Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Alright.”
As they ascended the stairs, Stefan gestured toward the ward, saying, “It’s right there. Do you want me to accompany you?”
Audrey shook her head and replied, “No, I’ll go alone.”
“Should I wait for you then?” Stefan queried.
Audrey nodded in affirmation. She intended to check on Cornell briefly to ensure he was okay and then leave.
“Very well,” Stefan said, visibly relieved. “Go ahead. I’ll be here.”
Approaching the designated ward, Audrey hesitated. Just as she reached for the door handle, a familiar voice called out. “Audrey?”
Katie emerged from behind, her gaze fixed on Audrey. “What brings you here?” she asked.
Katie stood there, exuding an air of arrogance as if she were the one rightfully married to Cornell.
If Audrey hadn’t been privy to the truth, she might have fallen for the facade. Brushing past Katie’s presence without a word, she reached for the door, only to find her path abruptly blocked by Katie.
A chill, tinged with malice, flickered across Katie’s eyes as she curled her lips into a disdainful smirk. “You can turn around and leave now. As Cornell’s fianc?e, it’s my responsibility to look after him. Your visits are unnecessary,” she declared with unwarranted authority.
The smug look plastered on Katie’s face only served to amuse Audrey.
Audrey had harbored a sliver of hope that Katie possessed more wit than Cecilia, yet here she was, proving to be no better. Both Cecilia and Katie seemed to share a penchant for weaving lies with little regard for the truth.
Audrey saw no value in squandering her time on such trivial confrontations. Her sole purpose was to ascertain Cornell’s well-being, prompted by the fact he fainted at her home. The thought of any harm coming to him while under her roof unsettled her deeply.
Audrey had no interest in unmasking Katie’s charade. With a frosty tone, she demanded, “Please move aside.”
“The audacity!” Katie, unable to maintain a facade of grace under provocation, retorted with a sneer, “You want to be a mistress?”
Katie had crossed paths with Audrey enough times to believe that the label of “mistress” was Audrey’s Achilles’ heel. By casting this accusation, Katie aimed to dispel Audrey.
Yet, Audrey’s reaction was one of serene indifference, her lips curving into a faint smile as she posed a pointed question, “Miss Glyn, are you suggesting that Cornell has acknowledged you as his fianc?e?”
Katie’s gaze sparkled with a hint of defiance, her voice laden with an unconvincing assurance. “He has, indeed. It’s common knowledge that we’re a pair. Spare me your attempts to stir up trouble. Enough with the baseless claims!”
Audrey’s expression turned icy at Katie’s audacity. The gall of her lies was astounding. “Is that so? Why don’t we verify your claim by asking him directly?” Audrey proposed, her tone steady and challenging. “How about it, Miss Glyn? Do you have the courage?”
“You…” Katie found herself at a loss for words, her anger rendering her speechless.
Audrey, hand poised on the doorknob, inquired with detached curiosity, “Miss Glyn, would you like to go in? Or shall I proceed without you?”
“You can’t get inside!” Katie’s outburst came with a contorted face, a clear sign of her agitation.
Audrey couldn’t help but let a sardonic smile grace her features.
Watching Audrey’s reaction, realization dawned upon Katie. She was tricked by Audrey! She had unwittingly confessed to the falsehood of her engagement to Cornell.
Katie, now seething, accused, “Are you mocking me?” In her view, Audrey was but a lowly adversary, unworthy of engaging in such cunning.
Yet, it was Audrey who stood unflinching, her retort cutting through the tension. “So, Miss Glyn, why choose to be a liar when you could be a decent person?”
Audrey’s words were a sharp rebuke to Katie’s charade, laying bare the facade Katie so desperately clung to.
Katie’s face twisted with anger. This bitch! Did Audrey just dare to make fun of her?
Yet, as quickly as Katie’s rage flared, it vanished, replaced by a serene facade.
With a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, Katie dropped her act. “So, Cornell has confided in you that our relationship is merely for show, tailored to the situation at hand?”
Audrey remained silent, puzzled by Katie’s sudden admission.
With a poised smile, Katie offered an explanation, “You’re wondering why we’re putting on this charade? Cornell’s father is attempting to strip him of his authority. To retain his position within the company, Cornell chose to align with me.”
Audrey’s response was cool and measured. “I’m aware.”
Katie found herself at a loss for words, her plans thwarted. Her fists balled in frustration, and she seethed internally. Cornell had divulged everything to Audrey. Yet, there was one detail Cornell had omitted, simply because he himself was in the dark.
Wearing a guise of tranquility, Katie posed another question, “Do you know the reason behind Cornell’s father’s desire to undermine Cornell?”
Audrey was at a loss. Alexis didn’t seem to fit the mold of a caring father. He appeared more interested in manipulating Cornell like a chess piece.
Before Audrey could voice her confusion, Katie unveiled more of the story with a sly grin. “Cornell’s father was infuriated upon learning of Cornell’s marriage to you and his refusal to be controlled. His father views him as nothing more than a tool, opting instead to support Cornell’s half-brother for the coveted position.”
