Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Then, tell me. Why do you hate me?”
Janey stole a glance at Cornell and mumbled, “Because you were not happy when I called you Daddy the other day.”
Janey always remembered that Audrey told her not to call other men Daddy because it would cause them trouble. That was why she ignored Cornell the whole time. She was still mad at him.
Cornell said honestly, “If I don’t know you, I will feel troubled when you call me that way…”
Before Cornell could finish his words, Janey burst into tears again.
This time, she looked aggrieved. It turned out that what Audrey said was true.
“You really don’t like me calling you Daddy. I’m sorry… Please don’t hate me. I only want a daddy,” Janey said between sobs.
Janey’s tears made Cornell feel sorry for her. He hurriedly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped off her tears.
“Janey, why don’t you let me finish talking first?” Cornell asked patiently. “But if the child is you, I won’t feel troubled at all.
Instead, I will be very happy. Because when I met you at the airport, I already thought you were the cutest girl I’ve ever seen.”
Janey looked at Cornell and blinked a few times. “Really?” She couldn’t believe it. It turned out Cornell was not mad when she called him Daddy. On the contrary, he was delighted.
“Of course. I’m telling you the truth.” Cornell reached out and pinched Janey’s chubby face dotingly. “You can call me whatever you want.”
“Wow! I finally have a daddy!” Janey jumped and clapped her hands happily.
But the next second, she looked sad again. “But my mommy doesn’t allow me to call other men Daddy.”
But soon, she also came up with an idea. “How about I call you Daddy Cornell?”
“That sounds something special. I like it. Janey, how can you be so smart?” Cornell rubbed Janey’s head and said, “Don’t you think you should apologize to your mommy? You slapped her hand just now. She seemed heartbroken.”
“Mommy is sad?” Janey asked in surprise. When she remembered how kind Audrey had been to her, she felt guilty. She patted her head and pouted angrily. “I am such a bad girl.”
“No, that’s not true. You are a good girl.” Cornell held Janey’s hand and gently said, “Even grown-ups lose their temper sometimes.
It’s okay. But you have to distinguish who loves you and who you care about. I believe your mommy will forgive you.”
Then, they walked toward Audrey together.
In the darkness of night, Cornell’s figure looked tall and straight.
Beside him, Janey looked so small. Her height didn’t even reach his knees.
Looking at them from a distance, Audrey suddenly felt like she was bewitched. Why did she feel like Janey looked a lot like Cornell?
Others often remarked that Janey bore a striking resemblance to Audrey.
However, when Janey stood side by side with Cornell, their resemblance was undeniable. Their chins, noses, and ears mirrored each other perfectly. Janey appeared as a miniature version of Cornell.
Even Janey’s eyes, which Audrey believed had resembled hers, now bore an uncanny resemblance to Cornell’s.
Audrey couldn’t help but be unnerved by this realization.
At that moment, Janey touched Audrey’s hand and said with an expression carrying a sense of guilt, “Mommy, I’m sorry.”
Audrey was stunned by how someone as commanding as Cornell had some ways to coax a little girl.
Audrey affectionately ruffled Janey’s hair and said, “Mommy forgives you.”
As they were about to leave the kindergarten, Erick arranged for a car to pick up Audrey, as Stefan had helped Matteo send those who made a scene and tried to harm Audrey to the police station.
A driver stepped out of the waiting car and approached Audrey. She was a young woman with short hair and a sharp appearance. “Miss Foster, you can call me Victor. I’ll ensure your safety from now on, as per Mr. Foster’s instructions.”
Erick was aware that Audrey had a strong aversion to having bodyguards accompany her everywhere. However, he was genuinely concerned about Audrey’s safety after those slandering news wandering around the Internet, so he arranged for Victor to be with her.
After thanking Cornell, Audrey made her way toward the waiting car.
But then, unexpectedly, Janey let go of Audrey’s hand and clung tightly to Cornell’s leg. “Mommy, I want Daddy Cornell to drive us home.”
Daddy Cornell? Audrey was stunned by the way Janey addressed Cornell.
“Janey!” Audrey furrowed her brow and sternly said, “Stop messing around. let’s get in the vehicle and go home.”
“No!” Janey disregarded Audrey’s words and tried to climb into Cornell’s arms.
Seeing this, Cornell lifted Janey with one arm and let her perch on his powerful forearm. Janey then burst into giggles.
