Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
At this moment, Stefan was still in Audrey’s ward. He intended to wait for some test results before he left.
Stefan sat by the bed and peeled an apple. Noticing Audrey was in a daze, he asked, “Now that you have regained your memory, what do you plan to do?”
Audrey shook her head. “I haven’t thought about it yet.” Her top priority now was to find out who had harmed her back then. She wanted to ensure no harm would come her and Janey’s way.
Stefan asked again, “Then, will you consider remarrying Cornell?”
After all, Cornell and Audrey seemed to have been getting along well recently. Plus, Cornell had been a great help this time. Even Erick had approved of Cornell chasing after Audrey. This was unusual. It only meant that Cornell had a knack for negotiation.
Audrey frowned, recalling her feelings toward Cornell before she regained her memory. She was easily charmed by Cornell’s sweet nothings, making her heart flutter uncontrollably. His thoughtfulness lifted her mood.
However, now that she had regained memory, she was downhearted by his previous distrust and his repeated absence every time she needed him the most.
Although Cornell had been trying to make amends now, the damage had already been done. Could making amends erase the pain?
Noticing Audrey’s frowning and loss of thought, Stefan felt his question overstepped. So, he coughed lightly and said, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you about this.”
It was only then that Audrey snapped back to reality. “It’s okay.”
At this moment, Janey ran in with sweat on her forehead, saying, “Mommy, I’m thirsty.”
Annis came in with a baby water bottle, wanting to give Janey the water.
Stefan took it from Annis, smiled warmly, and said, “Janey, can I feed you the water?”
Janey remembered Audrey was still sick, so she nodded obediently.
Stefan picked Janey up and let her sit on his lap. Then, he gave her the water.
While Janey was drinking, some water spilled from the corner of her mouth. Audrey took a tissue, bent down, and gently wiped it off for Janey.
Because of this, the three of them became much closer together.
When Stefan saw that Janey was done drinking water, he told her a joke, making her laugh non-stop.
Janey’s laughter was so contagious that Audrey was influenced by it.
She momentarily set aside her worries, and her face lightened up when she smiled.
Janey laughed so hard in Stefan’s arms that she almost slipped off.
Audrey instinctively reached out to catch Janey, but she swayed.
Fortunately, Stefan was alert. He did not only hold Janey securely but also steadied the wobbling Audrey.
Thinking it was a game, Janey clapped her hands and asked them to do it again.
Audrey said worriedly, “Let’s not do it again, okay? It’s a bit dangerous.”
Stefan chimed in with a smile, “Cutie Janey, listen to your mom, okay? let’s play something safe.”
Janey held Audrey’s and Stefan’s hands together and said with a smile, “Then let’s play pat-a-cake, okay?”
Stefan’s broad palm covered the back of Audrey’s hand, dry and warm.
However, Audrey felt a sense of repulsion. She had the urge to withdraw her hand. This subconscious repulsion made her froze. Why was she repulsive? Why did she repel other men’s touch?
But when Audrey was with Cornell, she had never felt this way despite her resistance to his hugs and kisses. She was baffled.
Cornell ran all the way to Audrey’s ward, only to be met with this scene. Stefan held Janey in his arms while holding Audrey’s hand.
They looked like a warm and happy family of three. They looked like a real family while he was an intruder who didn’t fit in.
Cornell looked at Janey’s bright smile and almost confirmed what Luis had said. Janey was indeed his daughter.
Erick’s slyness, coupled with Audrey’s memory loss, prevented Cornell from realizing sooner that Janey was his daughter.
It was only now that he realized the clues were too obvious. Janey was more mature than other three-year-old children. Besides, Audrey had just been acknowledged by the Foster family. How could the Foster family find a man for Audrey to marry in just six months? All of these were to hide Janey’s paternity from the public.
Had it not been for Luis’ words of enlightenment, Cornell would have remained in the dark.
Sensing visitors, Audrey inadvertently glanced over and her smile froze at the sight of Cornell.
Cornell stood tall and imposing at the door, with his head almost touching the doorframe. His darkened face radiated an unmistakable aura of dominance.
Audrey noted complex feelings in Cornell’s eyes. It seemed to be a deep and heart-wrenching pain.
Stefan, noticing Audrey’s reaction, followed her gaze. Upon laying eyes on Cornell, he held Audrey’s hand even tighter.
Audrey was startled. She subconsciously wanted to pull away from Stefan’s grip. But when she realized it, she was frightened by this idea. Why didn’t she want Cornell to see another man holding her hands? They didn’t have any relationship anymore, right?
