Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Feeling it was time to head back to Audrey’s ward, Annis said “Janey, it’s time to go back now, or your mommy will start to worry.”
But Janey, having just reunited with her dad, didn’t want to leave.
She wrapped her arms around Cornell’s neck, making a face. “I want daddy to carry me home.”
Annis, feeling a bit stuck, saw Cornell offer with a smile. “Let me take her home.”
Cornell was hesitant to part ways more than Janey, but he understood Janey’s value to Audrey and had no intention of taking Janey by force.
Just as they were about to leave, they ran into Audrey, who had come looking for Janey.
Seeing Cornell embracing their daughter tightly, Audrey’s heart felt like it was breaking. Janey was her everything, and she was determined not to lose Janey to anyone.
Audrey moved closer, took Janey from his arms, and said with a mix of anger and determination, “Cornell, if you try to take Janey away, you’ll have me to deal with!”
As Audrey looked at him with cold eyes, Cornell felt an overwhelming pain in his limbs. Janey was their daughter! Yet, Audrey acted as if he were a stranger, or worse, an enemy. She was being so harsh with him…
Janey noticed Audrey’s hands trembling, mistaking her nervousness for anger, and began to cry. “Mommy, I’m sorry. Daddy… He didn’t mean to make it seem like he was taking me away. I just like being with him. Please, don’t be mad, okay?”
Audrey’s eyes immediately welled up with tears at the sight of Janey crying, tears falling like raindrops. She couldn’t help feeling on edge ever since she regained her memory, terrified at the thought that Cornell might take Janey away. After all, Cornell had the means to do it if he really wanted to.
“Janey…” Audrey let Janey lean on her shoulder, trying to stop Janey’s tears, her eyes red. “Mommy isn’t mad, sweetheart. I’m sorry.
I promise to keep my feelings in check from now on.”
Cornell moved as if to embrace them both, but his hand stopped mid-air and fell back to his side, clenched in frustration. The silent agony within him turned his eyes a deep shade of red.
Janey raised her round face, watching her mom closely, and asked with caution, “Mommy… Are you really not mad at me?”
Janey’s grown-up question made Audrey feel a deep, uneasy sensation in her heart. How could she possibly forget? Janey had turned shy and withdrawn for some time because she didn’t have a dad around. It took her a long while to open up. Audrey knew she shouldn’t let her daughter feel hurt again.
Her throat felt parched as Audrey said in a rasped voice, “Mommy is really not mad…”
“Then, Mommy is mad at Dad…” Janey quickly corrected herself, seeming to hesitate, “Is Mommy mad at Uncle?”
Audrey stopped for a moment and then weakly replied, “No. I am not mad at him either. I was just a bit worried when I couldn’t find you.”
Upon hearing this, Janey’s spirits lifted, and she smiled widely.
“See, my mommy isn’t mad at you.”
Cornell understood that Audrey’s words were meant to reassure Janey.
He moved closer to coax Janey, “Yes, your mommy isn’t mad at me. I will do my best not to upset your mommy.”
With that, Cornell hugged Janey, gave Audrey a meaningful look, and declared, “Daddy will take you and your mommy home.”
Audrey was at a loss for words.
Then, Cornell gently took Audrey’s hand in his. He gripped it firmly, sharing his warmth with Audrey’s cold hands.
Audrey tried to pull away but couldn’t manage it. Just as she was about to get angry, she heard Cornell’s deep voice. “Let’s take Janey home first, and we can talk about everything else later.”
Janey was Audrey’s soft spot. She instantly stopped trying to pull away and allowed Cornell to hold her.
Cornell had Matteo handle all the paperwork about discharge.
Glancing at Audrey and Cornell, Annis wanted to go back to the ward and pack Audrey’s stuff. “I’ll ride back in Mr. Clifford’s car.”
Cornell’s brow furrowed slightly, and he said gently to Annis, “You don’t have to bother Mr. Clifford. My assistant will drive you back.”
Audrey was at a loss for words. She noticed Cornell had a playful side, making a big deal out of even small things to compete with Stefan.
Cornell didn’t grant Audrey the chance to say goodbye to Stefan at the hospital and took them straight to his car.
Audrey had no choice but to inform Stefan through calls.
After the call, Cornell looked quite unhappy, maintaining a sullen mood during the drive.
Janey, exhausted from playing all morning, dozed off in Cornell’s arms.
When they reached the villa, Cornell carried Janey to her room, carefully laying her on the bed. He then knelt down, took off Janey’s shoes, and tucked her in with a light blanket.
Audrey observed his tender actions, finding herself momentarily speechless.
