Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“What happened? Did you two argue again?” Nicole inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Audrey shook her head, saying, “Not exactly. That’s what’s puzzling me.”
Cornell hadn’t been answering her calls or responding to her texts, leaving Audrey clueless about what might have gone wrong this time.
Audrey even replayed their last meeting in her mind, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Yet, everything seemed normal, and she couldn’t pinpoint the cause behind Cornell’s shift in demeanor.
Was it because she forgot about their appointment the other night?
After giving it some thought, Audrey dismissed that thought. She doubted Cornell would be cold to her just because of this.
But then, why? Was it just a fleeting interest Cornell had in her, and now he had lost that interest? Audrey couldn’t pin down the reason and started to feel down.
Seeing Audrey looking upset, Nicole stayed quiet for a bit before saying, “You know, I think the best way to get to the bottom of this is to just talk to Cornell directly. Makes sense, right? If you two have a misunderstanding, clear it up. If not, at least you’ll understand where he stands.”
Audrey agreed with a nod. She decided to have a chat with Cornell in person.
After her talk with Nicole ended, Audrey tried calling Cornell again, but got no answer.
Next, Audrey tried calling Matteo. Matteo picked up right away, though it was quite noisy where he was.
Moving to a quieter spot, Matteo raised his voice and said, “Miss Foster, I’m sorry, but Mr. Clement can’t make it over to your place tonight.”
Hearing this, Audrey asked straight out, “Where is he now?”
“Um… Matteo hesitated for a second.
“Matteo, I need to know where Cornell is. I have to talk to him.”
Matteo sneaked a peek at Cornell, whose good-looking features were shadowed by a somber expression. He took a deep breath silently and whispered, “Mr. Clement’s in VIP Room Three at the Kingbel Club. I’ll let the receptionist know not to stop you.”
Upon hearing this, Audrey felt irritated and frustrated. Cornell hadn’t returned her calls or texts, but he was out enjoying himself at the club? So, he was not swamped with work as she had convinced herself. Yet, he didn’t bother to text her back and kept her waiting.
Audrey disliked this situation. Even if Cornell had lost interest in her, he could have at least had the decency to tell her face-to-face.
After entrusting Janey in Annis’ care, Audrey headed straight to the Kingbel Club.
Upon her arrival, Audrey was escorted by a waiter to the chamber where Cornell was in.
The moment the waiter opened the door, Audrey was greeted by a woman’s Laughter.
Inside the chamber, a woman giggled and said, “Mr. Clement, have a drink…”
Audrey stopped in her tracks, her complexion turning white in an instant.
Matteo, who had just entered from outside, was initially surprised at the sight of Audrey. Yet, when he caught sight of what was happening inside the chamber, his expression shifted to one of shock.
Matteo had only stepped out for a brief moment, and Mr. Ortega had already invited two women in revealing outfits to join them for drinks.
Furthermore, one of the women positioned herself strategically next to Cornell, deliberately leaned to him with her upper body slightly bent. Her clothes moved up with her movement, revealing part of her skin. She used the excuse of urging Cornell to take a sip to keep chatting with him.
Matteo sighed. He had invited Audrey over to break the ice, not to make things worse. “Miss Foster, it’s… Well, please don’t misunderstand…”
Matteo attempted to clarify the situation but found himself struggling to find the right words momentarily.
Suddenly, Audrey asked, “Matteo, was there anything wrong with Mr. Clement yesterday?”
“Well…” Matteo couldn’t precisely point out what had gone wrong. He was just an assistant. Cornell wouldn’t share his mental activities with him.
After pondering for a short while, Matteo replied, “Mr. Clement had wrapped up a meeting yesterday and hurried back to Berton. Then, he headed to the market for some seafood. Once he headed to your house and found you weren’t there, he checked and found out you had gone to Ashfield. He then dashed off to Ashfield…”
Audrey pieced it together. So, Cornell was in Ashfield when they talked via phone last night. Perhaps he even saw Stefan. So, he was mad and chose to ignore her messages and calls. He went to this club instead of her place since he was still annoyed.
“Miss Foster, please don’t leave yet. How about I arrange a room for you to wait…” Matteo suggested.
“There’s no need for that,” Audrey cut in and strode into the chamber elegantly.
When Audrey first laid eyes on the scene inside the chamber, she hesitated, wanting to leave. She couldn’t find the courage within herself to walk in and ask Cornell.
Yet, Matteo’s words had given her a new perspective. If Cornell was mad due to his misunderstanding about the previous night, it needed to be cleared up.
As soon as Audrey stepped in, Cornell’s gaze was locked on her. She donned a classic little red dress with slender black straps, looking exceptionally charming.
Cornell let out a dismissive snort. The nights in Ardlens were still chilly, but Audrey appeared indifferent to the cold.
Cornell hadn’t accepted the drink from the woman beside him. Instead, he grabbed a nearby glass and finished it in one gulp.
