Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Stefan was always candid. He believed Cornell’s behavior was tied to Audrey, and he felt it was her right to know the truth.
Audrey was taken aback. So, it was Cornell in the black SUV today…
This explained the uneasy feeling she had when she spotted the vehicle.
Observing her silence, Stefan ventured, “Audrey, how do you want to handle Mr. Clement’s situation?”
Asking this made Stefan somewhat nervous. He could tell that Audrey still harbored deep feelings for Cornell, evident from their past in Ardlens. Despite their tumultuous relationship, their affection seemed enduring.
Recently, Stefan learned that Cornell had been attempting to resolve some issues for Audrey, albeit clumsily, which only resulted in more pain and misunderstanding between them. This had led Audrey to distance herself from Cornell, even during her pregnancy.
Ideally, this conversation would have been Erick’s to initiate, not his. But driven by his emotions today, Stefan needed to understand Audrey’s intentions.
Regardless of Audrey’s decision, Stefan resolved to respect it. Even if it meant that she still loved Cornell and chose to return to him…
Stefan would conceal his own feelings and wish them happiness.
Meeting Stefan’s earnest gaze, Audrey murmured, “I don’t know yet, but I want to wait until he wakes up.”
Stefan responded softly, “Okay, don’t worry. The doctors here are very professional.”
After a thorough examination, Cornell had an IV needle in his wrist.
The doctor explained that the implant in his knee had been displaced due to carelessness. Once displaced, it could cause severe inflammation, which the doctor noted was quite painful.
It was astonishing how Cornell had managed to endure the pain and remain in Aurora for several days without seeking medical attention.
The recommended treatment involved replacing the knee implant and requiring Cornell to avoid using his leg for two months to ensure proper healing. This meant Cornell would need to remain bedridden for the next two months.
Considering the urgency, Audrey, despite the late hour, called Luis, a medical expert.
Luis was shocked by the situation and repeatedly referred to Cornell as a lunatic for his negligence.
Luis was aware that Cornell had attended Audrey’s wedding but was unaware that he had stayed behind in Aurora while letting Matteo return alone.
The cold, humid climate of Aurora was detrimental to recovery, exacerbating Cornell’s leg condition.
With the added complication of inflammation, managing surgery in Aurora was feasible, but the post-operative recovery would be challenging in such an unsuitable climate.
Luis then suggested that it would be wiser for Cornell to return to Ardlens for the surgery, where conditions were more favorable for a quick recovery. He added, “Knowing that the cold and damp are bad for his leg and still choosing not to return, it seems he doesn’t care about his leg anymore…”
Audrey was taken aback, realizing the gravity of the situation, and asked in a worried tone, “Luis, why is his condition so severe?”
Audrey assumed Cornell had been resting for almost two months. How could it worsen?
Luis hesitated. “It’s actually not too bad…”
Audrey was skeptical. Seeing Cornell’s pale face and the way the Aurora doctors had shaken their heads, she suspected the situation was dire.
“Luis, I need to know the real condition of his leg. Can you be honest with me?” she asked, her lips pursed in concern. “I could find out myself if I really wanted to, but I’d prefer to get the most objective assessment from you.”
Luis sighed deeply and confessed, “Audrey, I’ll be honest. He hasn’t truly rested even for a day in the past two months. They recommend a two-month recovery, but his condition is worse than what some patients achieve in just a week. He’s suffering from severe insomnia, hardly sleeping at night and getting only three to four hours of rest during the day. The rest of the time, he’s working. Think about it, how could his recovery possibly go well?”
“His tendon recovery is insufficient…” Luis continued with a lot of medical jargon that Audrey couldn’t fully grasp.
In essence, if Cornell refused to return to Ardlens for surgery and insisted on staying in Aurora, the prognosis was not promising.
As for how dire the situation could be, Luis was vague. He used many technical terms, but skirted around the most critical issues.
“What does ‘not too good’ mean?” Audrey pressed. “How bad is it, really?”
Luis cleared his throat before replying softly, “In cases like this, amputation has sometimes been considered…”
Audrey was stunned into silence, her mind reeling for a full minute.
For a moment, she wondered if Luis was overstating the situation. How could it possibly lead to amputation?
The thought of Cornell, once so admired, potentially facing such a drastic measure was overwhelming. What would become of him if it came to that? The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Audrey.
