Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
After Audrey persisted with her requests, the security staff, noticing her injured hands, felt a twinge of sympathy and said, “You can leave it here. I’ll ask for permission later.”
Audrey was primarily driven by guilt, believing that taking action might alleviate her feelings.
As Audrey set down the thermos, she noticed Cornell approaching.
Clearly, he was here to visit Luciana.
Cornell passed by Audrey without stopping or acknowledging her, continuing on his path.
Audrey paused briefly and then instinctively called out, “Cornell.”
Cornell seemed to reluctantly halt, responding with a nonchalant nod.
His handsome face remained emotionless, exuding an unusually cold demeanor.
Despite any past grievances with Luciana, Audrey was determined to bring Janey to see Luciana. Luciana had ultimately saved them by risking her own life, a debt Audrey couldn’t ignore.
Besides, during Cornell’s disappearance after the explosion, Luciana was the only one who believed in Audrey’s claim of Cornell’s being alive.
With her determination in mind, despite sensing Cornell’s impatience, Audrey still asked, “May I go in to see Luciana?”
“No,” Cornell responded coldly.
Undeterred, Audrey pressed on, “I’ll just take a quick look. I promise not to disturb…”
Before Audrey could finish, Cornell’s chilling voice interrupted her, “If there’s nothing else, please leave. Outsiders are not welcome here.”
Outsiders… Audrey clenched her fist, disheartened by his words.
Despite the evolution of their relationship, she shouldn’t be reduced to the label of “outsider.”
The security staff observed as Audrey asserted her closeness with Luciana moments earlier, her face now burning with embarrassment.
Struggling to maintain her composure, Audrey whispered, “I apologize for the disruption.”
As Audrey prepared to depart, Cornell’s cold voice at the security staff rang out again. “Who permitted you to accept items from outsiders?”
The security staff hastily responded, “I apologize, Mr. Clement. This lady mentioned having a close relationship with your mother.”
“Dispose of it!” Cornelll impatiently commanded.
When Audrey turned back, the soup she had labored over for hours, burning her fingers in the process, had already been discarded into the hospital’s trash bin.
Over the past few days, Audrey repeatedly reminded herself not to be mad at Cornell’s icy demeanor. He must have his reasons. Yet, seeing his lack of appreciation of her efforts, her heart was pierced with anguish.
Approaching Cornell, Audrey was met with Cornell stepping back as though avoiding something unsavory.
Pausing briefly, Audrey silently retrieved the thermos from the bin.
As she lifted it, the sight of her bandaged white fingers caused a fleeting grimace to cross Cornell’s face.
Moments later, Audrey opened the thermos lid, releasing a delightful aroma. In plain sight of everyone, she raised the rescued soup from the trash to her lips and took several sips.
“What are you doing?” Cornell frowned and reached out to take the thermos away, saying firmly, “You shouldn’t drink that.” Who knew what germs were in the hospital’s trash can?
Audrey stepped back, maintaining a cold distance, and said emphatically, “This soup is clean, and so am I. I am not garbage.”
Despite Audrey’s words, she simply wouldn’t jest about her health.
The thermos had a protective design at the mouth, preventing bacteria from entering immediately after it was discarded.
The tense silence was shattered by a child’s voice.
“Meanie!” Janey squirmed out of Victor’s grasp and dashed toward Cornell, her small fists swinging at him. “You meanie! Why did you dispose of the soup my mommy spent hours cooking? Mommy’s hand got burned because of it!”
Cornell’s countenance hardened.
Janey’s anguished cries echoed in the room. “You… I don’t Like you anymore! You meanie! You make my mommy cry! Mommy always cries at night.”
Janey’s desire to find Cornell was to demand answers. Why didn’t Cornell keep his promise? Why did he make Audrey cry? Cornell had vowed to bring happiness to both of them. In such a brief span, why had he caused such sorrow for her mommy?
Children, in their distress, spared no words. Every emotion poured forth.
“Despicable daddy! You’ve become a cruel figure, causing my mommy immense sadness. I refuse to regard you as my daddy any Longer!”
Janey yelled.
With tears streaming down her face, Janey tiptoed to strike Cornell, but suddenly, she lost her balance and fell. Instantly, she collapsed onto the floor, wailing loudly.
Reacting swiftly, Victor scooped Janey up before Audrey could reach Janey.
