Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Cornell was momentarily stunned. He registered the slap on his face, but the deep ache in his chest was something he couldn’t stand.
Cornell masked the aching in his heart and met Audrey’s gaze with apathy, his mouth twitching slightly. “Scold me as you wish if it can bring you back to my side.”
Audrey was speechless. She cursed, “You’re crazy!”
“You may think of me as a lunatic, but I’m a lunatic who loves you.
As long as you come back to me, I’ll do anything you want. I will promise you everything. Tell me, what do you really want? Do you want my life, Audrey? Take it then…” Cornell was on the verge of babbling, his words jumbled and unclear. His emotions were so overwhelming that he just needed to talk, no matter what came out.
Everything Cornell had kept bottled up in his chest, he let out now without restraint. He didn’t care about his dignity which was in tatters by now. The only thing he regretted was not telling her everything in his heart before.
Cornell also regretted realizing his true feelings only after losing her. He loved her more than he loved his own life. The idea of her marrying someone else and spending the rest of her life with another man was unbearable to him. Just thinking of it was enough to shrivel his heart until it was nothing but dust.
Audrey was taken aback by Cornell’s unexpected admission. She stood in silence, unable to find the words to respond. She was not quite familiar with him after her loss of memory of him, but his words broke her heart for a reason she couldn’t discern.
Audrey didn’t dare utter a word, afraid that the dam holding her tears back would burst if she opened her mouth. She had no idea why this was happening. Was it possible that deep down, she still cared about Cornell?
Suddenly, Audrey felt a splitting headache, and her body began to tremble slightly.
Thankfully, Stefan was observant and reached out to catch her arm before she could fall to the ground.
Audrey managed to snap out of it and sternly warned herself not to be swayed by her emotions. When she heard Erick describe how Cornell had treated her before, she swore never to forgive him for as long as she breathed!
With a steely gaze, she faced the heartbroken Cornell and uttered coldly, “Cornell, I don’t love you and don’t want to be with you. It would be best if you don’t bother me anymore!”
Her words tore Cornell’s heart into shreds. His handsome face was chalk white, defeated and downcast. He appeared nothing like his usual untouchable self.
His voice lowered, but the intensity in his tone made it clear he didn’t care about his dignity. “Audrey, you wanted fairness from me, but are you being fair to me?” She had promised to treat him fairly!
However, she appeared to be wielding a sword and pointing it in his direction, while he was completely unharmed.
Audrey’s heart was in chaos. She just wanted to put an end to this messy relationship as quickly as possible. “Do you think it’s possible for someone you’ve hurt to be fair to you?” she asked.
These words seemed to be the final nail in Cornell’s coffin. His heart, already riddled with pain, sank as he stumbled backward.
A loud sound echoed in the room. Before Audrey’s and Stefan’s eyes, Cornell’s legs gave out and he fell to the ground.
Shoulders hunched, Cornell looked up at Audrey with bloodshot eyes and pleaded, “Audrey, please be fair to me. I beg you. Just be fair to me.”
Cornell let go of his previous air of arrogance and embraced humility with utmost sincerity.
Audrey felt as if her heart was filled with cotton. All the air in her lungs had been squeezed out, making her feel suffocated. She had never seen Cornell so humble before.
It was hard for Audrey to picture Cornell, who exuded immense pride and arrogance, stooping to such a low level just for her. She had no idea what to say to him. But she knew she should stay away from him.
She couldn’t give him the fairness he desired!
Right then, there was a knock on the door. Soon, the door opened and two people dressed in police uniforms walked in, flashing their badges as they announced, “We’ve received a report of indecent behavior taking place here.
The policemen looked at Cornell and Stefan in the room before turning to Audrey. “Are you the one who made the report?”
“Yes.”
“Who is the person who committed the indecent acts against you?”
Audrey stared at Cornell for a few seconds and then calmly said, “It was him.”
Cornell couldn’t believe her words. It felt as if countless arrows had just pierced through his skin. His body went numb and he could do nothing but gape at her.
But his self-preservation suddenly kicked in and his slouched form straightened. He really wanted to see if she was as indifferent toward him as she claimed. He simply couldn’t believe she no longer cared for him.
But at the same time, he had no choice but to believe it. There had always been a sparkle in her eyes, but now when he looked at her, there was nothing but coldness.
Despite Cornell’s unassuming appearance, the policemen questioned Cornell straightforwardly, “Sir, do you admit to the allegations made by this young lady?”
