Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
She tried to back away, only to find herself cornered by the cold wall, chilled by the air conditioner.
Facing Cornell who was so close that she could almost feel his lips on hers, Audrey stammered a warning, “If you… If you come any closer, I will call the police and sue you for sexual assault!”
Cornell responded with a burst of laughter and his finger playfully flicked her forehead.
“Ah!” Audrey’s pretty face twisted in discomfort and she instinctively covered her forehead with her hand as she glared at him.
With a smile, Cornell gently touched the tip of Audrey’s nose. “Well, you could call this domestic abuse,” he said.
His voice sounded almost like music to her ears. Audrey’s face blushed immediately.
Audrey soon realized that his words hinted at something. It suggested they were a couple.
She averted her gaze from Cornell and awkwardly changed the conversation. “Aren’t you hungry? The food is going cold.”
At her words, Cornell drew back and watched Audrey as she ate.
The table was laid with all Audrey’s preferred dishes. Not that she wasn’t accustomed to fine dining. After all, the Foster family employed a Michelin-starred chef. It was just that the dishes her family’s chef made lacked something. However, both the ingredients and the cooking methods of the dishes from this restaurant were more to her liking.
Cornell rolled up his sleeves, put on the special gloves, and slowly prepared the crab meat for Audrey.
Audrey had a fondness for crabs but found eating them a hassle.
Sometimes, she even cut her fingers on the shells. Given her delicate health, even a small cut could lead to infection.
At home, the staff would only serve her crab meat that had been pre-processed, to avoid any risks. That was why Audrey never had crabs at restaurants.
To her astonishment, Cornell displayed surprising skills. In no time, he had neatly peeled several crabs on his plate.
It was crabs’ season, so the seafood was super fresh and juicy, and the aroma made Audrey’s mouth water.
She hadn’t expected Cornell to be a fellow crab lover. As a seafood lover herself, it was almost a form of torture watching Cornell skillfully peel the crabs right before her.
Struggling to control her craving, Audrey looked away, stood up, and declared, “I’m full. I should head home now.”
Cornell removed his gloves, stopped her, and made her sit back on the seat.
He then placed a plate of succulent crab meat before her.
“Finish these first,” he said lightly.
Audrey, taken aback, asked, “Aren’t you going to have any?”
Cornell’s eyes darkened slightly. He then remembered that Audrey had lost her memory and wouldn’t recall his allergy to seafood.
“I can’t eat seafood due to my allergy, so it’s all for you,”
Cornell explained.
This revelation made Audrey feel uneasy, like she was sitting on a bed of thorns. She hadn’t realized Cornell was preparing the crab meat for her.
As Audrey gazed at the plate heaped with crab meat, she contemplated their current relationship, feeling she shouldn’t give in too easily.
She thought about refusing the gesture, and even considered tossing the crab meat in the trash, which would surely infuriate Cornell.
Audrey was torn, debating with herself.
Eventually, she justified accepting the food as not wanting to let it go to waste.
With a smile, she thanked him, “Thank you, then.”
She then began to eagerly devour the seafood.
Cornell watched her enjoy the meal and his expression turned distant for a moment. His mind was awash with memories from the past. In the days leading up to Audrey’s car incident, Audrey had been deeply unhappy and her smile was lost.
Cornell was filled with mixed feelings. Perhaps what Erick said was right. It was a blessing that Audrey had forgotten those dark times.
Everyone who loved Audrey hoped she would leave behind those troubling memories and embark on a fresh start. In the end, only himself remained ensnared in the past and was unable to move forward.
Determined, Cornell resolved to make amends to Audrey. Regardless of how others perceived him ??whether overbearing or selfish ??it didn’t faze him. His sole desire was to have Audrey close to him, day and night.
Meanwhile, Audrey had quickly finished her plate of seafood.
Cornell offered Audrey a tissue and his gaze softened. “If you enjoyed it, I’ll make sure to prepare more next time. But remember, too much seafood isn’t great for your health,” he cautioned gently.
Content with the meal, Audrey warmed up in her demeanor. She smiled, reminiscing, “My husband used to prepare crabs for me, too. His name was Kabir, you know.”
At the mention of Kabir, Cornell’s hand tensed and he couldn’t help but grab Audrey’s slender wrist abruptly.
Audrey’s words felt like a sharp, unseen blade piercing Cornell’s heart. The thought of Audrey’s time abroad, falling for another man, and even starting a family with that man filled Cornell with pain.
Cornell felt a twisted sense of relief that Kabir was no longer alive. He shuddered to think what he might have done if Kabir were still around.
