Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Their recent connection and lovemaking could not have been a charade.
For an unexplainable reason, Cornell merely ignored her.
Suddenly, someone broke the awkward silence with a snicker.
“Who’s this chick? You must’ve entered the wrong room.”
“Are you trying to land a sugar daddy at South River Club? You must’ve spent a lot to get in here.”
Today’s party was a spur-of-the-moment affair. Cecilia organized it to make sure everyone knew she was still Cornell’s apple of the eye.
She had invited all the famous guys and trust fund babies from Ardlens.
Once the birthday party wrapped up and word got around, she would resume being the envy of Ardlens’ high society, the Murray family’s prized daughter, and the girl protected by Cornell.
Many of these wealthy partygoers had side flings, so they naturally lumped Audrey into that category. And now, their comments grew increasingly derogatory.
Nicole had had enough. She moved forward, took Audrey’s hand, and urged, “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
However, Audrey was not budging and just locked her misty eyes onto Cornell.
The crowd grew more and more curious by Audrey’s gaze on Cornell.
“Look, sweetheart, this guy is way out of your league. He’s not someone you can hook up with. Why don’t you entertain me instead? I might just make it worth your while tonight,” one partygoer sneered.
The room burst into laughter.
“Count me in,” someone else chimed in.
Audrey had an undeniable allure. Even without makeup, she outshone those who were dolled up.
Her eyes, a vibrant shade of blue, looked submissive when she made eye contact. But the way she lifted her eyes was almost seductive.
What a stunner she was.
The cruel comments from the crowd stung. However, Cornell seemed deaf to them, and he did not even intervene when they belittled Audrey.
Furious, Nicole balled her hands into fists. Just as she was about to douse the crowd with her wine, someone grabbed her wrist.
“Miss Lawrence, do you think this is a place where you can act like an uneducated woman?”
The cold, familiar voice sent a chill down her spine.
Nicole turned her head and found Jarrod glaring at her, his eyes twinkling like the devil’s.
Jarrod yanked Nicole away. She struggled to get out of his grip but to no avail.
Some of the wealthy attendees recognized Jarrod and knew who his fianc?e was. As they watched Jarrod whisk Nicole away, they began to categorize Audrey as that sort of woman.
One guest suddenly grabbed Audrey’s hand and smirked.
“Sweetheart, your friend chose a nice man. Come with me, and you’ll get everything you want.”
“Why should she go with you?” another man grumbled.
“Listen, darling, I can offer you twice what he can.”
Audrey yanked her hand back and commanded, “Get lost!”
Cornell gazed at the man who grabbed Audrey’s hand earlier with piercing eyes.
Annoyed, the man lifted his hand to slap Audrey.
Just then, Cecilia intervened with a smile.
“Mr. Blair Acosta, please do me a favor. This woman is an acquaintance of mine.”
At her words, Blair relented, although his eyes remained predatory as if he were sizing up his next meal.
Of course, Cecilia wanted Blair to slap Audrey. But she was still not certain about Cornell’s feelings toward Audrey and did not want to make a fool out of herself. It would be safer for her if she acted all high and mighty.
Audrey’s gaze never left Cornell. With tears welling up in her eyes and her nose turning red, she choked.
“Did you forget what you promised me last night?”
Cornell finally met her gaze, and a sneer tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“You can’t actually believe what a man says in the heat of the moment, can you?”
All of a sudden, Audrey’s face turned deathly pale. She trembled Like a leaf, and she looked fragile and lost among the crowd.
Cornell had eyes not just distant but filled with revulsion as if she was something disgusting.
Worse still, the crowd cast a contemptuous glance at her, silently screaming how utterly ridiculous she was.
Audrey felt she was an ugly clown in a twisted carnival.
She was drowning in humiliation and anger. With a shaky voice, she managed to say, “I understand. I’ll leave now.”
Her voice sounded dry and hoarse as if scorched by the harshness of the moment.
Cornell seemed taken aback. It seemed like something had clenched his heart, leaving him short of breath.
Although Audrey’s face remained ghostly pale, she mustered a feeble smile.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
And with that, she walked away.
Throughout the ordeal, her eyes had brimmed with unshed tears, which she refused to let fall in such a filthy place. Everything about this place made her skin crawl.
Her departure left the room in a hushed state, the joy of the party clearly disrupted by the uncomfortable scene.
“Women like her often misunderstand things after a few nights together. Don’t worry, Cornell. Next time I’ll introduce you to women who are gorgeous and less problematic,” Blair said, trying the enliven the atmosphere.
“Though I have to admit, she was really something. I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as her without makeup.”
Cornell glanced at Blair and asked with disdain, “Your last name is Acosta, correct?”
Everyone in the room was eager to cozy up to the Clement family. When Blair heard Cornell ask his family name, he was so thrilled that he almost fell to his knees. He thought he had flattered Cornell just now.
At this moment, he bowed respectfully and introduced himself, “My surname is Acosta. My full name is Blair Acosta. My father is the chairman of Peace Pharmaceuticals.”
When he finished speaking, he extended his hand, wanting to shake Cornell’s to show some respect.
Cornell reached out his hand and grasped Blair’s wrist the next second.
Crack! The crisp sound of a bone getting broken echoed in the room.
To everyone’s surprise, Blair collapsed, writhing and howling in pain.
Cornell stepped forward, stepped on Blair’s broken hand, and crushed it hard.
Blair’s shrill scream made people’s hair stand on end.
“Get him out of here. I never want to see him again,” Cornell commanded.
Immediately, two bodyguards rushed forward and hauled Blair away as if he were a sack of trash.
The onlookers breathed a collective sigh of relief, thankful they had not crossed Cornell. However, they could not put their finger on what had offended Cornell.
Cecilia’s face clouded over. While the others had no idea, she knew exactly why Blair had met such a gruesome fate.
Blair had grabbed Audrey’s wrist.
That was the sole reason Cornell had turned his hand into a useless lump of flesh.
A wave of fury washed over Cecilia. She could not believe that messing with Audrey’s paternity test was not enough to cast Audrey out of Cornell’s life for good.
What did this woman have that kept drawing Cornell in?
After exiting the club, Audrey felt Like she was in a trance.
What had just happened was as unreal as a dream. She found it hard to swallow.
Suddenly, her friend Nicole came to her mind, so she decided to give her a call.
When Nicole picked up, she guiltily explained that she had left first and reminded Audrey to take care on her way home.
Audrey was relieved to know that Nicole was alright.