Too Much to Bear, My Love

Chapter 899 An Internal Feud

Kate shot Tiffany a conciliatory smile. Then, she lowered her pride and practically begged, “Tiff, please accept my sincerest apologies. I've given the matter much thought over the past year, and I've realized I must shoulder part of the blame for the end of Derrick and Crystal's relationship. That's why I'll no longer object if you and Derrick reconcile. Please forgive me and give him another chance.”

Tiffany stiffened in surprise, though she was quickly amused by the older lady's words. She replied civilly, “Thank you for your generosity, Mrs. Hisson, but Derrick and I have been divorced for a year. We've never reconnected since then, and I'm just trying to get on with my life after the split. There's nothing to forgive, Mrs. Hisson. That's all I have to say. I hope you and Mr. Hisson live a long and healthy life.”

Considering her numerous conflicts with Kate in the past, it was already a feat that Tiffany managed to maintain a courteous tone with her former mother-in-law. Kate opened her mouth as though to say something, but Derrick deliberately coughed to catch her attention. She glanced at him and swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

Tiffany also glanced at Derrick. She clearly sensed that Kate was somewhat fearful of her son. She had no idea what had happened in the past year, but the power dynamics in the family had obviously shifted, and Kate was no longer as overbearing as she remembered.

She did have a guess, though. Perhaps it's because Derrick is formally the head of the Hisson family now. Not that it mattered to her now.

The uncomfortable meal eventually came to an end. Tiffany declared politely, “Mr. and Mrs. Hisson, thank you for inviting us to a meal today. I've got a manuscript to rush, so I shan't take up more of your time.”

Before Kate could say a word, Derrick piped up, “Don’t worry about it. Your manuscript is more important. But make sure you take it slow sometimes. Don't forget to eat and rest while you're rushing your manuscript. You look as though you've lost some weight, so don't skip any more meals.”

Tiffany glanced at her ex-husband and gave him a slight nod.

Then, Derrick firmly dragged his parents away from the restaurant. Tiffany stared at his back, something akin to admiration flashing through her gaze.

"Tiff, he's gone. Stop staring.” Amelia even nudged her friend for good measure.

Only then did Tiffany retract her gaze and smile at Amelia.

Amelia had already turned to Teddy and asked, “Have you booked a hotel, Teddy? Should I get Oscar to arrange a place for you to stay?”

“I asked my assistant to get me a room at a hotel I always stay at when I'm in Chanaea. I'll head over there in a bit. You can go meet your love Oscar now, Amelia. Let Tiff and I have some alone time. Won't you take pity on my depressingly single life?” Teddy shrugged as he replied jauntily to Amelia's question.

Tiffany shot Amelia a look that warned her against leaving them alone.

Amelia immediately said to Teddy, “Alas, I think your wish isn't happening tonight. Tiff is rushing out a script for an office drama, so please forgive her absence tonight. Oscar and I will clear our schedules tomorrow and be your dedicated tour guide.”

Teddy glanced at Tiffany. Then, as though remembering something, he swiftly agreed to Amelia's suggestion.

“Get some rest then, Tiff. If you're free in a couple of days, then I'd love to have you show me around. Don't worry; I won't try anything funny. Please don't treat me like some predator. I'm a bona fide gentleman.”

Tiffany mustered a smile in response.

A moment later, Oscar sent someone to drive Teddy to his hotel. Tiffany was visibly relieved when the car left.

Amelia turned to her husband and said, “Wait for me in the car, Oscar. I need to talk to Tiff.”

Oscar wrapped his hand around her nape and pulled her in for a forehead kiss before getting into his car.

The lovebirds’ public display of affection had Tiffany cringing dramatically in response. She smirked at Amelia and complained, “You're really rubbing it in, huh.”

Amelia merely stared at her friend quietly.

