Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
As the door shut behind her, Jimena caught a glimpse of Davey on his knees, cradling Casey’s delicate fingers as though they were treasures, tenderly removing the dried blood. His expression, a blend of gentleness and sorrow, sent a shiver down Jimena’s spine.
With her heart racing, Jimena made her way downstairs, her mind racing over the events that had just unfolded.
During the needle removal, Jimena had noticed Casey’s fingers twitch, a sign of life from someone who had been in a coma since a tragic fall five years prior.
Davey had exhausted every possible remedy with no success, eventually turning to acupuncture under Jimena’s hand.
Despite the lack of progress over the years, Davey’s hope never waned.
It seemed Casey was on the brink of awakening. Yet, Jimena hesitated to raise her hopes or speak of it to Davey. The fear of what might happen if this were merely a fleeting moment of consciousness was too great. The fate of the man who had erred twice and met his end in the jaws of sharks lingered in her mind as a grim warning.
Meanwhile, at the office, Nicole sat at her desk, closely watched by the observers Jarrod had sent over.
As she reached for her coffee, a slip of her hand sent it sprawling across her white suit, leaving a conspicuous stain. Muttering a curse, Nicole stood up and headed for the company’s lounge, hoping to find some way to clean the mess.
As Nicole entered the lounge, the bodyguard dressed in black trailed behind her. Nicole placed a hand against his chest, a playful challenge in her eyes. “Is it Jarrod’s orders to shadow me even to the shower?” she asked with a hint of amusement.
The bodyguard, maintaining a facade of professionalism, replied with a solemn tone, “Miss lawrence, I apologize, but Alec instructed me to accompany you at all times.”
“Alright then,” Nicole said, her tone shifting as she playfully pulled at his tie, her smile turning inviting. Such a gesture was boldly provocative.
The bodyguard’s composure faltered momentarily, a blush creeping up his earlobes despite his efforts to remain composed. He hesitantly followed her inside.
Without a second thought, Nicole shed her blazer, letting it fall to his feet, revealing a strapless black top that accentuated her figure.
The simplicity of the black attire became a statement of allure on her.
The bodyguard, caught off guard, managed a cough. “Miss lawrence, could you please proceed inside to get changed?”
“Who said I was going to change my clothes?” Nicole countered, her approach smooth as she slipped out of her heels, her gaze bold and teasing.
She traced a finger along the bodyguard’s shoulder, her voice sultry, hinting at an unspoken invitation. “Aren’t you aware that a coffee spill calls for a shower?”
Her playful scrutiny intensified as she noticed his flushed face, her smile widening. She lightly touched his chin, the teasing in her voice unmistakable. “Why don’t you see if Mr. Schultz’s acquaintances measure up?”
Nicole turned, her hand poised on her skirt’s zipper, appearing ready to take it off at any second.
The bodyguard dressed in black started to panic. Sweat beaded on his forehead and back, the thought of spying on Jarrod’s woman filled him with fear. He would never dare to do so.
Even the mere thought of approaching someone Jarrod had let go was unthinkable for men of his caliber. Plus, Nicole had slept with Jarrod.
In his rush to leave, the bodyguard quickly left the room, slamming the door before Nicole could undress.
Once she heard the door shut, Nicole allowed a small smirk, grabbing a towel on her way to the shower.
Finishing her shower swiftly, she wrapped up in the towel and pressed a hidden switch on the wall, unveiling a secret room.
Inside, a detailed map of intricate relationships and numerous photos adorned a blackboard.
Nicole plugged a USB into the computer.
Her earlier rushed visit to Jarrod’s mansion had only allowed her to download files from one folder, not yet reviewed by her.
To her astonishment, the drive was filled with compromising photos and videos of Mr. Hampton, caught in unsavory moments with various women.
Nicole was aware of Jarrod’s extreme prudence, presumably keeping such material on close associates as a safeguard. These were evidently his blackmail reserves, possibly crafted by his hand.
The release of these photos would cause significant harm to the Hampton family, impacting both their market and corporate standing, particularly with whispers of the Hampton family elder’s influential ties.
Inspired, Nicole edited the images to obscure crucial details before anonymously emailing them to Mr. Hampton. Having indirect ties to the Hampton family made acquiring his contact easy.
A prompt reply came from Mr. Hampton “Who the hell are you?”
Nicole replied, “That’s not your concern.”
He pressed, “What do you want?”
Nicole responded. “Let’s strike a deal.”
Feeling somewhat hopeful, Mr. Hampton asked, “You’re after money? Name your price.”
Nicole replied, “Money is not my objective.”
Mr. Hampton asked, “Then what is it you want?”
Nicole stated, “A contract from five years back.”
Mr. Hampton went quiet before texting back, “I’m not following you.”
Nicole responded with a hint of amusement, “Perhaps the spread of these photos and videos across the internet will jog your memory.”
Mr. Hampton replied, “How do we proceed?”
“Just wait for my instruction.”
After sending the message, Nicole uploaded the incriminating content to a cloud server so secure it was nearly unbreakable. Feeling a sense of completion, she destroyed the USB by crushing it under her foot.
She then wet her hair again in the bathroom, got dressed, and left the room.
The bodyguard, waiting for her, approached immediately, and said, “Miss lawrence, it’s time for you to return to the villa.”
Nicole couldn’t suppress a smirk at this. “Let’s go,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Audrey had been engrossed in her studio work all day.
At lunchtime, her phone rang with a video call from Cornell. She picked up the call.
Cornell’s handsome face appeared on the screen, somehow seeming more vivid than ever before. “Did I catch you during lunch?”
Audrey softly affirmed with a “yes.”
“Let me see what you’re eating.” Cornell’s voice filled the speaker.
Audrey aimed the camera at her meal, listing the dishes. “Radish seed salad, broccoli, and steamed bass.”
“It looks delicious, but you’re missing a soup. Who cooked?”
“The housekeeper,” Audrey said.
“What will you be cooking for me?” Cornell suddenly asked.
Pondering briefly, still unsure, Audrey responded teasingly, “As if you’d have any choice. You’ll eat whatever I make.”
Cornell smiled warmly at her playful defiance. “I’m easy to please.
Anything you make will be perfect.”
“And when would you like for the meal?”
Cornell observed her eating a broccoli piece, finding her expression endearingly cute. “How about tomorrow night? Are you available?”
If it weren’t for an important meeting the next morning, his eagerness would have made it impossible to wait! He was exceptionally eager to see her!
Audrey thought about her schedule. She needed to deliver some medicine the next day due to a previous commitment, but that was scheduled for the afternoon. The delivery was in the Ashfield, a quiet suburb of Ardlens. It would take just over an hour to get there. She could surely return by the afternoon.
“Tomorrow night works,” Audrey said in agreement.
Cornell’s demeanor lightened further, delighted by her confirmation.
He then playfully focused on her lips and teased, “Your lips…”
“What about them?” Audrey asked, checking her reflection but noticing nothing unusual.
“Lean in with your ear, and I’ll whisper it,” Cornell said, his tone playful.
Curious and slightly wary, Audrey brought the phone closer to her ear.
Then, she heard his voice, soft and alluring, whispering closely.
“Your lips seem so inviting for a kiss.”
A wave of blush washed over Audrey’s face in an instant. Surrounded by people, this flirtatious comment felt thrillingly sweet.
Their intimate banter, amidst the crowd’s noise, gave Audrey the sense that they were deeply in love.
Audrey lightly scolded, “There’s a crowd here…”
Cornell’s smile turned mischievous. “Which is why I whispered it, just for you.”
His allure radiated through the screen, disarmingly attractive.