Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Audrey looked visibly shaken, her response weak as she shook her head.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Erick remained concerned for her well being.
Audrey’s gaze shifted to Cornell standing behind Erick, clutching the injured shoulder, braced against the car door, his face drained of color.
Wounds were all over Cornell’s face and body, especially his shoulder.
The bandage turned red once more as he collided with the door frame.
Audrey felt a wave of sorrow and unease. It was strange… Why did her heart ache so much at the sight of his pain? It was as if a dusty trove of memories within her had been awakened. It appeared to be atop a mountain. Cornell had once similarly protected her, intercepting the knife that was meant for her…
These fragments of memories triggered a severe headache, overwhelming Audrey. She covered her head with her hands, looking distressed. She said to Erick, “Erick, please, take me away…”
Erick swiftly lifted Audrey and placed her in the car. Victor took the wheel.
Cornell, his body riddled with wounds, went unnoticed by Erick and Victor.
Cornell only caught Audrey was eager to depart. Suddenly, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed, contorting his face in agony.
The punches Erick had dealt Cornell hadn’t brought him to this pain.
Now, he found himself devoid of the strength to even stand. His body felt as fragile as a bubble, easily toppled by the slightest breeze.
Unable to brace against the car, he crumpled to the ground.
Matteo rushed to Cornell’s aid. The sorrow in Cornell’s eyes ignited a painful heat in Matteo’s palm.
Matteo’s lips quivered as he murmured, “Mr. Clement, she shouldn’t be…”
Matteo tried to find words of comfort, yet none came. After all, Cornell could tell Audrey’s attitude.
Observers could see Cornell, despite his injuries, held back in the fight since he had heeded Audrey’s words. Even being beaten like that, he still chose to shield Audrey at the critical moment, ignoring his own injuries. Yet, Audrey seemingly didn’t appreciate it.
Matteo extended his hand, offering help to Cornell up, but the latter rebuffed him.
A haze seemed to envelop Cornell’s once handsome face. Grasping the door for support, he managed to rise and settle back into the car in silence. He barely acknowledged the blood streaming from his wounds.
Disheartened by Audrey’s seemingly indifference toward him, he was numb to physical pain.
His heart was burdened with a pain far greater than any physical injury could inflict. He had just begun to experience a profound bitterness.
After what seemed an eternity, Cornell coughed up blood, which trickled down the corner of his mouth. He slumped against the seat, his eyes shut tight.
“Cornell!” Matteo exclaimed, bringing the car to an abrupt halt.
Matteo rushed to assess Cornell’s condition, finding the latter’s heartbeat weak and his breathing shallow. With hands trembling, he quickly returned to the driver’s seat and sped toward the hospital.
Meanwhile, Audrey sat pale and withdrawn in the back seat.
After giving her a glass of warm water and gently coaxing her to drink, Erick asked with concern, “Are you still feeling unwell? Hold on. We’ll be at the hospital soon.”
The image of Cornell, his upper body soaked in blood, remained vivid in Audrey’s mind. A sharp pang of pain struck her heart. In a feeble voice, she murmured, “Erick, I think I’m starting to remember something…”
“Do you remember anything after falling into the river?” Erick asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.
At that time, Audrey had been taken to a hospital overseen by the Foster family, her body covered in injuries. An anonymous message had informed Erick of Audrey’s identity. Filled with doubt, Erick arranged for a DNA test on Audrey. To his astonishment, the results confirmed she was his long-lost little sister.
Yet, the identity of the person who had brought Audrey to the hospital and how the other party knew her identity remained a mystery.
Most pressing was Erick’s suspicion that the other party might be connected to his mother’s disappearance or, at the very least, knew something about it. He was determined to uncover the truth.
Audrey massaged her temples, attempting to piece together her memories. She recalled the sound of shattering glass and the sensation of being pulled to safety after her fall into the river.
The rescuer’s eyes seemed dark and familiar, but his face remained a blur.
The effort to recall caused Audrey intense discomfort. Her head throbbed violently, her breathing became labored, and her heart raced uncontrollably.
“Audrey! Audrey!” Erick called out in alarm, witnessing her struggle for air. Swiftly, he retrieved an oxygen bottle from the car’s emergency kit and connected it to her.
