Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Meeting-up should be around the corner, anyway.”
The way he said this, it was more like he was talking to himself.
His eyes were deep, and the corners of his mouth curved into a terrifying smile.
Then, he instructed, “Just go back.”
The black car immediately started and drove away in the opposite direction.
Soon, Cornell’s cars pulled up at the Foster family’s villa.
Cornell still wrapped his arm around Audrey’s waist, not wanting to let go. Although he sat quietly in the car, he felt endless happiness having Audrey by his side.
“Okay, I’m going back now,” Audrey announced, breaking the silence.
She had been leaning against Cornell’s shoulder all this time. It felt so comfortable that she fell asleep for a while. She was way too unguarded around him.
When Cornell heard this, his arm around her waist tightened. He held her closer and whispered, “You said nine o’clock. We still have five minutes.”
Audrey was rendered speechless. He was really counting every minute with her.
Cornell stared straight at Audrey unblinkingly. His eyes were intense.
It was as if he couldn’t get enough of looking at her.
Audrey’s earlobes suddenly turned hot, and her heart began to beat faster. She couldn’t help asking, “Can you stop staring at me?”
“I like you…” Cornell reached out, held her pinkish face with his long and slender fingers, and traced the contours of her face.
Despite having heard his confession multiple times, Audrey would still blush at this. Her skin felt a bit itchy from his tickling.
She gently pushed his hand away and said, “Hands off.”
As Audrey pulled back, Cornell’s fingers accidentally brushed against her lips. He felt their softness and sweetness, which were very tempting. His eyes darkened at once. He could no longer restrain himself, so he lowered his head slightly and pressed his lips against hers.
He deliberately didn’t deepen the kiss. He only pressed his lips against hers gently. It was as if she was a precious treasure. His movements were intimate and filled with tenderness and love.
“Hmm . Audrey subconsciously moaned. Her face was as red as cherries. But before she could totally lose her last bit of sanity, she tried pushing him away.
However, Cornell suddenly lowered his head and nuzzled against her neck, whispering, “Audrey, I can’t live without you.”
Audrey’s heart trembled, and she was at a loss for words. While she was grappling with a reply, he confessed, “Every time you ignore me, I don’t feel like sleeping or eating. I was like a walking dead. So, please, don’t leave me.”
Cornell’s eyes were a little downcast, and his words were filled with worry. The thought that he couldn’t win Audrey’s heart despite his efforts dreaded him deeply.
Audrey was too shocked to react. At first, she thought she had heard it wrong. But it couldn’t be.
Cornell always exuded superiority and arrogance. But this time, there was a hint of subservience and helplessness in his eyes. Audrey’s heart skipped a beat. It seemed he really liked her.
Despite the eagerness Audrey saw in his eyes, she still couldn’t bring herself to agree to his proposal. Aside from her family members, she considered other people just passers-by in her life. She didn’t feel like overpromising. After all, people came and went. So, even if she knew he would be disappointed, she could not promise him anything.
Audrey met Cornell’s expectant gaze, her lips trembling. She hesitated before she finally said, “I’m going home now.”
A trace of bitterness crept across Cornell’s face. His eyes darkened but enigmatic. He knew it wasn’t easy to move her. But still, he couldn’t help feeling bitter at her words. He smiled wryly and nodded.
“Alright. I’ll walk you home.”
Audrey wanted to say he didn’t need to walk her home because it wasn’t too far. Besides, he hadn’t fully recovered yet.
But before she could open her mouth, Cornell had already gotten out of the car and walked around to open the door for her.
Audrey got out of the car. When she raised her head, she saw Erick leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
Audrey’s expression suddenly changed. She lowered her head and said, “No need to walk me home. My brother is here. You should go back to the car.”
After saying this, she pushed him into the car and ran away without looking back.
Cornell’s handsome face immediately darkened. He couldn’t understand why she didn’t want Erick to see her with him.
Erick watched Audrey trotting toward him. His cold expression finally softened slightly.
Audrey covered her chest and gasped slightly. “Erick, I thought you had gone to bed.”
Erick didn’t answer. Instead, he raised his hand, checked the time on his wristwatch, and opened his thin lips slightly. “It’s 8: 59.
