Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Cornell replied solemnly, “If Audrey chooses not to have more children, I can assure you that Janey will be our only child.”
The mocking smile on Erick’s face froze and he once again found himself speechless. It was rare for a CEO of a publicly traded company to make such a promise, especially one that pertained to the inheritance of the corporation. Cornell was actually willing to accept Janey as his only child in the world, even without knowing whom Janey’s biological father was. A truly remarkable stance.
Erick studied Cornell, his tone a bit more fervent as he questioned, “Do you truly mean that?”
After all, people were inherently selfish. Especially people like them who were born into privilege and carried burdens far greater than that of the average person. They couldn’t afford to be whimsical.
But Cornell’s resolve never once wavered in the face of Erick’s queries. “I’ve already included this in the prenuptial agreement.”
Erick’s expression twitched. “Who said Audrey is going to marry you?”
Erick found Cornell’s forwardness presumptuous. Before Audrey even agreed to marry him, Cornell had already prepared a prenuptial agreement.
“It all depends on Audrey. I won’t force her, but I want to provide Janey with a complete family,” Cornell said, his obsidian-Like eyes earnestly conveying his promise to Erick. “If you give me a chance, I swear on my life to protect Audrey and Janey.”
Outwardly, Erick maintained a cool demeanor, his expression giving little away. But internally, his heart was in turmoil. Cornell was proving to be exceptionally determined and a master negotiator who knew exactly what to offer, presenting terms that were difficult to refuse. More importantly, it seemed he cared for Janey from the bottom of his heart.
Erick’s lips turned down when he remembered Janey’s biological father was actually Cornell. He wondered whether Cornell’s unconditional acceptance of Janey stemmed from the bond of blood.
Cornell coughed a few times and winced. He was yet to make a full recovery and needed to return to the hospital as soon as possible.
“Erick, I’ve sent the details of the Boyd family’s scandal to your email. Excuse me, but I must head back to the hospital now. I sincerely hope you will consider my request.”
Erick held on to the document, mixed emotions swirling through his dark eyes. lost in thought, he didn’t speak for a long time.
At the villa.
Audrey stared at the fragrant porridge simmering in the pot with a puzzled expression.
At first, she had deemed cooking a challenge for her, but after consulting with Annis, she found herself able to prepare the dish proficiently as if she had done it before.
However, it seemed Cornell would not get to taste it.
Audrey didn’t want to break her promise, but Erick had instructed Victor to watch her even more closely than before. He even restricted her movements to just the company and the house. Erick simply wanted Cornell to be out of Audrey’s life, not wanting any harm from Cornell to come her way again.
Audrey stared out at the darkening sky, wondering whether the stubborn Cornell still refused to eat anything except for her dishes.
After hearing one too many sighs from Audrey, Annis gazed at Audrey and asked, “Miss, do you want to go out?”
Audrey hesitated before shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. My brother doesn’t allow me to go out.”
Annis stared at Audrey intently. She could tell Audrey wanted to go out, her destination a mystery.
After some thought, Annis suggested, “I guess a quick return from delivering the porridge you had cooked wouldn’t harm. Just make sure to make it quick. Victor was invited to come in for dinner just now.”
Reagan was hesitant. This wasn’t the first time Erick got angry because of Cornell.
Annis read the reason for Audrey’s hesitation correctly. “If your brother comes back before you, I’ll cover for you. I’ll just tell him that you aren’t feeling well and went to sleep early.”
Annis pushed Audrey toward the door, a note of urgency in her voice as she handed Audrey a thermos. “Go quickly and come back soon.”
“Okay. Thank you, Annis.”
Audrey’s face lit up as she made for the garage with the thermos in hand. However, the next moment, as if on cue, Erick stepped out from his car.
Panic struck Audrey as she wondered why her brother had arrived so early today.
Erick marched over with determined strides. His eyes narrowed as he asked, “Where are you going?”
“Not anywhere…” Audrey’s voice quivered, and she stared at her toes with a guilty expression. The thermos she held felt like incriminating evidence.
Erick glanced at the thermos and sighed. He felt as if he was playing the role of a wicked queen. He looked away and said quietly, “Be home by nine.”
“Uh?” Audrey thought she had misheard him. Erick’s pinched expression suggested that he knew about her destination, but his words went beyond her expectations. Why did he agree to let her see Cornell?
“You’re really letting me go?” Audrey probed.
“Yep,” he confirmed.
Just to be sure that she heard him right, Audrey asked again, “You’re really le tting me see Cornell?”
