Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Katie’s expression was calm, not a single hint of her earlier breakdown on her face. She gently held luciana’s arm and reassured luciana, “Don’t worry. Cornell is fine.”
Luciana waved the food box in her hand and said, “I want to see him.”
In actuality, luciana was asking for Katie’s opinion.
Ever since Cornell nearly drowned in the river when looking for Audrey five years ago, luciana had become even more anxious about his well-being. Apart from spending more time with Cornell, luciana went to church and prayed for his safety.
As the years went by without any updates regarding Audrey’s whereabouts after the car incident, luciana got more nervous and neurotic over Cornell’s dejected state. Whenever she got anxious, it was Katie who comforted her with words of assurance. Katie was the one who had been accompanying luciana to church. As a result, luciana trusted Katie more than any other person and never doubted her words.
Moreover, after Audrey’s disappearance following the car incident, luciana tried to console Cornell. Yet, her words stung Cornell, which rendered Cornell resist seeing luciana, not wanting to hear words of the possibility of Audrey having died. Since then, their bond turned weaker. left with no choice, luciana tended to care for Cornell through Katie.
Katie smiled and took the food box from luciana. “Cornell just finished eating the meal I brought. I’m afraid he won’t be able to eat anything else tonight. Well, I’m still hungry. Do you mind me having the delicious food you had prepared?”
Luciana nodded, feeling grateful for Katie’s kind words. She would be upset if Cornell once again resisted the food she made for him.
“Luciana, if you don’t mind, I can help you deliver the food you make for Cornell tomorrow,” Katie added.
Luciana smiled and said, “Okay.”
Then, Katie linked her arms with luciana’s and murmured, “Cornell is sleeping right now. Better not disturb him at the moment. let’s go on a walk together.”
Luciana raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would linger in Cornell’s ward a bit longer.”
Despite the turmoil raging in her mind, Katie’s smile didn’t falter nor did her tone waver. “After I finish your tasty food, I’ll go back and check on Cornell. Right now, allow me to take a stroll with you.”
The assumption Katie and Cornell got along well brought a smile to luciana’s face.
“Alright then.” luciana beamed.
“It’s a lovely day.” A coy smile curved Katie’s lips and she added in an affectionate tone, “To think we’ll be a family soon. I’m so excited.”
Luciana touched Katie’s hand and sighed. “Yeah. Knowing you are here to take care of Cornell makes me relieved.”
Seeing her chance, Katie quickly said, “About the press conference, I think we should do it earlier than planned. Cornell had encountered various difficulties in the past few days, and I’m a bit worried.”
The last sentence struck a chord with luciana. Her face turned grave as she recalled a fortune teller who predicted Cornell would face calamities this year and pointed out that the calamities could only be resolved through a blessed marriage.
“Katie, do whatever you need,” luciana announced.
In the ward.
Earlier when Audrey collided with Katie, she didn’t notice anything wrong with her feet. But later, her feet started feeling uncomfortable, so much so that she was having difficulty standing.
She looked at Cornell and said, “I need to go home.”
“Come over first.” Cornell rested his back against the soft pillow on the bed. His injuries prevented him from sitting for too long, so he could only lean slightly to one side.
“Why?” Audrey looked at him warily and didn’t approach.
Cornell briefly glanced at her, not feeling particularly talkative.
He asked, “Do you want to come over on your own, or should I carry you?”
Audrey sneered, “Can you still carry someone…”
As she spoke, Cornell’s towering form materialized before her, causing her words to die on her tongue. He bent down and effortlessly lifted her up, using only his uninjured hand.
“Ah!” Shocked, Audrey exclaimed and instinctively wrapped her hands around his neck tightly. “Cornell, are you crazy?”
He was still injured, yet he was being so reckless. luckily, the bed was within reach. In a matter of seconds, he had deposited Audrey on the bed.
But Audrey was far from calm. Her heart beat a wild staccato and she glowered at him, her voice rife with panic when she demanded, “What the hell are you doing, Cornell?”
Cornell didn’t reply. He grabbed her feet and took off her shoes.
Due to his injuries, he couldn’t squat, so he sat on the bed next to her and placed her leg on his leg.
Audrey leaned back on the bed and stared at Cornell with wide eyes.
She couldn’t help but feel like she was completely under his control.
She felt quite flustered and had the urge to kick him in the shins.
“If you try to take off my clothes, I’ll call for help…”
“Don’t move,” Cornell ordered tersely and pinched her ankle tightly.