From their vantage point, it appeared as though Cornell had forcefully pushed Janey away. This instantly kindled Audrey’s fury.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” Audrey charged forward, pushing Cornell with force. Usually a sturdy man, Cornell staggered several steps backward.
At that intense moment, Audrey couldn’t spare a thought for such nuances.
Tears welled in her eyes as Audrey enunciated each word with clarity, “Cornell, I was blind. I misjudged you.”
Moments ago, Cornell’s cold demeanor and the callous act of discarding the thermos had been humiliating, yet Audrey had managed to hold back her tears. But now, she couldn’t contain them any longer. Why did Janey have to endure such treatment?
Tears streamed down Audrey’s face in rapid succession. Each one pierced Cornell’s heart.
Cornell bore the anguish in his heart stoically, refusing to show any emotion.
Meanwhile, Victor, cradling the sobbing Janey, gently tugged at Audrey’s arm, urging her to depart. “Miss, let’s go.”
Audrey, unwilling to expose her disheveled state to others, turned on her heel with resolve.
Behind Audrey, Cornell’s forehead glistened with sweat, his jaw clenched tightly in restraint. He appeared indifferent, refusing to shot them another glance, and strode purposefully into Luciana’s ward.
With a resounding bang, the door slammed shut behind Cornell.
His towering figure suddenly crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.
He struggled to prop himself up on his elbows, attempting to rise, but his legs betrayed him, refusing to cooperate. In an instant, a suffocating wave of weakness engulfed his entire being.
The door swung open once more. Matteo entered, spotting Cornell on the floor, and hurried to his aid. “Mr. Clement…”
After assisting Cornell to the sofa, Matteo dashed toward the door, calling out urgently, “Doctor, doctor.”
“Come back!” Cornell called out to Matteo weakly, his pallid Lips barely moving. “Medicine.”
Matteo retrieved a nondescript small medicine bottle from his pocket, poured out a transparent gel capsule into the cap, and handed it over.
Cornell accepted the medicine and closed his eyes to rest. As the tense muscles slowly eased, his breathing gradually steadied, and the feeling returned to his numb limbs.
Matteo inquired cautiously, “Mr. Clement, would you like some water?”
“No, thank you.” Cornell opened his eyes, bloodshot and weary, with veins pulsating at his temples. The back of his finely tailored suit was soaked with sweat, a testament to the immense effort he had just endured.
“Mr. Clement, don’t you think we should still summon a doctor?”
Matteo’s concern was palpable, questioning the efficacy of relying solely on medication. Taking medicine to alleviate the symptoms might offer temporary relief, but it was clear that it was taking a toll on Cornell’s health.
“It’s unnecessary,” Cornell murmured.
Cornell knew his body had surpassed the point where doctors could offer meaningful assistance. The progression of his condition mirrored exactly what the female doctor had predicted. He was now in the advanced stages of the first treatment regimen. If Luis failed to find a cure within three months, not even divine intervention could save him.
Even now, the lingering anguish from the earlier encounter with Audrey and Janey weighed heavily on Cornell’s heart. But he had no choice. Audrey and Janey were his utmost concern. For their safety, he had to convince everyone that he had forsaken Audrey.
Yet, contemplating it was one thing while executing it was another.
The anguish in his heart surpassed what he could endure. Those he longed to hold close for eternity, he now had to push away…
Cornell clenched and then relaxed his fists, his voice reverting to its hollow indifference. “Did Henley depart?”
“He did. He stood at the corner, observing everything. I’m unsure if he’ll trail Mrs. Clement…” Matteo replied.
Cornell cut him off abruptly, his tone icy with command. “Don’t call her like that again.”
Matteo, accustomed to addressing Audrey as Mrs. Clement, momentarily slipped. “Apologies, Mr. Clement. I meant Miss Foster.”
Cornell’s gaze faltered. At this juncture, Henley likely wouldn’t dare to make any moves. With Victor around Audrey, Henley couldn’t exploit any opportunities.
Matteo reported, “Mr. Henley Clement attempted to bribe the nurse at the station for information regarding your mother’s condition, but fortunately, we had taken precautions.”
In the hospital bed lay a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Luciana.
The real Luciana, however, remained unconscious, having been transferred overseas early on, still dependent on a ventilator in the Icu.