Audrey’s expression registered shock. “What?”
Cornell had a half-brother, an unexpected revelation that suggested a complex family dynamic within the Clement lineage.
Katie, basking in her perceived victory, couldn’t hide her smugness.
“It’s a certainty that Cornell will marry me. He needs me,” she declared, her tone dripping with arrogance.
This statement seemed to lift a weight off Katie’s shoulders. In her view, Audrey stood no chance. Devoid of wealth and influence, Audrey posed no threat to her aspirations.
With a sneer, Katie added, “Luciana will be arriving shortly. I suggest you leave at your earliest convenience. She’s not keen on encountering you.”
Audrey’s hand, which had been poised to open the door, stilled. The chaos of the moment had made her overlook the unpleasant realities and characters she wished to distance herself from. The mention of luciana, Alexis, and the burdens of the past prompted a moment of introspection.
Audrey lowered her head. Why bother opening this door? Could there truly be a future for her with Cornell? Reality echoed a resounding no.
All Audrey sought was tranquility, yet Cornell’s presence invariably disrupted her peace. Acknowledging the futility of holding on, she realized it was time to sever ties. Her visit was simply trying to see if he was okay. Beyond that, entangling herself further would only lead to distress.
Katie, observing Audrey’s delicate face, suppressed her malicious urges. She issued a final warning, “Stay away from Cornell. You’re chasing illusions.”
Audrey, undisturbed by Katie’s venom, responded with serene defiance, “I wish you all the best then. May you truly receive what you’re striving for, without ending up empty-handed.”
After her words, Audrey pivoted, leaving a stark silence in her wake.
The smirk that had confidently adorned Katie’s face instantly crystallized into a mask of fury. “Stop! What are you implying?” she demanded, her voice laced with indignation.
“Miss Glyn, isn’t it clear to you?” Audrey’s reply came with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to Katie’s agitation. “Haven’t you realized that Cornell’s interest lies solely with the Glyn family’s influence?”
Katie exhaled deeply, her initial panic subsiding. She had braced herself for a revelation from Audrey, well aware that Cornell’s affections were tethered not to her but to the prestige of her family.
Yet, in Katie’s eyes, this distinction held little weight. Her aspirations of marrying Cornell remained intact, bolstered by her family’s name. “The Glyn family is under my name. Does it really make a difference?” she retorted with a haughtiness that belied her earlier panic.
“There is a big difference,” Audrey countered with a serene smile, her composure unshaken. “Ardlens is home to families far more influential than the Glyn lineage.”
With these parting words, Audrey walked away, her departure leaving a lasting impression. If Katie failed to grasp the significance, it reflected poorly on her understanding, not on Audrey’s intentions.
Audrey’s choice not to check on Cornell personally wasn’t born out of Katie’s deceit. It was a deliberate effort to close that chapter, to prevent fostering any false hopes.
Katie had aimed to wound Audrey with a targeted strike, exploiting what she presumed to be Audrey’s vulnerabilities. Yet, Audrey’s indifference rendered Katie’s attempts futile, reducing Katie to nothing more than a pitiful figure.
Audrey’s resolve was clear. She refused to be diminished by anyone, Cornell included.
Katie stood in the wake of Audrey’s departure, her earlier triumph dissolving into confusion. The realization dawned on her too late, leaving her to ponder the depth of her misunderstanding.
Audrey’s words left Katie grappling with the unsettling truth. There were indeed wealthier families with whom Cornell might forge alliances, diminishing her significance in his strategic plans.
Katie wasn’t naive. She had anticipated this possibility and had even considered luciana as an alternative ally. However, what truly infuriated her was Audrey’s apparent indifference to Cornell’s marital prospects.
Katie had devoted years to Cornell, acutely aware of the depth of his affection for Audrey, a love so profound that he would risk everything for her.
Yet, Audrey seemed utterly disinterested in the very thing Katie yearned to claim for herself.
Katie’s expression darkened, a mix of venom and spite contorting her features. In her eyes, Audrey was unworthy of Cornell’s deep-seated love. The realization left her seething, her thoughts swirling with resentment and disdain.
After a moment of bitter reflection, Katie spun on her heel, her resolve hardening. She pushed the door open, the name “Cornell” escaping her lips in a mixture of hope and determination.
Inside a luxurious hospital room.
As the door swung open, Cornell turned, anticipating someone’s arrival. His expression darkened immediately upon seeing Katie.
“What’s the matter, Cornell?” Katie approached him, her face etched with concern.
“How did you manage to come in?” Cornell propped himself against the bed’s headboard, his demeanor icy, creating a barrier that felt unwelcoming to anyone.
Cornell glanced at the doorway, noticing Matteo’s absence.
Katie looked unsettled.
Before she could offer an explanation, Cornell inquired, “How did you find out I was here?”
His gaze bore into her as though he could see through her.
Katie became anxious. “I was visiting my father,” she explained hurriedly. “I ran into Matteo earlier and figured something might have happened to you, so I rushed over.”
Cornell remained silent, but Katie, undeterred, sat down beside him.