from prominent families.
Amelia was unaware of the extent of Alex's pity toward her. Standing up, she said, “Mr. Feltham, I'll be on my way if we're done here.”
Alex also got to his feet. “Goodbye, Mrs. Clinton.”
“I'm no longer Mrs. Clinton; just call me Amelia.” Amelia laughed faintly.
Smiling in response, Alex saw her to the door.
Amelia departed from the lawyers' office and called Tiffany.
“Tiff, are you home?” Amelia asked as soon as the call connected.
“Yeah, I'm home. I just finished my manuscript and planned to take a nap. What's up? Are you calling me to invite me for a meal?” Tiffany yawned.
“I'm heading to your place. Cook something for me, will you? I haven't tasted your cooking in ages,” Amelia replied moodily.
Tiffany's perceptive senses told her something was off with Amelia. Concerned, she asked, “What's wrong? Are you unhappy?”
“I'll fill you in when I arrive.”
After ending the call, Amelia drove to Tiffany's place.
“What? You and Oscar are divorced? When did this happen? Weren't you happy together?” Tiffany was beyond agitated.
Furrowing her brows, Amelia replied helplessly, “Tiff, keep it down. You're giving me a headache.”
Tiffany was furious when she saw the state Amelia was in.
“You'd better explain yourself. What's going on? You guys were getting along well. Why did you suddenly divorce? Did Oscar do something unforgivable?” Tiffany demanded angrily.
Sighing, Amelia proceeded to explain everything that had happened.
Tiffany's face contorted with rage when she heard the story.
“Isabella, that d*mned woman! How could she do something as shameless as breaking up someone else's marriage? She'll get what she deserves someday,” Tiffany scolded. When she saw Amelia's dismal mood, she asked softly, “Babe, did Oscar really not recognize you?”
Amelia nodded and bowed her head. The next second, a tear rolled down her cheek. It was followed by a second, then a third as she began to cry soundlessly.
Tiffany was shocked. She hurriedly lifted Amelia's head before hugging her when she saw the latter's tear-drenched face. “There, there. I'm here for you. Look at me, all fine after my own divorce. You divorced Oscar a few years ago. This time, you got to spend a year with him. I'd say this is a win for you.”
Amelia continued to weep soundlessly.
At a loss for what to do, Tiffany did not have the words to comfort her friend.
“Babe, don't be like this. I don't know what to do when you cry like this,” Tiffany consoled her clumsily.
Despite that, Amelia continued to cry silently as she had kept it all bottled up till now. Oscar was like an entirely different person, which broke her heart to pieces. Nonetheless, she had been unable to reveal her feelings in front of Olivia and the others. Tiffany was the only person that Amelia was comfortable with showing her vulnerability.
Tiffany grew angrier as she watched the tears flow non-stop. “Babe, I'll kill those two for you. I reckon Oscar isn't really under a spell by Isabella. He's probably acting because he wants to abandon you and your son. I can't believe they'd come up with such a wicked trick. I'll expose them if that's the last thing I do!”
The more infuriated Tiffany was, the more certain she became that she spoke the truth. It was the twenty-first century—the age of science. She did not believe in sorcery or black magic. While she did enjoy ready fantasy and suspense novels, in reality, she did not believe in such hocus-pocus.
Still, Amelia sobbed.
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