Oblivious to the talk between Cornell and Erick earlier this day, Audrey couldn’t wrap her head around Erick’s sudden shift in demeanor.
Erick, slightly annoyed, arched an eyebrow at Audrey and retorted, “Do you not want to go?”
Audrey now had the confirmation she sought. Erick truly allowed her to visit Cornell.
Audrey was baffled. She wished she could teleport to the hospital this minute and ask Cornell how he managed to convince her brother.
“Well, I’m leaving,” Audrey said as she got into the car.
Erick watched the car speed away, a wave of melancholy washing over him at the thought of his sister growing up and away from him. He comforted himself with the thought that she had only gone to meet Cornell and was not getting married this instant.
At the hospital.
Luciana waited in the corridor.
Soon, Katie emerged with an empty thermos in hand. She smiled at luciana and stated, “Luciana, Cornell ate everything. He even said your cooking has improved.”
“Really?” As luciana’s face lit up with joy, her wrinkles deepened, but somehow they only added to the warmth of her smile.
The past few years of marital discord and a distant son had aged luciana significantly, stripping her of her once vibrant demeanor.
“Of course, I wouldn’t lie to you,” Katie assured, her smile seemingly genuine.
When luciana heard this, she felt a burst of happiness. “Cornell always listens to you, Katie. Was he in a good mood today? Can I go see him?”
In reality, Cornell’s attitude toward luciana wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Back then, Cornell had been furious because luciana held a funeral for Audrey at the riverbank. Cornell kept insisting over and over that Audrey was alive.
Afterward, Cornell had a severe stress reaction that kept him hospitalized for weeks, and his condition remained unstable.
As time went on, the misunderstandings between Cornell and luciana deepened, often exacerbated by Katie who passed on news from one person to the other.
Luciana became frightened and uncertain of her place in Cornell’s heart, so Katie persuaded luciana to undergo psychological therapy.
After the therapy, luciana’s self-esteem plummeted until she was second-guessing every decision. She became dependent on Katie’s opinion and often sought Katie’s approval for everything, even when it came to seeing Cornell. If Katie said that it wasn’t a good time, luciana would agree without a fuss, afraid that she would upset Cornell if she insisted on seeing him.
Luciana withdrew from worldly affairs, focusing on silently praying for Cornell. As Cornell’s mother, the most important thing for her was Cornell’s well-being and safety. She would do anything to ensure that, even if it meant sacrificing everything else.
Katie’s eyes flickered as she said to luciana, “Luciana, this is unfortunately not a good time. Before I came out here, Cornell told me he was feeling a little tired…”
Luciana’s face fell and she wrung her hands together. “Then next time,” she murmured in a low voice.
Katie’s phone rang at that very second.
Katie glanced at luciana and said, “Wait for me by the elevator. I need to take this call.”
Luciana nodded.
Katie walked over to a spot where luciana couldn’t see her to answer Abel’s call.
Luciana lingered by the elevator, her gaze aimlessly falling on the mirrored surface.
“Ding.” Suddenly, the elevator dinged open behind her.
Subconsciously, luciana looked over and caught a glimpse of a girl hurrying past.
For a moment, luciana felt as if she was struck by lightning because that girl’s side profile looked familiar.
She opened her mouth to call out the name on the tip of her tongue, only to shut it a moment later. By the time she thought to follow, the girl had vanished.
Luciana stared at the hallway that led to Cornell’s ward, a thoughtful. expression on her face. Cornell was the only patient admitted on this entire floor. Could that girl be Audrey?
What’s wrong, luciana?” Katie returned, noticing luciana’s forlorn expression.
“I…” luciana started, but she dismissed her thoughts a second later and decided not to bother Katie with her wild speculation.
Katie, misinterpreting luciana’s expression as an attempt to sneak a visit with Cornell, felt a twinge of annoyance but quickly suppressed it. “Let’s go then.”
As they walked, luciana, attempting to sound casual, asked, “Katie, has Cornell come to terms with Audrey’s death?”
Katie was stunned by the question, but she regained composure quickly and replied calmly, “Cornell hasn’t mentioned Audrey in a long time.”
Unable to shake the suspicion swirling in her mind, Katie probed, “Luciana, why did you suddenly ask about this?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking out loud,” luciana replied with an awkward smile.
Katie eyed luciana for a moment. She intertwined her arm with luciana’s, her expression full of warmth. “Luciana, I have some time to spare today. Would you like to go for your therapy session?”
Luciana hesitated. “I’ve been feeling quite well lately.”