“Mr. Clement, Mr. Clement…” Audrey’s voice, laced with concern, broke through Cornell’s thoughts. He snapped back to reality and released his hold on her wrist. Despite this, a shadow of seriousness lingered on his handsome face.
Audrey pondered over his reaction. Was Cornell’s anger because she had brought up her late husband, Kabir? If that was the case, that was thrilling! She had been contemplating ways to provoke Cornell.
On her first day of fulfilling her duties according to their agreement, Audrey had extravagantly spent nearly ten million dollars refurbishing Cornell’s office. Also, she had taught Cecilia a stern lesson. She had exerted every effort to provoke Cornell, but he didn’t seem to display any anger. Wasn’t it said that Cornell despised reckless spending and unkind behavior? Why then, did he not show his displeasure after all her efforts to get him angry?
Instead, Cornell seemed almost amused by her mischief. He was smiling in a way that suggested he enjoyed her attempts to piss him off.
This made Audrey question the information Erick had given her about Cornell. It appeared she had been misguided in her approach.
Audrey remembered another detail about Cornell, though. Rumor had it that he was extremely possessive, disliking anyone interfering with his personal or professional life, whether it involved his career or his relationships. That explained Cornell’s near loss of composure at the mention of Kabir.
With this new strategy in mind, Audrey spent the journey back sharing her memories of Kabir with Cornell. She recounted her memories with Kabir, describing how he used to send her sunflowers, take her to the seaside, and often carry her back home.
She emphasized Kabir’s name with each story.
As she persisted, she noticed Cornell’s expression growing increasingly dark. This reaction filled Audrey with a triumphant feeling. She reveled in the thought that her words were finally agitating him. She hoped her provocations would drive him to the point of seeking a divorce immediately.
Caught up in her efforts to annoy Cornell, Audrey was surprised when he suddenly halted the car.
Audrey looked out the window and realized she had no idea where they were. With a puzzled look, she inquired, “Why are we stopping?”
Cornell extended his hand and grabbed a cigarette from its case. He was about to light it but then decided against it. He placed the cigarette between his lips, squinting slightly. “I stopped because I want to give my full attention to your story. Please, continue.”
Cornell felt a surge of frustration as Audrey continued to ramble about her late husband, whom she dearly missed. This made it hard for him to focus on driving.
Audrey was taken aback by his reaction. She hadn’t anticipated that Cornell would be interested in hearing her past with another man.
Feigning shyness, she said softly, “But what I have left to tell is quite personal, and I’m not sure it’s appropriate to share with you…”
Suddenly, the air around them grew tense and awkward.
Cornell struggled to keep his anger in check. The thought of something personal… Huh! He bit back any harsh words. Then, he raised his eyebrows and gave Audrey a cold look. “What do you mean by ‘something personal’?”
Unaware of the danger in his words, Audrey answered, “You know, the kind of intimate moments shared between a husband and wife.”
Despite her claim, she actually couldn’t recall any specific details.
All she remembered was Kabir’s kindness toward her. Her memories were faint, and she struggled to picture his face without a photograph for reference.
Left with no other choice, Audrey fabricated, “In any case, Kabir was awesome!”
Upon hearing her words, Cornell couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He casually tossed the cigarette out of the window and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He then stretched his arms across the back of the seat and leaned in toward her.
In an instant, Audrey found herself enveloped in his arms. She looked up and met Cornell’s intense gaze.
Caught off guard, Audrey was unsure how to react.
Cornell looked deeply into her eyes for a moment, then said in a raspy voice, “You mentioned that your husband was awesome, didn’t you?”
Cornell leaned down and fixed Audrey with a fierce gaze. “How good was he?”
“Uh… Well…” Audrey stuttered for a couple of seconds, struggling to find words. It was nothing but a lie. How could she possibly describe how good her late husband was?
Cornell’s captivatingly handsome face drew nearer. When he spoke, his voice was husky and seductive. “Do you need a ruler to measure it and see who’s better?”
Audrey remained utterly wordless. Her expression was frozen like a deer caught in the headlights. She blinked twice and confusedly asked, “Measure what?”
Cornell, with his voice huskier than ever, replied, “What do you think?”
Audrey’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. What the hell?
“You remember Kabir’s very well. Can’t you remember mine?” Cornell held her hand and began to lead her hand to his private part. “Let me help you recall some memories.”
Audrey sensed that he was up to something and instinctively tried to withdraw her hand. However, his grip was tight and unyielding. Uneasy feelings crept over her. What a jerk!
“You pervert!” Audrey shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice trembling with fear.