Sensing Cornell was about to leave, Janey mumbled in her sleep, “Daddy… Don’t go…”
Her soft voice clenched Cornell’s heart with a pain he couldn’t shake off.
Cornell crouched down once more, tenderly holding Janey’s small hand, gently stroking the blanket, and murmured, “Daddy’s here. Janey, go back to sleep…”
Cornell waited until Janey fell back into a deep sleep before he carefully pulled away his hand and stood up to leave.
Audrey, gazing at Janey’s peaceful face, felt a surge of emotions.
Yet, she realized she had to brace herself for what was ahead. She inhaled deeply and walked forward with a heavy heart.
Upon opening the door, she saw Cornell standing by the second-floor balcony, his figure statuesque. He rested against the railing, his outline strikingly distinct, holding an unlit cigarette, deep in thought.
Hearing her come out, Cornell turned around, staring at Audrey for several seconds.
Audrey felt uneasy under his gaze, her mind racing. If Cornell brought up the idea of taking Janey away, how should she handle it?
Should she run away with her daughter, or…
Noticing Audrey’s hesitation, Cornell stood still, giving her the chance to speak first.
It seemed like a lose-lose situation whether Audrey spoke up or remained silent.
Audrey finally broke the silence. “Cornell, there might be a misunderstanding. Janey… She isn’t your daughter.”
Audrey had thought it through carefully. She realized she needed to create a diversion to escape with Janey. As long as Cornell was unable to perform a paternity test, he couldn’t claim Janey as his.
Upon hearing Audrey, Cornell’s face showed no emotion, pushing Audrey to clarify with more urgency.
“Kabir is Janey’s real dad. You can check the hospital and birth records if you want,” Audrey said confidently, trusting Erick’s arrangement. Erick must have covered his tracks well, ensuring there were no errors regarding Janey’s paternity in the records.
Audrey emphasized, “Trust me. Janey is not related to you in any way.”
Cornell observed Audrey for a while and then let out a laugh.
“Audrey, do you really think I’m that easy to fool?”
Audrey’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes grew wide. Just as she was about to respond, she noticed him scrolling through his phone, the words “Paternity Test” clearly visible. He had anticipated Audrey’s denial and had Matteo speed up the testing process. The results came out within two hours.
Cornell was intrigued to see how Audrey would dispute once the evidence was presented.
Audrey’s eyes shot open in surprise. “How did you…” Then, she realized her question was pointless and her thoughts had been too optimistic. How could she expect him to negotiate without having his facts straight?
“What are you planning to do?” Cornell lifted his gaze, his piercing gaze fixing on Audrey, his voice deep and ominous. “So, you were planning to trick me and take off with Janey, were you?”
Audrey’s complexion went white in an instant. She hadn’t seen it coming that Cornell would read her like an open book.
Seeing Audrey’s reaction, Cornell knew he had guessed correctly. His handsome face stiffened in an instant, his throat became dry and his voice hoarse. “Audrey, you are really heartless.” Janey was their daughter. Yet, Audrey had planned to deny him even a simple visit.
When he accused her of being heartless, Audrey found her racing heart steadying. Heartless? Could she really outdo him in being heartless?
Audrey stared at his handsome face. Five years had slipped by, leaving him unchanged. He remained the epitome of grace and allure.
But now, as she looked at him with years of memories between them, everything felt different. The memories of the past sank in deeper, chilling her heart gradually. Her expression morphed from anxious to composed, then to complete detachment.
Audrey questioned flatly, “Cornell, did you recall what happened to our first child?”
The question caused Cornell’s dark eyes to narrow sharply. His heart seemed to halt for a split second. It made sense why Audrey woke up without asking about him or paying him a visit. It turned out she had reclaimed her memory.
Cornell remained silent for a moment before starting slowly, “Audrey, Uooo??/p>
“Cornell Clement!” Audrey interrupted him bluntly.
Staring at him intently, her lips curved into a mocking smile. “Do you remember how I pleaded with you to save our child? Your response?
You dismissed me, telling me to stop making a fuss.”
Recalling the loss of their unborn child, Audrey’s complexion grew even more ashen, her voice shaking with both sorrow and rage. “My plead for our child’s life, in your eyes, was just making a fuss.”
At the sight of her tear-streaked face, Cornell felt a crushing weight on his heart, making it hard to breathe.
“Audrey, I didn’t see it that way…” He struggled to explain, “The loss of our child pains me as much as it does you. I admit I didn’t protect you both as I should have. You can blame me, yell at me, or even hurt me, do whatever feels right, but please do not treat me like this…”
Cornell’s voice tightened. “You can’t deny me the chance to see Janey.