As Audrey began to stabilize, her complexion remained deathly pale from the ordeal. With a voice tinged with regret, she confessed, “Erick, I’m sorry. I couldn’t make out his face clearly…”
Despite her efforts, the fragments of her memory refused to coalesce further. Her mind felt as empty as a machine that had burned out.
Erick’s heart dropped at the sight. Gently patting Audrey’s back, he reassured her, “It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to think about it anymore.”
The sight of Audrey in distress was more than he could stand.
Clearly, the well-being of his sister outweighed the hidden truths in his heart.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Audrey underwent a comprehensive examination. The results showed she was as healthy as before, except for the injury to her head, which caused nerve pain and disrupted her memories. The doctor recommended allowing time to heal her wounds, advising against forcing her to recall the past if it proved too difficult.
Audrey was not severely hurt and soon felt rejuvenated after some rest. It was then that Cornell came to mind.
Audrey had left abruptly earlier due to a sudden headache and wondered how he was faring, especially considering the injuries he sustained at the hands of her brother. Audrey couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. If she hadn’t stopped Cornell from defending himself, he might not have been so badly injured.
Cornell wasn’t typically one to yield so easily, yet he had submitted to her wishes, intensifying her remorse. Overwhelmed by guilt, she eventually reached for her phone to call him. Despite several attempts, her calls went unanswered.
After some thought, Audrey’s worry intensified. Could Cornell be in a coma? She hastily looked up Matteo’s number and dialed it.
Matteo picked up promptly, his voice tinged with surprise. “Audrey?”
Without wasting time, Audrey got straight to the point. “Is Cornell okay? I tried calling him, but got no response.”
“Mr. Clement is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital,” Matteo informed her.
Feeling a tightness in her chest, Audrey inquired, “Is his condition serious?”
There was a brief silence before Matteo replied, “I’m not certain.
The doctor is still with him.”
Audrey’s heart sank, and she felt a chill run through her. The possibility of the last incident having severely injured Cornell weighed heavily on her mind. “Could you let me know the outcome once you find out?” she asked anxiously.
“Of course,” Matteo assured her.
Before ending the call, Matteo added, “Well, if you can, please visit Mr. Clement. Your presence would surely comfort him.”
Hanging up, Audrey was consumed by her thoughts, unable to find peace.
Driven by a need to do something, she stood up, quickly dressed, and prepared to leave for the hospital.
As Audrey opened the door, she was met by Erick.
Noticing her actions, rather than resting as expected, Erick asked with a note of concern, “Where are you going?”
Audrey carried a bit of guilt thinking about Erick’s reaction. She waved her hand dismissively and lied, “I only got up to do some exercise.”
Erick silently set the food container he was holding down. “Have something to eat first.”
He had brought over specially cooked stomach-friendly porridge and several light dishes made by their housemaid. Carefully, he arranged them on the table, inviting Audrey to dine.
Approaching the table, Audrey observed the porridge and dishes.
Though simple, each was prepared to her liking.
Erick rolled his sleeves up and began to serve Audrey the porridge, taking care to remove any pieces of ginger.
Audrey wasn’t fond of ginger, yet its inclusion in the porridge was beneficial for her health.
Thus, Erick had instructed the maid to add ginger, planning to remove it himself before serving.
“Erick, I can manage on my own.” Audrey felt slightly uncomfortable.
Erick’s tenderness toward her was overwhelming, treating her with great care.
“Make sure you finish all of it,” Erick insisted.
Following his instruction, Audrey consumed every bit of the porridge, prompting a smile from Erick.
After eating, Audrey used the napkin Erick offered to clean her face and inquired, “Erick, what brought you back suddenly? Is our father alright?”
“He’s doing much better. He’s been concerned about you and Janey, so he asked me to go back and check on you,” Erick replied.
“That’s a relief,” Audrey responded, feeling somewhat soothed. She had been in daily contact with her father, who reassured her he was fine.
Yet, Audrey worried her father might be concealing his struggles, considering bringing Janey to visit him.
Her father, however, advised against it, citing it wasn’t wise for Janey to miss school so soon after enrolling. He knew Janey was enjoying her time here and wished to spare them the hassle of traveling.
“And what’s happening with you and that man?” Erick inquired. He had received bits of information from Victor but sought to get the full story directly from Audrey.