Although she found it hard to believe, Cornell’s unnaturally pale complexion made Audrey consider that Luis might not be exaggerating after all. Cornell had been unconscious in the hospital for several days before. If his recovery continued poorly, amputation seemed a frightening but real possibility.
Audrey’s fingers clenched tightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ll convince him to return.”
Luis let out a deep sigh. “It’s going to be tough. You two really…”
Luis sighed again, his words trailing off into silence.
Matters of the heart were indeed too complicated. No one was to blame. Fate was cruel, both binding and separating…
After ending the call, Audrey stood silently for a long while, lost in thought.
Stefan observed her pale face, the shadows from her eyelashes casting a melancholic look. Unable to bear seeing her this distressed, he urged her to rest. “Audrey, listen to me, you need to rest for the baby.”
“Stefan…” Audrey suddenly spoke up, her voice resolute. “I need to bring him back for treatment.”
She looked up at Stefan, her decision clear in her eyes. “You need to help me.”
Stefan felt a wave of relief mixed with resignation wash over him.
He had debated whether to tell Audrey that Cornell had been following them this afternoon. Part of him hadn’t wanted to disclose it, realizing he wasn’t ready to let go of the person he loved.
Declaring he would support her decision, even if it meant blessing her reunion with Cornell, was contrary to his own desires.
His voice raspy with emotion, Stefan responded, “Audrey, it’s good that you’ve made your decision. I’ll support you, whatever you need.”
The next day, Cornell finally regained consciousness. As his eyes fluttered open and he saw the woman sitting beside his bed, he thought he was still caught in a dream. He hesitated to reach out his hand, fearing that the dream would shatter with just a touch.
Audrey had just arrived. She had tried to sleep the previous night but had not rested well, tormented by nightmares that Cornell had died, her mind a whirlwind of distress.
This restless night left her eyes swollen in the morning, though a few cold compresses had somewhat alleviated the puffiness.
Seeing Cornell awake and staring at her without moving, Audrey spoke softly. “You’re awake. I’ll have the caregiver come and help you wash up.”
As she turned to call the caregiver, Cornell reached out and grabbed her hand, his voice breaking slightly, “Is this not a dream?”
His question was laced with vulnerability, his grip seeking confirmation of reality. The warm touch of her hand reassured him that he was indeed awake.
These days, Cornell’s sleep had been fitful, caught between dreaming and waking, a liminal state where reality seemed elusive.
He didn’t want to wake up fully, unable to face the reality that Audrey might truly be married to someone else. It felt surreal, and despite his efforts, he found no evidence to prove otherwise. But whether he accepted it or not, it seemed to be the truth.
“Audrey,” he whispered her name.
Audrey responded without turning, “I didn’t leave. Go ahead and wash up, then have something to eat.”
Cornell surprisingly complied, allowing the caregiver to help him wash and even managing to eat some breakfast.
After he finished, Audrey returned to sit by his bedside.
Only then did Cornell notice that she was wearing a black wool coat that was far too large for her, hanging loosely on her frame, clearly not her own.
The item was unmistakably men’s clothing. Cornell had noticed Stefan wearing it at the park earlier.
At once, Cornell’s face took on a displeased look.
Audrey had left in a rush the previous night, dressed only in light clothing, and Stefan had draped his coat over her shoulders.
Later, Victor arrived with a warmer piece of clothing, yet Audrey decided to don Stefan’s coat instead.
Audrey looked at Cornell and asked gently, “How are you feeling?”
Cornell looked tired but tried not to show it and said, “I’m alright.”
Audrey’s eyes welled up, and she whispered, “How can you say you’re alright?”
Witnessing her teary eyes, Cornell felt a pang of sadness. His hand twitched at his side, but he halted just a breath away from the bed, as if an unseen barrier held him back. He could ignore his reputation, but considering Audrey might stay in Aurora long-term, he had to be cautious…
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Did I frighten you?”
“No.” Audrey’s voice was strained. “I’m not that easily scared.”
Audrey knew she was the cause of his knee injury. Had he not been determined to deal with Lorenzo’s threat to protect her before he died, he wouldn’t have sustained such a serious injury.
Cornell’s gaze fell to her stomach, unfocused. “How are you then? Are the babies alright?”
It had been quite a while since they had a peaceful talk like this, where they both shared the conversation.
Audrey fought back her sadness. “We’re fine. The babies are quite calm and don’t kick much.”