Cornell felt as if someone had reached into his body and pulled out all his organs. He was an empty shell, and he had no reason to defend himself, not even when the policemen queried him repeatedly.
Seeing this, the policeman turned to Audrey and asked, “Are you two a couple? Did you two have a fight?”
Audrey vehemently denied, “No, we’re not together I was drugged at a dinner party last night and everything is hazy.”
The policeman gave a small nod. “Okay, I need both of you to come with me to the station for further questioning.”
Stefan, concerned about Audrey, followed closely behind.
The three of them arrived at the police station.
Cornell’s expression remained cold and he continued to remain silent despite the barrage of questions.
After Audrey had completed her statement, she was taken for a medical examination.
Stefan suddenly stopped her before she could get into the exam room.
“Audrey, regardless of the outcome, my decision remains the same. I meant what I said earlier. I’ve even asked Erick for permission. He said that he has no problem with it as long as you are willing to be with me.”
Stefan was saying this to reassure Audrey. In other words, Stefan just told her that he didn’t care about the result of the examination.
Audrey was silent. She had thought that he only made up the story of them being in a relationship to get Cornell to back off, but it turned out that Stefan really wanted to be with her.
But for some reason, she always found herself thinking of Cornell.
Perhaps, the image of Cornell falling down when overwhelmed by emotion was so deeply entrenched in her mind that it had a strong impact on her.
Just as Audrey was about to open her mouth, the doctor’s voice called out for her to enter the room.
Stefan reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll be right outside.”
Audrey was a bit absent-minded when the doctor went through all the examination procedures.
The result was out shortly. Shocked beyond words, Audrey held the test results her hand, feeling numb.
There was nothing wrong with her, not the slightest hint that she had been sexuality assaulted. This meant that she had wronged Cornell.
Before Audrey could even dwell on the situation, a policeman approached Audrey, a grim expression on his face. “Miss, someone has accused you of a crime. Please cooperate with our investigation.”
Cornell walked out of the police station with tightly furrowed brows.
Obviously, he was upset.
Upon seeing this, Matteo couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Clement, is something wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
Cornell’s thin lips had already turned pale. Instead of answering Matteo’s question, he said, “Get in the car first.”
As soon as Cornell sat in the back seat, he leaned against the seat and massaged his temples. He looked tired and in pain. “My medicine…”
Matteo hesitated for a moment. Then, he opened the compartment and took one painkiller from the bottle. He handed it to Cornell along with a bottle of mineral water.
Cornell took the medicine expressionlessly. He quickly put it into his mouth and swallowed it with water. Then, he extended his hand and said, “Three more.”
Matteo hesitated. He didn’t want to give Cornell more. “Mr. Clement, Miss Glyn firmly advised that you can only take two pills at a time.
She said it’s a specially formulated medication, and taking more can harm your nerves.”
Cornell’s brows furrowed tightly. He demanded, “Just give them to me.”
“But Mr. Clement…”
Cornell looked more displeased. His frown deepened. “If you are so eager to follow Katie’s instructions, how about I let you be her assistant?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Clement,” Matteo quickly apologized upon realizing his mistake. He handed three more pills to Cornell.
After taking the pills, Cornell leaned back in his seat again and closed his eyes.
The image of Audrey leaning against Stefan earlier kept flashing in his mind, intensifying his headache. Violent emotions surged in his heart, making him wish he could cut off Stefan’s hand.
Fortunately, his reason reminded him that he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do anything Audrey didn’t like. Otherwise, she would only stay farther and farther away from him. He was afraid that she would silently disappear again.
Audrey’s sudden disappearance five years ago was a huge blow to Cornell, his condition having suffered from depression. Only he and his psychiatrist knew how he managed through the past five years. He could only sleep peacefully with the help of sleeping pills. He had been dependent on this medicine.
But for Audrey, he refused to give up. He believed that as long as she remained unmarried, he still had a chance. In fact, even if she got married one day, he might go to the wedding and take her away.
He didn’t want things to get to the point of no return.
The car started to move slowly. When Cornell felt this, his frown deepened. He looked at Matteo and asked, “Has Audrey been released?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Clement. I don’t know yet,” Matteo replied.
Audrey had just sent Cornell to the police station. So, Matteo assumed that Cornell wouldn’t want to hear any news about her now.
Cornell’s expression changed slightly. He said coldly, “Find out where she is now.”