Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Erick froze, momentarily taken aback. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten that Dayton, the guy he despised, was born on the same day as him.
Initially, their shared birthday had brought them closer than other children of nobility.
But Erick had never anticipated Dayton to be a pervert whose eyes were fixated on Elin, a timid and shy girl. It didn’t take long before Dayton proposed to Elin, sparking Erick’s jealousy.
Erick admitted to himself that he lacked Dayton’s courage. In their world, marriage was a strategic move for advancing family interests, not a matter of personal choice.
Not in Erick’s wildest dream did he expect Dayton dared to abuse and torture Elin, the marriage a deliberate move to provide convenience to satisfy his twisted sense of pleasure.
Yet, what truly shocked Erick was Elin’s setting the passcode with Dayton’s birthday, seemingly a sign of her enduring love despite everything.
Erick’s eyes lingered on the old scar on Elin’s shoulder, and he asked, “If you loved him so much, why did you run away?”
Feeling his gaze, Elin tensed and hunched her shoulders, betraying her discomfort. Unlike other women, she felt self-conscious about her back, not proud or confident to display it. The scars on her back were the results of Dayton’s mistreatment of her.
Elin shook her head, her voice soft. “I don’t love him.”
A feeling of joy inexplicably stirred inside Erick’s heart at her words.
Elin continued, “I’ve been his wife for two years. I have gotten used to it.”
It was similar to the chill that swept over Elin every time she thought of Dayton. She had simply become accustomed to it. In public, she had to act like she adored Dayton, bowing to him and praising him…
Habit was indeed more terrifying than love.
Erick was stunned and didn’t expect this. How could Elin have become accustomed to Dayton’s wife?
“Go back to sleep.” Elin gently pushed Erick away and hurried back to her bed. She feared that if she lingered even a second longer, she would not be able to contain her sorrow and her face would betray her despair in front of Erick. She didn’t want his pity.
Erick lingered in the kitchen, lost in thought. When he walked back to the bedroom and saw Elin curled up on one side of the bed, a twinge of pain struck his heart.
The bed was spacious, his own impression from just lying there still visible, yet she had distanced herself so easily.
As the cold wind slipped in, Erick’s thoughts sharpened. Even with his naive understanding of love, he could feel Elin’s detachment. As for their intimacy, she probably acted out of that cursed sense of gratitude.
Elin’s reaction should be seen as a relief, but Erick felt a blockage in his chest, his frustration boiling over. He couldn’t quite pinpoint the cause of his frustration.
After a brief pause, his pride wouldn’t let him stay here any longer.
He quickly dressed, regaining his composed and distant demeanor. He glanced at Elin on the bed, who seemed to be either asleep or feigning sleep. Without a word, he left, closing the door behind him.
The door made a soft rebounding sound.
Elin’s eyes snapped open.
Cap?tulo 869:
The room was silent as a ghost. Not a single sound stirred the air.
Had it not been for the faint woody fragrance clinging to the pillow slept by Erick, one might think Elin was alone.
Elin turned slowly, spreading her arms and placing her hands in the spot where Erick had lain, her palms gradually meeting. It was almost like she was holding him in an embrace.
As the warmth left her hands, the sadness in her heart started to grow, enveloping her completely.
Memories flooded like waves, the past events cold and unyielding Like the sea.
In her youth, Elin knew what it was Like to have a happy life. Her family wasn’t rich, but they were quite comfortable.
Elin’s father held an executive position at a major company, and Elin’s mother, Annis, worked in finance at the same firm. Concerned that she couldn’t look after Elin properly, Annis hired a nanny after Elin was born.
With their income at that time, affording a nanny’s monthly salary was a piece of cake.
But those good times didn’t last. A senior executive at the company began showing interest in Annis, using work as an excuse to harass her. Trapped by their working relationship and authority, Annis endured his advances silently.
Interpreting Annis’ silence as compliance, the executive became more aggressive, eventually luring her to a drinking event to take advantage of her.
Annis desperately fled to the bathroom and called her husband, who rushed to her rescue. He was unfazed by the executive’s high status and determined to defend his wife against any threat.
The incident escalated quickly, with Elin’s dad dialing the cops. But because there were no cameras around the hotel and the power dynamics were tricky, plus the executive didn’t get what he wanted and Annis wasn’t seriously hurt, pressing charges was a tough call.
