Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Cecilia, people should pay for their mistakes.”
Cecilia was stunned and silenced by his cold gaze.
At this moment, she was brimming with hatred. Audrey was unscathed despite all her schemes, while she was losing a trusted servant.
Jocelyn’s loyalty to her was beyond doubt. Jocelyn’s family were puppets of the Murray family.
Without such a loyal servant, it would be hard to carry out her schemes in the future.
Once Matteo took Kyle and Jocelyn away and the tension deflated, Cecilia felt herself on the verge of breaking down. She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Cornell, wetting his shirt with her tears.
“Jocelyn’s gone. Cornell, you’re the only one I have.”
Cornell’s frigid eyes met hers as he gently pushed her away.
“Cecilia, I’ve arranged for you to see a specialist in Swynborough. He can provide a complete cure for what ails you.”
A wave of panic washed over Cecilia. The truth was, she had recovered a long time ago.
She was injected with a new type of medicine in Swynborough to make her look sick and win Cornell’s trust.
If he sent her to another doctor in Swynborough, her secret would be revealed.
“Cornell, the healthcare here in Ardlens has been gentle and effective. I’m not in pain anymore. Can’t I just continue my treatment here?”
“I want you to recover fully as soon as possible. This isn’t up for discussion,” Cornell firmly said.
Cecilia froze. She sensed the unyielding steel in his voice and knew better than to argue. She would have to play her cards carefully from here on out.
It was not entirely a bad thing, though.
Going abroad with Cornell for treatment could provide an excellent opportunity to deal with Audrey.
At this realization, she looked up at him and weakly said, “I’ll do as you say, Cornell. Once I’m better, we can start a family. Maybe then, your mother won’t be so hard on me.”
Truth be told, Cecilia had zero desire to have kids. Besides, she never liked children. But if having a child was the golden ticket to earning a man’s affection, then so be it.
And didn’t Audrey’s pregnancy earn Cornell’s attention? Well, she didn’t mind that if it worked.
Cornell was silent. A few moments later, he just frowned and said, “Once you’re cured, you should focus on living well.”
Cecilia assumed he meant living a good life with him.
“When do we leave?” Cecilia asked, elated.
“The day after tomorrow. I’ve already spoken with your father to arrange for someone to pick you up and look after you for the surgery.”
Cecilia’s heart skipped a beat and she panicked.
“What do you mean, Cornell? Aren’t you going to be there with me?”
“You’ll be staying in Swynborough from now on, and your family will accompany you there,” Cornell explained, his voice devoid of emotion.
It was like a bolt from the blue. Cecilia was utterly stunned. It took her a moment to grasp the weight of Cornell’s words.
Her face drained of color, and she felt Like she had been slapped across the face.
“Cornell, are you… Are you sending me away?” she stammered.
“Cecilia, the arrangement of this surgery is the last thing I’ll ever do to take care of you,” Cornell stated flatly.
While Cecilia looked like she had seen a ghost, Cornell was nonchalant.
It was obvious that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Cornell had been contemplating this for a while.
Cecilia broke into tears. She felt she was plummeting into an abyss.
“No, Cornell! I can’t live without you!” she shouted hysterically with tears all over her face.
“This isn’t up for debate, Cecilia.” Cornell lowered his head and added, “If you agree to Live in Swynborough, the business cooperation with the Murray Group will continue. But if you insist on staying in Ardlens, I’ll sever all business ties.”
Cecilia felt trapped in a corner.
The choice was a no-brainer. Her family would force her to abide by Cornell’s terms.
“Why, Cornell? Why are you doing this to me?” Cecilia wailed.
“I asked you earlier if there’s anything else you’re not telling me,”
Cornell said while looking straight into her eyes.
“Do you really think I haven’t found out anything?”
Cecilia’s heart raced in sheer panic.
Cornell found out what she had done? No, no fucking way! She had been so careful. Cornell couldn’t have found out. He must only be fishing for information right now.
At this moment, Cecilia managed to cool herself down, shaking her head vehemently, and cried, “Cornell, I never hide anything from you. You know me well. How could I ever lie to you? Why can’t you trust me?”
As she remained in denial, Cornell coldly retorted, “That time I came back from Tenassie, the director of the hospital that examined Audrey is an old friend of your father. And those anonymous photos I received… Want to know who sent those to me? Need I say more?”
Cecilia went as white as a sheet. She never expected Cornell would dig so deep. However, she could never admit it. If she did, that would be the end of everything.
With tears streaming down her face, she clung to Cornell’s arm and feigned innocence.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. None of this is my doing. You’ve got to trust me. I would never lie to you.”
Cornell pulled his arm back and backed away from her.
As he listened to Matteo report all of this, Cornell felt his own disbelief was in no way less than Cecilia’s current expression.
Was this the same girl who had fought to save him years ago, lifted his spirits when they were stranded in the water, and urged him to keep going because the world was beautiful?
Luis was right. Cornell understood he had underestimated how far a woman could go for love. If he did not love her, she might have lost it.
Cecilia panicked when she saw the icy look on his face.
“It was Jocelyn’s fault, not mine. I had no idea what she did….”
Cecilia tried to defend herself.
Cornell narrowed his eyes and said in a chilly tone, “Just because I dealt with Jocelyn today doesn’t mean I believe you, Cecilia. I’m leaving you some wiggle room.”
Cecilia had ruined every ounce of trust he placed in her. The once innocent and pure girl he knew was now gone.
Cornell looked down at her and queried, “Do you want me to keep digging?”
The warmth once present in his eyes was replaced by an arctic chill.
Flustered, Cecilia clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
“Cornell, you’re misunderstanding. I…”
“Enough,” Cornell interjected, his patience wearing thin.
“Your surgery is set for next week. You’ll be flying out in three days.”
“Cornell, how can you be so cruel to me? Is it all because of Audrey?
She’s fine, and Jocelyn’s already paid the price.” Cecilia dropped to the floor, clung to Cornell’s trousers, and weakly implored, “You can’t do this to me, Cornell…”
With a flick of his leg, Cornell shook her off and warned, “Audrey is my bottom line.”
His words crashed over Cecilia like a tidal wave. For a moment, she was stunned. Bottom line? These two serious words… Did Audrey really mean this much to Cornell? Audrey was just a bitch! Why her?
Not wanting to linger another second, Cornell advised, “You should start packing.”
Without waiting for her response, he turned to leave.
“Cornell…” Cecilia, in a last-ditch effort, charged forward to grab his hand and, with her face awash in tears, asked, “Are you punishing me for Jocelyn’s mistakes? I know I was wrong. Please don’t leave me… Without you, I would rather die than live on.”
Before she could touch his hand, Cornell recoiled in disgust and strode away.
On the edge of total collapse, Cecilia played her final card.
“Cornell, if you walk out that door, I won’t have the surgery. I swear to God!
I’d rather die than go through with it.”