“Janey!” Audrey called out again and was somewhat uneasy. Deep down, she didn’t want Janey and Cornell to grow close.
However, Janey was unwilling to let go of Cornell. In a spoiled tone, Janey pleaded, “Mommy, let’s take Daddy Cornell’s car home. There are so many stars on the roof of his car. Janey wants to see them.”
Cornell had arranged for a car with a starry roof and let Janey peek through the window. Janey was excited to count the stars on the roof.
Cornell turned to Audrey and suggested in a low and magnetic voice, “Just get in. Your car can follow us.”
Although reluctantly, Audrey agreed and got into his car.
During the ride, Cornell held Janey in his arms and entertained her with stars’ names. He made up imaginative tales that had Janey giggling with delight.
It was the first time Audrey had seen Cornell so gentle. She never expected that he would grow so fond of her daughter.
When they arrived at West lake Villa, Audrey exited the car first and then took Janey from Cornell’s arms. Then, she asked Annis to take Janey inside.
In a daze, Janey spoke abruptly as Annis carried her in. “Wait a minute.”
The next second, Janey leaped out of Annis’ arms and ran back to Cornell, who instinctively reached out to catch Janey and then cradled the little girl in his arms.
Looking up at Cornell’s striking face, Janey felt a surge of pride.
In her eyes, none of her schoolmates’ fathers could compare to Cornell. Cornell looked like he had come straight out of a painting.
Janey’s laughter filled the air. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she planted a big kiss on Cornell’s cheeks. “Daddy Cornell, Janey loves you so much!”
Her sweet voice and affectionate gesture touched Cornell deeply. It was a warm and heartwarming moment, and he found himself completely enchanted by it.
At this moment, Cornell somehow felt Janey was his child. He wasn’t only fond of her, but he was also willing to embrace her as his daughter.
“Janey! Daddy…” Cornell responded, his voice quivering with emotions. “I love you, too. I love you dearly.”
The interaction between them was touching, and the two of them were reluctant to part.
Seeing this, Audrey had mixed emotions and couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. She had worked tirelessly to raise Janey. But now, Janey clung to a stranger she had met just a few days ago.
It seemed that the psychologist was right. Janey’s autism might have been triggered by her longing for a father figure in her life.
While finding a loving father figure for Janey seemed like the solution, the catch was that the man Janey had grown attached to was Audrey’s ex-husband, which made any consideration of remarriage out of the question.
Cornell walked over to Audrey with Janey in his arms and said, “Janey, be a good girl. If your mommy agrees, I’ll take you to the amusement park this weekend.”
Janey turned to look at Audrey with her cute big eyes and asked, “Mommy, is that okay?”
Audrey didn’t have the heart to refuse Janey, so she replied, “It depends on whether I’m busy this weekend. How about you go in with Annis first? Mommy needs to talk to Cornell.”
Although Janey wasn’t happy, she obediently nodded. “Good night, mommy. Good night, Daddy Cornell.”
Once Janey had entered the house, Audrey expressed her gratitude to Cornell, “Thank you for today.”
Cornell nodded. “It’s nothing.”
Audrey lowered her head and continued, “I’m sorry for what happened yesterday.” She had learned from the police officers that Darryl had been the one to save her first. And with Cornell’s help, she managed to safely escape the hotel.
Cornell’s Adam’s apple bobbed upon hearing this, and he replied in a hushed tone, “Don’t mention it. Honestly, I was tempted to do something to you.”
After all, Audrey had been so alluring at that moment, making it impossible for Cornell to remain composed.
Audrey’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Now that Janey wasn’t around, Cornell didn’t have to be concerned about his words. “But I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me, so I didn’t act on it in the end,” he added with a shrug.
His candidness rendered Audrey speechless. She lifted her gaze to find Cornell staring at her with his intense eyes. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, and his figure rendered him strikingly handsome in the dimly lit night. Particularly eye-catching was the button of his shirt, fastened up to the top, accentuating his prominent Adam’s apple.
Audrey’s cheeks suddenly flushed. Embarrassed, she shifted the conversation. “By the way, regarding the recording, what’s it all about?”
“Would you like to hear it?” Cornell clicked on the recording, and the steamy conversation filled the air.
“Are you sure you want it?” Cornell asked in a hoarse and seemingly strained voice.
“Yes, I’m sure… Hmm… Why don’t you let me do it… Naughty man…
Just a bite on your chest…” Audrey responded.