The smile on Tiffany's face disappeared, and she shrugged before explaining, “I went to the airport to fetch Teddy, hoping to treat him to a meal. I didnt expect to run into Derrick and his parents here. Everything else happened like what you saw earlier.”

Amelia decided to test the waters and commented, “Teddy only called you when he came to Chanaea; I didn't hear even a hint about his travel plans. The two of you seem to be pretty close. Are you considering dating him?"

Tiffany shrugged again and denied it. “There's nothing to it. We're just friends. I went to the airport to fetch him because he asked me to. He said so many things on the phone and made me sound like some heartless villain if I refused to pick him up, so I went. But at the end of the day, I know we can never be together. Even if Derrick is out of the picture, I would never consider Teddy as boyfriend material. I prefer dating a local.”

She had laid everything out in the open, and it was impossible for Amelia to misunderstand her reasons.

“You're the only person who can decide on your relationship. I won't interfere, but I have a little piece of advice for you. Teddy won't give up that easily, so you might be better off nipping his intentions in the bud.”

Tiffany said wryly, “I expressed my thoughts very clearly on our way here, but your mentor seems very confident in his ability to change my mind. I think you know what I mean.”

"Well, you've clearly bewitched your admirers, though your popularity with the opposite sex hasn't exactly given you decent candidates.” Amelia patted her friend on the shoulder and said, “You should go home. We can talk about this tomorrow. I can tell Mrs. Hisson is softening her stance. She might try to play the emotional card to help Derrick win you over."

Tiffany lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Amelia led Tiffany to her car and opened the door, gently coaxing her inside.

She only returned to Oscar's car after Tiffany drove off.

As she put on her seatbelt, she said to Oscar, “I thought Derrick had finally let go after a year. He must've been acting every time I saw him in the past. I think he’s determined to win Tiff over again, but Teddy's pulling out all the stops, and he’s definitely a strong contender.”

Oscar steered the car steadily. Turning the steering wheel at a corner, he then replied, “Frankly, Teddy has no real advantage here. Tiffany doesn't even like him. Now Derrick is a different story. She doesn't look as though she has forgotten about him at all, but his betrayal is a big hindrance toward their reconciliation. They'll need a massive breakthrough to bury their past before they can get back together.”

Amelia blinked several times as she mulled over his words. “Do you have any suggestions, Oscar?” He shot her a glance and smiled. “What do you think would happen if Derrick suffered a car accident and news of his life being in critical danger gets out?”

Grudges, big or small, became inconsequential in the face of life-or-death situations.

Amelia initially blinked in confusion, though realization soon dawned upon her.

"Oscar! What a wicked suggestion. I hate lying to Tiff, though. Let's go back to square one. Accidents are far too cliché anyway,” Amelia responded after some thought.

She was not against the idea of matchmaking Derrick and Tiffany per se, but she thought it was prudent to confirm Tiffany's feelings for her ex-husband. If she acted selfishly and encouraged their reconciliation, Derrick’s illegitimate child would always haunt them, and inevitable arguments about his past betrayal would slowly but surely erode their love for each other.

Oscar arched his brow at his wife's reply but did not seem to mind that she had shot down his suggestion.

Amelia fell back into deep thought. Suddenly, she asked, “Oscar, do you think I should help Tiff to reconcile with Derrick?"

"Well, they're both hung up on each other, so getting back together seems to be the straightforward solution. But let's not forget about the child who triggered their divorce. That's the main hurdle to their reconciliation. If we want a reunion to happen, we need to help Tiffany fully warm up to Derrick’s child.” Oscar instantly identified the crux of the problem.

Amelia nodded her head in agreement.

"Amelia, you shouldn't interfere in this matter. Just let her make the decisions. She's already an adult, so she should know what's best for her. Your interventions will only halt her growth. Besides, I think it's fine for her to stay single now. She'll be able to find her soul mate once she wishes to accept someone,” Oscar said.

