Chereads / Games of Ecstasy / Chapter 17 - Hope

Chapter 17 - Hope

Amelia was feeling complicated emotions at this time. On one hand, her body and mind felt unusually light and rejuvenated after the oil massage. It was like she had aged backwards and regained her youth; the massage was that effective on her. And on the other hand, the way he kissed her at last, like some hungry beast, was stimulating her desires. 

Was she angry? Well, a little because it was too sudden for her. Did she enjoy it? Of course she did, and that aggrieved her even more because she couldn't even act upset with him because of this. 

Truthfully, she just wanted an excuse to tease him and get back at him, but she never got the chance. 

"Are you still upset?"

Anthony asked cautiously to a silent Amelia, though a small smile hung on his face, telling he was not sorry at all. Truly cheeky, Amelia thought in her mind and harrumphed. 

"Hmph, surely I am not."

"I thought so. Now I know that our Amelia likes dirty kissing."

"Hah! Isn't it you who liked to kiss like a beast?"

His eyes raised in surprise at her bold words. 

'Hoh. She is growing alright. Now she can talk back. It's good.'

"You are right." Anthony admitted honestly and said, "All men are beasts. I am no different. Will you still accept me?"

"*Chuckle* Looks like you misunderstood." 

Instead of answering him, Amelia chuckled at his sudden question and ruffled his hair lovingly. Her silent anger seemed to fade away as her soft hands on his head and her soothing, mature voice reminded him that she was the older one among them. 

"... Then?"

"You are not a beast. You are like a cute dog."

"... Is there a difference? Both are animals to me."

He was like a dog? Her analogy intrigued him. 

"Of course. A beast doesn't care about anyone. On the other hand, a dog is cute and always craves affection and spreads happiness. In fact, I love dogs."

His eyes shook at her words. He was even a little shocked when she indirectly said that he craved affection. 

"I see. I am like a pet to you. And here I thought we were getting closer and becoming lovers. But if you want, I will be your dog. Ah, such is love."

"Fufu. I am happy you love me so much."

"...."

This was the first time that he became speechless. 

"Fufu, look at you; you are so cute."

All of a sudden, Anthony smirked and leapt up at her. 

"You are right. I am your cute puppy." 

He licked her face just like a puppy and even touched her boobs with his hands like a baby. He was acting cute and adorable, just like she said. 

He asked, looking at her boobs, "This puppy needs milk. Would you please give it to me?" 

"Hush it. I will become really angry at this rate."

"Heeh~ this puppy is sad."

His face fell in apparent sadness at her rejection. Still, he backed down obediently, not wanting her to become angry with him. 

Both settled after their short banter. The fourth game had given them access to the TV, and they naturally made use of it fully. The silent room was soon filled with the sound of various channels being changed and finally stopped at a drama channel under the coercion of Amelia. 

While they watched the TV, Amelia asked him something unexpected all of a sudden with the remote in hand, and her eyes still focused on the TV screen.

"Do you really want to love an old and used woman like me?"

Both didn't look at each other and continued to watch TV screen. It was not because they were ignoring each other; instead, they had already formed a small yet special connection between them. 

"Yes."

To her question, Anthony gave a short yet effective response. He didn't explain himself why he loved her, or gave some pointless promises or reasons. With just that one word, he showed his determination to her. 

"..."

Amelia remembered the time when they shared their first meal on the first day. At that time, she wanted to be his strength or at least be helpful to him in any way, just like he was to her. 

She even thought maybe giving her body to a young and vigorous man like him was the only thing she could do. But before she knew it, in just one day, she was already in love with him. Maybe, it was not pure love she had for him, but a kind of dependence on him, but one thing was clear: she was already determined to be with him. It was just that, she thought, would he be willing to live his life with someone so much older than him, and already married no less? 

But his answer soothed her worries, and her determination was strengthened even further. Maybe that was why she decided to reveal some of her past to him.

"I am a married woman."

"I know."

"But it was not a marriage I wanted. I was raised in a conservative family where women are supposed to be beneath men. My husband was also such a man. He treated me below him."

"But you are now changing for the better. There's no need to follow such an old-fashioned way. Just forget about him."

"He... never looked at me like a person and abused me like I am some kind of object."

Suddenly, her trembling hands were firmly held in his big hand. Her quivering voice gained some stability. 

"He must be a wild beast on the loose."

Chuckle. 

Amelia chuckled lightly at his nonchalant words. His attitude and voice were mostly indifferent, but it strangely gave courage to her. She felt as if he wouldn't look at her differently even if she told her about her past, no matter what. 

"But there was a reason for his behavior."

"No matter the reason, he is still a jerk to treat a kind soul like you so badly."

Anthony declared this, looking straight into her eyes. Amelia smiled ruefully, a little afraid to say her next words. 

"I am barren. I couldn't become pregnant. That's why I am useless."

What was the presumed role of a woman in a typical society? What was expected of a woman who was married into a conservative family? 

It was to give birth to continue the lineage of the husband's family the woman was married into. This was the role that was still forced in many parts of the world, and if the woman was incapable of this, they were subjected to harsh treatment. 

Still, the most affected one was always the woman who couldn't become a mother. It was not because they couldn't fulfill their duties as imposed on them by society, but because it was the wish of any woman to hold her own child in her hands. 

"Is it really the case? Isn't it that he is the one impotent and just blaming you for his own incompetence? Let me ask you this. Are you sure that you are incapable of having children?"

"...No. We never confirmed it with a doctor."

Yes, she had never considered this possibility. It was always her who was blamed for any mistake, and it had already become a norm in her life that she was in the wrong every single time. 

But now she was changing. Doubts formed in her mind, and a ray of hope, which she had never considered to shine in her bleak world, started to illuminate it, albeit faintly. 

"I..."

Tears of joy soon spilled from her emotional eyes. 

"I still have hope... to hold my child."

The hope was still vague and unclear, but it was still hope nonetheless for a despairing woman who still dreamt of being a mother.