Cornell walked into Audrey’s ward. His handsome face was expressionless yet somehow emitting a chilling blade-Like coldness.
As soon as he stood in front of them, he looked at Stefan and ordered coldly, “Get out.”
But Stefan was unfazed by Cornell’s icy demeanor. He wanted to say something but Audrey stopped him.
Audrey took a step forward, looked at Cornell, and said coldly, “Cornell, you are the one who should leave.”
Her words were so harsh that Cornell felt they were tearing him apart. He was about to lose his temper. Fortunately, he was able to restrain himself.
Cornell took Janey from Stefan’s arms and held her tightly. As he looked at her small face, his eyes turned red. “Janey…” His voice was a bit hoarse.
This emotionally charged call startled Audrey.
Stefan, caught off guard momentarily, allowed Cornell to take Janey.
He quickly attempted to take her back, saying, “Mr. Clement, please give Janey back to me.”
Cornell, having been containing his anger in front of Janey, his gaze ice-cold as he retorted, “Who do you think you are to order me to return her to you?”
The more Audrey listened, the more she felt something was wrong. Her heart started to race wildly. She reached out to pull Janey away and said sternly, “Cornell, what are you doing? let go of my daughter!”
Cornell looked cold and restrained. He stared at Audrey for a while and asked coldly, “Are you sure she is just your daughter?”
Audrey was taken aback, not expecting such a sudden question. For a brief moment, her thoughts were in chaos. Her grip on Janey’s clothes tightened involuntarily, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
Cornell observed Audrey closely, not even blinking. He found himself wishing, at that moment, that Audrey would simply say, “Yes, Janey is just my daughter.” This would mean she didn’t know about the mystery surrounding Janey’s paternity, making him feel a bit better.
But Audrey’s averted gaze and the involuntary tightening of her grip told him everything he needed to know. She was aware of him being Janey’s biological father. Worse, she intended to keep this a secret from him.
Janey, still in Cornell’s arms, couldn’t grasp what Cornell and Audrey were talking about but sensed Cornell being mean to her mommy.
She began to cry out in distress, “Daddy Cornell is a baddie… let me go… Don’t bully my mommy!”
Crying, Janey hit Cornell’s chest with her small fists, repeating, “Baddie Daddy Cornell, baddie daddy…”
As upset children often did, Janey’s chant of “baddie Daddy Cornell” soon became “baddie daddy” through her sobs.
This made Audrey’s heart beat faster. In a rush, she reprimanded, “Janey, be polite!” How could Janey call Cornell “Daddy Cornell” or “baddie daddy”? Where did they even come from?
Janey, who initially wanted to stick up for Audrey, now felt wronged as Audrey was scolding her, driving her to seek comfort in Cornell’s arms instead.
Audrey felt at a loss. She didn’t mean to scold Janey but reacted in the moment.
Yet, Cornell’s actions left her dumbfounded.
Despite being assertive previously, he was now gently comforting Janey, patting her back.
Once Janey seemed a little calmer, Cornell softly explained, “Janey, darling, your mommy isn’t mad at you, and I’m not arguing with your mommy .”
He glanced at Audrey and added, “We’re just trying to talk about some things that we need to sort out.”
With tears still in her eyes, Janey looked up and asked uncertainly, “Really? Daddy, you’re not being mean to my mommy?”
Hearing Janey call him “Daddy” warmed Cornell’s heart, immediately washing away any upset feelings. “I promise with all my heart that I will never be mean to you or your mommy.”
Janey’s mood improved slightly, and with a pout, she mumbled, “Daddy, you have to remember what you said. If you lie, your nose will get longer!”
Audrey, feeling a headache coming on, couldn’t figure out when Janey started to comfortably call Cornell “Daddy.” Janey had never called anyone daddy before. Although Stefan had been kind to Janey, she would only sweetly call out his name. This had to stop.
Audrey asked Annis to take Janey outside for some playtime.
Annis approached. Cornell gave Annis a once-over and decided she was reliable. Only then did he gently set Janey on the floor and hand her to Annis.
“Make sure she doesn’t play near the stairs, talk to strangers, or wander into crowded areas. This is a hospital, and it’s full of germs…” Cornell’s extensive list of instructions left both Annis and Audrey momentarily speechless.
Audrey had never seen a man fuss so much.
Annis, understanding his concern, replied, “Got it, sir.” Then, she took Janey away.