Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
The slap left a visible red mark on Cornell’s face, and his lips started to bleed a little.
It was unusual for someone of Cornell’s standing to be slapped. But he just shrugged it off, wiping the blood from his lip with a calm smile. “Feel like slapping me again to feel better?”
He nonchalantly started to button his shirt, leaving it half open, and offered Audrey the other side of his face. “Go ahead. Hit me.”
His shamelessness left Audrey somewhat helpless, unwilling to strike as he suggested.
When she hesitated, his smile grew warmer as he took her hand.
“Can’t bring yourself to do it?”
“You’re sick! You think too highly of yourself!”
“You still remember my distaste for milk and my favorite clothing brand. You remember all my likes and dislikes.” Cornell looked into Audrey’s eyes, his voice deep and a bit rough. “Audrey, can you really say you feel nothing for me?”
Cornell found a glimmer of hope flickering within him as he noticed the subconscious expressions on Audrey’s face.
Without a second thought, he pulled her into his embrace. “”Audrey, these past five years without you have been a torment for me, every single minute and second. I deeply regret losing you…”
The tight embrace shielded Audrey from seeing Cornell’s expression.
Yet, his words conveyed a sense of profound remorse and humility.
Once upon a time, it was Audrey who embodied such humility. Now, their roles seemed reversed. Despite the change, Audrey couldn’t shake off her sadness. It became apparent that in moments of true desperation, mere words held no sway. She felt her detachment. It mirrored the indifference Cornell had once shown her.
Tears brimmed in Cornell’s eyes as he pleaded softly, “Audrey, please grant me one last chance. I’ll make amends. let’s make a loving family for our daughter, please?”
Audrey offered no resistance, her expression void of any emotion. She appeared as cold and unyielding as a marble statue, devoid of warmth.
Feeling the chill, Cornell drew her closer, hoping to share his warmth with her. little did he know, the coldness he felt wasn’t just in her body but in her heart. A heart that would never feel warmth again after being treated so coldly.
“Audrey, I promise I won’t let you down again,” Cornell murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
A lump formed in Audrey’s throat. In an effort to quell her emotions, she dug her fingernails into her palm.
Audrey scoffed. A promise? She couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.
Hadn’t he promised before that she would always be his top priority?
She naively believed it. And what became of that promise? When her grandmother was on her deathbed, he callously abandoned her. When she was in danger, she hoped that Cornell would come to save her and their child. But he was nowhere to be found. She was never his top priority.
With a determined resolve, Audrey firmly pushed him away, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She said, “I won’t be fooled by your promises again, Cornell.”
Her gaze turned distant and cold as she looked at him. “All I want is peace and stability. I hope you will respect that and stay out of my life once you walk out that door.”
Cornell stood frozen, the weight of Audrey’s words settling heavily upon him.
Wanting him to give up, Audrey added coldly, “And don’t expect my gratitude for your efforts in removing those misleading trending topics. Please refrain from making decisions on my behalf in the future.”
With a dismissive glance over her shoulder, Audrey declared, “Cornell, I don’t need you. Not now, not ever.”
With that, she walked out of the room, her indifference slicing through Cornell like a blade. She had stopped loving him.
Cornell stood rooted to the spot, his gaze vacant. A sharp pang pierced his chest, threatening to overwhelm him.
Clutching his chest, he leaned against the wall, struggling to contain the anguish tearing through him. Finally, unable to suppress it any longer, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Audrey’s brow furrowed as minutes passed without Cornell’s descent.
Hadn’t her words been enough to dissuade him? Was his stubbornness truly so unyielding?
Before she could ponder further, Annis’ panicked voice shattered the tension, drawing Audrey’s attention. “Miss Foster, something terrible has happened. Mr. Clement has collapsed.”
Holding her toy, Janey had been eager to spend time with Cornell.
But upon hearing the news, she burst into tears. “Daddy…” Her cries pierced the air, wrenching at Audrey’s heart.
Scooping Janey into her arms, Audrey’s panic surged. Her mind raced as she grappled with the sudden turn of events. When did Cornell become so fragile?
