Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Erick grabbed Audrey’s icy cold hand. He quickly wrapped his suit around her and helped her sit on the sofa.
At that moment, Erick fully grasped what mattered most. Once he made sure Audrey was safe, he would pursue justice. Anyone who dared hurt his sister would regret it!
Erick knelt in front of Audrey and asked, “Are you feeling okay?”
Her eyes hollow, Audrey struggled to speak. “Erick, why did he abandon me, even though he had sacrificed himself just to save me?”
Erick’s throat tightened, his voice slightly hoarse as he said, “He’s such a fool.”
Audrey’s heart ached terribly. Letting go didn’t mean she had moved on. Rather, her upbringing and self-respect wouldn’t let her cling to the past.
“Erick…” Audrey leaned her head on Erick’s shoulder and suddenly burst into tears. “That Cornell who used to be so kind to me… He’s really gone.”
After enduring so much mentally, the sudden breakdown was not unexpected.
As Audrey grew up, she rarely cried so unabashedly, disregarding her image. This time, however, it wasn’t the silent tears she usually shed. She cried out loud in desperation, with no regard for how she appeared.
Her brother and father were always her sanctuary. Audrey felt no need to put on any facade around them.
As Erick watched Audrey cry, he felt helpless, his shaky hands gently patting her back to comfort her. From their childhood, Audrey was always considerate. Whenever she enjoyed a tasty treat or received a gift, she made sure to share it with him.
Audrey’s disappearance later became a silent ache in Erick’s heart.
He was thankful, though, that once they reunited, it was as if no time had passed. They connected just as easily as they had as children.
Erick, who had no other siblings, had once promised their father he would always look after Audrey. But now he deemed himself failed to keep his promise due to Audrey’s distress.
With a tight throat and a rough voice, Erick said, “Audrey, you still have me. Our dad and mom are all waiting to see you again…”
After crying for a while and releasing her built-up emotions, Audrey felt much better. She inhaled deeply and then turned to reassure Erick, “Erick, I’m okay now. Tomorrow, I’ll get back to my work.”
Erick frowned. “No need to hurry. Your health…”
“My health is fine, Erick. I’ve got something else to share with you.”
“What is it?”
Audrey paused, her hand resting on her abdomen. She took a deep breath and said, “I plan to keep the babies. I will go abroad for the delivery in five months.”
Audrey had made up her mind. She would focus on her studio work for these few weeks, and when the late stage of her pregnancy arrived, she would entrust everything to the manager.
With her less than pronounced baby bump, coupled with the fluffy clothes required by the cold weather, she could easily conceal her pregnancy until the five-month mark.
As for the decision to deliver abroad, Audrey wanted to cut any ties with the Clement family regarding her unborn children. With her competence and family resources, she knew she could give her children a great life without any worries.
Audrey wanted the babies, partly for Janey to have company, and partly because her mother was still missing, and she wished for a warm big family. She also wanted to keep the children herself.
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Erick’s voice tightened as he said, “If you want to keep the babies, go ahead. We can afford it.”
As a loving brother, Erick always backed Audrey’s choices without question. He actually opposed the idea of an abortion since it took a toll on Audrey’s health. It seemed better to go through with the pregnancy, ensuring the Foster family grew.
Erick squeezed Audrey’s hand gently, offering comfort, “It’ll be tough, but you can handle it.”
After thinking it over, Audrey said, “Dad’s health isn’t great, so let’s keep this between us. I’ll tell him when I pay him a visit in two months.”
Erick nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
Noticing Audrey seemed calmer, Erick stood up and reassured her, “Take it easy. Head to the studio after some rest. Don’t fret. Elin will oversee things there. It’s late and I’m heading back now.”
As Erick turned to leave, Audrey stood up and called out, “Erick.”
Erick paused in his tracks and turned to face her.
“There’s one more thing. You have to promise me.”
“What is it?”