“Um…” Audrey had been berating him when the uncomfortable sensation in her foot suddenly turned ice cold, causing her tone to involuntarily change.
She didn’t know when Cornell got the ice cubes. He put it on her feet and rubbed it gently.
Audrey’s feet were well-maintained, tender and delicate. At the moment, her toes were red and swollen from being scalded by steaming hot soup.
Cornell’s gaze sharpened as he leaned forward, concentrating on his task. His head tilted slightly as he carefully pressed the ice against her injured foot.
Audrey couldn’t help but blush as she watched Cornell hold her tender feet in his hand. Unable to stand the silence any longer, she asked, “How did you know?”
“Do you think everyone is as careless as you?” Cornell retorted. He had noticed the stain of soup on her shoes earlier, the very reason he had urged Audrey in without bothering to talk to Katie any longer.
There were medications to improve blood flow and eliminate stagnant blood, as well as an abundant supply of ice cubes in the ward.
Cornell gently massaged the affected area and applied the ointment.
He rubbed it in as well, and after a few seconds, he pressed the area even more firmly, a hint of frustration appearing on his face when he didn’t get the reaction he expected. “You’re burned really bad, yet you’re acting like you can barely feel it.”
Audrey was wearing socks, so it had dulled the impact of the soup somewhat, but her feet were too delicate. The burn looked serious but she actually felt a lot better after Cornell applied the ice.
However, the spot Cornell was massaging was an erogenous zone…
Audrey’s expression altered immediately and she reached out to grab his hand. “Stop. Don’t touch…”
Cornell frowned. “Does it hurt?” His words might be a bit harsh, but he was barely using any strength in the massage. When he saw the odd way Audrey was reacting, he stared at her in confusion.
Cornell still hadn’t stopped rubbing that spot and it was making Audrey’s face burn hotter by the second. “It’s itchy.”
Cornell squinted at her, inspecting every inch of her face carefully.
His only goal had been to relieve her injury, so nothing else was on his mind.
However, when he saw how deeply she was blushing, a thought suddenly occurred to him. A seductive chuckle rumbled in his throat and he declared, “You mean it’s itching in the heart.”
“What?” Audrey didn’t quite understand his words.
A lecherous gleam sparked in Cornell’s eyes. He ran a single finger over the spot he had been massaging and rumbled, “Every time I touch you here, you… You beg and plead with me.”
Audrey now understood what he meant. Her cheeks grew hot and she retorted in a voice tinged with anger, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Eyes twinkling mischievously, Cornell rasped, “I’m not just blabbering. It’s actually quite handy, especially for special occasions. Not just your feet, but also…”
He leaned in closer and whispered a few other parts into her ear.
Audrey flushed even deeper and shouted, “You are such a pervert!”
“Yes,” Cornell agreed readily, still holding on to her foot. His voice was relaxed and indulgent. “I only become a pervert when I see you.”
It was evident that he was in a good mood today. That was why he kept teasing her.
Cornell had been in a good mood since he heard Reagan blurt out that sentence, indicating she didn’t have a boyfriend. He was so elated that he didn’t even feel the pain from his wounds anymore.
At this time, he was done applying the ointment, so he placed her foot on the shelf so the ointment would dry.
Then, he left the bed to wash his hands. When he returned, he gathered Audrey close until there was only a whisper of space left between them. When he spoke again, his voice was low and seductive.
“Don’t you want to see how perverted I can be?”
Audrey was speechless. Truly, she was completely and utterly gobsmacked. Her mouth hung slightly open and she could do nothing but gape at him. How could anyone be so proud of being called a pervert?
Cornell’s facial expression made it seem like he wanted to tattoo “I’m a pervert” on his forehead for all to see.
Audrey averted her gaze, hoping to cool the blush on her cheeks. “I don’t want to see. Don’t get so close to me.”
“You really don’t want to?” Cornell’s eyes narrowed, but there was a teasing glint in his eyes. “You used to like it very much…”
Again, Audrey blushed, and this time, even the tips of her ears turned red. This man was cheeky.
“Stay away from me,” Audrey grumbled, rolling her eyes. “You have a fianc?e, yet you have no self-control.”
Cornell gave her a gentle tug and stated, “Don’t be silly. I’ve already told you multiple times that I don’t have a fianc?e. You are the only woman I’ve ever been with.”
He raised his finger and said seriously, “I swear.”