Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Search and rescue teams were on the mission.
Cornell had come to search here guided by Misael. Misael had diligently kept track of the direction in which Audrey had been swept away, refusing to forget even for a moment.
The search area was vast.
Others had already gone to search elsewhere, and Cornell was considering changing his search spot.
Just as he was about to leave, he noticed slight movements in the vines on the ground. He thought it was the wind at first and almost ignored it.
Meanwhile, Audrey, no longer hearing any rescue voices, felt engulfed in despair.
The rain had loosened the soil under her, making her stance increasingly precarious. She realized she couldn’t stay put. The ground was about to collapse.
Feeling the vines’ sturdiness in her grip, Audrey decided to act. At that moment, she made a decision and wrapped the vines around her wrist securely.
Placing her trust in the vines to hold her, she prepared to ascend.
But as she started, a loud noise announced the falling rocks.
The earth split beneath her, creating a wide gap.
Audrey slipped downward, screaming as she fell.
The ground she had been standing on just moments before vanished.
With no other option, Audrey bit her lip, swayed her body to find footing, and attempted to stabilize herself against the wall.
Though she had seen Erick rock climb, she had never done it herself.
Instinctively, she copied climbing techniques, pushing against the stone wall, and began to ascend.
Thankfully, her light weight meant the vines could support her.
Audrey climbed with caution, absorbing the discomfort.
Hope was nearly in her grasp. She was just a few steps from safety.
But then, there was a loud snap echoed.
One vine broke!
With only one vine left, supporting her weight seemed impossible.
Audrey’s heart raced as she hurried her ascent, ignoring the danger from above.
Then, another snap! The other vine that was pulling her gave way.
Audrey’s heart skipped a beat. Desperately, she extended her arm, trying to grab something solid, but her hand closed around a rock that was falling.
Panic engulfed Audrey, her body stiffening as she shut her eyes tight.
Then, suddenly, her wrist was grabbed with force.
Audrey’s body collided with the stone wall, halting her descent. Her arm throbbed with pain as if someone were attempting to pull it from her body.
Struggling, Audrey managed to look up. Amidst the chaos, she saw Cornell’s strikingly attractive face before her.
Their gazes locked, conveying everything without words. Tears filled their eyes.
“Cornell. . Audrey’s voice broke through her tears. She had been convinced she was about to fall.
Never did she imagine Cornell would appear at such a critical moment.
Cornell’s grip was firm, his gaze sharp and focused on her. “Grab my other hand.”
Moving her other arm felt almost impossible for Audrey.
With Cornell sprawled on the ground, pulling Audrey up seemed like an insurmountable task. It was like an impossible feat.
Cornell’s expression hardened as he urged, “Quick!”
Tears blurred Audrey’s vision as she stretched to grasp his arm.
With a grimace, Cornell summoned all his strength to lift her
Just as Audrey felt herself being pulled up a bit, she slid back down.
The earth under Cornell was giving way again, sending a cascade of stones down, causing Audrey to slip further.
The situation was extremely dangerous, made worse by the unstable mountain soaked by days of rain.
Audrey watched as the collapsing area on the ground expanded, her heart turning cold with dread. If this went on, both of them would fall.
Trying to mask her despair, Audrey forced a light tone. “Cornell, didn’t you ask if I missed you?”
“Audrey…” Cornell’s voice was rough, laden with urgency. “Stop talking.” Conserving his energy was crucial for hanging on until the rescue team arrived. In about ten minutes, the guards should find them. They just needed to endure for those ten minutes. The rescue was within reach!
“I miss you…” Audrey said.
The three words hit home, causing Cornell’s body to tremble uncontrollably.
As Audrey spoke again, her tears flowed freely. “I miss you so much…”
All the turmoil seemed trivial now. She was dying. Why couldn’t she confess that she had developed feelings for Cornell? Since her return, Cornell had been good to her. Even when she clung to the past, behaved irrationally, provoked Cornell, made him angry, struck him, he never left her side, always silently protecting her. How much better it would have been if she had seen it sooner! But now…
Tears welled up in Audrey’s eyes as she said softly, “Cornell, let me go…”
Her pleading gaze sent a wave of panic through Cornell. “I won’t let you come to harm!” he said with resolve.
Audrey bit down on her lip so hard it turned white. “Cornell, we can’t afford to fall together!”
After saying this, she made the tough choice to release the grip she had so firmly held.
“Don’t let go!” Cornell roared.
His body inched forward even more.
“Audrey…” Cornell’s voice cracked, echoing his despair. “Hold on!
They will soon find us.”
Sadness filled Audrey’s eyes. She couldn’t lie to herself any longer.
Without action, she would surely pull him down with her. Her expression hardened, and she said coldly, “Cornell, I truly despise you. Let me go!”
Though Cornell realized her intent, her words still stung. A painful smile crossed his lips as he said, “It doesn’t matter even though you despise me. I’m too attached to you!”
Cornell gripped her wrist even more firmly, his eyes fierce and resolute. “Don’t think you can push me away. You’re stuck with me for life!”
With those words, the earth gave way beneath them once more, offering no foothold. They had barely a minute left… Perhaps even less…
Audrey wanted to say something harsh to make him release her, but the thought of their imminent parting brought uncontrollable tears to her eyes. She brushed away the tears, wanting to etch his face in her memory one last time. The deep sorrow and longing urged her to take one more glimpse… “Cornell.” With a blink of her pretty eyes, she said, “I’m sorry…”
“I will save you!” Cornell insisted, a single tear escaping his determined gaze. “I won’t release you.”
“Look after Janey for me,” Audrey said.
Then, in a final act of defiance, before the ground fell away once more, Audrey mustered all her strength to wriggle free from Cornell’s grip.
“No! Audrey!” Cornell’s anguished cry echoed.
Audrey descended gently, Like a butterfly with damaged wings.
As anticipated, the soil above crumbled once more, steadily falling.
Audrey felt relieved, knowing she’d made the correct choice to prevent both of them from tumbling into tragedy.
Suddenly, a figure plummeted down beside Audrey.
Cornell, his eyes red from strain, didn’t hesitate to leap after Audrey fell.
The guards above shouted, “Mr. Clement!”
Disregarding their calls, Cornell’s dark eyes fixed on Audrey, stretching his arm to its limit to catch her.
Audrey’s eyes went wide in disbelief. What she was witnessing seemed unbelievable to her. Cornell actually leaped after her! Tears streamed down her face anew. Didn’t he realize that jumping could lead to his death?
Audrey pushed against the air, reaching upward.
Their fingers barely brushed against each other.