The company’s leadership talked with Elin’s parents separately, revealing the executive’s ties to the chairman. Suggestion of not to make a big issue of the incident without concrete evidence was given, together with the threat that dropping the charge and apologizing to the executive were required, should Elin’s parents still wanted their jobs. Only then would the executive not pursue the incident further.
Elin’s father was shocked to find they were seen as perpetrators rather than victims. He was adamant about not complying, but Annis, aware of the high stakes, understood that resisting could allow the executive’s influence to damage their reputations even beyond the company. Also, the chairman had promised to transfer Annis to avoid running into the executive again.
Annis consented to drop the case but firmly refused to apologize, insisting they had done nothing wrong.
The company had to agree, and that should be the end of it.
But not long after, retaliation from the executive started. The projects under Elin’s father’s management encountered problems, and then Annis got accused of embezzlement. Things got worse for Elin’s father with his supposed slip-up causing a worker’s fatal fall.
Following their dismissal, the company made a public statement, leading other companies, both big and small, to avoid hiring Elin’s parents.
This led Elin’s father into a spiral of depression and nightly drinking. When intoxicated, he would often blame Annis, accusing her of causing his downfall.
Back then, little Elin, barely five, was always afraid her mother would get hurt.
To keep going, Annis swallowed her pride and took up jobs Like washing dishes and cleaning streets.
Worried about leaving Elin at home with her drunken husband, Annis took Elin with her wherever she went.
Young Elin was a well-behaved child, always patiently waiting for her mother.
Later, Elin’s father, while drunk, accidentally fell into a river and met his end.
Cap?tulo 870:
Following his death, Annis discovered he had mortgaged their home for a so-called business venture, but he actually wasted the money on alcohol.
Annis had to sell the house to pay off the debt. The executive, who had previously harassed her, saw an opportunity with Elin’s father out of the picture and started pursuing her aggressively.
Desperate, Annis reached out to a wealthy lady she had met before, Casey, who was Audrey’s mother.
Upon hearing about Annis’ plight, Casey invited Annis and Elin to move abroad with her family and offered Elin a role as a playmate for Audrey.
This marked the beginning of Elin’s new life with the Foster family.
The Fosters were a kind family, and Elin and Audrey quickly bonded as playmates.
Elin hoped for lasting happiness, but the mysterious disappearance of Casey and Audrey cast a shadow over the household.
Feeling awkward with the situation since it was Casey who had brought her to the Foster family, Annis expressed her wish to leave, but Mr. Foster convinced her to stay and help with the household.
Appreciating Annis’ being efficient and organized, Mr. Foster gave her some chores around the house.
Annis and Elin lived in the servant’s quarters, while Erick, devastated by his sister’s and mother’s disappearance, initially fell into despair.
Scolded by Mr. Foster, Erick eventually gathered himself, committing to his studies and personal development, hoping to find his mother and sister soon.
From a young age, Elin had seen Erick’s determined presence all day.
For her, Erick was like an idol. Despite being outstanding in most aspects, he was always gentle, treating her and her mother with great respect.
At that time, Elin didn’t realize that Erick only saw her as a sisterly figure.
As Erick grew up, his social responsibilities increased, and he often returned home drunk. Fortunately, he had a high tolerance for alcohol.
When drunk, he merely slept soundly, never acting abusively.
During these times, Elin would leave a bowl of sobering soup by his bedside.
Erick would wake and smile at Elin, saying, “Little Elin has grown up, even knowing to bring me sobering soup.”
Noticing the weariness on Erick’s young face, Elin realized how hard he was working to succeed, exerting more effort than most. Hesitantly, she advised, “Mr. Foster, please don’t push yourself too hard. I’m sure you will find your sister and your mother.”
Erick’s eyelids drooped, and he let out a wistful chuckle. “I hope so.”
Seeing his downcast look, young Elin felt a sharp pang of empathy for the first time. She suddenly wanted to smooth out the furrows of worry that marred Erick’s youthful face. Yet, she hesitated to reach out.
After a pause, Elin said with determination, “Mr. Foster, I will also work hard.”
Erick rubbed his temples with graceful fingers and offered a smile.
“Do you have any dreams you wish to pursue?”
Cap?tulo 871:
“My dream is you, Mr. Foster!” Elin confessed boldly.
Erick paused, taken aback. “Me?”