“I know that. I've never thought of interfering with her relationship, but I feel she shouldn't get involved with Derrick anymore since they've missed out on one another. Dragging this matter further will only cause them to be reminded of their unpleasant past.”

Oscar merely patted Amelia“s head.

After they arrived home, Amelia played with Tony for a short while. Then, she asked how he was adapting to the new school and if he could catch up with his studies. Tony reported everything to his mother. She pecked him on the cheek affectionately after listening to him.

“My son is indeed brilliant.”

Tony grinned happily.

“Mommy, why don’t you sleep with me tonight? I've missed you.” He glanced at Oscar and brazenly attempted to snatch Amelia from his father.

Amelia patted Tony's head in amusement.

“Tony, don't think of your daddy as your enemy. He's your closest family member,” she said

Tony pursed his lips in response.

“Be good. Members of the same family shouldn't hold grudges against one another.”

He fell silent for some time but ultimately nodded.

After coaxing Tony to sleep, Amelia and Oscar returned to their bedroom. She hugged him from behind and chuckled.

"Oscar, it seems like Tony thinks of you as his enemy. This is a result of what you did previously to distance yourself from him. Tsk tsk.”

He grabbed her hand and asked, “Amelia, why do I sense that you're gloating?”

"Ah, you've caught me. I am gloating,” she chirped.

Oscar laughed out loud as well.

"Don’t worry. Regardless of how smart he may be, I have the confidence to handle him as his father. Starting tomorrow, I'll bring him to the organization for training. I wonder if his combat skills have improved after one year of delay.”

"Actually, Kurt taught him some self-defense techniques when we were living abroad.” Amelia hesitated briefly before informing him of the truth.

Tony had made relatively good progress in polishing his fighting skills during that year. At the very least, his forms were proper and refined.

Oscar did not say a word for a few moments. In the end, he nodded slightly.

"Are you mad?”

He brushed her nose with his finger. “Weren't you already certain that I wouldnt be mad when you asked that question?”

“I'm busted again.”

Taking in her dazzling smile, Oscar felt his heart melting.

Holding her in his arms, he lay on the bed and dozed off. A dreamless night ensued.

The next day, Oscar requested his subordinates to hasten their progress in targeting Noah. In lesser than five days, news of Walker Group's tax evasion amounting to over ten million spread like wildfire. The company's general manager, Noah, was brought to the police station for investigation Subsequently, the company fell into chaos due to the lack of leadership. Matthew filled the top position, but the finance director swindled the corporation's fund and went on a run. Panic-stricken, Matthew had no choice but to report that incident to the police for them to handle the situation. The media worked together to report news of Walker Group's impending bankruptcy, causing all the company’s employees to feel anxious and fearful. Moreover, Matthew had grown used to a luxurious and laid-back lifestyle all those years, not to mention he wasn't cut out to manage a business. As a result, he failed to host a press conference in time to address the flying rumors and didn't safeguard the company’s rights and assets via legal means, causing the company’s share price to plummet quickly. The share price even dropped to an all-time low. Under such circumstances, most employees chose to resign, and many experienced workers were poached by other corporations with lucrative salaries. The considerably large company in the market finally succumbed to the instability and was on the verge of declaring bankruptcy after struggling for some time.

Carol was deeply unsettled and annoyed by the turns of events. As she didn't have effective countermeasures to resolve the crisis, she could only vent her frustration on the bedbound Isabella. “You're a jinx! Why did I give birth to a daughter like you? If you hadn't provoked Oscar back then, our family could've lived lavishly by relying on our connection with Stephanie. You just had to fulfill your daydream and infuriate Oscar. Look what you've done now. The Walker family is going to bankrupt soon because of his relentless effort to take revenge on us. Are you happy now?” Carol grasped Isabella's hair and bellowed with burning anger.

Isabella felt her body was about to crumble because of how intensely her mother shook her. Her broken limbs had yet to show signs of recovery thus far.

