Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
At that moment, Katie’s fingers twitched on the ground, and after a momentary lapse, she regained consciousness. Straining her voice, she called out to the departing figures, “Audrey!”
Audrey stopped in her steps and turned to look at Katie. Though Katie’s face was still a terrifying sight, there was a rare moment of clarity in her eyes.
Katie’s pain had long since vanished, and with her senses numbed, it was clear her end was near. She spoke. “Do you know? Cornell could have been invincible, but because of you, he has a vulnerability. You have no idea how challenging it is for him to keep you safe!”
As blood dripped from the corner of Katie’s mouth, she struggled to say, “You are a deadly ominous person for Cornell. You will ultimately be his downfall… His downfall…”
Katie’s words made Audrey extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully, Cornell was not fully conscious right now, or else handling the situation would have been much more difficult.
Giving Katie a cold stare, Audrey said, “Here’s a piece of advice. Those who do wrong will pay the price. Keep it in mind for your next life, or things will only get worse for you.”
Ignoring Katie’s furious response, Audrey turned and helped Cornell as they walked away.
Cap?tulo 975:
Even then, Katie’s malice hadn’t faded. Her eyes glinted with cruelty as she struggled to rise and chase after the pair.
But halfway there, her arm gave out, causing her to crash back to the floor.
The impact was harsh, and she spat out a mouthful of dark, clotted blood.
As she lay flat, the blood couldn’t flow away and instead pooled back into her throat, choking her.
Katie coughed violently, her arms turning a deep purple, obviously in severe distress from choking.
After the severe fall, her body was completely immobilized, unable to move at all.
She attempted to curse, opening her mouth, but only a hoarse, dry sound escaped.
More blood surged, the clotted mass choking her further, invading her windpipe.
Her coughs continued, with white foam forming at her mouth’s corners, and the sounds of her coughing grew fainter. Her hands pounded the floor as if seeking assistance.
But the building was eerily silent, save for the unconscious man under Lorenzo’s leadership.
Eventually, Katie’s body began to convulse violently in a final struggle. After that, she became completely rigid…
Audrey helped Cornell toward the elevator. Now that the building was secure and free from external threats, it was much safer and easier to use the elevator rather than the stairs, which would have been too taxing for her to manage.
Once inside the elevator, Audrey leaned Cornell against the wall and took a moment to catch her breath.
She reached to press the floor button and turned around to see Cornell staring at her with his piercing eyes, not blinking.
Startled, Audrey quickly reached out to feel his forehead, asking, “How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
Suddenly, Cornell grasped her wrist and asked in a raspy voice, “Audrey… Am I dreaming?”
He lifted his calloused hand to caress her cheek. “Is this real?”
He seemed delirious from the fever, feeling like he was experiencing a dream.
Audrey stood still, letting his blood-stained hand gently stroke her face. She responded with patience and tenderness, “It’s me. I’m really here…”
Before she could finish, Cornell abruptly pulled her closer and wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her firmly. His arms encircled her like vines, securely holding her, yet he remained silent. He simply held her, savoring the realness of her touch.
Audrey felt the tight squeeze, but she did not pull away.
At that moment, they both needed each other.
His voice, slightly choked up, broke the silence. “Just now, I had another dream about you. In it, you turned to look at me and embraced me at last…”
This made Audrey’s nose tingle and her heart fill with a bittersweet sensation. It turned out that during all the painful days they had endured, he had dreamt of her repeatedly.
In his dreams, she had always seemed distant and indifferent. That was why Cornell thought the embrace they just shared might be another dream, a beautiful illusion.
Cap?tulo 976:
Convinced he was dreaming, Cornell freely hugged Audrey and ki*sed her hair. His eyes, filled with emotion, looked into hers. “I miss you so much, but I can’t see you…”
Audrey’s heart melted, her emotions surging. “You can. Whenever you want, you can see me.”
Cornell opened his eyes and gazed at Audrey. His eyes, inflamed and feverish, glowed with a reddish hue. His intense stare almost convinced Audrey he had regained his clarity.
Cornell then ki*sed Audrey’s hair tenderly and murmured in a clear, deep voice, “This is nice. I don’t want to wake up.”
Audrey’s nose tingled, and she could no longer hold back her emotions.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks Like pearls.
Cornell reached out, gently wiping her tears away, and whispered, “Please don’t cry. It pains my heart when you do.”
Despite her efforts to stay composed, Audrey couldn’t restrain herself. With tears streaming down her face, she sobbed. “Cornell, just hold on a little longer. We’re going to the hospital soon. Once you’re better, we can be a family again, just…”
Her words were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a “ding.” The elevator doors opened.
Audrey’s face brightened with hope at the sight.
A short distance from the elevator, at the main entrance, special security forces fully armed were making their entry. Outside, sirens wailed and ambulances cried out.
These repetitive, once monotonous sounds now struck her as the most beautiful music, heralding their safety.
Audrey supported the weakened Cornell and managed to say, “Look, Cornell, it’s the special forces. Just a few more steps and we’ll be at the hospital. Once you’re better, it’ll be the three of us… No…”
She paused, wiping away a tear, and corrected herself. “The five of us can be happy together…”
Suddenly, a deep, cautionary shout came from outside. “Be careful!”
Audrey looked up to see a man dressed in black, aiming a gun at her.
As the warning echoed, the man swiftly pulled the trigger. The muzzle of the gun was pointed straight at Audrey’s forehead.
Illuminated by the stark, bright light outside, every detail was visible. The deep murderous intent shone in the man’s deep blue eyes.
In shock, Audrey stared at the man, unable to fathom why he would want to kill her.
The bullet was just millimeters from her face.
Suddenly, a wave of confusion, fear, and panic swept over Audrey.
Sensing danger, Cornell’s eyes snapped open. With unexpected strength, he twisted his body and shoved Audrey aside.
“Bang!” Audrey watched in horror as the bullet struck Cornell in the chest, causing bright red blood to burst forth like a grotesquely blooming dahlia.
The world seemed to halt.
Cap?tulo 977:
After a moment of deafening silence, Audrey screamed, “Cornell!”
Cornell fell slowly before Audrey, his movements eerily similar to slow motion in a movie, deeply etching the scene in her memory.
Suddenly, Katie’s harsh voice echoed in Audrey’s mind. “You are a deadly ominous person for Cornell!”
“You two together is a mistake!”
“You will be his downfall… His downfall…”
A bitter sweetness swelled in Audrey’s throat, and an uncontrollable heat surged from her chest.
“Puh!” Audrey spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Cornell lay in a pool of bright red blood, forming a crimson puddle on the ground.
It felt as if Audrey’s heart was being repeatedly pierced by something sharp, inflicting unbearable pain. She crawled to Cornell and cradled him in her arms, tears streaming down her face.
“Cornell…”
Cornell’s eyes fluttered open weakly, and he attempted to lift his hand, but it was too heavy. Any movement caused his chest to bleed profusely, like a ruptured dam.
Audrey pressed her hand against his wound, but the blood surged through her fingers, unstoppable.
Cornell’s eyelids grew heavy. He could no longer speak, and his eyes slowly closed.
Audrey cried out in desperation, “No… Cornell, don’t… Wake up… Please wake up…”
Despite her pleas, Cornell’s eyes remained tightly shut, showing no sign of response.
It might have been Audrey’s imagination, but the warmth from his body seemed to be fading, turning cold. She had never felt such terror.
It was as if she had lost an entire world.