“Cornell didn’t actually bully me today. We just had different viewpoints, which led to an argument. Please don’t confront him about this,” Audrey said earnestly.
Erick felt a lump in his throat as he realized Audrey had read his mind. He lifted his eyelids slightly and calmly said, “Fine.”
“No, you really need to promise me.” Audrey knew Erick all too well.
Erick’s eagerness to leave right now suggested his urge to confront Cornell.
“Audrey…” Erick hesitated, reluctant to make such a promise.
“Erick, I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. I want to see him as a stranger. However, he is still the father of my child. I don’t want my kids to learn about the tension between you two,”
Audrey pled.
On one hand, there was their father, and on the other, their beloved family. The children loved both sides too much to let go of either.
When they got a bit older, Audrey planned to tell them about their father. As for meeting their father and his family, she would let the children decide when the time came.
Erick finally loosened his tightly clenched fist, and gritted his teeth. “Okay, I promise. I’ll leave him alone.”
Audrey rested for a bit.
Ever since Cornell had fallen into the sea, she hadn’t slept well.
She would often wake up suddenly, feeling a sharp pain in her heart, and the loneliness that followed made it hard for her to go back to sleep.
Over time, her ability to sleep well worsened.
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Yet, last night, perhaps because she had let go of her obsession, she experienced none of her usual unsettling dreams.
Audrey didn’t sleep much, but she managed to stay asleep without waking in the middle of the night.
After getting ready for the day, Audrey went with Annis to take Janey to kindergarten.
Today marked Janey’s final half-day there, and Janey chose to bid farewell to her classmates on her own.
Given the previous incident, Audrey felt uneasy and opted to move Janey overseas sooner than planned. Currently pregnant and low on energy, plus juggling studio responsibilities, she worried about Janey’s safety.
Thus, Audrey arranged for Janey and Annis to stay with her father ahead of schedule. After all, she
herself would be joining them abroad in just two months.
At the airport, Janey’s eyes welled up with tears, making it hard to part.
Audrey felt a pang of sadness. If it were up to her, she wouldn’t want Janey away from her side for even a moment. Yet, there were still many things left unsorted in the studio. She needed to take care of them before leaving.
Audrey crouched down, hugged Janey, and said with a raspy voice, “Be good, my love. Please keep your grandpa company for me. He always tells me how much he misses you.”
Janey, who had spent some time in Ardlens, felt a pang of missing her grandfather. With teary eyes, she nodded. “Mommy, make sure you take care of yourself. Eat regularly and get plenty of sleep.”
When parting, Audrey embraced Janey tightly, her heart heavy with reluctance. “Be good, listen to Annis and Victor while traveling, okay?”
Janey nodded obediently, flashed a bright smile to ease her mother’s worries, and cheerfully walked ahead with Annis.
Audrey turned to Victor and said, “Victor, I’m counting on you to look after Janey and Annis. The bodyguard my dad sent should be at the airport by now. Take Janey to the mansion and then come back.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Janey arrives safely at the mansion.”
Victor then expressed her concerns, “Please be careful in Ardlens.”
“It’s fine. Judd is with me.”
After they boarded the plane, Audrey got into her car and headed back to the studio.
On the elevated road, she watched the city shrink behind her and the plane ascend into the sky.
Audrey knew she had to stay strong. Three children would soon rely on her care, and she couldn’t afford to feel down.
Back at the studio, Audrey worked nonstop for five days straight until Erick insisted she rest at home due to feeling unwell.
A day of rest did Audrey good. Rising to use the bathroom, she froze at the sight of a gray soap on the washstand.
Opening the drawer and checking the cabinet, she realized Cornell had left many of his things behind. He had become sly once he moved into her villa, gradually filling it with his belongings. Audrey found traces of him everywhere she looked.
Audrey spent half the day cleaning out his stuff. She boxed up all his items and asked her assistant to send them off via local courier.
She addressed the packages to Matteo.
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