“Didn’t you just say you can get Mr. Clement to drink your glass?” Mr. Ortega teased the woman beside Cornell, “If he doesn’t drink, you’ll have to undress yourself…”
The woman, looking pitiful, tugged at Cornell’s sleeve and pleaded, “Mr. Clement, do you really want to see me undress? Can’t you show a bit of mercy?”
While she talked, she leaned in closer to Cornell, the thin fabric of her dress barely concealing her form. She was using all her charms to seduce Cornell.
In her view, winning over Cornell was all that mattered, even if it meant undressing herself. Her friends had all prospered similarly, enjoying lavish lifestyles since then.
The woman hadn’t settled yet because she was choosy, unwilling to compromise for just any affluent man. Yet, Cornell checked all her boxes. He was handsome, well-built, and exuded a subtle naughtiness that was utterly captivating. She vowed to charm him over.
When Cornell remained detached, the woman rolled her eyes secretly, intending to employ her usual tactics. Her grip on the glass of wine tilted slightly, making it appear she “accidentally” spilled the drink on his pants. Only then could she make advances on him. She smirked, thinking no men could resist being dabbed the spill away with her chest.
But before the woman could pour the wine on Cornell’s pants, a slender, graceful hand stopped her.
Audrey, approaching from the side, gently interjected, “Let’s be careful not to spill the drink, miss.”
The woman was at a loss for words. Irritated, she wondered about Audrey’s identity, daring to interfere with her schemes. “Are you new around here? Don’t you know how things work here? Who gave you the right to interfere?”
Audrey responded calmly, “I noticed your hand shaking violently and wondered if you were dealing with Parkinson’s Mr. Ortega couldn’t contain his amusement and burst into laughter.
What a way to interpret the situation!
A hint of a smile appeared on Cornell’s face, but he quickly hid it.
Humph! He was still upset. He had to keep his poker face.
“You!” The woman grasped her chest, struggling to articulate her frustration.
Audrey chose not to engage further with the woman. Turning her attention to Cornell, she asked, “Could we have a word?”
Despite his urge to look up at Audrey, Cornell, without so much as a glance, grabbed another drink and stated icily, “I’m busy.” His voice was devoid of any warmth, treating Audrey as if she were a stranger.
Audrey felt a pang of hurt. “I just need a moment.”
Noticing Mr. Ortega’s fixed stare on Audrey, Cornell’s irritation grew. He knitted his brows and said impatiently, “I told you I’m busy. Isn’t that clear enough?”
“Matteo!” Cornell questioned, “What are you waiting for?” His implication was to have Matteo show Audrey to the door.
Matteo was puzzled, wondering if the alcohol had dulled Cornell’s senses.
Audrey got straight to the point, asking, “Cornell, were you in Ashfield last night?”
The question seemed to strike a nerve, as Cornell’s look turned even colder. He retorted, “Asking about my whereabouts? Who do you think you are to me?”
Audrey inhaled deeply and confessed, “I’m someone who wants to give us a try. Does that count for anything?”
Audrey’s words stirred something in Cornell, his desire to draw her into his arms burning. She wanted to give them a try? But why did she lie to him last night? She was with Stefan the previous night, yet she claimed she was with someone he wasn’t familiar with. He had rushed over upon learning her whereabouts, only to meet with her entering the hotel with Stefan. Nah! He couldn’t stomach that.
Reflecting on the previous night, Cornell clenched his teeth, his voice icy and sharp. “You want to give us a try? Do you think you’re skilled at playing games?”
Cornell’s face turned stern, exuding a daunting aura.
Audrey felt a chill. She bit her lip, saying, “I didn’t…”
But Audrey was interrupted by a mocking voice nearby. “So, you’ve been rejected and you’re pathetically holding on. Drop the act of being decent!”
The woman assumed Audrey was one of her kind.
Clad in fine clothes, Audrey appeared affluent, clearly not sharing the woman’s occupation.
But to the woman, Audrey was just another poor thing dumped by a man, no better than herself. “What a sight! This gentleman has turned you away and here you are, shamelessly trying to win him back!”
Her words irked Cornell, his hand tightening around the glass, nearly shattering it. He struggled to keep his composure, finding it hard to tolerate any baseless accusations directed at Audrey. He was agitated, knowing this wasn’t a good sign.
Oblivious to Cornell’s darkened face, the woman stood up, brushing past Audrey on purpose. It was a clear challenge.
Audrey, repulsed, took a step back and offered a smile, remarking, “It seems you’re not aware of who’s truly pitiful here.”
The woman’s expression hardened. “What are you implying?”
Audrey’s smile was faint. “Maybe I got it wrong. It seems you’re fine with being a lover, so maybe my sympathy is misplaced.”
The woman was stunned by Audrey’s boldness, having assumed Audrey was one of her kind. Shouldn’t Audrey be trying to win Cornell back? How could Audrey insult her in Cornell’s presence?