Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Eloise, on her first mountain climb, was abuzz with excitement, chatting eagerly with Cornell.
Her enthusiasm was infectious, though it soon waned, replaced by a weary silence.
Initially trailing, Audrey steadily gained on the group.
Exhausted, Eloise called out for a break, parched and fatigued.
Bryce, too, showed signs of exhaustion, his forehead beaded with sweat.
As they drank, Audrey pushed on, announcing, “I’ll continue upward.”
Impressed, Bryce nodded, resting with Eloise at the trail’s edge.
Further up, Audrey’s thirst intensified.
She reached for her water bottle, but a sudden rustle halted her.
The wilderness was unnerving.
She turned around, only to recoil at the sight of Cornell’s looming figure.
Audrey was teetering on the brink of a fall, but Cornell’s swift hand caught her.
The next instant, Audrey tumbled into Cornell’s embrace, the water bottle escaping her grip.
Surrounded by jagged rocks, a fall could be disastrous.
Instinctively, Audrey clung to Cornell, her face against his sturdy chest.
And there, against him, she heard the rhythmic assurance of his heartbeat.
Audrey took some time to recognize the overly close nature of their stance.
She inhaled sharply and leaped away from Cornell’s embrace.
Her reaction made Cornell’s attractive features darken.
He said harshly, “Drop this trick. The mountain’s crowded, and I have no interest in you.”
Audrey had opened her mouth to express gratitude, but his words stopped her cold.
Her complexion lost its color.
Nearby, a group of climbers cast meaningful looks at Audrey, mistaking her for someone craving for a one-night stand.
Disturbed by their stares, Audrey shot Cornell a glare, turned around, and ascended silently.
She soon noticed the same group of men taking a break ahead. Their gazes were unsettling.
Opting to wait for Bryce, Audrey stopped.
However, those men approached Audrey as she halted.
A sudden anxiety gripped Audrey when one taunted, “That dashing man just rejected you. Maybe you’ll prefer my company. We’ll enjoy ourselves. What do you say?”
Another man chimed in, “Don’t think about having this lovely lady all to yourself.”
They were not only flirting with her but even attempted to take advantage of her.
With a face etched in caution, Audrey retrieved her walkie-talkie, a gift from Bryce, and called out, “Bryce, where are you now?”
Silence answered. The battery was dying, and those men had noticed.
One quipped, “No fear, we’re decent folks. We can negotiate a price.”
Anger whitened Audrey’s face, and her resentment toward Cornell deepened.
His words had painted her wrongly in these men’s eyes.
Gripping the pepper spray in her backpack, Audrey asserted, “Move aside. I need to find my partner.”
One of the men intercepted her and mocked, “You little liar. Your partner deserted you just now.”
Audrey’s demeanor hardened.
“Do you wish to verify my honesty?”
Those men had come for leisure, not trouble. When laying eyes on the stunning Audrey, they attempted to flirt with her. But they harbored no ill intents.
One relented first, saying, “Easy, miss. No offense intended.”
As he coaxed his friend away, he reassured Audrey, “All clear. You can go.”
However, the man halting in Audrey’s track lingered, his eyes fixating on Audrey.
With a few steps forward, Audrey noticed his gaze still following her.
After a while, Audrey spotted Cornell propped against a tree, stealing glances at her as she descended.
Avoiding any interaction, Audrey opted to tread further down and settled in the shade, anticipating Bryce’s arrival.
The midday sun scorched the hillside, igniting a thirst within Audrey.
Unfortunately, the only water bottle was gone.
The prospect of enduring two days under such conditions seemed daunting, especially under the assumption that Bryce would deny her water, unless she conceded defeat.
As Cornell made his descent, Audrey shut her eyes, subscribing to the mantra “out of sight, out of mind”.
Yet, as he walked by, a scent she knew all too well wafted toward her.
The sound of something striking the ground prompted Audrey to open her eyes. Cornell had left a water bottle behind.
She puzzled over why she’d never before considered his Littering impolite.
The bottle, caught in a sunbeam, seemed to have water rippling inside.
Skeptical, Audrey blinked hard, only to confirm it was indeed half- full.
Frozen in place for minutes, her resistance finally crumbled, and she moved toward the bottle.
Upon retrieving it, Audrey’s expression was a mix of relief and confusion.
She consoled herself with the thought that Cornell was as fit as a fiddle.
The sun’s rays made the water glisten, tempting her parched throat.
With resolve, Audrey unscrewed the cap, tilting her head back to drink without her lips grazing the bottle.
She dared only a few sips from the half-full bottle.
No sooner had Audrey set the bottle down than she noticed Cornell, who returned and stood before her, eyes narrowed and arms folded.
His expression was like she was a pervert for taking the mineral water he’d been sipping.
A sudden coughing fit overtook Audrey, her cheeks flushing with red.
Cornell extended a hand, prompting Audrey to clutch the bottle defensively to her chest, hastily asserting, “I’ll pay you back once we’re off this mountain.”
Cornell’s outstretched hand paused midair, and in a frosty tone, he replied, “No need.”
His darkening expression led Audrey to surmise he desired no further dealings with her.
The sentiment was mutual. Besides, to a CEO, one bottle of water was trivial.
Cornell’s gaze darkened as he watched Audrey cautiously stow away half a bottle of water in her bag.
The tension in the air was palpable when Bryce and Eloise approached.
Bryce’s disheveled blue hair made him look particularly ghastly.
Upon seeing Cornell, Bryce pushed Eloise toward Cornell with a sense of urgency, exclaiming, “Cornell, you are the one who is supposed to look after her.”
If it weren’t for Eloise who had clung to his arm and dragged him along, Bryce would have ascended earlier.
Eloise was disheartened. Had she known how exhausting the day would be, she would never have accompanied Cornell here to take a trek.
Clinging to Cornell’s arm, Eloise pleaded in a sweet tone, “Cornell, I’m tired. Can you escort me back?”
Cornell gave her a brief glance and offered, “I’ll arrange a ride for you.”