Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
He was about to completely lose his temper when the door of the operating room suddenly opened.
Nicole and Cornell turned around at the same time. Then, they saw the doctor pushing Audrey out urgently while using the walkie-talkie to communicate with the ICU staff.
Audrey lay on the bed. Her hair was covered with blood, and her face under the oxygen mask was black and blue. A tube was inserted in her mouth, and various kinds of wires were attached to her body. She was motionless. It was as if she was sleeping soundly.
This scene made Cornell’s heart ache. It was as if thousands of knives stabbed his chest. He was so heartbroken that he felt dizzy.
Suddenly, he felt weak. His legs were heavy. It was as if they were filled with lead and iron. He couldn’t move even a little.
A nurse pulled Cornell and said, “Excuse me, sir.”
The nurse just pulled him gently. But he was as weak as a piece of paper at this moment, so his body shook uncontrollably. His face was unprecedentedly pale.
The nurse was startled.
“Sir, are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?”
Cornell shook his head. He stepped forward, grabbed the doctor, and asked something stupid, “Why is my wife not awake yet?”
He couldn’t think of anything else to ask.
Since Cornell used the word wife, the doctor regarded him as Audrey’s family member. The doctor explained, “The patient is in a coma because of miscarriage, spleen rupture, and brain damage. We have finished the operation, and she needs to be transferred to the ICU for further observation.”
Cornell seemed confused when he heard those words. For the first time, he experienced how it felt to be at a loss. His mind went blank, making him unable to think.
He grabbed the doctor’s white coat tightly.
“Doctor, save her no matter how much it will cost.”
The doctor frowned.
“I understand how you feel. But I can only do my best. It still depends on whether she can wake up within twenty-four hours. Then, we can do something. Please be patient.”
“Doctor, please… Save her.”
There was no trace of arrogance in Cornell anymore. At this moment, he threw away his pride and self-esteem. For the first time, he begged someone. He sought help from someone he didn’t know.
His Lips, which were always red, turned pale. He held the doctor’s arm tightly and said, “Save her..
The doctor looked at his pale face and sighed.
“We have done everything. As a family member, you have to have a stable mind no matter what the result will be. You have to always prepare yourself for the worst.”
“What can be the worst result?” Cornell subconsciously asked.
“The worst result is that she will no longer wake up. She’ll be brain-dead, a vegetable.”
Upon hearing the news, Cornell felt as if a sledgehammer had struck his chest, each blow heavier than the last.
A relentless ache radiated through his insides, making every fiber of his being throb with pain.
Observing his distress, the doctor reassured him, “Don’t lose hope.
There’s still a chance. For now, rest up and gather your strength for her sake.”
Once the doctor had departed, an assistant brought over his repaired phone.
Cornell grabbed it and dialed Luis.
“Luis, I need your help.
The call disconnected. An unread voice message was displayed on the screen.
Upon playing it, Cornell heard Audrey’s feeble, raspy voice.
Audrey spelled out her despair, each word cutting into him like a blade. It nearly broke him.
For years, he’d thought nothing could move him to tears.
Yet now, his eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face and cheeks.
Hearing Audrey say she’d rather not see him in another life and would forget him entirely was the last straw. A piercing pain erupted in his chest, his vision darkened, and a gush of blood erupted from his mouth.
Nicole, witnessing Cornell’s disarray, felt no pity.
She lunged at him, clutching his collar and shaking him violently.
“Where were you when Audrey needed you the most? She was carrying your child! How could you let her suffer?”
Finding Cornell mute, Nicole hissed, “If she doesn’t wake up, I’ll kill you!”
Cornell’s face turned icy. He clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to toss Nicole aside.
He kept reminding himself Nicole was Audrey’s closest friend, and Audrey would never forgive him if he dared to mistreat Nicole.
Nicole’s rage escalated as she spat out, “Audrey loves you deeply for years, and this is how you love her back? You’re no better than a monster! What on earth did she do to make her meet you and then suffer?”
At her words, Cornell grabbed her wrist and demanded, “What did you just say?”
“Cornell!” Just then, Jarrod and Luis entered the room, catching Nicole’s heated tirade against Cornell.
Jarrod and Luis knew how ruthless Cornell could be. Cornell had constrained in recent years for the sake of the company’s reputation.
Jarrod clenched his jaw and eyed Nicole, sensing her desperation.
Nicole, oblivious to Cornell’s cruel side, seemed bent on not just crossing him, but incensing Cornell as well.
Swiftly stepping beside Nicole, Jarrod seized her arm and admonished, “Get a grip.”
To his surprise, Nicole wrenched free and yelled, “Hands off! You’re no different from him. Both of you are terrible.
In her eyes, Jarrod was even worse than Cornell. He feigned kindness but was truly more monstrous than any beast.
Jarrod, fuming, loosened his tongue from the inside of his cheek and stood aside, glaring at Nicole as if she were digging her own pit.
Cornell snapped, “What did you just say?”
For Nicole, fear had left her. Her only goal was justice for Audrey, so she retorted, her chin lifted defiantly, “I said you’re a monster!
You don’t deserve Audrey’s love!”
Gripping her arm tightly, Cornell inquired, “You’re saying Audrey loves me?”
With a derisive grin, Nicole retorted, “Aren’t you aware?”
Nicole felt sorry for Audrey, thinking Cornell was utterly unworthy of Audrey’s love.
Cornell must be heartless, or why else he didn’t know Audrey loved him deeply? Audrey’s love for him was so palpable that it was almost tangible.
“Why do you think Audrey abandoned her career to serve you? Had she ever taken advantage of your wealth or status in the past two years?
She could have thrived on her own. Instead, she gave up her ambition of chasing after her career just to be your little assistant at your company,” she stated.
Cornell was stunned. He’d always assumed Audrey had married him for his grandfather’s sake.
But now, even her best friend Nicole claimed otherwise. Could it be that Audrey did love him?
It was as if a bud had sprouted in barren soil. He felt a newfound glimmer of hope, dissipating his lingering bitterness.
Struggling to articulate, he asked, “When did Audrey…” Was it earlier than he thought?
“Save it,” Nicole interrupted, her voice laced with irritation.
“Even if she revealed her true feelings, you’ve blown your chance. No point in discussing what’s long gone.”
Nicole wasn’t sure when Audrey had fallen for Cornell. All she knew was Audrey had loved him for quite some time.
She said it just to make Cornell regret it.
Cornell stared at Nicole intently, gripping her arm.
“Spill it!”
“Talk to Audrey. She’s the one married to you. Well, for now anyway,”
Nicole retorted with a sarcastic edge.
Surveying Cornell’s grim expression, Nicole continued boldly, “Do you honestly think Audrey will still have feelings for you when she comes to her senses? You… You’re about to become history in her Life!”
Her words were like daggers, making Cornell’s blood boil with the urge to silence her.