Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
She slumped onto the bed, drained of the strength to utter another word. She had no desire to continue this meaningless argument with Cornell.
The feeling was mutual for Cornell. Their quarrels always left a bitter aftertaste.
“Just rest up here at the hospital, okay? Clear your mind. I’ll bring you home when you’re better.”
With those parting words, Cornell exited the ward, positioning two bodyguards at the doorway.
Audrey lay exhausted on the bed, her energy seemingly drained away.
Cornell was ever the authoritative, self-absorbed man.
Cornell headed directly to Cecilia’s place after leaving the hospital.
The center of the Murray family business wasn’t at home, and Cecilia lived alone. Cornell was Cecilia’s only brother-like member here.
After a previous altercation with Jocelyn vexing Audrey, Cecilia had pleaded with Cornell to let Jocelyn stay. He’d agreed then, but his patience was running thin now.
Cornell entered Cecilia’s place with a steely countenance. Cecilia greeted him, her face bright but her body seemingly frail as she coughed from time to time.
“I’ve cooked some dishes for you, Cornell. Have a seat and try them.”
Standing his ground, Cornell responded, “No need. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
Cecilia’s smile faded into disappointment.
“It won’t take long to have a bite, Cornell. Can’t you sit and eat with me?”
Cornell stared at her contemplatively before relenting.
“I’ll pass.
I had already grabbed something to eat at the hospital. You eat.
I’ll sit with you.”
Internally, Cecilia rejoiced. As she had anticipated, showing vulnerability melted Cornell’s resolve.
She knew Cornell had a soft spot. Whenever she cried, he’d never hold her responsible for anything.
After their meal, she signaled for the maid to bring tea, but Cornell declined.
Clapping his hands, Matteo appeared, escorting a tied-up figure who was tossed onto the courtyard ground.
Cornell fixed his gaze on Cecilia, his eyes filled with inquiry.
“Is there something you’d like to clarify, Cecilia?”
Cecilia’s mind whirred, momentarily paralyzed with confusion. She wasn’t sure what Cornell was getting at.
She faltered, “Cornell, why is Kyle here? Did he do anything wrong?”
Cornell arched an eyebrow and responded, “Kyle doctored the confidential documents of the company and attempted to flee after being exposed. Additionally, we found a substantial deposit in his bank account, which was transferred from your account.”
“Teas I…” Cecilia stammered, unable to find her words.
With a tap on the table from his slender fingers, Cornell asked impassively, “So, are you in on this or not?”
Panic flooded Cecilia. Hadn’t she asked Kyle to leave the country? How was he captured so quickly? Had he betrayed her?
Just then, Jocelyn rushed out of nowhere, throwing herself at Cornell’s feet and begging for mercy.
Tears streaming, she asserted, “Mr. Clement, my lady had nothing to do with this. I’m the one who’s responsible.”
As she said this, she covertly winked at Cecilia.
Cecilia caught on. If Cornell had been sure of her involvement, he wouldn’t be asking her about it.
In other words, he was still uncertain about it.
Feigning shock, she queried, “Jocelyn, what on earth have you done?”
“I paid off Mr. Palmer to alter the paternity test results for Audrey’s child. I just couldn’t bear to see my lady suffer. Mr. Clement, she had no part in this. You can verify with Mr. Palmer if you’d like.”
Cornell’s brow furrowed. There was no need to question Kyle again.
He’d already tried, and Kyle had remained tight-Lipped. That’s why he brought Kyle here. It was to see if Cecilia was involved in this.
Cecilia glanced at Jocelyn with a mournful expression, saying, “Jocelyn, how could you do such a thing? You’d better apologize to Cornell right away and beg for leniency…”
Jocelyn obediently began to kowtow, her forehead bleeding, her appearance pitiable.
Cornell intervened, “Enough. This is a matter of corporate espionage.”
Cecilia’s expression darkened at his words.
How could this matter be regarded as corporate espionage? It was merely about falsifying a paternity test.
Cornell was just using this as a pretext. He intended to put Jocelyn behind bars!
With eyes wide open in shock and tears streaming down her face, Cecilia reasoned, “Cornell, Jocelyn just wasn’t thinking straight.
Besides, she’s old. How could she survive in jail?”
Cornell’s eyes met hers, and his following words sent a chill down her spine.
“Jocelyn gave Kyle two million dollars. Where would she get that much money? I need an explanation.”
Two million was not a small amount.
For a maid like Jocelyn, it could be her life’s savings.
Who would spend all they had just to set someone up?
Cornell suspected the money had come from Cecilia.
In other words, he did not buy their story one bit.
In a heartbeat, fear washed over Cecilia. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, her make-up smeared. In desperation, she clutched at Cornell’s trousers and pleaded, “Cornell, I swear I don’t know anything about this. I’m weak. How could I scheme against anyone?”
At this moment, Jocelyn fell to her knees and shuffled forward alongside Cecilia.
“My lady, I’m really sorry. I sold your jewelry to get the money. I acted on my own, thinking I was protecting you.
This is all my fault.”
“Is that how it is, Cecilia?” Cornell questioned while staring at Cecilia with narrowed eyes.
Before Cecilia could muster a reply, he added, “Think twice before you answer. This might be your last shot at earning my trust.”
Cecilia felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She was petrified and at a loss for words.
Just yesterday, Kyle revealed that Matteo was investigating him. Upon learning this, Cecilia bribed him with two million dollars and promised him the cash if he took the fall. On no account could he tell the truth.
Earlier, before Cornell showed up, Jocelyn had given Cecilia an emergency escape plan. If things went south, shift the blame onto Jocelyn.
Cecilia had brushed it off at that time. She assumed Cornell was just suspicious of a fake paternity test. How bad could the situation be?
Previously, a few tears and Cornell would surely forgive her. But now, it was a different case. Cornell was deadly serious.
Left with no choice but to follow the plan, Cecilia masked her nervous voice with sobs and pretended to reprimand Jocelyn, “Jocelyn, how could you be so vicious? Cornell has always treated me well. He wouldn’t abandon me…”
“My lady, I was out of mind back then. Please, take good care of yourself from now on…”
Their collective misery tugged at the heartstrings of anyone listening.
With teary eyes, Cecilia turned to Cornell and pleaded, “Cornell, Jocelyn’s been with me for years and has always been diligent. Could you find it in your heart to forgive her just this once?”
Cornell shifted his gaze back to Cecilia and asked back, “Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”
Cecilia was caught off guard. She was unsure what Cornell already knew, so she could only feign innocence.
“Cornell, I’ve never hidden anything from you. Don’t you know me inside and out?”
“If you say so.” Cornell withdrew his gaze and turned to Matteo.
“Matteo, leave the rest to the police.”
With anxiety written all over her face, Cecilia blurted out, “Cornell, wait…”
Cornell cut her off with an icy stare.