As Audrey approached the stairway, she paused and gently passed Janey to Annis. In a quivering voice, she instructed, “Go ask Babur for help. Take Janey to her room.”
Reluctant to leave, Janey tearfully protested, “But I want to see daddy…”
Audrey softly comforted Janey, “Be a good girl. Your daddy will be just fine.”
The situation left Audrey with no choice but to leave Janey out of the sight of Cornell’s collapsing, not wanting to scare her.
With tear-filled eyes, Janey pleaded, “Mommy, I promise to be a good girl. Please save daddy, okay?”
Audrey tried her best to remain composed and replied, “Of course, sweetie. Your daddy will be alright.”
As Annis carried Janey away, Audrey felt the tremors in her limbs, making the task of ascending the stairs seem daunting.
When Audrey reached the top, her heart sank at the sight of Cornell lying motionless on the floor, his face drained of color, blood staining his lips.
For a moment, the world seemed to spin around her, leaving Audrey disoriented and deafened by the chaos of her thoughts.
Just as she felt herself teetering on the edge of despair, Babur appeared, followed closely by Matteo. Babur had called Matteo.
When Matteo caught sight of the figure on the ground, he dashed over, dropped to one knee, and exclaimed, “Mr. Clement!”
With no response from Cornell, Matteo’s anxiety surged as he quickly initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Yet, despite his efforts, Cornell remained unresponsive. Matteo swiftly hoisted Cornell into his arms and carried him downstairs.
Audrey trailed behind Matteo, her movements instinctual. When Matteo placed Cornell in the back seat of the car, she stopped.
Matteo turned to Audrey, his expression pleading. “Mrs. Clement, please, come with us.”
Audrey’s eyes stung with unshed tears. She clenched her fists, attempting to move forward several times before finally reigning in her emotions. “I’m not going,” she uttered, her voice devoid of warmth.
Disbelief flickered across Matteo’s features, disappointment evident in his gaze. “Actually, Mr. Clement…”
Audrey cut him off, urgency coloring her tone, “Hurry up.”
Matteo nearly forgot Cornell’s directive to keep Cornell being injected by a mysterious syringe a secret from Audrey.
With time ticking away, Matteo bit his lip and withheld his words.
Starting the car, he sped off without another glance.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Audrey slumped against the door frame and suddenly sat on the ground. The chill of scare swept over her like an arctic wind, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.
With a soft click, a lone tear fell onto the back of her hand.
Looking at the tear, Audrey couldn’t help but feel a profound sadness welling within her. Wasn’t her heart already beyond feeling? Yet here she was, consumed by anguish over Cornell lying in a coma.
No matter how vehemently she tried to convince herself that she didn’t care, she found herself unable to stem the tide of tears. It was as if her emotions were beyond her control. What if something really happened to him?
The fear of the unknown gripped her heart tightly, spreading through her veins like a poison.
In a sudden surge of determination, Audrey attempted to rise and make her way to the hospital. But her legs, weakened by the weight of her emotions, refused to cooperate, threatening to give way beneath her.
“Audrey!” A familiar figure rushed to her side, steadying her with a supportive grasp.
Tears welled up in Audrey’s eyes as she gazed at the man before her.
“Stefan, help me… I need to get to the hospital.”
Having received a call from Annis, Stefan had rushed here without hesitation.
In Erick’s absence, Stefan temporarily took up residence in the villa next door to look after Audrey.
As they drove to the hospital, Stefan turned his handsome face to look at Audrey and noticed her distressed state. His hands couldn’t help but tighten on the steering wheel.
He offered reassurance in a soft tone, “Don’t worry. If there is no previous medical history, a brief coma usually isn’t cause for major concern.”
Audrey clenched her fists, unable to find words.
Arriving at the hospital, Stefan swiftly sought information on the recently admitted patient.
Returning with a relaxed expression, Stefan relayed, “I had checked.
Mr. Clement is alright.”
“Is he conscious?”
“I’m not sure yet. He is in the ward upstairs. Do you want to see him?” Stefan asked.
After a moment’s contemplation, Audrey replied, “Yes, I would like to.”