You’re just in time.”
Audrey was rendered speechless. So, Erick was only here to ensure she was home on time. If he was this worried about her, why did he agree to Cornell making advances toward her?
Audrey couldn’t help asking, “Erick, what did you and Cornell talk about?”
Erick lowered his eyes. “It’s none of your business. Just go inside and grab some rest.”
Audrey looked at Erick speechlessly. Why was it none of her business?
Wasn’t she the topic of their conversation?
Audrey stomped her feet in a huff. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll just date him.”
“Aren’t we already dating?” A magnetic male voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Having assumed the speaker was Erick, Audrey was about to retort but stopped when she recognized the owner of the voice suddenly. She turned her head and found Cornell standing behind them.
Audrey’s face turned crimson. She said through clenched teeth, “No more nonsense from you!”
After saying this, she quickly went inside the house.
Under Cornell’s intense gaze, Audrey almost stumbled. Her movements became awkward.
Cornell fixed his gaze on Audrey’s back, watching her until she disappeared from his sight.
Having noticed Cornell’s eyes glued on Audrey, Erick warned, “If you dare to mistreat my sister, don’t blame me for destroying you.”
With Cornell’s will in Erick’s possession, Erick could easily ruin Cornell’s life and business on a whim.
With a lot on his plate lately, Erick couldn’t spare any more time to safeguard Audrey and Janey personally, which was part of the reason he finally conceded, allowing Cornell to make advances toward Audrey.
Plus, Cornell was undoubtedly influential in Ardlens. Having Cornell by Audrey’s side, Erick was more at ease than entrusting Audrey to other’s care.
“Erick, rest assured. I will protect Audrey and Janey with my life,”
Cornell promised solemnly.
Erick was pleased with the firmness in Cornell’s eyes, knowing Cornell meant his words.
Erick had investigated Audrey and Cornell’s shared past, knowing most of the misunderstanding was Cecilia’s doing. Despite Cornell’s once being lenient toward Cecilia out of the supposedly life-saving favor, he later realized his mistake and amended his wrongs by punishing Cecilia.
Erick found Cornell’s actions of sending Cecilia to a mental hospital and forcing the doctored drink down her throat satisfactory.
However, this didn’t mean Erick had forgiven what pain and suffering Cornell had unwittingly put Audrey through.
Had it not been for Cornell being Janey’s biological father, Erick would not have given Cornell any chance to remedy at all. Thus, Erick had given Cornell’s character and feelings for Audrey a long-term test. He wouldn’t be at ease until he was sure no harm would come Audrey’s way.
With things to attend to, Erick had to leave. Still concerned, he asked Cornell, “Is Cecilia really dead?”
“I’ve asked someone to verify the body,” Cornell replied.
“Good. I’ll be away on a business trip for half a month,” Erick said.
“Understood.” Cornell nodded.
As the two men exchanged glances, Cornell discerned Erick’s silent request to watch over Audrey in his absence.
When Cornell was about to leave, Erick suddenly stopped him. “Is Cecilia from the Murray family of Swynborough, known for their chain hotels?”
“Yes. Erick, are you acquainted with the Murrays?”
“My father knows Mr. Murray,” Erick replied. “You mentioned Miss Murray saved you. Can I ask what exactly she did for you?”
Instead of responding, Cornell maintained a prolonged silence. His mind drifted to that fateful day. It seemed to be quite a coincidence since it happened on Cecilia’s birthday when she saved his life.
At that time, the Murray family held a birthday party for Cecilia in Swynborough.
It was during the celebration when Cornell accidentally walked into the storeroom of the villa and stumbled upon the disconcerting scene of his father having an affair with a maid. Catching them in the dirty act had filled him with disgust.
Walking away absent-minded, Cornell had fallen into a frozen lake. It was Cecilia who spotted him under the ice and smashed through it with a hammer to rescue him. He vividly remembered her words of encouragement in his ear, urging him not to give up and extending her hand to him.
Back then, Cecilia exuded innocence, kindness, and charm. Cornell could never have foreseen that Cecilia would one day end up like this.
Even though Cornell had granted Cecilia numerous chances to redeem herself, Cecilia chose again and again to inflict harm on others, ultimately harming herself.