Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
As she spoke, she felt a kiss. It was light as a feather and incredibly soft.
Audrey tried to pull away, but he had already released her.
His dark eyes locked on hers, his voice was raspier than ever. “Do you need my help?”
Cornell knew exactly how to get a reaction out of her. After countless times, he had learned all her ticklish spots. It wouldn’t be long before he managed to make her squirm with delight.
Audrey’s cheeks turned pink. “No, stop it! I just want to sleep…”
With those words, she wrapped herself in the blanket, making sure Cornell couldn’t get too close.
Cornell grinned and respected her wishes.
Lying next to a robust and vigorous man like Cornell made it suddenly hard for Audrey to fall asleep.
As his breathing evened out, Audrey sneakily opened her eyes. She looked at his strikingly handsome face, illuminated and shadowed under the night lamp, accentuating his sharp features. He looked really good.
Yet, his overly assertive nature and a strong sense of possession sometimes overwhelmed her. When he got mad, his gaze would turn icy, his dark eyes radiating intensity.
Audrey sometimes found him quite difficult to understand. How could someone with such a quick temper be so patient with her pranks?
Moreover, he paid close attention to everything she said, although that didn’t necessarily mean he was always easygoing. His demeanor changed drastically whenever he saw her with other men, becoming fiercely protective.
As for her past shared with Cornell, it was a blank slate to Audrey.
She occasionally caught glimpses of memories, but they were too fleeting to make sense of.
Her entire perception of him started from the moment they met recently. So far, he was always there for her, never losing his temper no matter what she did. He even bore pain when she was attacked.
What Cornell had done for her made her feel like she was slowly being won over, without even realizing it. These feelings were warning signs for her. Audrey realized she couldn’t let herself fall for his gentle trap. She decided to keep her distance from him.
After pondering for some time, Audrey gave in to her tiredness and drifted off to sleep.
At Audrey’s soft and even breath, Cornell opened his eyes. Wanting to ensure she slept peacefully, he pretended to be asleep He drew her closer and adjusted the air conditioner to a gentle setting.
Her face, the only part uncovered, shone like porcelain, pale and luminous. He couldn’t resist caressing her soft cheek, his eyes filled with affection.
He knew he wanted more than just her presence. He wanted her by his side forever. He wished to share every sunrise and sunset with her for the rest of their lives.
In the afternoon, Nicole went with her superior to a negotiation meeting.
By the elevator, she ran into Jarrod, who was there for a different meeting.
Jarrod was easy to spot in the crowd, dressed sharply in all black, with a neat crew cut, looking handsome and distinguished.
When Jarrod stepped into the elevator and turned around, his eyes landed on Nicole, dressed smartly in a pencil skirt, and he was momentarily captivated.
Jarrod’s gaze was icy, charged with a palpable sense of aggression.
After a few seconds of eye contact, Nicole averted her gaze without a trace of emotion.
A bodyguard blocked Nicole’s path, his demeanor indifferent. “No entry at this moment. Wait for the next elevator, please.”
Nicole complied, standing quietly with her documents.
Just as the elevator doors began to close, Jarrod, with his unique fingers, stopped them. His eyes were dark. “Come in.”
Hearing this, the bodyguard smartly moved aside.
Nicole, not wanting to join the elevator with Jarrod, said softly, “No, thank you.”
Jarrod remained unmoved, his foot wedging the elevator door open, seemingly prepared to wait it out.
Bystanders began to take notice. Nicole’s workmates were close by.
Feeling the pressure, Nicole moved forward, making sure to keep some distance from Jarrod. “Then, thank you.”
As Nicole stepped in, Jarrod didn’t back away, almost intentionally staying in place.
Nicole nearly collided with his chest but stopped just in time.
Their eyes met, Nicole’s firm and direct, not looking away this time.
Jarrod, standing close, looked down at her, his look intense. After a short pause, he moved slightly to the side.
The elevator, quite small, now had four bodyguards, forcing Nicole to stand behind Jarrod.
The elevator doors shut, and Jarrod moved back, his presence felt strongly.
Nicole also moved back to keep some space between them.
For an important meeting, Nicole had chosen a pencil skirt with a high slit.
Jarrod, hands in his pockets, looked down at her reflection, noticing her outfit. Nicole looked as striking as always. The same white shirt that looked ordinary to others became a tool of allure for her. Even though the shirt was her size, it fitted tightly across her chest.
Her thin heels and long, light legs were enough to stir desire in any man.
Jarrod was no exception, his lustful gaze undisguised and blatant.
Then, he turned to face the front, asking casually, “Didn’t you see the message?”
Jarrod had messaged Nicole earlier, inquiring about her plans.
Nicole replied with a smile, “I didn’t see it.” Even if she had, she would have ignored it, treating it like an unwanted email.
Jarrod, keeping it casual, tugged at his lip but said nothing more.
The next moment, his hand was on her hip, sliding smoothly to retrieve her phone from her pocket. He did it with such ease as if her hip was no different from an inanimate object.
“You!” Nicole bit her lip, holding back the urge to lash out, especially with others around.
Jarrod, unfazed, chuckled. “Just want to see if it still works.”
“Give it back to me.” Nicole tried to grab her phone back, her voice filled with anger, visibly upset.
But Jarrod raised his hand out of her reach, capturing her wrist with ease and drawing her close. With a hint of a challenge in his eyes, he asked, “Hiding something from me?”
Forced against him, Nicole felt her heart pound, her palms sweating.
This morning, she had received a photo of Austin playing from the nanny and hadn’t deleted it yet. It was still on her phone.
Yet, Nicole’s face showed no sign of panic as she calmly said, “My phone’s contents are my own concern, not yours.”
Jarrod’s questions came because Nicole was acting distant. He felt annoyed and wanted an excuse to engage with her.
Noticing Nicole’s fleeting unease, he grew more suspicious. He asked with a curious look, “What’s got you so worried?”
Nicole’s attempts to pull away were futile, highlighting the clear difference in their strength. She realized that outsmarting Jarrod would be better than trying to overpower him. So, Nicole said with a forced smile, “There’s a rather personal video, not exactly for everyone’s eyes.”
The atmosphere instantly chilled. The tension was so thick that even the bodyguards were on edge, trying to remain as quiet as possible.
Jarrod, keeping Nicole close, asked with a sneer, “Who is this man that interests you so much? More than me?”
Their exchange escalated with each sentence. The bodyguards, however, wished they hadn’t heard their exchange.
Nicole replied with a hint of mockery, “A professional masseur. His skills are unmatched. Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from him.”
The elevator fell deathly silent. Everyone acted as if they were invisible, fearing a breath might cost for their jobs.
“Ding!” The elevator stopped.
One bodyguard dared to ask, “Mr. Schultz, are we getting off?”
“Out!” Jarrod’s shout was full of anger.
The bodyguards quickly went out.
Nicole and Jarrod were left alone in the elevator, with Nicole still without her phone.
As the doors shut again, Jarrod pressed Nicole against the mirror, his breath cold, his voice low. “You seem unhappy. Perhaps we should ‘practice’ now.”
“I’d rather not. My experiences with you have left a bitter taste.
Now, I seek joy instead.” Nicole laughed, her beauty shining through.
“The young men there treated me like a queen, serving me on their knees. Can you do that, Mr. Schultz?”
Jarrod’s mood darkened, but Nicole stood her ground.
Today’s gathering was a magnet for the elite of the business world, drawing in the traditional Hampton family among others.