“Mom, calm down. I'll die if you continue to shake me in this manner,” Isabella yelped weakly.

Carol disregarded her and kept moving her daughter roughly to and fro. Overwhelmed by rage, she even slapped the latter's face a few times, causing Isabella’s cheeks to swell.

“I'll kill you to prevent you from troubling the Walker family. Noah finally accomplished some results in managing Walker Group, yet you ruined everything just as the company was about to become one of the top ten corporations. And now, Noah was brought to the police station because of you. You're nothing more than a jinx. I should just kill you.” Carol closed her hands around Isabella's throat, choking the latter to the extent of causing her eyes to roll back into her head. Isabella almost died due to shortness of breath.

Fortunately, the nurse entered the room at that moment. When she saw the scene, she immediately placed down the medications and rushed forward.

"Please calm down, Mrs. Walker. Let go of the patient. Otherwise, she'll die.” The nurse was able to pull Carol away after much difficulty. Isabella collapsed on the bed, covered her neck with her functional arm, and coughed violently. She thought that was the end of her life earlier.

Although she was in a very pathetic state, she felt it was better to pass away in peace than to survive in misery at that instant when she was facing death.

Carol panted heavily while glaring at Isabella. Then, she shouted at the nurse, “You don't have to give her the medications. I want to proceed with the discharge procedures. It's a waste of money to treat this jinx!”

The nurse glanced at Isabella, who was nearly strangled to death, sympathetically. She thought she was unlucky to deal with the Walker family members. Nonetheless, despite how piteous Isabella might be, the supply of medication had to stop once the payment was discontinued. After all, the hospital wasn't a charitable organization. Mere sympathy wasn't helpful or practical at the facility. “Mrs. Walker, I don't have to administer these medications to Ms. Walker, is that right?” the nurse asked.

“That's right. Take them away. I'm going to settle the discharge procedure right away.”

The nurse nodded. Then, she exited the room with the medications. Even Isabella's cries failed to halt the nurse.

“Mom, are you trying to kill me? You supported me when I successfully tricked Oscar in the past. You and Noah acquired plenty of benefits by relying on me back then. Now that this matter is exposed, you come here to criticize me. You've been the one to profit the most in the past year. Why aren't you mentioning that now?” Isabella uttered angrily while staring at her mother.

Carol's face flushed crimson in a fury after she heard that.

“You jinx! Don't go around deceiving others if you aren't sufficiently capable. Do you think I would've accepted the perks if I hadn't assumed you would marry Oscar? You shouldn’t have been so full of yourself when you didn't have the abilities. The Walker family is going to bankrupt soon because of you. You can start begging on the street tomorrow since you look like a tramp now anyway.” With that, she left the ward immediately.

Isabella gazed at the deserted ward in despair. She had schemed for so long just to end up in her current wretched state. She thought at least her family members would side with her at the lowest point of her life. Unfortunately, she had overestimated her charisma and underestimated the Walker family members’ ruthlessness.

Isabella was brought back to the Walker residence before her limbs recovered. Coincidentally, Noah was also released from the police station. Unshaven and disheveled, he appeared rather pathetic. When he saw Isabella, he reacted as if he had seen his nemesis.

“Leave her on the streets for her to become a beggarwoman,” Noah uttered mercilessly.

The two maids, who were supporting Isabella, exchanged glances and hesitated.

“Hurry up and do as I say. Send her to the city center to beg there. She looks no different from a tramp right now. You two keep an eye on her in secret. Wasn't she bathing in glory and fame previously? This time, I want her to experience what it feels like to be pitied by everyone,” Noah added.

Carol, carrying stuff into the house from outside, faltered when she heard his speech. Although she blamed Isabella for her recklessness in causing the Walker family’s downfall, the latter was still her daughter at the end of the day. She couldn't bear letting Isabella beg on the streets. Firstly, that news would be detrimental to the Walker family's reputation. Secondly, Isabella was her biological daughter, after all.